Pre-epilogue photos

Fun tile work in the bathroom of the room I had at Kap's Place - the second time I stayed there. This was in San Jose right before I flew back to TC. The whole room was like this. Even the floor ... but, not the ceiling.

Even the local hotels in Montezuma dried their guest's towels on the lava reef ... when the tide was low !

One of the most beautifully secluded beaches about an hours walk south of Montezuma.

Part of the same beach but this is the lava reef ... it looks like, and felt like, someplace that had been used as some type of ritual site. It was really incredible; especially since I was the only person I could see for miles !!! What a blessing!

"C"

Back in Montezuma ...

Look! I found a cairn shrine! I feel so at home! This was south on the beach at Montezuma next to a river with lots of waterfalls!

One of those gorgeous waterfalls in the jungle by the sea ... life is so fun!

The ferry from Puntarenas to Paqueras en route to Montezuma.

When I got to Puntarenas I found out I had over a 2 hour wait for the ferry so I walked around the point and found this lovely resort serving breakfast on their terrace overlooking the gulf. I should write a book ...

Paradise at the end of the road ... a ´hot´tide pool down the beach from Rancho Burica back in Punta Banco. I´m going to have to go back. I´m missing it quite a bit and I was just there 4 days ago. More on that later.

¨C¨

Books .............

This photo has nothing to do with books. It's a corner in San Jose not far from where I spent the night and will be again tonight. Tomorrow I'm going back to Montezuma for a few days. I had hoped to get to the southern Atlantic coast but it looks like it is going to be rainy for another 4 or 5 days. Montezuma has a forecast of 100 degree sun-filled days. Tough decision, but then ...
Okay, then! Here's where the 'books' come in. This is back in Punta Banco (by the way, this village is one of the few - maybe only- that don't have bars on all their windows or gates and barbed wire around their homes). These are elementary age school children who do not have books to read. No library ...
... their school has got to be in one of the loveliest locations on the planet being right on the Pacific coastline. The kids are on their lunchbreak playing futbol (soccer).
The school has an empty room that could be used as a library ... if there were shelves ... and of course books. I am going to see what I can do to get these 'brilliant' students some reading material. I think I have a pretty good resource at home! I'm very much looking forward to seeing how much can be done to accomplish this purpose. I was made aware of this project from Britta who is one of the people who manages the Rancho Burica. She and her husband and their 2 children are living on the Rancho for a couple of years and she would love to see the school have material for the students to read. Her hope is to get both Spanish and Spanish/English books that would be suitable for children whose ages range from 4 to 12 years. I will be keeping in contact with her via email. I can hardly wait to get started!
This is Britta's family ...
Love to all, 'C'

The Good Life

Every night this deck at Rancho Burica in Punta Banco found friends gathering to reflect on the days blissful activities and to watch the sun set. Actually, I'd say, maybe 85% of the day (at least) someone was lounging here. I even saw my first whale from here!!! Fantastic.
I remain amazed at how many stones are shaped like hearts (cobra heads to 'A') ...
Surfer coming in after the sun's setting at Rancho Burica.
Someone tell Alice that her great coffee shop is being advertised in a remote location (Ojochal) in Costa Rica! Bizarre!
I laughed out loud when I saw this! Someone erected teepees using bamboo poles! They were temporary living quarters while a house was being built. This planet sure can be fun!!!
'C'

On doing nothing ...

I have been practicing the 'art of doing nothing' ... and I believe I just may have found heaven. I am hoping to bring my perspective of this delicacy home to TC. The Rancho Burica at Punta Banco has been, and is, unbelievably bliss-ful!! Solo bueno: it's all good (aka - no worries). "C"

Images and the like.

So,
Sorry about the lack of photos, my camera seemed to break right after we left Puerto Viejo, so hopefully a little tinkering will bring it back to life and I will share them with all of you....
Paz.
J

Bittersweet.

So this is it. We board the plane in a few hours. Bittersweet.
But of course our last few adventures are racing through my head like some Lewis Carrol novel, unreal.
After we departed the lustrous Isla Colon, Bocas Del Toro, and returned to the familiar, almost home-like, Costa Rican soil, we intended to spend those last days in utter relaxation.
Puerto Viejo. Getting off our bus, our fate found us. His name was Juan. Age 50. Colombian. Keeper of Hostel Taimondua. In our case, an un-relentless worshiper of the ground we walked on. Little did we know, this quiet hostel in the middle of a southern Caribbean neighborhood would be the experience of Juan's magical world, led by "the force."
Palm ferns laid as a bridge over the muddy path to the clothes line. A basin to wash our feet at the end, comparing his effort as an offering to the cosmos. Constantly bringing us sweets. Declaring it his mission to bring happiness to the "princesses."
After a few days of this lavish worship, we began to see glimpses of Juan's magical world, "the force" being attributed to his long-term relationship with cocaine and excessive sugar consumption in the form of bags of marshmallows at night and cups of brown sugar in the morning.
Intense as it was, relaxing was had. Books were read. A plethora of Italians were met. Ears chatted off. Cannabis wafting through the air. Puerto Viejo left an endearing impression on our hearts.
And so we headed to San Jose, to dwell in the city for our days before our return. Another terrain we hadn't yet experienced on this trip. It seems slightly chaotic in comparison. Stares and hisses multiplied. We gorged on pastries the first day, little luxuries.
Synapsing our journey.
One hour left til we head to the airport.
Bittersweet.
J n' A.