Parrita

We have enjoyed our week at a beach house on a long stretch of quiet beach.  I can sit on the front porch and watch the waves crash 100 feet away.  Might seem a little far to some, but it makes it so you can sleep without the surf keeping you awake.  We did make it here OK, travelling across the country on public transit is easy, and comfortable and cheap.  We did the whole trip for all of us for $40.  On the bus to Jaco we asked a young woman if she could suggest a place to stay, she asked us where are reservation was for, and was a little surprised to learn that we were arriving there at 10pm with kids, without one.  She suggested we get off downtown Jaco, and when we went to get our luggage an older woman said to come with her and we would stay at the same Cabina.  It turned out to be easy, clean, comfy, and had a pool for same price as some other places we have stayed that were not nearly so nice.   Again, people helping us out!

The beach here at Bejuco is big, beautiful and empty.  Many fancy homes, but not many people. the weekend picked up a bit with folks from San Jose and nearby towns for the weekend.  Folks camping out.   Some serious rip tides at times, as in Marty can't walk sideways and an eddy forms behind him, but not always.  We are learning to read the water.  I (Stacey) am getting out to walk down the beach every morning at 545 as that is the nicest time of day.  If I could get up even earlier I would!  There is an estuary a 10 min walk down the beach,  where we have gone several times to swim in the calm water, and walk in the mangroves.  The water rushes upstream like a backwards river when the tide comes in.  The water is so warm, getting cold is never an issue.  Did not need to bring Jorja's wetsuit!  Well, not yet anyways.  Its a 15 min walk to the tienda where we can buy enough food, even if it is a little more costly than in Parita which is a 20 min bus ride away.  Way cheaper to cook our own rice an beans rather than eat out. 

On Sunday, Shirley, who is one of the caretakers of the property we are staying at, asked if we wanted to go fishing.  Of course!!  Luis (Shirley`s husband) and Ronnie (family friend) had caught a bunch of shrimp (calazone) to use for bait, and we headed to the estuary with them and Shirley and her 5 year old Bradley.  Marty and Caleb fished with Luis and Ronnie and Jorja and I hung out in the calm waters with Shirley and Bradley.  Marty and the others had to swim back after fishing when the tide had come in.  We were invited to their place to have delicious pork and pineapple shishkabobs.  Yumm.  We have met up again, so kids could play, and she brought us rice pudding this morning.  Shirley came to Costa Rica as a six year old and never left.  Her daughter Ashley is 17 and works at the hotel down he road as she speaks great English and is considering a career in tourism or executive management. At her school hey spend part of heir day working o specialty courses and will graduate with courses in a certain field to give them a head start at college. I’d say Shirley and her family are a pretty good example of the contented people that National Geographic said we would find in Costa Rica (recent issue - Costa Rica is one of the happiest countries in the world).

Ronnie gave Caleb a surfing lesson the next day, and Caleb figured it out fast.  I tried surfing the next day, and not quite the same learning curve.  I suppose it is consolation that it is not a learner's board (6'6" and narrow - and slippery and tippy!!).  We rented the board from him today and Caleb continues to improve and I have been able to stand up a few times!  It is fun to learn when it's warm, and the pelicans are surfing the waves ahead of me.  I don't know if I could ever get past the surf, and onto it, but I'm glad Caleb is having a chance at it. 

We head out tommorrow. Off to Quepos were we will rent a 4x4 Jimney for a week and do some  exploring.  We have made it over the hump of "why are we here for so long, what can I possibly do for so long, it is so flippin' hot - +30 every day" and even Marty claims to be enjoying himself.  We do actually get some school work done, and with one of us near by, our 11 year old son can actually finish some work in a reasonable amount of time!!   We will be travelling without a tent,  and I'm not so certain of how we are going to find a place to stay each night!  Keep in touch!Read more