Number 14   

 Jam Packed Weekend of Fun

Costa Rica is a tourist’s dream.  There are so many things to see and do it’s hard to know where to start. Roger and I had a great opportunity this weekend to become tourists for 2 days. Thanks to James Michael Tanzini, Kimberly Jo and especially Guido for a weekend to remember.  We never would have done so much without our personal “tour guides”. 

Saturday began with a trip over to the Pacific coast (which is a little more than 1 hour drive from San Jose) and a visit to the seashore town of Jaco.  Jaco’s climate is normally humid, with a high relative humidity so we felt like we were back in Florida.  This was our second trip to Jaco.  We had previously drove there in October but we just looked it over and left.  It is amazing how much more you will see when you travel with someone that knows what the area has to offer.  In October, we drove over a bridge and saw people lined up on the bridge looking over.  We said, “What the heck are these people looking at”, well now we know.  Along the entire river’s edge are crocodiles. It is worth a stop to see them.  

We left the car at a small tourist stop just before the bridge in Tarcoles.  They make the most incredible smoothies.  They encourage you to try the smoothie with a couple of shots of rum.  Roger did, I didn’t, but fresh smoothies at worth the stop.

We made our way into Jaco and pulled down a road that ended facing the Pacific.  James and Guido wanted to boogie board so they were left to play.  I got my first opportunity to put my feet into the ocean.  The water was extremely warm.  But I will say I was not prepared for the temperature of the sand as I ran back to the car bare footed, yikes it was hot.

Kimberly, Roger and I made our way to the Croc’s Casino and Resort that has been open for just 2 months.  It is a full service casino with lots of slots and the usual table games.  Yes, I did try my luck at the slots (which only take Dollars).  The casino has people to help you understand the game you are playing.  I had a young man that was most eager to help.  After I turned my $20 into $50, he even told me to stop and cash out.  So I went home a winner.

On Sunday, we started off early for La Paz Waterfall and Gardens. La Paz has over 70 acres of wildlife and forest to explore.  It was Guido’s Birthday present from his parents.  The road trip was a typical driving adventure.  I know one thing for sure, Roger and I would still be driving those roads and asking Ticos for directions.  The people of Costa Rica want nothing more than to help.  So if they do not know the correct directions, they will “help” anyway.  We stopped 4 times, the first man suggested we go all the way back to San Jose and start again.  We found it but we are convinced we might never be able to find it a second time.

Admission to La Paz is priced at $40 per person, it is expensive but well worth the experience.  There are hiking trails and clearly marked paths to follow.  Before you get to the waterfalls there are several live exhibits of animals of Costa Rica.  It is very interactive so you go inside the exhibits and are part of the habitat of the animals.  There are houses that have birds, butterflies, monkeys, hummingbirds, snakes, frogs and jungle cats.  Then you can make your way up to the Waterfalls.  The paved trails allow you to walk above, below and right next to 5 waterfalls.

 After a long, great day of experiences, we made our way home to an early bedtime. Pura Vida.