Marina's Swim Success!

Marina competed today in her first-ever swim meet and it was a splashing success!

CDS kids competed as individuals against another area school.  Marina took 2nd place among the 11-12 year-olds in freestyle, and 3rd in both breaststroke and backstroke.

Way to go, Marina  She's a fish!  And with a name like Marina, you'd better believe it!

Battle of the Monkey and the Snake at Manuel Antonio

Capuchin (white-faced) monkeys are omnivores!  I did not know that until I saw one who had caught a snake twist it into viscous knots, and then tear into it with savage teeth.  Did I mention we were standing two feet from it at the time?  If you don’t believe it, watch the video!

Our tour of Manuel Antonio National Park was rife with wildlife.  Steve was startled by a marauding aguti (a raccoon-like rodent) that bolted over his toes at top speed.   We saw the venomous vine snake up close and personal; and a harmless bird snake peeking from her hole!

Of course the Cara Blanca and mono Congos (howler and capuchin) monkeys were out in full force, and we saw no less than two raccoons and three sloths!

Alas the olas, at double my height, the waves were way too rough for swimming at the magnificent beaches.

That iguana was after my peanut butter sandwich!

Pozo Azul Cataratas Waterfall near Domnicalito

Rain seasons means wet, but not soooo hot.   On our 3-day weekend trip to Manuel Antonio,  we enjoyed a side trip to a nearby waterfall just south of Dominical.   Pozo Azul Cataratas was easy to reach and just a few short steps down a steep hill.  We played in the water all day and then watercolor painted for fun.

Advice for drivers on a three-day weekend.  If you're leaving San Jose, get an EARLY start.  We left at 9 am for a 2.5 hour drive----We arrived at 4:30!  Seven hours (and one very pissed off Steve) later, we arrived  in Quepos and Manuel Antonio.Above the highway (silver lining coming up)  we spotted two flocks of scarlet macaws close up!

We stayed once again at the beautiful Hotel California, played in the pool, and at ate their delicious and reasonable new restaurant, PapiPachas.  We also like to eat at Soda Sanchez in downtown Quepos near BCR bank.  (Cheap and delicious)  

To get to Pozo waterfall:  Go south  from Manuel Antonio a few kilometers past Dominical.  Turn left in to Dominicalito and head up the hill, about 200 meters past the rickety, 'cross it if you have the guts' bridge.

That evening, we met our school friends Susanne and Mohammed for drinks and sunset from the hotel balcony!

Playa Dominical

Hail, Earthquakes and the Music from the Carpio Barrio

Giant, golf ball sized chunks of hail rained from the sky at the end of our school day yesterday.   Most residents here say they haven't seen such a thing in 10 years!  Global warming or the precursor to the ten plagues...You pick.

The weather has been hot and humid, with downpours in the late afternoon, but most startling are the little tremors that we have become more accustomed to.  The other night, we woke to a 5.0 on the Richter.  (Well, Steve woke, and hence WE woke.)

Steve ran in the Cerros de Escazu, a 10K race almost entirely uphill!  (Well, eventually he had to come down!)  He took 3rd place in his age range---his first time placing in a major race.  Way to go, Steve!

I had the eye-opening experience of visiting the poorest area of San Jose, the Carpio District, only 20 minutes from wealthy Escazu.  Most of the tiny, one-room homes are built from cement with corrugated tin walls and roofs; so far from our fancy high rises just a few miles away.

Some of the luckier kids here are part of an amazing music program, where kids with little opportunity are given instruments and music lessons.  The 19 year old head of the program is a genius both musically, and for his ability to teach these smiling kids.  Our synagogue choir has been practicing for our May 10th performance with their orchestra.

We said farewell to our wonderful rabbis, Daniela and Rami before they leave for their new posts in Lancaster, PA (They aren't actually leaving yet.)  When they do, we sure will miss their kindness, humor, honesty, and our language exchange class that we have with them each week.

No matter the hail,humidity, earthquakes and torrential rain, you still can't beat the sunsets from our condominium's  parking lot!

Beaches of Northern Guanacaste: Playa Coco, Ocotal, Hermosa, Flamingo

On our first night, Grandma Evey was stung by a giant centipede in her bathroom.  Those things can sting! How does one soothe a centipede bite?  The answer; soak your foot in hot water, (according to Mr. Wikipedia and Chief Researcher, Benji Blatt.)  It seemed to work.

The next night, Steve had to kill a four-inch scorpion in our bathroom.  We wore shoes after that.

The next morning there was a snake in the pool and a dead dove on our patio.

 

But really, how can you go wrong when howler monkeys hang out in the trees and we spend our days hopping back and forth between the condo pool and the beach, just a block away.

At Playas del Coco, Grandma Evey and Papu dug their toes into the sand and waded in the water while we Blatts couldn’t get enough of the cool sea water;  too placid for boogie boarding, but perfect for swimming… 

 

Playa Ocotal, just a 15 minute drive south of Coco had some pretty snorkeling and clear waters.

We took a 50 minute side trip from Playas del Coco along a bumpy road to beautiful Playa Flamingo.  Blessed with bright blue waters and ample boogie boarding opportunities, this long stretch of white sand beach was packed with tourists over the Semana Santa week.   We loved romping in the waves and trying to duck under the giant crashers.

Playa Hermosa was a pretty, brown sand beach, and we enjoyed some calm boogie boarding, there.  Our last evening, after a lovely Playa Hermosa sunset,  we were lucky to find the terrific restaurant at that town’s hilltop Hotel de la Finestre:  Happy Hour from 4-7 with a $7 whole, red snapper with salad and 4 buck drinks.  Fantastic!   Hermosa, by the way, lives up to its name:  Beautiful!

Papu Iguana

No such thing as a free lunch?  There is if you go to a canceled time-share presentation!

Rincon de la Vieja National Park

Boiling mud pots, mini volcanoes, waterfalls and hot, hot, dry weather; that’s what you get at Rincon de la Vieja.   We spent a few hours hiking the rooted and rocky trail here and saw some interesting volcanic activity, but it ain’t no Yellowstone!

We did see some white faced capuchin monkeys here, hanging out in a troupe and jeering at the visitors.

Many folks come here for the zip lining, horseback riding, tubing down the river, hiking to the refreshing waterfall; but we just enjoyed the arid, natural beauty.  

It was a bit of a schlep, and we were smart to bring a lot of food and drink into the park.  Entrance fee:  $2 for residents, $15 for non-residents.

Llanos del Cortez Waterfall near Liberia

Hooray!  Grandma Evey and Papu Al are here visiting!   We all met up in Guanacaste near Playas del Coco to swim, boogie board, and enjoy our week off of school for Semana Santa.

We headed to the waterfall about an hour  inland from the beach.  It was a very short walk down a rocky trail, and we were quickly rewarded by the crisp, cool, shallow-waters of the cascade.

We played on the rocks, under the showering veil, and even explored the mossy overhang behind the curtain.   Que rico el agua!