KTMusings

Last night we had one of our favorite dinners...we first stopped at a place that turned out to be Mexican, which neither of us was really in the mood for, so we just had a drink there. Then we went a few doors down to an Italian place I'd heard was good. Turns out I'd heard right. Jeff had pizza, I had pasta (and fulfilled a huge craving I'd been having for red sauce...I think I'm low on sodium with all the sweating, cause that's all I've been craving!). And our waiter was fantastic...younger guy who was very chatty. I asked if they learned English in school and he said "no, you are my teachers!" Anyway, they gave us brueschetta on the house, so we left a huge tip since he'd been so fun to talk to. So, either he thinks we left a nice tip or can't convert colones to dollars correctly :) Today we left the hotel around 1030 for our atv tour. I just made coffee and read in bed before then while Jeff slept in. There were just three of us in our gro...

Zip lining. Was. Incredible. Easily one of the top five coolest things I've ever done! We went to the Lava Lounge for dinner last night. They had incredible nachos! I wasn't feeling great over dinner, so I crashed with two sleeping pills when we got home. I was nervous for today and wanted to sleep. I still didn't sleep great (and had crazy dreams about taking Grammy to church and her sliding off the pews...??). Anyway, wake-up call at 630 (Jeff was a barrel of fun at that time, let me tell ya) and the van came to get us at 7...only it didn't come for us, it came for another couple and there was lots of confusion about our reservation. It took a while to get it sorted out, but it all ended up working out well. We started at 8 with the zip lines with the other couple from our hotel. All the guys working the platforms rode up on the tram with us, we were definitely the first to go. They get you in gear, then you take the tram to the top, and then you see this crazy long...

I think it was actually 460ish, but regardless, it was a lot! We started the day chatting with a couple from Milwaukee while waiting for our car at the hotel...small world. Then back into La Fortuna for breakfast, this time at Gecko's Gourmet...I had a breakfast sandwich with egg, bacon, avocado, and Jeff had a breakfast burrito, both were excellent! Then we headed out of town to the waterfall. There were varying degrees of stairs on the way down...from metal to poured concrete, to mud. Took maybe 15 min to hike down, then had great views of the waterfall. We also saw some zip lines (likely the ones we'll be on tomorrow) but never saw anyone go on them. It was sunny today, so it was awfully humid. The hike back up was tough and sweaty :) We spent a few hours in the pool when we got back. Heading out to dinner in a little bit...not sure where yet, just heading into town. Last night we ate at El Novillo, just up the road from our hotel...Jeff had a burger, I had the steak spec...

Slept like a log last night! Today we headed into La Fortuna and had breakfast at My Coffee. Then we walked through some touristy stores...I'm looking for a mug Kerri wants to replace (one she got down here and broke). We didn't have luck with that, but I got some cool earrings made out of Costa Rican money and Jeff bought cigars. Then we tried to find the waterfall, but didn't (think it might be in the other side of town, we'll try again tomorrow), so we went to the national park instead. We hiked around for over an hour and a half, but you're in the rain forest basically the whole time, so there's not too much to see other than lots of trees and ferns. There was one spot we hiked up some stairs to an old lava flow and could see out to Lake Arenal, but the volcano was blocked by lots of clouds today. There was also a huge old tree they estimate to be over 400 years old. After we got back we walked over to the hot pools. Tried a few of the different pools, di...

Dinner last night was good, we ate at the gourmet place and both enjoyed it. Then to the casino for the last time. Our table was pretty rowdy and it was a fun night. We slept in this morning, packed, and hit the road around noon. We stopped at the McDonald's in Liberia for lunch. The road construction on Route 1 is really a pain...glad we just have to drive it one more time (on our way to the airport). Once we got off there, though, things were pretty windy. Mostly when we got near Lake Arenal, where you're constantly turning and winding up and down in the hills around the lake. Beautiful views. This hotel is very nice ...they great you at your car, get you checked in, then put you and your luggage in a golf cart to get you to your room. Snapped this pic of our new view! We didn't explore the resort yet...relaxed and just got back from dinner at the resort. Dinner was delicious - we shared crab cakes, Jeff had seafood linguine, I had scallops. We shared a bottle of wine t...

Jeff's doing laundry again since it's our last day here. I helped by spot treating a few shirts. He threw everything in the tub and turned on the jets :) Last night was a Japanese restaurant for dinner...everything was very good, from the sushi appetizers to deep fried ice cream for dessert. We went to the casino, but only for an hour or so...each came out ahead again. After Jeff finishes his rinse cycle :) we're heading to the pool. I was up early this morning...walked the beach around 7 am, had breakfast, finished my book (Outlander series book 3, Dana). Dinner tonight at the "fusion gourmet" restaurant, whatever that means! Then we'll have eaten at them all.

A few pics of the pool, beach and hotel...our view for today. And my date, who doesn't like to be photographed.

We had the late seating for dinner last night at the steak house. Dinner was fine...salad and seafood apps, then we each got the surf and turf and I gave most of my lobster to Jeff. After dinner we went to the casino...where we had been breaking even so far over the course of two nights...and I left up $200 and Jeff up $600. We closed the place down last night and my 230 bedtime was by far the latest I've been up since we got here :) Saturday today, right? I love not really knowing :) It's amazing to think we have an entire week left!

Pretty sure I just did a drug deal...in AD drugs. I stopped by the shop we bought sun screen at the other day (for FORTY dollars, egads!) for some meds for Jeff since its been three days he's been sick. The guy said they didn't have anything for traveler's diarrhea, but if I came back at 2 his buddy working the next shift would have something...so I did. Spent a couple hours at the pool by myself and then walked to the store, expecting to pay $20+, but it cost two bucks for four pills and Jeff seems to be on the mend. The guy really did just being a sheet of meds and cut off for tablets for me, though, so it was interesting. They pool waiter knew our drink (pina colada) when we went back this afternoon :) We are off to dinner shortly...

Long day of driving yesterday but uneventful. We got to the RIU right at 3 for check in time. Got settled in and then walked around the property to check it out. 5 restaurants, 4 pools, casino, theater...big place. We had dinner at the Italian restaurant last night (one of the few that doesn't require reservations) and then Jeff played blackjack for a bit. Slept on this morning. I've been on the deck reading for a while...not nearly the view like the last hotel, but there's a nice breeze. Feels a bit likes cruise ship here...constant music and activities. We're going to see what excursions they offer and if any look appealing. Jeff is doing laundry.. in the tub :) Then we're off to walk the beach and find some lunch. He's not 100% yet but has been a good sport about eating with me.

I can imagine some very low key days here at the RIU. Yesterday we slept in and headed out around 11 for coffee and a snack. Then we walked the length of the beach here - probably a mile long, so we walked a couple miles. Lots of hotel guests down there, but los of Ticos too -many set up tents in the shade just of the beach...we couldn't figure out it they live there or just use them while at the beach. Some were catching and grilling fish right on the beach. The beach here is kind of a black sand beach...looks more like salt and pepper, though. After our walk we found chairs by the pool and sat. They have cool coverings over the rows of chairs for shade, but we found one partly pulled back so I was able to get some color. We sat for several hours, then got cleaned up for dinner. Went to the buffet last night, then to the casino for quite a while. Jeff earned back what he'd lost the night before and I pretty much broke even. Tonight we have a reservation at the steak house (J...

Yesterday at breakfast our waiter asked what we were up to for the day and we said we were just going to drive around and see what we could find. He suggested we go to the Rainmaker, a place in the rainforest that we could walk around and see waterfalls. So we looked it up and headed there. It was about a 15 minute drive up the main road back north of Quepos, but then you got on a very potholed gravel road for 7km. And by very, I mean very . It took us at least 30 minutes to drive up it. When we turned into the road we were in a palm tree farm...Jeff said it looked like a road you'd drive down to get killed (I think he's been watching too much Breaking Bad :) ). It was fascinating once we got past the palm tree farm to see the kinds of houses the locals live in. Eventually we made it to Rainmaker, paid our fee, and hiked around. The path was maybe 3km, but mostly up or down, so it was a workout! As we started Jeff said "now here's where you'd see snakes" so I...

After a few drizzles yesterday morning the weather rolled through...and left humidity even more oppressive than before! Sitting at breakfast, in the shade, not moving we were both sweating (my phone just autocorrected that to "swearing", which is also arcuate ;) ). So we decided to make it a pool day. Threw on our suits and had a prime spot by 10:30. Sitting there, even in partial shade we were still sweating (I love it!) and I said to Jeff, "I'm baking like a toasted cheeser, it's so hot here!" He stared blankly back at me do I continued: "It's too hot to play baseball, Benny!" "Fine. Then what do you want to do?" "Ohhhhh..hehehe.....ohhhhh..hehehe..." "POOL HONEYS!" "Now it wasn't really the pool honeys like we said...cause if any one of them had come up to any one of us, we'd've just peed our pants. We went because, well, because Wendy Peffercorn was the lifeguard." Apparently it'...

Yesterday after breakfast we got heavily sunscreened and headed for Manuel Antonio National Park. We paid our $10 to get in but not for a guide (they were really expensive and we figured we'd see what we could see on our own first). So Jeff got good at spotting guides stopped on the paths and scoping out what they were looking at :) We saw several sloths, two different kinds of monkeys, some birds, and a raccoon ;) We walked the paths to both beaches in the park (prob 4 or 5 miles total) and then out and back to our car...we were melting! Spent the afternoon in the pool. They have a swim up bar, so we had a few drinks, read a little, then several others from the hotel got there around 3 and we visited a bit. Sunset is around 530, so it always feels later in the night than it really is. We got cleaned up and went to dinner...first stopping at a place that turned out to be a bar (with only a bar food menu) so we sat for a drink there and chatted with the guy sitting next to us, wh...

What a gorgeous view to wake up to! As you can see, we're pretty high up on the hill. When we head to the park today we should be able to get down to the beaches. Slept like a rock after Jeff and I shared a yummy seafood platter and bottle of wine for dinner.

The day started with a 330am alarm, followed by two flights. When we landed in Liberia I realized that though they are on central time, they don't do daylight savings, so we're an hour behind you guys now. Anyway, flights were all on time, we had breakfast in Charlotte, I read an entire book and finished one I was halfway through, our bags both arrived, and customs went quickly. We found the Budget rental car guys and picked up our SUV...a Diahtzu something or other :) Jeff did all the driving and I navigated. Took us just over 4 hours to get to Quepos, but then we drove around for about 20 minutes to find our hotel. We are now waiting for the a/c to do its thing and then we'll freshen up for dinner. I assume we'll crash after that. I'll have to post a pic of our view in the morning . We may do a tour of Manuel Antonio tomorrow. There seem to be lots of fun restaurants around too. It's HOT here. And humid. And the roads are all people made them out to be :)

I don't think my inbox has *ever* been empty in my 10+ years at Epic! But it is today (at least as of when I turned off my computer 5 minutes ago) and I'm ready for sabbatical :)

One week from today we'll be packing up and heading to Milwaukee for the night before our flight to Costa Rica bright and early Saturday morning! Here's what our itinerary looks like: Saturday 4/12 : We fly from Milwaukee to Liberia , Costa Rica, arriving around 2 in the afternoon ... just in time to pick up our rental car and navigate what sounds like some crazy roads south to Quepos , near Manuel Antonio National Park . We spend 4 nights at La Mansion Inn . While we're there we'll check out the national park (supposed to have tons of monkeys and other wildlife and great beaches) and great restaurants ( sugarcane skewered shrimp , anyone?!). Wednesday 4/16 : We check out and head 5 hours north to Guanacaste. Because we heard many things will be closed over Easter weekend, we're staying at an all inclusive resort - Hotel RIU Palace on Playa Matapalo . The pool looks amazing and Jeff is excited to check out their casino. We spend 5 nights here, including Easte...

This is a mobile post test. Well, and you can see my super short new vacation-worthy 'do!