Thanksgiving at Carillo Beach/Playa Samara

Despite the jellyfish stings (ouch!) we had a gratitude-filled Thanksgiving.  After our faux-turkey (smoked chicken!) here in Escazu with some fellow teachers and their families, we ate fish every night at a hidden restaurant in Playa Samara.

The beach was gorgeous, but too placeid for boogie boarding.  Lovely for floating, though!  This time, we brought along white vinegar, Advil and Benadryl for the jellyfish stings....   Beats pee!

We enjoyed the cool, saltwater pool and yummy breakfasts at Samara Pacific Lodge (very reasonable, and a French owner, mais oui!)

For lunch each day , we made easy, portable
Tico Tacos (also known as Beach Burritos):
      Flour tortillas filled with:

• squeezie beans (Lizano brand)
• sqeezie salsa (Natura's criolo or ranchero red sauce)
• ripe avocado

We gobble-gobbled 'em up!

Guy Fawkes Comes to Costa Rica!

Who brought the marshmallows?   This last weekend we celebrated the family-friendly Guy Fawkes weekend on Jaco Beach.  The fun and games culminated with a fireworks display and a burning in effigy of the British rebel, Guy Fawkes.












In an astonishing show of over-competitiveness, the Blatt Longs swept the competitions.

Ilana won (yes, won!) the entire darts competition (which is pretty amazing considering more than one dart flew mysteriously into the bushes---but she had some kind of magnetic connection to the bullseye at other times.  Then Steve, Benji and Marina played Rounders, it's a lot like baseball, but muddier. Steve was MVP for adults as he hit two back to back bases loaded homeruns!  Benji was the kid MVP, for amazing work as the catcher opposite his dad, the pitcher.  Marina was the winning team's captain for the Rounders game. She put almost all of the grown ups and older kids on her team, including Benji and Steve. Go team Fighter Knights!

The boogie boarding on that beach was fairly good.  And the pool and general environment of Club Del Mar, with the scarlet macaws flying overhead, was lovely.  Thanks to John, the organizer and the Brits who forgave our insurrection a few years after Guy Fawkes attempted his. 

Ilana wins the Darts Championship!

Truth or Dare... Hmmm

Pristine Pines in Prusia

We hardly expected to find a pine forest, hallucinogenic mushrooms and towering eucalyptus trees just an hour away from our home in Costa Rica at Prusia National Park, part of Irazu Volcano Park.  It was hard to believe that we two families from the Pacific Northwest were not right back in the western USA!

After a bumpy drive up a potholed road, we meandered on the trails for several hours, enjoying the bird songs, picnicking on Pricemart chicken in a lovely glade, checking out the rotting, dead armadillo,  peering in the hummingbird's nest and posing with(but not eating) the gorgeous mushrooms!

At the trail head with fellow teachers, the Macombers.

Directions:  Drive toward Irazu.  After you pass Cartago, go past the onion fields and cow pastures, and turn left on the road to the old Sanitorium.  (Finca Sanatorio).  You'll drive right in to the park on that same road.

Prusia National Park is unexpectedly and pleasantly cool. Bring a jacket and rain gear (Thanks, Mom..)

Eucalyptus standing sentinel 

Eat me and die.

Alice in Wonderland's Amanita Muscaria

This hummingbird nest was so tiny and delicate: the size of my fist!

Tico Tremors and Horrors in Hacienda Del Sol

Romeo and Juliet (both long deceased)

Dead Cheerleader

Pumpkin Pi

And darkness fell across the land; the midnight hour was close at hand.  The Halloween Day began with a 4.7 magnitude earthquake, followed by a couple more shakers in the morning.  That evening we went to an epic Halloween party, replete with pounds of trick-or-treat candy, doughnuts dangling on strings, bobbing for apples, scary foods, and a costume contest in which the Blatt family put their best face forward.
Marina dazzled as a dead cheerleader.  Benji was as punny as ever as pumpkin pi.  And Ilana and Steve gave a rousing rendition of the final scene of Romeo and Juliet. Ah, our classical education pays off again.  Benji took first place for kids, Marina got honorable mention, and Ilana and Steve took 3rd place for adults, just behind Danny and Sandy (Grease) and Elvis.  You can never beat the King.