Costa Ricacacacaaaa

So we're flying solo..

We arrived at the airport and was picked up by our mad costa rican/south african/alabama aussie. He had the most messed up accent ever but was a lovely guy. He drove us to the ferry port to cross to the Nicoya Peninsula but we arrived early so grabbed some food, where we met Andrea from Canada. She is a wrestler (arms of steel) who was meeting an ex boyfriend she hasn't seen for 3yrs and hasn't told anyone she's meeting him. So we've met two people so far.. Both a little crazy, but very nice.

It was late when we got to our hotel, but we hit the pool for some late night swimming and was in bed catching the zzzzz's pretty quickly.

We stayed by the pool for the first few days.. just relaxing and taking in the sun. It was so hot we couldn't be out the pool more than 30mins but it was a lovely place to be.

After a couple of days, we decided to venture out of Tambor to Montezuma. Known as Montefumar which means 'smoke' as the drug laws here are pretty relaxed. It was a really hippie town. Full of rasta's, old hippies with long grey wispy hair, everyone covered in tattoos. It had a really good chilled out vibe and the tiny town had one main street with jewelry stalls, cafe's and a few shops. We had a drink stop at the bakery cafe where we had our first close encounter with the monkeys. This cafe seemed to be their playground, jumping in he trees next to it, onto the roof and over. When one couple left, the monkey came and took the lid off the sugar jar and stole a handful of sugar sachets. They got a bit fierce when someone fed them (despite the do not feed signs) so we left and were off to the beach. It was an awesome beach - really rustic. Full of driftwood, hills in the sand, rocks in the sea. We found a spot under a tree which became our spot from then on. It was a great day, the waves were big and strong. We both got a few injuries from the rocks but one of our favorite beaches so far. We had to get the bus back which was a 40 min ride in tiny seats, very hot and sticky, and for some reason we had to get off and on again every time when they changed bus driver. It was so nice to get back and jump in the pool to cool down.

That night we got a bottle of red and downloaded Seven to watch as Mike discovered I'd never seen it. It was so nice to sit outside by the pool in the warm air with candles and wine. It really felt like travelling had stopped and we were on holiday.

Christmas day arrived, the first day we've felt home sick it was really weird being away. We skyp'd the Ralphs in the morning and watched them open pressies which was ace. We went for breakfast (splashed out on eggs benedict) then skyp'd the Cawoods. From there on we had a normal day. Mike had managed to track down a turkey dinner at the hotel, so 6pm we got dressed up excited to get a tast of the big day. It was surprisingly tasty..

The next day we headed to Montezuma again btu this time to the waterfall walk. We'd been told by our friend Fernando where to go, so off we go following the river from the sea. It took us quite a long way scrambling over rocks, climbing past huge tree roots. No easy feat but it was well worth it when we saw it. Bloody high, and gorgeous fresh cool water we were straight in. Some locals were jumping from almost the top. Looked insane, lonely planet said don't jump so we had no intentions. One guy was giving it a go for his first time and took him ages to work up the courage. The locals shouting at him to try get him in the right spot, one went up to show him exactly where to jump. He made it thank god and was pumped when he surfaced. It was a perfect spot.

A few more days left of us relaxing, soaking up the rays, lappin up the luxury, it was soon time for the Cawood's and Websters to join us. My mum has been so excited since we surprised her and I was ready to see my family. Especially nats ever growing tummy. They pulled up just as mike was complaining to the manager about his boots being stollen (he was useless and didn't help us at all). It was surreal to see them there.. flagging them down outside the hotel. We were soon being squeezed into the 4x4, all our bags taking over, stopping for lunch at a spot mike and I had seen on our waterfall walk. Dad and Jon about to eat their arms we sat at a beautiful beach restaurant, under the palm trees. We had fresh cerviche, yum, octopus, tuna meatballs, lamp cous cous. Delicious. The best meal mike and I had had since we arrived. Catching up with them all and meeting bump for the first time was amazing. I couldnt be happier. We found the villa pretty easily. The roads were so bumpy and steep it's a tough drive but the view when we got there was gorgeous. The villa was perfect, peaceful, above the jungle looking at the sea, I knew we would have a good week.

Straight in the pool, mike happy to see me in a different bikini after wearing the same one for weeks and weeks, the boys went to the supermarket. We planned to head out to Montezuma that night for tea but mum had brought mike and I a mini Christmas day. We both opened loads of pressies, mike getting new razors, tshirts, branston pickle! I got clothes too and top up essentials. It finally felt like Christmas! Nat also got mike loads of shorts vests and tshirts from work to replace all the ones he'd lost. He's been in denim shorts for weeks so he was so happy to get so much and it was all fab.

We had dinner out, and went to Puggos cafe. It was BYOB so we werent sure it would be good, but mike and I had it recommended by Fernando so we were hopefull. Luckily it was delicious. We all got food envy over nats pan seared tuna, it was huge and cooked perfect. Really tasty I know we'll
be back.

The next day we spent at the villa, waking up to a cup if yorkshire tea. Amazing!! The view was stunning ad so quiet (apart from us!) Nat and mike played bat and ball which ended in mike landsliding down the gardens to try retreave the ball, Jon found footy on the tv, dad cooked up a storm for lunch. I got to know baby who should have opened his/her eyes this week, which we tested by shining my head torch on the bump. It turned to see the light! It was so weird.. The first time I'd seen it move so much. Incredible. BBQ chicken and chips for dinner was yum.

Another day by the pool we played with the huge ball, did water aerobics, dad made spaghetti carbonara. We wanted to go to Mal Pais to watch the sun set into the sea so set off about 4. We had to stop off at Cabano so mike and I could book our bus ticket to Nicaragua, so had to take a longer way round. It was rough roads, and we couldn't really find Mal Pais - there was small houses and hidden cafes but no real centre of town. We just kept going not sure if we'd passed it of not, and decided to get out in time to watch it set. Lovely red sky, we all sat on the beach watching it. Mums favourite time of the day. We found a quicker way back on the map, mike warring us it was marked as a red road (4x4's only). We had a 4x4 so we went for it. We turned on and 5 seconds in we were trying to get up this steep hill with massive pot holes. We thought maybe just the first part f the road would be like this but as we got to the top we saw the rest of the road was the same or looked worse, in the pitch black. We decided to take the main road again but got stuck trying to turn on the narrow path. We thought we were going to tip at one point it was hairy! Back on the main road we took another diversion on a shorter road back, but came to a part flooded with water. Unsure how deep it was we went for it anyway.. This was turning into the journey from hell. Nat was feeling sick..an hour later we made it to town all shaken up. We went to a place we'd spotted a few night earlier and sat out back in the garden. BYOB again (bring your own booze) we went to get wine and got our glasses from the waiter arrived about half an hour later. We all ordered and our starters came. Before we get a chance to eat anything our main courses came too! Hilarious.. Now a table full of food we all tucked in laughing at our night of drama. Luckily my food was delicious, which couldn't be said for everyone else.

Today we hit the beach. Mike and I had been many times on our own we were keen to get the same spot under the tree. The others were pleasantly surprised at how nice to beach was and we were in the waves straight away. Jon and dad jumping the huge waves with us, Nat and mum sitting in the wash. Mum tried to come in the sea but it was really strong at the break and she was knocked all over..loosing her bikini with one wave, just recovering then getting hit by with another. She was rolling about all over the place, much to the amusement of Nat and I, and a man walking by finding it hilarious. If only we'd had a camera. Mike and Jon got a record 247 with the bat and ball, then mum and dad took themselves off to the yoga bar for a beer while we all stayed playing games. When they got back we were ready for lunch so headed to Puggos again all wanting the seared tuna. I knew we'd be back :) another yum lunch and lemon and mint drinks we're divine. We bbq'd that night after a great day.

It was cloudy today so we lazed by the pool reading mags and snoozing. We headed to a restaurant recommended by the villa owner, only open fri sat and
Sunday. It was hidden in the jungle, tucked into the trees. A right find! It had a stone pizza oven so pizzas were on the menu, started with the best mozarella I've had for years, Parma ham and tasty tomatoes. The food was delicious.

In the morning mum dad Nat and I headed to the local organic market we'd read about. Mike and Jon stayed to watch sat footy games on the box. Luckily we didnt drag them there as the Market was pathetic..5 or 6 tables selling organic clothes and a few bits of food. The worst maket I've ever been to haha. Cheese and tomatoes on toast for lunch, mike cracked open the branston pickle. Ummmmm! Mike and Jon broke their bat and ball record getting to 609. I had a go when they'd finished and lost the ball.. Oops. We went for tea at the first place we had lunch on the beach. Its so gorgeous here. I had tuna carpaccio to start, then fillet mignon which was cooked perfect. We've had such good food here it's been amazing. Mike and I in heaven after weeks of 'it's fine'.

Leaving day.. We set off from our new home, sad to leave. We had to get to the port to catch the 2:00 ferry. It was another bumpy ride, but we made it in time and were crossing back before long. We got to Margaritas about 6pm, tired and sad to be saying bye. I was nervous about going back on the road after three weeks of staying still and doing nothing. We had a lovely little apartment, showered and ordered take away pizza. Mike as I had a 5:00am bus to catch so our taxi was coming at 4. We left in the middle of the night, feeling really sad to say bye, but now excited to be moving onto the final leg of our adventure. Nicaragua here we come.xx