Back in Costa Rica
So you say you like the cold, you like snow, you like the challenge of driving in whiteouts and trying to stay out of the ditch. More power to you, brother! The little woman and I smelled snow and headed down to Costa Rica for a couple of months until this foolishness is over. Yeah we both enjoy a little snow and even a little cold but it’s sure nice to be sitting here, drinking a Cape Cod and the biggest decision is SPF 20 or SPF 50.
This is our 3rd trip to Costa Rica and so far, wonderful. We rented a 4-bedroom home with a pool in the Naranjo area. Somewhat a jungle but with lots of beaches that doesn’t really draw a lot of tourists. Damn tourists, spoil everything!
Flew down on United and even though I’ve said some pretty bad things about United, all true and warranted, this trip was pretty easy. Oh yeah, we flew business class so we got to do those cool things like get on the plane first, don’t make eye contact with the cattle moving their way to the back of the plane, and yes I think I will have a drink while these others are boarding, make it a Cape Cod! Hell, I’m having alcohol and you haven’t even found your seat! Keep moving Economy class!
Arrived at Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport early evening and went through customs in a flash. About 35 minutes for the whole enchilada and out to the arrivals lobby to find our ride to the hotel. The Hilton has a new hotel just about 1Km from the airport so we decided to stay there. Nice place, clean, modern, and friendly staff. Prices were reasonable as well. The room was $134.00USD and was pretty much like any other hotel room. Hit the breakfast buffet the next morning, ~$12USD each, or we could have had the continental breakfast for ~$6.00USD.
So, getting to Enterprise from the hotel should be simple, less than 3/10ths of a mile. Called the number as instructed and asked for a pickup at 9:30am, about 2hrs notice. At 10:05am, I tried to call again and find out why no one picked us up. After 6 calls to Enterprise I finally got a live person who was very apologetic about ignoring us. The van was there to pick us up within 5 minutes! And Collette says swearing isn’t effective!
Anyway, went through the usual rental car dance, “senior, you know you have minimal insurance on your car. You could be liable for thousands of dollars if you have an accident, or you could pay me thousands of dollars now just in case you have an accident.” Well, no thanks for the opportunity to spend more money but my coverage is fine. A thorough, very thorough walk around the car and off to Playa Naranjo but first, the grocery store.
After a quick 90 minutes in a sweltering store, we load the car with so many groceries we got an email from Bono thanking us for helping the economy of Costa Rica. Now off to Playa Naranjo.
Bit of a drive, ~2hrs through lots of small towns dodging tractors, sugar cane trucks, semis, bicycles, mopeds and pedestrians. We arrive at the “resort”. Well, development not resort, of 25 homes in the jungle. Check in with Caroline, wonderful Bavarian woman who has been helping me throughout the rental process, and up to the house. The road leaves a little to be desired, all dirt and hasn’t been graded or smoothed since they built the homes, a few years ago. Come on 4-wheel drive!
The house is just as advertised, 4-bedrooms, 3-baths, AC, pool, etc. Nice view, nicer pool. And oh yeah, HOT! The house had been closed up for some time so it was like a convection oven when we came in. We checked everything out with Caroline, how to turn on and off all the important utilities and appliances, and where to find her when we forget.
Unpacked the wardrobe, turned on every fan we could find and headed for the pool. Beautiful and relaxing but all we could think about was missing the snow, cold, driving on the ice…………………Not!
End the day with a couple of Cape Cods and cooling off in the pool.