Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica August 14-17
A very full taxi ride across the water to Costa Rica and an equally packed bus ride plus a walk across the border bridge thru immigration we were finally welcomed by the Tico’s of Costa Rica.
Another long shuttle ride to Puerto Viejo, on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, and we were left at National rent a car. There were so many places we planned on seeing in Costa Rica, our own car was imperative.
Our first night in Punta Uva, our new home for a while was nothing if not comical. Chris and I were exhausted and the hotel gave us a room with two twin beds, what are we Ozzy and Harriet? We had to do some furniture rearranging putting them together to make a king bed. After a brief swim in the phenomenal pool, and a hot shower, I fell asleep watching a movie.
Somewhere around three in the morning I woke to the sound of Barbra Streisand singing.
Singing what, you ask? “People” what everyone wants to hear at three in the morning.
Huh?
Ya, Barbra Streisand belting out show tunes. "peeeple, peeeple who need peeeple, are the luckiest peeeple in the wooouuurld!
With my head still stuffed in my pillow I snap at Chris, “What are you watching?”
“Nothing,” he said, muffled. “It’s our neighbors.”
He was not happy and I didn't have to guess why. The only person I know in my life who would love to be woken in the middle of the night with Barbara Streisand's voice is my mother and she was a few thousand miles away.
I put my pillow over my head and tried to go back to sleep, then I heard Cher, Michael Bolton, Brian Adams and Wham, whispering carelessly. Our room was transformed, lyrically, to my first Junior prom.
Then we heard them do what every vacationing couple does, only louder.
The music was on all night and they left it on when they ventured out for breakfast. Needless to say we didn’t get much sleep. Chris went to the reception desk and requested a room change.
Sleep came easier the following night; however, we had decided to record some videos for YouTube and nothing we did on camera seemed to work, or end up in any way shape or form entertaining. We went to sleep wondering if we would be able to pull off the YouTube video thing.
Sunrise on my first black sand beach!
(Two nights post prom night)
A mass of tiny black pebbles together molding a striking expanse of charcoal grey mounds of sand. While the darkness still held the crevices and divots the beach flaunted its eccentricity and disorder.
Fractured iridescent shells, once inhabited by life, graced the otherworldly sand, twinkling in the morning sun. Salt water sculpted ridges, kissed by the sea, leaving imprints, a kind of sign language between elements. The waves came in, sometimes fantastically, and the water receded. I watched, in awe, as I always do while the earths clock ticked away in front of me. The black sand filled the spaces in between my toes.
Save the sunrise on the black beach, the highlights of Puerto Viejo were easily chosen. Phenomenal coffee, decadent chocolate and Sloths.
Searching for some good Costa Rican chocolate, I found a chocolate tour in the jungle run by the same coffee shop we found had the best coffee. A double win!
It was a hike up to the peak of a heavily wooded mountain. On our way we encountered a poison dart frog and four Sloths, one carrying a baby. It was incredible to see so many.
When we reached the top we had a beautiful bird’s eye view across the entire canopy as far as our eyes could see. It looked as though we could walk across the lush greenery. There was no soil in site, only a expanse of jungle life protecting the inhabitants beneath it’s abundant shelter.
The chocolatier was on the very top of the mountain. While there, we tasted 9 different kinds of chocolate. There was straight dark chocolate at 80% Cacao. The rest were all 72% dark with added flavors like ginger, cayenne, chai tea, passion fruit, espresso, and orange. Chai tea, ginger and Cayenne were my favorite, along with the liquid chocolate, yummm.
On our hike down, the same sloths were now easier to find. They don’t move much and only come down to the ground to relieve themselves. The heat was stifling in the middle of the day. The canopy serves many purposes. It collects sunlight for growth and absorbs carbon but also does a phenomenal job of hiding its residents. Beautiful, resourceful, protective and full of life.
Our stomachs rumbling, Chris and I forgo a nap to find some sustenance. After getting cleaned up and putting my camera away, we happened upon a little Italian restaurant called Cafe Viejo in the bustling island town with one of the freshest caprese I’ve ever had. Not to mention phenomenal ravioli and tiramisu. In fact the entire experience was incredible.
Leaving with with swollen bellies and great big smiles on our faces, we heard a thundering of drums in the street. In an instant we were swept away by a river of people moving and dancing to a cacophony of sound. The street was filled with bass drums, snare drums and quads. It took me back to my time in marching band in high school. There were also vertical instruments called Bell Lyre providing the the high end to accompany the thundering drums. The energy of the street carried us a few blocks before we were reminded of our early morning.
Headed to La Fortuna at the base of a live volcano next!
