day81

Day 81

   We were like two children on Christmas morning waiting for Matt�s parents, Robert and Sharon, and his grandmother, Ninny. We were absurdly early to the airport and were waiting excitedly at the gate. Suddenly, there they were here and we were a mass of smiles, hugs, and constant chatting. We piled into the car and headed to Monteverde. We had bought all kinds of fruit for them, including momonchinos, which Matt enjoyed showing them how to eat.
     After a couple of hours on the road, we stopped at a cafe that sold Monteverde cheese and ice cream. We gave them a taste of where we were headed with milkshakes. Then we feasted on sandwiches of tomato, avacado, and Monteverde cheese and ham. After lunch we turned off the highway onto an unpaved, rocky, spiraling dirt road.   Matt and I had apparently gotten used to the bumping and shaking of Central American roads, but we were quickly reminded how bad they really are when we heard shrieks from the backseat.
     Once at Monteverde we realized we had mislead our guests terribly. Matt had called home from Nicaragua to say that it would be very warm and to only bring shorts. It was cold on the mountain! However, we were warmed by several cups of coffee and a brilliant sunset. The sky was a canvas of magenta, orange, and gold.
     After everyone was settled in, we begged for presents and were not disappointed. We received everything we asked for - books, running shoes for Matt, a sarong and tank tops for me, American magazines, pictures, and some home-made apple butter.

Note: We shared all expenses. For the purposes of the daily budget, the costs listed below represent our two-fifths.    Hotel -$32; Food -$22; Trans. -$26, Total -$80

Day 82

     We got an early start so that we could tour the Monteverde Cloudforest Reserve. The trail was surrounded by every imaginable shade of green. Matt had bought a book about the reserve and proved to be an excellent guide as he showed us the flora and fauna. We made our way to the Continental Divide which was Ninny�s favorite spot. This mountain range runs from Alaska to Chile. Looking across it we could see two distinctly different climates.
     After visitng the reserve we went to the Humingbird Gallery. I would not be surprised if that was the most dangerous place in the park. Dozens of hummingbirds whiz past your head at terrifiying speeds as you try to navigate throught their feeding area. They are beautiful though and of many different colors -green, yellow, orange, red, and blue. My favorite had a black body with a throat of cobalt blue and a white tail.
     For dinner, Robert requested typical Costa Rican fare so we enjoyed a dinner of chicken, rice, beans, and cabbage salad - with Monteverde ice cream for dessert, of course.

Hotel -$32; Foor -$14; Trans. -$26; Tours - entry fee $26; Total - $98

Matt�s editorial note: Monteverde is a national park and town founded by American Quakers in the 1950�s. The Quaker�s objected to the draft and were attracted to Costa Rica�s peaceful reputation (and no standing army). The reserve has grown considerably since then and is home to migratory animals and birds, exotic flowers, wild jungle, and visiting tourists.

Day 83

After breakfast, we headed to the car and drove down to Playa Samara. It didn�t take long for our conversations to show our differeing perspectives. For example, Matt and I have become jaded to breathtaking natural beauty, meat vendors in open markets, etc., while they couldn�t completely understand our enthusiasm for hot water, towels, and clean smelling clothes. However, we could all agree that once in Samara the view from the upper pool of our beachfront hotel was spectacular.
Sharon had requested seafood for dinner and we found a perfect spot. We ended the day with delicious snapper and mahi-mahi.

Hotel -$48; Food -$24; Trans -$26; Total -$98

Day 84

We began the day with a typical of breakfast of rife and beans. The day was cloudy and rainy, though, so we decided to split up. The hotel offered massages and it sounded like a perfect way for us girls to relax. Sharon treated us and we all agreed it was exceptional. Sharon and I were so entranced during our hour that we didn�t say a word. Ninny, however, returned with the therapist�s life story. She had taken a Spanish class a few years ago and continued to shock and impress us.
The boys said they went "exploring" but we believe their journey took them to a siesta and a few cervezas.

Hotel -$48; Food -$42; Trans. -$26; Total -$116

Day 85

The weather showed our guests again today that it is the rainy season. We left Samara and decided to do some shopping. We stopped in several places as we made our way back to San Jose.
For dinner, Matt had arranged a special treat. We ate at a specialty coffee house where each cup was carefully brewed before us. After dinner we were taught about the processing of the beans to create different flavors. We sampled coffee from each of Costa Rica�s growing regions and last, but not least, we indulged in a decadent coffee liquor.

Hotel -$50; Food -$30; Trans -$26; Random -gas $12; Total -$116