Mo’ Friends visit

Weather update: hot! Day temps running about 95F, little to no wind. We hear it’s been very comfortable in Colorado. How nice.

If enjoying the company of a couple of friends is good, then the company of a couple more is great!  This time Joe and Barb Skalisky came down to have a little R&R and see the many sites of Costa Rica. We started off with the usual, hang by the pool and decompress for the first day. Have a few cervezas and burn like bacon in the sun while telling all those “you remember” stories. Damn, I hope we didn’t do all those things! Anyway, fun to shoot the breeze, by the way there is none, and just relax.

Having been to CR a few times we were content to just continue to relax by the pool while Joe and Barb did the vacation thing.  Next on their agenda was a road trip to Guaitil, home of traditional pottery and Willy, the pottery king.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our first trip to CR back in 2005 we took a road trip to Guaitil and met Willy. He gave us a glass of Tamarindo juice and put on a pottery making demonstration with a potter’s wheel made from old bicycle parts and various appliance parts. Although the equipment is a little crude, he has some very nice pieces. His work is so nice that it was profiled on National Geographic’s Costa Rica 2005. What a coincidence!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joe and Barb picked up a few pieces of pottery from Willy and then headed out for Playa Samara for the rest of the day. Playa Samara is located in one of the tourist areas of CR and has several restaurants, souvenir shops and lots of beach activities. Horseback riding on the beach is one activity that the Skalisky’s had to do while in CR and Samara has it. They talked with a vendor and made plans to come back and do the beach ride on Tuesday. Now back to la casa before sunset. CR has a fairly high auto accident rate that increases exponentially when it gets dark. That night Collette made one of her absolutely fabulous dinners while Barb read and Joe and I played beer pong. Well, we forgot to bring the cups and ping-pong balls so we just drank beer. I think he won.

Monday morning and Joe and Barb are off for more adventure.  Today’s agenda includes horseback riding in the rain forest, a dip in the waterfall pool, and cruising on quads. Cost isn’t too bad if you go with the thought that you’re on vacation and where else can you soak your bum in a waterfall pool? After several hours in a saddle, probably feels pretty good. Joe’s horse also appreciated the break!  The local rental manager was able to arrange all the details, except for the ferry, so reservations were easy so was separating Joe from his cash. OK, right here I have to say that the fact that Joe actually took money out of his wallet is an unnatural phenomenon that few have ever seen, but it did happen, we saw it firsthand! Man that guy can cry!

Anyway, they said it was a fun trip, enjoyed everything except the 10 minute hike down to the waterfall. Apparently the horses don’t walk to the falls, you hike down flights of stairs. Didn’t see that in the brochure! Back to la casa and more beer pong drinking.

Having not been to Playa Samara, Collette and I joined Joe and Barb for the 2hr drive. We didn’t sign up for the horse ride on the beach so when Joe and Barb galloped off, we hit Gusto Restaurant for fish and chips and a few glasses of refreshment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nice restaurant with decent food and service and located right on the beach! Catering to the tourist crowd, English is spoken by the staff and you can pay in USD if you want. Better have a few dollars or colones cause they don’t take credit cards! Says so one the first page of the menu.  As with most tourist beaches there is the constant hawking of trinkets, pottery, etc. and strolling musicians. There are also a few “needy” souls wandering around wanting you to donate to their kids’ education. Right. Anyway, the view was great and in the shade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also found a nice business for our favorite son-in-law, Leo. Already has the sign!

 

 

 

Downtown beautiful Playa Samara.

 

On the way back we took a side trip down to the boat launch and found a few of the locals hanging out. Neat!

 

 

 

 

 

So a couple more days hanging around Roma del Mar. Pool time and some music always works.  Of course after all that sun and lounging who wants to cook so it’s dinner at the restaurant by the beach. Not a bad little place, limited menu but some great pizza! Good views of Golfo de Nicoya and the lights of Puntarenas.

Once again the week went by way too fast.  Good times, good friends, what could be better? 

Me and the misses are heading out next week to the volcano so if you don’t hear from us, it exploded.

Pura vida!