Costa Rica Trip

Trip to my Mothership: Costa Rica.

After my recent divorce, I decided to go back to my mothership.  I booked a flight ticket, made some calls, reservations and left.  My first time back at "home" as a single man since 2004.  I wasn't sure what to expect.  For some time, I kept my plans of going as private as I could. Eventually the anxiety   won and I started to post on social media my count down.  In a way, it helped me release the stress and anxiety, in the other hand, friends and family demanded time with me.  Purposely, I scheduled only three nights in my home town, to enjoy my self, alone and with a few ones; the chosen ones!. 

The trip was AWESOME and now I am thinking on doing it an annual thing.  We will see what the next 12 months bring.  For now, I'll share some pictures and about what my eyes captured during this retreat kind a trip.

Trip summary in video,

Heredia, Costa Rica - This is where I lived almost my entire life.

Heredia's central park.

This is my brother Josue.  Soon after he was born, I moved out of the house to live with my dad (my parents got divorced when I was 12).  So, I basically don't know the guy despite our almost daily communication. 

This picture have many special meanings; first, it's the night I flew in, single Tico is back in town!, second, Josue took me straight from the airport to his favorite bar. Wait, my little brother have a favorite bar? Damn, I felt old. Third and provably the most important and shocking one;  those 2 beers, were the first ones we have EVER drank together.  When I moved to Arizona, he wasn't old enough to drink and we never got together during my previous trips to have a "fria" (Costa Rican way to called a beer).  Little that we knew at that time, we would have many more together and enjoyed every single one.

The exception to the rule.  Go visit "Doña Luisa", grandma.  At 96 and physically not in the best shape, abuela wanted to sit on her wheelchair for a few moments to receive me.  I was planning to spend there only a couple of hours as she doesn't recognize much anymore.  Instead, I spent the entire day there talking to my uncle Victor.  A great guy that after his retirement, spends his time with Doña Luisa.  One of the highlights of my trip.

"Fofos", El Rancho de Fofo was my favorite bar during my last 2 years in Costa Rica.  This place saw the best and worse of me.  I spent endless hours (and money for that matter) in that place. Unfortunately, it was closed due to "Semana Santa" (Easter).  During Semana Santa, the sell of alcohol is prohibited by "law", however some business choose to enforce it and some choose not to.

Barva Town's Church

Barva's Town is famous for making the best mask.  They take proud of that local talent by decorating the streets with some of them, specially the ones with famous faces.

Plato mixto de bocas. This is a typical mix plate with appetizers you would order in a bar or restaurant to share.  It includes:

• Fried plantain
• Frijoles Molidos
• Steak
• Chiken
• Pork
• Sausage
• Fried cheese
• Yuca
• Corn Tortillas

Feeds 4, however, my brother and I killed it with no mercy.

San Jose, Costa Rica

Gallo Pinto

This is Costa Rica's typical breakfast; "Pinto". 

A mix of rice and beans with a sofrito made with bell peppers, onions and Salsa Lizano. A traditional Costa Rican salsa made specially for seasoning almost everything that gets cooked in Costa Rica. For real!, eggs (your choice), Costa Rican sour cream (thicker than US and Mexico ones), "a la plancha" local cheese, platano maduro (sweet plantain) and tortillas. It's a heavy meal for breakfast but easy to get used to love it.

Leon, Josue, Me

Off to the Caribbean.  A brother from another mother joined me and Josue for a few days.  Leon; Jose Leon, a high school classmate.  They drank while I was driving.  After all, somebody needed to be responsible. I was drinking coke zero as I always do while driving.

Prove, my left toe.

The guys were giving me a hard time for pulling over on almost every gas station to pee.  This due to the many cokes I was drinking.  They pushed me to pull over on the side of the road to pee like a real Tico.  I got enough of their BS and pulled over.  Well, while peeing 10 feet from the car, I got bitten by a non-poisoning snake on my left   toe.  It hurt and got me by surprise, so while still peeing, I jumped and screamed running back to the car.  Yes, I peed all over me. Once in the car, I drank a couple of beers, squeezed my toe and proved my point!  Pura Vida! (Life is Good)

Manzanillo, Limon

This is a view point in Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife and Marine Refuge.  We drove about 20 min from our little hotel, the main road (only street in Puerto Viejo pretty much) ends here, at this amazing place.  If you visit Puerto Viejo, do yourself a favor, Go There!

If your life perception doesn't change while seating there,  nothing else will do it.  It was very peaceful and quiet (other than the waves).  Seating there is when I realized that all sacrifices made to be there, were worth it.  Even the snake bite!
I can't think of a better company than my Bro to be right there at that time.

Until next time Caribbean!

While in Puerto Viejo, we meet with this couple; Ariel and Jancy.  They are friends of my brother, they tagged along and we had an amazing time together.  Life can surprise you at anytime, and you can always learn from anybody.  I don't remember laughing that much in my life than when we were all driving together to be there.  Life is Pura Vida in Costa Rica.

It took like 20 min to get this shot (top right).  We got photobombed so many times!. Our friend Ariel wanted the best shot, so he stud in the middle of the road stopping all the traffic.  I thought people were going to kill us but no, they were good sports about it.
I like to think that those signs are a good description of the Rasta Dude fishing.   

After a long drive from the Caribbean to La Fortuna, San Carlos, we checked in at Montaña de Fuego hotel, went straight to the wet bar and got freshly made, piña coladas!

The Arenal Volcano is an old friend of mine.  I used to live in Fortuna town before moving to The States.  I have seen this volcano erupt many times, day, night and everything in between.  I got to appreciate it, learned to love and respect it.  I cannot go to Costa Rica and not visit him.  Half of that mountain is covered with vegetation and the other half is covered with lava rocks and ashes. Most resorts there have access to hot springs coming directly from the volcano.  Something you definitely have to experience.

Arenal Volcano Time Lapse

You are welcome!

Ceibo tree.  The biggest tree you will find in Costa Rica.  I lived there for 25 years and never saw one. This time, a friend told me to stop there and look at it.  It is massive, green, beautiful and full of life!  It's inspiring me to plan a trip to CA to see the sequoias.

Rio Celeste, Guanacaste.  This is a river in the Tenorio Volcano National Park.  The turquoise color comes from the combination of sulfur and calcium carbonate from the volcano.  There are more to see in there, however, I ran out of time.  Noted for the next time.

Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste.  A paradise I haven't visit in a long time.  Guanacaste in my opinion have the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica.

Tamarindo town, Guanacaste.  I lived there in 2003 and enjoyed every day.  From the sunsets, the parties, people, food, bars; everything.  I had to go back! This place had a surprised planned for me.  Keep reading...

After leaving in Tucson, Arizona for so many years, I have developed a taste for Mexican food.  So, walking in Tamarindo main street looking for a beer and a bite, this sign called my attention.

Inside, I found a local micro brewing.

Bingo!

In 2006 I saw for the last time to my "brother from another mother" Javier; Tortos.  I lost contact despite of social media,  friends in common and emails.  I entered into Volcano Brewing Co. because of the nachos sign outside and voila! Javi was the bartender.  It was like the time never passed.  We catched up, he made us the BEST piña coladas EVER and party hard that night like the old times.  This was the highlight of my trip.  Te I love you en puta Tortos!  Someday I'll explain the "tortos" nick name.

Almost frozen, Agua de Pipa. No better way to drink coconut water and it doesn't get any fresher than this.  I bought it from this lady that had a pick up truck park on the side of the road.  It costed me 500 colones (local currency), which is a bit under $1.  Cheap, cold, fresh and helps the local economy, a win win if you ask me.

In "Tama", short for Tamarindo, I was lucky enough to meet this cool guy: Milton.  He is in a journey from Argentina to Alaska with his Family.  Such an inspiration!
El Viaje del Caracol.

One morning while having breakfast at Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste, I got up to get more orange juice and when I came back to the table, there it was; my food stealer!  But wait, a bird eating eggs, isn't that some kind of cannibalism?

Playa Conchal, Guanacaste.  This is one of me most amazing beaches in Costa Rica.  There is no sand, only grounded shell.  No it does not hurt to walk there barefoot.  Since there is no sand, the water is as clear as it can be.

You are Welcome!

This is where the sand and the grounded shells meet.  If you think that this is cool, you have to see it in person.  Mind blowing.

Playa Negra, Guanacaste

This gem in almost a secret beach.  It's a quiet, peaceful, lonely and beautiful.  A friend recommended me to go there, and I'm glad I did.  

My brother and I took the opportunity to enjoyed a cold local brew beer in Playa Negra.

Last sunset at the beach before heading to San Jose to fly back to The States.

Sunset Time Lapse at Flamingo Beach, Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

With this one I'll warp it here.  Costa Rica, their people, their food, their drinks, their beaches, their cities and their everything is PURA VIDA!