Costa rica

April 10 2018

I thought I would take a minute and tell you about our inspirational trip that started out business. I will do this is a few parts as it was a week full of interesting sights sounds, and adventures.

Costa Rica part 1

Travel to Costa Rica

Travel means many things to many people. It can be a way to see the world to a way tor return to a favorite spot or explore a new corner or get from a to b. The nice thing is all these are correct. I know I have looked to travel for escape, relaxation and yes even transportation. But then while on a trip we planned just before we started drinking at Outback I had an realization, Travel was something I wanted to help others do. The story is like this;

Now this was a pretty cool trip. Us our friends John and Crystal as well as there daughter and a friend got up super early and headed down. This was our first real big dealings outside the US. Luckily we had thought about it ahead of time and rented a 7 passenger SUV before we went. The airport was a mad house. So many people wanting to rent us cars, offer us lifts, maybe even sell us cars. we were waived over to a desk and he he was ready to rent u a compact SUV assuring us all our stuff and 6 passengers would fit easily. It would not of. We finally got thru and found the Avis agent outside holding a sign, we got in a van and headed for the rental office. The heat was impressive. We were sweating in no time. The rental office was a small block building, so only the 3 drivers went in. I stayed with the girls so he could melt. While their counter agents who almost didn’t speak English had my wife sign 4 blank credit card forms. When I asked her why she signed she said it was just easier.

So we now have 6 people and enough luggage for a month (we were staying for a week) crammed into a full size SUV and off we go. Shortly after leaving the airport we are stopped so they can check our papers. Then we head down a road, turn onto a dirt road that leads us to a dirt road and then to a dirt paths. We get lost, because the entrance had recently been changed, but the GPS was amazing except for not knowing about  of the newer drive. We get to the resort and it is magnificent.

We got checked in and were told of the orientation and we asked about grociers. We were told of a small fishing village a few KM away. John and I got in and followed the GPS t the village a nd the store. The GPS took us on a road that in order to make it up the hill we had to get a running start at it and when we got to the top had to turn quick to avoid a tree, but we made it. The store reminded me of a small country store, but it was smaller, had more stuff and a dirt floor. We bought our items including water food for that nights dinner and beer. We headed back and the GPS spared us from having to go down that hill. We got back and unloaded and started unpacking.

At the Orientation we were told how to best bribe the locals that stop us so we could get on our way fastest. We were also told about some of the cool adventures around us. A Tomcar through the rainforest, a 13 segment zipline, cool restaurants at the 2 closest villages and also about the hotel next to us and we could use there pool and restaurant.

In a later conversation she talked about the expat community in Costa Rica. She talked about how close the community was and how they all tried to help each other but also help the community. She explained only natural born Costa Ricans are citizens. And as such you could have a business if you were not a citizen but you could not get a job. The jobs were only for citizens.  This way the country could help support itself

The next part I will tell you about our excursions and the monkeys.