Dia Dos...

Sorry for the delay folks, uploading pictures in Costa Rica takes time....

This group on our trip is made up of 5 girls and 2 guys. Everyone is great, and we get along well. We split into two groups usually, the girls and the guys. Us gals pal around and do our thing, while the guys hang back and do their own thing. Their own thing is usually TV, and pool and cigars. All very manly things. Included in their thing is making up a new name for me. To the guys, I’m Victoria…or Veronica… or Vickie. NO CLUE WHY. Night one in the pool they decided I was not a Sara, but rather one of their V-names. So around the house I answer to Sara, or any names starting with the letter V.

The boys

Doc is one of the gals. Well, duh, that is not her real name, but I like to protect the innocent. Anyway Doc gave us all a really good laugh on the morning of day two. At some point Doc was getting annoyed with the mosquitoes and decided to spray herself down. She grabbed what she thought was the bug spray and headed into the open air corridor. She walked back into the kitchen and living room area with the strangest look on her face. She brought me the bottle, as I am the quasi group translator. She asked, “Is this bug spray or Raid?” I took one look at that bottle, and a whiff of her stench and knew she was not going to like the answer. Doc had just given herself a Raid spray bath. Raid, the cockroach spray was now covering every inch of her exposed skin. She immediately headed for the shower while we all laughed our asses off. And since we have managed to only use the actual bug spray.
　
So on day two after our nice morning run, cross fit workout, and Doc’s Raid bath, we loaded up and headed to town to lay on the beach. We found the perfect spot just down from Copacabana, our night one dinner spot. This particular place had lounge chairs out on the beach and tables then an open air restaurant. We all claimed our loungers and got to ordering drinks. We asked the sweet Costa Rican waitress what special they had and she explained their signature Watermelon Caprininas. That is a Brazilian Margarita made with Watermelon juice and lime. IT WAS FANTASTIC. We ordered several.

While laying on the beach enjoying our drinks we saw an array of interesting beach activities and beach people. The first was something we saw straight ahead of us near the water. It looked to be a human passed out face-down on the sand. This person or thing was not moving. We watched our “dead guy” for an hour or two, when all of a sudden we looked at up and he was gone. We searched around a little but saw no trace of him. It was very strange, but also reassuring to know he was not really dead.

A little further down the beach McGruber noticed an old, beat-up Toyota 4-Runner speed up to the water and back up as though it was backing into the ocean. It stopped just before getting into the waist deep water. Then a small motor boat approached it quickly. Several Costa Rican looking men unloaded enough storage bins to fill the back of the car, then sped back out into the water. Obviously the only explanation we could think of was some international, high stakes drug deal. Maybe it was some kind of harmless swap of fish and other seafood, or maybe even provisions from one of the boats in the harbor, but none of those options are as exciting as our drug deal boat theory.

Next to us was a more hilarious find. It was a sweet little Italian family. We could tell they were Italian by their accents. They all laid around on small towels, and when the children got hungry the mom took them to go get food. The father stayed behind. I’m not sure if he just did not want to lay on the sand or if he was tired of laying and sitting for so long before, but the ENTIRE time his family was gone he stood next to their belongings on the ground. He just stood there, shirtless. Shirtless, but covered. See, his body hair, not just chest hair and back hair but body hair was thick and all-covering. The only thing I could think of when my eyes wandered that way was a hairy buffalo on the National Geographic Channel. It was a very funny scene. A large Italian man, covered in hair just standing among a few towels and bags, by himself for at least half an hour. Good entertainment to go along with those yummy drinks.

While we were checking out all these different people and situations on the beach, we noticed behind us the sky was looking very dark. Within minutes the clouds were upon us and the afternoon rainstorms were imminent. The rain began soft and refreshing. We honestly didn’t even notice it at first. It was like a cool mist hitting us. As it got a little bit harder we decided to beat the down pour and head back onto the town street to find some lunch.

So no rain in this picture but nno long after these blues skies, there were clouds and a soft cool mist before a downpour!

McGruber and I stumbled upon a fun looking Italian deli. It was called Buon Apetito. The couple behind the counter were obviously the owners and more than welcoming. We ordered up the Smoked Proscuito and Mushroom Pizza and two Mexican cokes. While we waited the afternoon rainstorms blew through and even knocked out the power for a few minutes. Nothing phased us though, especially when the steaming hot, rectangular pizza arrived. It was so delicious. As we finished our eye kept wandering over to the deli counter that had displayed in the case below, desserts. We haggled with one another for a few minutes deciding between the Chocolate Tart or Banana Cake. The Banana Cake won. It was the perfect lunch.

When we all got back to the house we decided to take naps. After the intense sun (being closer to the equator and all) the alcohol and big lunch, this nap was one for the books. I didn’t seem tired but when I woke up, it was as though I was a hibernating bear awaking from a Winter in my cave. Only an hour, but it was so rejuvenating. It was absolutely an epic nap.

The only draw back was the temperature of our room. It seemed a little warm. No big deal though, we turned the air down and headed to the kitchen and living room area to hang out with the group and make dinner. After a feast of chicken and burgers and steamed veggies we watched the end of the Cowboys game. Blah. Anyway close to bedtime we decided to check the room. It was blistering. Clearly the AC failed. McGruber tried and tried to get it going again but to no avail. We would be sleeping on the couches that night. Luckily they were super comfy couches and it didn’t bother either one of us. The AC got fixed the following day and all was right in the world again.

Before we made it to bed on that Day two night though Doc suggested I ice down my chest bone that I hurt before coming on the trip. I was given medicine back at my doctor’s office at home, but have not been taking it regularly since we do have a cocktail or two along our journey here in Tamarindo. I wouldn’t say it hurts any worse off the medicine, but it certainly is not getting better. So Doc offered the idea of icing. I was busy at my computer sending updates to my family when I decided to do so. I loaded up a ziplock with ice and held it against my sternum. It instantly felt relief. So much so that I didn’t want to stop icing it. So I took a sarong and tied it around my body keeping the ice in place while my hands were free. Genius! Seriously it was a great way to end a really great Day Two of vacation in Costa Rica.

Day Three was just as fabulous as Day Two and the words in my notebook are as follows:

Breakfast Hike
Lounge by Pool
Voodoo Fajitas
Super Mercado 2001
Nap with Air
Beach Club Happy Hour
Cabana Love
La Esquina
Mariachi Photographia
Dirt Bike Delivery Photo Shoot
Corner Bar
Ping Pong Shot to the Face
　

xoxo Sara Marie