Good Bye Pacific Ocean!

Tuesday we were up early, packed and down for our last buffet breakfast :(  We checked out at 11, but our bus wasn't due until 2pm.  We took a long stroll down the amazing beach, sucking back the ocean smell and letting the sand squish between our toes.  We walked all the way up to the river, there were a lot of little boats there - waiting to take people up the river into the mangroves- wish we had, had time to do that! (next time!)  Then we ambled back in to town, had a subway lunch and waited for the bus. It  arrived as always on time. Our 5 hour trek to San Jose had begun.  Thank goodness for audio books and music.  It was a long winding road- going through many mountain passes and passing by many pineapple and banana trucks. We arrived at around 7 at night at the Adventure Inn!  The room was huge and a little stark- not that we were staying long.  The hotel had a restaurant thank goodness as we were staving by this time and had not really had any stops on the way other than a bus change over! We had a mediocre dinner and then to bed, as we had to be up at 4am for our 7am flight home!

 We were a little concerned about the connections home as we had 2 stops- first stop Atlanta and then on to St Paul; we had originally booked it coming home through LA, but the flight were changed a few days before we had left. Our St Paul connection was only 45 mins- yikes.  Thankfully, as we were flying Delta al the way - we were fine and made all the flights.  Flying into Atlanta and St Paul though was crazy - as there was snow on the ground, they sure have had a hard winter.

So many different landscapes in this small country.

On the long bus ride.

Snow in St Paul!

Waiting for the bus!

So hot!

Monday March 24th, we headed in to town for a little bit of shopping.  It was so hot , and we didn’t let too long before we had to find some relief at the pool.  Our first stop in town was at the grocery store for some cold drinks.  Then we ambled around, bought some souvenirs - t-shirts for the girls and some knick knacks for all.  Frank got a hat and other treats.  We really didn't last too long as it was so hot!  This is a pretty neat laid back town, enough stores and restaurants for variety, but not too big and touristy. Back at the pool and some beach time- this is really the life! Another wonderfully lazy day. We had a later diner - deciding on one of the more expensive places in town, an Argentine grill called Patagonia.  The meal was not too bad- expensive (roughly $100) but not bad, the dessert was delish.  Our last night in Tamarindo- we will come back one day!

Sun and Surf

Another gorgeous day!  Frank and Danica rented surf boards for the day and Delaney and I hung our poolside and soaked up the sun.  Frank and Dani soaked up so much they were burnt to a crisp out on the ocean- ouch! Frank who usually doesn't burn couldn't even move after the heat of the day!  Delaney and I played ball in the pool and just chilled, it was a perfectly gorgeous day to do not much.  We had fun with the Iguanas at the pool too. After all that relaxing at the pool, Delaney and I took a beautiful sunset walk along the beach.  We collected some pretty shells and caught another stunning sunset over the Pacific. For dinner we tried one of the restaurants on the hotel grounds- Nari pizza and pasta!The girls were so tired and sunburnt. They had a quick dinner and then went back to the room, while Frank and I went for a drink in the hotel bar, nothing quite like sitting under a gorgeous pacific moon and enjoying the breeze.

ATV Day- Saturday March 22nd

Saturday was another gorgeous hot day.  We had a chill morning, followed by a 3pm ATV ride to Playa Cochelles.  That was our favourite adventure so far- but so dusty! We got to ride tandem on the ATV's- me and Danica and Frank and Delaney. The ride started off on the main roads, which scared me a little I have to say.  But once we were out of town, it was incredible to be riding all over.  We stopped and made faces at some howler monkeys along the way. Making our way to the most gorgeous beach, we rode by a couple of wedding's on the beac (feeling a little guilty with the noisy ATV's).  We made a pit stop for a pop and a gorgeous ocean view.  Then we headed back and after our ride- we were so covered in dirt it was insane. We got cleaned up at the hotel and then we had heard about this local place to eat- FT's, the build your own burrito's were a hit- HUGE and so yummy.  Maybe one of the best eats do far? After another day filled with adventure and sun we were hotel bound and pooped.  I love this place!