So you know how weekends are supposed to be relaxing? Well this one was...and wasn't.
On Friday afternoon I bid my group farewell as they headed down to Manuel Antonio National Park with their guide. I then sprinted home and changed, grabbed my bag and headed home. I got there around 7:30 after a quick bus ride. E had to work the following morning in Curu, a private wildlife reserve. The only way to get there is to take a ferry across the gulf of Nicoya, from Puntarenas to Paquera, and then go from Paquera inland to get to the park. We spent the night at a friend's house next to the ferry, and hopped on early in the morning...early as in catching a 5am boat. How beautiful, watching the sunrise on the ferry and cruising through the water. Boats always make me giddy, I love the way they bob on the water. Luckily I have never had seasickness (or motion sickness) or I would be in trouble...
Once in Paquera we caught a bus that dropped us off right at the park entrance, and we walked in to the beach where E waited for his group to arrive. E used his telescopio to zero in on some cool birds as we walked in, and we saw pizotes and a deer too! Curu is a wonderful place to see wildlife! While E was on the tour I relaxed on the beach, in the shade. I fell asleep for a little while, and then by 1pm we were on our way to catch the 2pm ferry back to the Puerto. It was a fast morning! Saturday evening we relaxed at home and prepared for the next day...Manuel Antonio!
I felt like I was following my group. We got up early again Sunday morning, to catch a 5am bus that....never came. E being a quick thinker, got us on a bus for the Puerto and we got off on the highway to wait for a bus to take us where we needed to go. (The plan was for him to do the tour in Carrara while I went ahead to manuel Antonio and waited for him in the national park.) We had already missed that second bus...all seemed pretty hopeless when a passing car stopped and beeped furiously at us. A guy waiting next to us thought it was his friend picking him up, but no, it was E's friend from the University! and he was going to Manuel Antonio! and he offered us a ride! Wonderful, a miracle, how blessed. E got to the pick-up point on time, and I got dropped off in Quepos to grab some breakfast and then a bus down to Manuel Antonio. I enjoyed a big plate of gallo pinto and some cafe con leche before buying a few snacks at the next door Super, and then walked across the street to get a bus.
Wow, what an interesting mix of people on that bus. Locals heading to or from work or home, folks staying in Quepos hotels going down to the beach, day-trippers and backpackers and couples and...a guy from Catalonia who sat right next to me. I walked him to the entrance of the National Park and we waited in the long line (again, what an interesting mix of people! familes on vacation, young college kids, Europeans on vacation, day-trippers and locals enjoying a free Sunday) and then got into the park. I made a beeline for the beach, which is about a 20 minute walk. Once there I dropped my bag and jumped in, and the water was perfffffffect! Later I moved to a better location down the beach and sunbathed and swam until E called me to invite me to lunch. We ate at a nearby hotel/restaurant and my quesadilla de pollo (chicken) was amaaaaaaaazing! I needed help finishing it.
We decided against going back into the national park and instead stayed at the hotel pool, sat at the wet bar and ordered drinks. How relaxing, how wonderful! It was some quality time, I loved it! Also I invented a new drink which turned out pretty good:
Malibu rum
triple sec
cranberry juice
soda water
over ice, garnish with a slice of lime
Give it a try!
Then we caught a bus from Manuel Antonio to Quepos and from Quepos back to the Puerto and then back home. We got ready for Monday and fell right asleep!
This morning I caught a 4:30am bus back to Heredia. I was back with my Familia Tica before 6am, and napped for half hour before getting breakfast and then leaving for work. And here I am.
So you see what I mean by relaxing...but not? Needless to say tonight I am going to bed early. Hmm, while taking the bus is easy and cheap here, on days like Saturday and Sunday I can see why it would be convenient to have a car available, haha!
Living and loving life...Pura Vida.
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