La Cuenta por favor

We have been to Costa Rica many times and to Panama a couple of times and the thing that always mystifies us is what happens once you ask for the check. The meal is over, we had great service, we ask nicely in Spanish, "  La Cuenta por favor" and then everything comes to a stand still. The server no longer is anywhere to be found or if passing by does not even look our way. We sit and wait, sometimes for 30 minutes before catching the servers attention once more. We are starting to think maybe  it is the way in which we say it. Are we are not saying it correctly? Is it just us or others having the same issue?

While is Samara it happened again. We had drinks, apps, dinner, and then said very nicely La Cuenta por favor ." Once again we sat. What we noticed while waiting was other people are getting up and paying at the bar. So we did the same. The rest of the week we tried this new system of paying the bill at he bar or cash register and it worked. Everyone seemed to be good with this.

In reading a book on Costa Rica I came to learn this is exactly how it should be done in most restaurants and definitely in the Soda’s, which are local family run places all around the country.

Who knew?

Cuisine by Miguel in Samara, Costa Rica

The owner of the house suggested that we have dinner at Miguel's  one night. He usually cooks on Sunday evenings but when we called he was full but would be happy to cook for us on Monday. 

  Dinner was set for 6:00pm . We walked down the beach to his house where we were greeted by his wife Sarah welcoming us in. Miguel is a taxi driver from Berlin, Germany who came to Costa Rica 16 years ago. Sarah visited 4 years ago from Florida and the 2 meet on her first day in Samara. They live in a 4 bedroom house on the beach with her son and rent the other 2 bedrooms through Air B & B. Miguel loves to cook and hosts dinners for $10.00  per person for a 3 or 4 course meal for up to 20 people.

 

Laundry day in Samara

In picking a house there are a few things that are important to us. First of course is location, beach preferably but if there view of water that is just as good. The house has to have wifi. This allows us to work while being way for a long periods time plus  I like to be connected. I have had some pretty amazing office space views over the years. 

 Next is a washing machine. I love being able to do my wash.

 Most everything else I can make due with but being able to do wash is a must.  

 Today is wash day. There isn't a dryer but something even better a clothes line.

 

Hanging clothes out to dry is not something you see much of anymore. 

 

The man loves a clothes line.
He pretty much makes one everywhere we go using anything he can hung clothes on.
TV's included.

Clothes pins have become part of our travel essentials. 

We got it all here beach, wifi, view, & washer, Happy Day!! 

Playa Samara

The front yard

We picked Samara after reading it was a quiet, mostly undeveloped little beach town with a great swimming beach. This sounded just what we were looking to spend a week and explore the other beach towns to the north & south of Samara. 

 We rented a house on the beach in a mostly Tico neighborhood, walking distance to town. 

 The house was originally designed as 2 units a upper & lower house but the owner decided it was best to rent as one. It was a little funky as both downstairs & upstairs were pretty much the same, 1 bedroom, bathroom, living area with full kitchen, & porch. Both have their own entrance.

Driving in Costa Rica is all part of the adventure

It was hard to leave this wonderful spot on top of the hill in Senderos De Paz, Manzanillo. We really enjoyed our stay here but it was time to move to the next location.

We are going just up the coast, 26 miles to Samara. Sounds easy right?

There are 3 kinds of roads in this area, paved (black) , unpaved (yellow)  which are gravel, dirt roads full of potholes, and trails (red) which is pretty much what you would think a trail is.

never know what is coming around the bend

 A trail is a single lane, unpaved road full of rocks and holes.  Both unpaved roads and trails can take you across rivers

Dining in Manzanillo, Costa Rica

On this trip since we are going to be away so long we cannot go out to eat all the time plus it is why we rent houses with kitchens. That being said we did end up going out all but one of the nights, which was one of the highlights of our week’s stay at Villa Cocobolo.

 Instead of going out to a restaurant we had a BBQ by the pool with Trey the owner, his girlfriend Jaclyn, along with Trey’s friend Kyle and his family who were also staying here. It was lot of fun  getting to know new people, listening to their stories, and sharing travel adventures.

All about surfing

Playa Hermosa

We are staying in the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula which is made up of small towns, plenty of beach, lots of wildlife, and plenty of activities.

The beaches are wild, long and you can walk for miles if you have the energy in the hot sun.
I believe it is possible to walk from Manzanillo all the way to Mal Pais.

 The beaches are beautiful but what draws most of the people here are the waves. Life in the towns of Santa Teresa, Mal Pais, and Manzanillo all revolves around surfing.

Everyone surfs or at least gives it a try. There are many surf camps plus lots of locals that give lessons.

I did not try to surf here but was just as happy watching from under a palm tree. Maybe I will get a board in the upcoming weeks I will give it a try again.

The beaches of Montezuma

A great place to spend a day is the small village of Montezuma. There is plenty to do here, you can climb a waterfall, do some shopping, get a bite to eat at a local soda, or just soak up some sun on the beach

The ocean is really calm making it great to swim.

 

Senderos De Paz, Manzanillo, Costa Rica

Which means Paths of Peace in Spanish

 

 

We are renting wonderful ocean view villa, villa Cocobolo within this 7 acre oasis of Senderos De Paz. 

The villa has 2 floors, living space on the lower floor, which opens to a nice patio and a pool. The upper floor is the bedroom which also has a nice porch. The villa is very comfortable and we are enjoying the views, nature, and the pool.

We have lots of visitors to the trees around the pool and above the house. I am enjoying seeing the howler monkeys everyday.

This is the perfect location to explore all the beaches and towns in the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. Each night we are have fantastic sunsets.

    

The quest for Beach Chairs in Costa Rica

Growing up in the Northeast part of the United States, spending summers at New Jersey shore I have become used to a beach chair.  Everyone has a beach chair along with all sorts of other items people think they need for a day at the beach, umbrellas, beach toys, blankets, towels, food, drinks, tents, radio, boogie boards, now all loaded up in a beach cart to get all your stuff there.

   Traveling around the world I have noticed most places people come to the beach with very little & do not use chairs rather sit on a towel or sarong. Sure many are traveling so do not have all the items but even locals do not pack with them what we in New Jersey think we need for a day at the beach.

Howler Monkey Drama in Manzanillo

The house we are staying is on 7 acres and has a troop of resident howler monkeys that seem to stay right around the area. We saw them the first day we arrived in the trees right off the pool. There was 1 old male, 8 females, 3 of which were carrying a baby, and a single male that stayed apart from the troop.

 On the second day I noticed the male had split apart from the troop and was mostly staying in the trees by the right of the house. The troop went back and forth in the canopy in front of the house and to the left.

Ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera

After a couple days relaxing pool side in Los Suenos it was time to get the adventure started. We are going to spend the next month exploring the Nicoya Peninsula.

The best way to get there from Herradura is by ferry. The ferry leaves out of Puntarenas at 5:00am, 9:00am, 11:00am, 2:00pm, and 5:00pm. There are no reservations you just arrive and get in line. Not knowing how large the ferry is plus it is Saturday we thought best try for the 9:00am that way if we can not get on we have options.

Los Suenos Reosrt & Marina, Herradura Costa Rica

As a travel agent one of the places I wanted to check out is Los Suenos Resort & Marina. It is located in the Central Pacific Coast just before Jaco and about an 1 1/2 from San Jose airport making it a good location to start our trip here.

Costa Rica

A few weeks ago as I was getting ready for our upcoming trip to Costa Rica and my Mother asked me why do you keep going back?  Haven't you seen everything yet? First how could you possibly see everything or experience all that this small country has to offer in just a few trips. Second,  I explained to her that it is not about seeing everything it is about a way of life. Pura Vida as the tico's say, pure living, good life and it truly is for those who embrace the experience.
Costa Rica is a place I fell in love with long before I arrived 12 years ago. Then once here it became a place I keep longing to return to, each time staying just a little longer then the last.

Now we are back!!!