Monkey got my Samstone !

We woke up in our beautiful room in Manuel Antonio..    Diane cooked breakfast colony style by combining all the food we had left.. This was mashed up rotten bananas, pancake mix (minus eggs) and chocolate..   It was awesome .. as everything she cooks !>

(hey.. I just realized I started working at IBM 29 years ago today !!!!)

The boys slept latish.. I could almost see Sam between them.. that’s how they all slept when we were in this same hotel 12 years ago.

We moved our stuf into our new room (we had to change) ..   then walked down the 1/2 mile to the beach..   This place is one of the most developed in Costa Rica.. but .. it hasn’t changed that much since 1998.. we were here also in 2004.. .. it’s built up. but not getting worse.

We had to wait about 30 min to get into Manual Antonio because they only allow 600 folks in the park at once..

We got in around 9:30.. not sure how long these guys had to wait.

First thing we saw was a sloth !.. This was the last thing I had to cross off my list on the trip !!!

We walked about  a mile to the beach…

We came across this troop of humans on the beach.. I was able to get a picture of them before they scattered..

Then… out came the monkeys.. eating well as always..

We grabbed a quick lunch..

Immediately the animals started to close in..

These guys were so persistent that I couldn’t shoe them away !

The monkeys grabbed our fruit juice !!!.

They finally found better fair.

The beach is beautiful..

I put out a samstone .. ok.. a samstone coated in peanut butter…

They fianlly dropped the stone.. so we threw it in the ocean…   5 minutes later it slid into Max’s hand as he playde in the Surf !.. I kept that stone.. we threw in a differnt stone.

We found one o fht eold abandoned shower stalls we’d used 12 years ago..

Max was convinced it was an alien abduction device.. I think he was right.

As we headed out of the park we could see our hotel..

On the way out we had to wade across the river that sperates the park form the shore.. this sign didn’t make walking through the mucky water too appealing..

It was just an amazing visit.. so many animals.. wonderful beaches.. It was the perfect place to be..

We stopped for a quick ceviche on the way out.. yummmmmm !  That was seriously the last thing on my ‘must do’ list for this trip.

As we sat there.. I remember that we parked here in 98.. we picked up mangoes here..

Then we walked up hill.. slowly..

OK.. out we go to dinner now..   great day…

later folks.. later sam..
-me

I’ll always remember these guys !

Osa to Piedras Blancas

Hasty post from deep in the rainforest.. We left beautiful Casa
linda this morning. Last night  the boys made dinner while diane and I pretended
to pack..

I managed to sep on a beetle  last night that was about 4  inches
long..

The size of a mouse ..  ewwwwww


This morning we got up and packed.. We signed the guest book
and put out a samstone..

This really is a magical place.

We had some spare food left over which the kids fed to the

Crabs.. Max and Gabe made a hot dog tree for Harold the Hawk

Tatiana came over to say goodbye. She’s Vickie’s daughter..
7 years old and very cute

She took this picture for us !

We said goodbye to Lynn. William. Vicky and Tatiyana.. We
loved our stay at Casa Linda.. It’s really an amazing place.. a perfect mix of
beach. Jungle, privacy and luxury.. We really recommend it to anyone looking
for  a memorable and relaxing stay..

We took off around 9:30 for the grueling 12 mile drive back
to Puerto Jiminez.. The road is really rough.. cave ins, potholes,  fallen trees

River crossings…

Mad cows.. ok.. they weren’t mad.. they were cute

Rickety bridges..

It took us about 3 hours to get ot our next hotel..Finca
Bellivista.. a treehouse nearly 90 feet in the air.. We were greated by their
blind bulldog, Kimbo…

It was pouring as we loaded up to go to our treehouse.. it
turned out to be a 15 minute pretty intense hike.. we weren’t prepared for
that.. we had some backpacks.. but we were carrying shopping bags.. we were
pooped by the time we got to the treehouse..

The treehouse is beautiful ..and/but.. very isolated.. we’re
the only ones here except jeff the caretaker about 15 minutes walk away.. We’re
deep in the woods, not too many animals.. no views.. it’s feeling pretty creepy
now..

We’re reserving judgment.. on how long we’ll stay..

For now it’s an amazing building !  Here’s the walkway to
the treehouse

Here’s the kitchen

And here’s the main house.. 90 feet in the air..

Here’s the porch up there..

And the master bedroom.

And here am I..

We’re all feeling quiet and subdued here in the woods.. peaceful..
and a little sad..

Lets see what tomorrow brings..

Night everyone.. night Sam

-me

Even more osa

Another fantastic, restful day.  It’s fun to see all four of
us decompress and fall into

A slower pace. We’ve spent hours today just hanging out on
the porch talking.. all four of us.. it feels so good.

Last night was out big night out.. in fact.. we consciously have
decided not to try and do to much sightseeing or socializing.. Last night was
the farmers market Buena Esparanza.. about 15 minutes up the road….  It was
pouring when we set out.. but it was fun to walk in the rain .

We had to cross a foot bridge complete with troll

the whole peninsula seemed to be at the market.. it took
place in a restraint,/ bar with a dj !.. I think there were about 30 folks
there…  (and that is  most of the peninsula)

This woman was selling homemade ice crème.. Ben/Jerry.. I you’re
reading this.. she was using your recipe book. She told me she got a laugh out
of your comment about saving spare egg whites so you can throw them away
later..  There ladies were selling homemade Kailua and chocolate.. yum
!


We had a lovely dinner (only our second dine out dinner of
the trip)..

Then walked back through the jingle in the dark.. pretty
cool and spooky..

This morning we were wakened by the  sound of Two-cans (ok..
it’s funnier when you heard it aloud)

We spent a good part of the day sea kayaking .. I couldn’t
bring my camera

It was  awesome !!!   It was like surfing. We could ride the
waves all the way across the beach..  I had a samstone in my bow and let the
waves take it when they wanted it.. they took the samstone and tumped me over but
good !.  

We all came in when it started ot rain around  noon.. we had
another huge meal..

Pizza… guacamole, hummus, cucumbers. Garlic bread, brownies..
then a nap !

The rain let up around 3 so Diane and I took a walk down the
beach.. There are amazing rock formations.. and the jungle looks right out of Jurassic
park !

We hiked to this place where the Carbonera river hits the
sea.. there’s a small fresh water pool you can swim in as you look at the
waves.. I think we say 4 other people on our entire walk.. This is really
paradise.


All day we’ve been watching the monkeys and macaws.. We had
one Macaw that sat right off our porch  and watched us during the afternoon…

And.. our friend Harold the Hawk kept a constant vigil on
our compost pile.. He’s a beautiful and constant presence in our lives here.


OK.. this is our last day in Osa.. It’s been a wonderful
stay.. tomorrow we head to Piedras Blancas and the treehouses..   . I’m going
to see if I can find some wireless to stral so I can post these entires.. It’s weird
being this offline..

More tomorrow..

Nite all.. nite Sam

-me

More osa

another late post../. done offline so may not be correct with pictures

Day 4.. or is it 5 of our vacation.. I think it’s a good
sign I don’t know which..

We woke early after about 10 hours of sleep.. Diane made banana
crepes..for breakfast.. Yum !!!!

The kids got surfboards and headed off to the beach while
diane and I headed off for a long leisurely explore…

We
passed our friend William hacking at stuff with his machete.. which seems to be
the national pastime.. I’m pretty sure it’s very satisfying to do ..

Once again.. we were surrounded by sights and sounds of the
jungle…

The trees in one part of the trail were covered with this beautiful
vine..

Then we ducked into the forest and hiked to King Louie Falls. 100 feet tall !

Check out the size of this bug !!!!!!

We hiked all the way down to the tip of the peninsula where

the gulf meets the pacific.. here’s the tip.. with Panama in the background ..

By the time we got back the kids were home too.. The four of
us  spent about 4 hours just hanging on the porch..   it was heavenly..

Gabe and I took a break from our break to go build a man on
the beach.. Hey.. that’s what burners do..


We saw SO many monkeys today.. Here are a few pics… I can
just watch them for hours !


These guys are Capuchins.. so cute !!!

OK.. now it’s pouring.. and were heading to the farmers
market.. more later…

Nite all.. nite Sam

-me