Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Wed. 5.18 Jaco, Costa Rica

Wed morning 8am. Im a new man! Ive eaten, slept, eaten again… now I will go explore the region. My plan today is to keep my little hotel room here in jaco. $40 us with a great airconditioner, refrig in room, color TV (which I will never watch) hot water and clean. Its central to everything I know about the country now. Hopefully I will drive down the coast and find an ideal spot to move to. Or not. You may expect some beach photos later.

Last night I went to the lobster house for dinner. it sits on the ocean with waves crashing just off the deck. I ordered a salad and fried squid for appetizer. But there was so much calamari I couldn’t eat anything else. Well, OK I did have a wonderful banana flambay for desert. They dimmed the lights in the restaurant and did some flaming fire trick, pouring molten burning liquid in my face before bathing my banana’s and ice cream. Splendid! (might go back there just for the ‘picture’)


note: there ARE crocs here! The guidebook mentioned a river I would drive over which although not marked by signs, “you will recognize because of tourists hanging over the edge taking pictures.” I found it. Naturally I assumed like every other croc hunt I have been on – there wouldn’t be any. Wrong again. I counted twenty I could see at one time. Big ones up to huuuuuuuge ones. Its tough to guess there size but they were very big compared to me. (im thinking of going back and doing the crock tour – where some guy will feed them or wrestle them or some crazed thing. I was happy just to see them and use my long lens for a photo. 300mm) I would like to get closer for a better photo – about as close as I can throw a baseball. (don’t worry mom I will not be getting close to these – they are NOT cute.)

it rained this morning about 2am. I woke to a torrential downpour. The ping, ping, ping off a tin roof noise. (think golf ball size hail onto a storage shed and you about have it.) Fortunately there was no thunder so I went right back to sleep. Now, today I see dark clouds on the horizon so I am packing for the rainforest.

I stopped at a typical Tico spot for breakfast. I was needing a cup of coffee and found a small open air restaurant favored by locals. (solo gringo) I just followed another man through the line and pointed at things. I ended up with beans & rice, sausage, potatoes, plantains. Oh, and two cups of Costa Rican coffee – very mild and sweet.

Its going to be a long day, so I have to run now. Have a great week! Don’t worry about me, they have an ‘all you can eat’ special at the lobster house tonight. (yummmmm)
Xo skip