Dec 9, 2004.  We made it to San Jose!   Lucy and I left the house yesterday with plenty of time to arrive at the airport 2 hours early as recommended.  That is until we encountered the Sawgrass Expressway completely closed due to an accident!  It just added a little stress to our departure.  We arrived at the airport in plenty of time after our detour, and had a great flight on Martinair.  The plane had capacity for 225 passengers and there were about 35 people on the plane.  It gave us lots of room to stretch out.  I don´t think our son, William, will be so lucky when he comes to join us on Dec 19.  We caught a cab to Hotel

Dunn Inn and got settled. 

Today was very busy with an appointment with LandCo, a Real Estate legal services company.  It was supposed to be a 1 hour meeting, but turned out to be 2 ½ hours.  Was very informative and I expect to be doing business with them in the near future.  After finishing with our early appointment, we hailed a cab to take us across the city to A.R.C.R. (Association of Residents of Costa Rica).  They are a wealth of information for anyone considering residing in the country.  It may be a while, but it is something I want to consider for the future.  Hard to believe you can obtain medical insurance for the whole family for $58.00 per month!  We left there at 1:00 ready for Lunch!  We ate at a very good seafood restaurant called Princessa Marina and then spent a little time looking at kitchen cabinets and home furnishings before returning to the hotel about 4:30 pm. 

Tomorrow we pick up the rental car and get out of the city.  I can´t wait!!  San Jose is noisy, crowded, and smells of car and truck exhaust!  I could spend years in this country and if I never had to return to San Jose it would be fine with me.  Can´t wait to get out and see more of the spectacular countryside and beaches.  Chow for Now!!  Dave

Dec. 11,  2004  Dominicalito, Costa Rica

Lseeon #1  Never rent a car that has the windshield wipers held together with duct tape!!  Needless to say, we have had some car problems.  We were ready to leave San Jose at 10:00 AM, but were waiting for the car to be delivered to the hotel.  We were told they would be there between 12 and 1:00.  Finally about 1:30 someone arrived, but not with our car.  We had to go back to the office in Alejuela, the opposite direction we were headed.  When we arrived, the car was ready.  It was old, and ugly, but I figured we would not be spotted as tourists driving around this wreck.  The car seemed to perform well around town and on the road until we started up the mountains toward San Isidro.  This gutless 4 cylinder with 250,000 miles on it could barely make it up the hills.  Because we got a late start, we were caught in fog and it got dark while we were still trying to reach our destination.  Loaded trucks were bearing down within 2 feet of my back end and passing me by.  At times, I was reduced to first gear and a crawl of 5 miles and hour.  It was scary, frustrating, and enough to make you down right pissed off!!  We finally arrived at Hotel Diamonte Real  and our luxurious accommodations helped to ease the tension of the trip.  In the morning we were off (walking, neither of us wanted to get in the car again!) to see if we could find another rental car.  Fortunately, the only rental agency in town was cleaning up a 6 cylinder Hundai Galloper wagon.  We returned to the hotel and call our previous rental agency and told them to pick up their car.  Got charged for a couple days and $60.00 for someone to come and pick up the car, but it was well worth it.  We are now hauling a*& in the mountains and Lucy is yelling, "So down!" instead of "Hurry up!"  I should have known that $27.00 a day for a 4 wheel driverental car in Costa Rica was too good to be true.

Before leaving San Isidro, I had a meeting with the owners of Hotel Diamonte Real that lasted 4 ½ hours.  We discussed marketing, web sites, other relevant topics.  Finishing about 3:00, I retrieved my lonely wife and we took a drive in the nearby mountains.  It was spectacular!  The mountainside was filled with wildflowers, and every little mountain finca was a burst of color.  Part of the road followed the river Chirripo, a raging river with some great class 4-5 rapids.  Rob, (my brother) pictures are coming but, dummy that I am, I forgot my cord for the computer, so am running only on battery.  Hope to get this sent before it dies and have the adaptor being sent.  Don´t know Rob where you are going on your kayak trip here, but this area is truly magnificent!   

Dec 13,2004 Dominical, Costa Rica
I wanted to add a quick note today to say all is well in the land of "Pura Vida".  I have an entry I wrote last night and saved in Word, but my battery died before I could get it pasted to the web page, so I will be adding it hopefully tomorrow when I get my power cord.  Be sure to read all the latest fortunes and misfortunes when it is posted.  Right now things are great!  We have a beautiful cottage in Dominicalito with the pool 10 meters in frontof the door and the beach 50 meters beyond that.  There are only 6 cottages and the owners house and there are tropical gardens and jungle all around.  We are heading to buy shrimp and fish to cook on the BBQ for tonight.  Hopefully, will have more on here tomorrow, and if I get my power cord, there will be pictures.  By for now, Me 

Dec 14, 2004
Still waiting for my power cord, but stayed tuned.  Lots to recount when I can finally write on my computer.  This is the most expensive internet cafe we have seen in C.R.  They charge 400 colones for 15 min, in San Jose it was 350 colones per hour.  Can't afford to write at these rates.
Had a great day.  Took a ride north to Parrita with lunch in Quepos.  Stopped to see where we will be staying for New Years week and looks good.  More later, Me

Dec 19, 2004 San Pedro, Costa Rica

We are back in business!!!  William arrive today and brought my computer cord, so now I can get this journal updated and add a few of the pictures of the beautiful places we have been.  First of all, I am going to add the entry from Dec 11 here, and then try to catch up.

Dec 20, Nuevo Arenal

By tomorrow, I hope to have this caught up and the pictures posted.  Be sure to check out the Costa Rica pictures.  Since more than a week has passed since I posted anything, I will try to give a daily update.

Dec 12, 2004

We left San Isidrio headed for the Dominical and Uvita area.  The drive from San Isidrio is just over an hour and really beautiful.  We stopped for breakfast at the top a hill and looked over the verdant valley.  Everything is so green, with the colorful flowers mixed in. I still get a charge out of eating a great breakfast and having the bill come to $5.00 for the two of us.  We made the short drive to the coast and it was as beautiful as I remembered from April.  Not having any reservations and anxious to check out the Uvita area, we headed south from Dominical.  Looking for a place to stay proved a little more difficult than I had anticipated.  We looked at several places but it always seemed we would be settling for something we really were not entirely happy with.   Finally, after a stop for a late lunch, someone suggested Coconut Grove in Dominicalito.  We had great accommodations and they had an opening until we were ready to leave and pick up William.  Our hosts, Richard and Diana, were very gracious and turned out to be not only owners of the property, but also friends.  Our cottage, complete with kitchen overlooked the pool and the beach beyond.  Be sure to look at pictures of the pool area and view we had from our room.  We went to bed early as is our custom here.  Getting up at 5:30-6:00, we are ready for bed at 9:00!

Dec 13, 2004

We got up early and went to buy some provisions for breakfast and lunch.  Found a little seafood shop and bought fresh jumbo shrimp and snapper.  Unloaded the groceries and Lucy, wanting to take her walk, convinced me to come along.  To make it more enjoyable, I took along the sand wedge and 4 balls.  As the tide was out, I had plenty of beach to hit balls.  The sand is firm and even at low tide, it is still damp.  We really had a good time and must have walked the equivalent of 18 holes!

When we got back to Coconut Grove, I cooked the shrimp on the grill by the pool and we dined "al fresco" under the tiki hut by the pool.  That´s Pura Vida!  After dinner we went into Domincal to call home and make sure everything was O.K.  We happily encountered our daughter-in-law Christine at the house and everything in order.  After calling, we went back to the cottage and BED.

Dec 14, 2004

We took our morning walk on the beach.  It is really something to have such a beautiful beach all to oneself!  See the pictures of Playa Dominicalito.  We left the cottage and headed north to look at the Parrita area and on to Quepos to look at the accommodations we have for New Years week.  The Villas Mymosa is very located between Quepos and Manuel Antonio and it looks like we will find plenty of action for New Years Eve.  (Lucy insisted on that!) The apartment we have will easily sleep 6-7 people.  It is larger than I thought from looking at the pictures on the web.  We viewed a few properties on the way and returning, but I do not like the area as much as the Dominical area further south.  It is hard to beat the combination of mountains dropping down to the ocean and the secluded, uninhabited beaches. 

Dec 15, 2004

I got up today at my usual time, about 6:00.  (Usual for Costa Rica that is!) Lucy joined me on the beach and we took our walk.  I was anxious to try the boogie board and bodysurfing on Dominical beach, so we took the short drive north.  The waves we BIG!  The boogie board was just too hard to get out so I abandon it in favor of bodysurfing.  I had to convince the lifeguards to let me go out as they were not allowing non-surfing people out past waist high water.  I must admit, I am not 20 years old anymore.  I also do not have the cajones  I had at 20.  I was waiting for the smaller waves and soon found myself caught in a riptide.  It was a little disconcerting, and I did have to swim sideways to get away from the riptide before I could get back in.  In view of the fact that in the 6 months before the lifeguards started patrolling the beach there were 12 drownings, and over 250 people have drowned at the beach since they started keeping tabs, I decided to leave the Dominical beach waves to the young studs and find waves that I can enjoy without getting beat up.

We left Dominical and stopped for lunch before heading south past Puerto Cortes and Palmar Norte.  I wanted to see some properties in the area, but just do not like the area as much as the enchanted Dominical area.  We made it back to the Coconut Grove after dark, went to eat, read a little and hit the sack.

Dec 16, 2004

I was up extra early today, 5:30 A.M.  The high tide was at 5:30 and I wanted to get in the waves in front of the cottage with the boogie board.  Had a great time and Lucy came down about 7:00 to get me for breakfast.  We went with Richard (Coconut Grove owner) to look at a few lots he knew about.  Seems everyone here has property for sale or knows someone with lots for sale.  We did see a spectacular oceanfront property.  It was about 4 acres with a creek feeding the ocean on it´s northern border.  Unfortunately, at $850,000, it was too much.  It Could be a great investment, or better yet, a terrific site to develop.  After lunch we took a short drive to Hermosa beach, about 5 miles south.  It is a really good surfing beach with good waves and no riptides.  I caught some good waves although they closed out quickly.  We pulled out the beach chairs and stayed around to watch the sunset.

We went to dinner with Richard and Diana and another couple from the Grove, Tim and Teresa.  Everyone enjoyed a wonderful dinner at a new restaurant called the Bistro.  After dinner, we went to Thrusters to see some friends of Richards play music.  They really cranked!  We stayed until about 11:00 and I finally dragged Lucy away from the music.  I was Tired!!

Dec 17, 2004

I was back in the waves about 6:30 AM.  The high tide today was at 6:15, so I didn´t miss it by much.  Tim was supposed to join me, but after the late night last night, he didn´t make it.  I have really enjoyed William´s boogie board.  I´ll probably have to fight him for it when we return to the beach!  I went into Dominical to make some calls and check e-mail while Lucy took a nap.  On the way back, I wanted to check out a lot we saw that I had called on.  I talked to the owner in the states, but before I could find the lot again, the car started making a bad sound. I thought it was possibly a lifter or something major.  Fearing the trip back to San Isidro in the morning and then on to San Jose, I called the rental company and they sent out another car.  They arrived about 5:00 with another Galloper, but this one is diesel.  The fuel cost is 30% less, but it does not have the acceleration the gas Galloper did.  Still, it is a big car and seems to do just fine.  We were supposed to go to, "Movies in the Jungle" at 5:00 with a potluck dinner and a Raquel Welch movie from 1964, but just could not make it with the car trouble.  We stayed at home and got our gear together for the journey in the morning.

Dec 18, 2004

We finally saw a property today that has some possibility.  Richard and I saw it from the outside yesterday and today Lucy and I went inside.  We were greeted by a family of white faced monkeys when we pulled on to the property.  I think the guy representing the owner let them out of cages just as we drove up.  When we saw the property yesterday, the toucans were in the trees on the property.  Lots of nature!  There is a creek running on the edge of the property, and although it is not oceanfront, it is a short walk to the beach and it has an ocean view.  We will see. 

We packed all our stuff and said goodby to Dominicalito for now.  We plan to return with William for the last few days of our trip.  The trip back over the mountains to San Isidrio was again beautiful.  We met with Marlene of the Diamonte Real and had lunch at the hotel.  We are hoping they can join us for New Years in Quepos.  I had a 5:00 appointment in San Jose with the attorneys, and we made it just a little late.  (Early for Costa Rican time!)  Got some business finalized and the recommended a hotel around the corner for us to stay at.  It was called Boutique Jade Hotel.  It is in an exclusive area and caters to foreign dignitaries and business persons.  It was a little over our normal budget, but very nice.  The barrio (neighborhood) is very upscale and changed our minds of San Jose.  It is very different from staying in the downtown area.  We walked a little and found a place to eat before returning to the hotel bar.  The receptionist had given Lucy 2 free drink tickets she was determined to use.  Lucky me!  We did have a good conversation with the bartender while Lucy had her wine.  Finally, I got to go upstairs to bed.

Dec 19, 2004

William arrives today!!  We had breakfast in the hotel and walked a couple blocks to the mall.  Lucy has been complaining about her hair and the humidity, so she went in for a haircut while I strolled the mall.  It is not my favorite pastime, but after looking at the young Costa Rican ladies in this upscale neighborhood, I wouldn´t mind making a habit of it!!  On the beach or in the mall, the Costa Rican scenery is beautiful!

We packed up after arriving back at the hotel and headed for the airport.  We arrived at 1:00 and William was supposed to arrive at 1:10.  We soon learned the flight was delayed until 2:00 and it really didn´t arrive until 2:15.  I took the beach chairs out of the car and we waited under the palm trees where we told William we would meet him.  By 3:00, Lucy could not stand it anymore and had to go press her nose against the glass like it would make William appear more rapidly.  The airport was packed, and after talking to a few people, I could tell it was about an hour and a half to make it through customs and immigration.  Right on schedule, William sauntered out of the airport at about 3:45.  We were really glad to see him.  We got out of San Jose as quickly as possible and headed toward Lake Arenal.  The road was very good, just recently repaved.  We passed San Ramon after a stop to eat and it was already turning dark.  As we headed up into the mountains, the fog engulfed us, it started raining harder, and we decided to return to San Ramon and find some place to spend the night.  It is not a good idea to drive the narrow mountain roads at night, even in good weather.  We found the only good hotel in San Ramon, The Posada Inn, but it was full.  Fortunately, the owner is more concerned in accommodating guests (yeah, right) than he is about his daughters.  He had them vacate their room and rented it to us.  After all, business is business.  We were sure happy to get a place to stay.  We dumped the gear and headed out to get something to eat.  There was a small festival in the plaza, a pueblo type of affair.  I did a little computer work, sorting photos, and watched a little TV for the first time in a week, then to bed.

Dec 21,2004 La Fortuna, Costa Rica
So glad to finally get this posted.  Sorry to all who have been checking and not finding any updates.  I will fill in the last couple days later.  Lucy and William are wandering around the puebleo of La Fortuna waiting for me.  Weather is cloudy and rainy.  Guess that is to be expected in a cloud forest, but we would sure like to see som clear weather to view the volcano.  I will be posting more pictures at my next posting, so keep checking in.  Thanks for viewing, Dave

Dec 20, 2004 Nuevo Arenal, Costa Rica

We had a very good breakfast that was included with our room price.  $40.00 for a room and breakfast for 3 was a pretty good deal, especially when I would have been willing to pay a lot more due to the circumstances.  The Galloper was packed and we left the hotel about 8:00.  The ride up the mountains from San Marcos was very scenic, and the road was good until we reached the dam at Lake Arenal.  We passed a tiny valley that had 5 waterfalls cascading down the mountain.  Stopped and took some pictures.  (See Costa Rica Pictures).  We continued on to La Fortuna and made a left to the lake.  I was very happy with the road conditions until we were about 10 kilometers from the house.  The last stretch the road really deteriorates.  It is full of curves as all the road had been, but also full of potholes and ruts.  It was raining most of the time which didn´t help.  We reached the house, finally, and it is really nice.  It has a big living area, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and a laundry room.  I won´t have to send Lucy to the river to wash clothes!  The yard, gardens, and view are great.  The problem is, it is really in the boondocks, or for those with more colorful language, B.F.E!  About all we did the day we arrived was take a trip to town, about 2 blocks from the house. The town consists of 2 blocks with a couple grocery stores, 3-4 Restaurants, and half a dozen bars.  To get back to La Fortuna is an hour during the day, and over that at night.  Lucy is NOT a mountain girl.  She gets very agitated with me driving on mountain roads.  William and I have relegated her to the back seat so she can be an official, "back seat driver."   She may not like it any better in the back, but I sure like driving better with her back there! 

Dec 21, 2004

We got up rather late today as the day was overcast with low hanging clouds and rain.  I guess that is par when you are in the tropical rainforest.  We tried to do some laundry, but the electric to the laundry room was not working.  Call the agent and he said he would be over at 9:00.  At 9:45 he called and said he would be her in 15 minutes.  Even the resident gringos run on Costa Rican time.  The problem was fixed in typical fashion, run an extension cord from the kitchen out the backyard to the washer.  When you plug in the washer, the light works as well.  Interesting wiring!  We were all loaded for a day trip, so we headed out in the rain about 10:30.  We headed for La fortuna so I could find an Internet Café.  I worked on posting the journal while Lucy and William toured the town.  We had lunch and as the weather was so bad, decided to forego the volcano trip and see what else was around.  We found a sign for the Catarata (waterfall) and followed the dirt road to the parking area.  I paid the $6.00 per person and we then walked 500 meters straight down to the base of the falls.  Guess what?  Ya gotta climb back up!  It was like stair climbing the empire state building!  It was very pretty, and wet, but I liked the waterfalls we saw by the side of the road!  After our workout, we stopped by the Baldie Hot Springs to see what it was like.  It is beautifully landscaped and has loads of big pools ranging in temperature from warn to 187 degrees.  Thought we may spend some time tomorrow there.  We found a steakhouse that had been recommended to me and had a good steak for dinner before the long, dark ride back to the house.  I finished up 2 loads of wash and got to bed way past my bedtime.

Dec 22, 2004

We got sunshine!!!   Last night before retiring, the stars were out and I was hoping we would have some improvement in the weather.  It is now 9:00 A.M. and having finished breakfast, we are getting ready to head to the volcano observation area.  Hope the weather holds.
I am now in the internet cafe in Fortuna, 4:00.  It has been a great day.  Look for some terrific pictures of the smoking volcano at my next posting.  Be sure to check the pictures I am posting now. ALSO, HAVE ADDED AN ENTRY FOR DEC 11 THAT I OMMITED BEFORE.  PLEASE GO BACK TO DEC 11, 2004 IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN READING IT.  (IT'S A GOOD ONE!!) Dave

Dec 23, 2004

Yesterday was a magnificent day, but today seems to be more of our previous weather, overcast and drizzling rain.  We left the house yesterday for Fortuna and the volcano area, stopping frequently to view the volcano and snap pictures.  We took the road up to the Arenal Observatory Lodge.  What a beautiful place!  They have various hiking trails through the jungle and the first one we took was to another waterfall.  I think I have hiked to enough waterfalls for a while.  Both Lucy and I are a little sore in the legs from the constant uphill or downhill hiking required to visit the falls.  Why do they always go to the bottom of the falls, not the top?  The observation area of the hotel affords a front on view of the volcano with the smoke coming from the top.  There are birds of every hue and abundant wildlife throughout the property and surrounding jungle.  We did see a family of white-faced monkeys on the waterfall walk.  We had lunch at the lodge after the waterfall walk while facing the volcano.  In the gardens, facing the restaurant, was a bird feeder made of branches with various types of fruit stuck on the limbs.  It attracted birds of many varieties with colors that simply can not be duplicated by man.  We watched through the binoculars and were amazed by the beauty of the small creatures.  We took another short walk after lunch, but were a little tired by that time.  I was ready for a siesta!  We drove into Fortuna and I posted my latest to the web.  We still have received very few e-mails.  IS ANYONE OUT THERE?!  Drop us a two line e-mail and say hello.  I was really hoping the weather would hold and we would be able to see the volcano at night.  It shoots out glowing rocks and lava can be seen pouring down the sides at times.  No such luck.   We checked on a couple of canopy tours for William and found one at the Arenal Paraiso lodge that is between Fortuna and the house.  They have hot springs there that Lucy and I can enjoy while William is flying through the sky.  Our plan was to go there at 10:00 this morning.  After arriving home last night, we walked a short couple blocks to a pizza restaurant around and had great pizza, then back to the house.  Even William didn´t protest too much about heading to bed around 9:30.

9:00 PM  The day is winding down, It´s about my bedtime.   We left the house running late and arrived at the canopy tour with barely enough time to get William suited up and catch up with the group.  He really enjoyed the canopy tour and they even saw some monkeys.  Lucy and I just hung around the hotel while he was gone, only about 2 hours.  After he returned, we decided to take a drive around the area.  The weather was overcast with occasional rain, so not the best of days to enjoy the lake.  The drive through the countryside was very enjoyable until we cut back to Arenal.  Lucy had a little problem with the road again, but we did manage to make it back in one piece. We rested a short time and left again to see the other end of the lake.  It is a world class windsurfing spot and I took some pictures for Rob. (brother)  No one was surfing because winds were only 20 MPH.  They get winds in the 50-60 MPH range and I guess this part of the lake is full of windsurfers at that time.  We got home about 6:00, but of course we can´t just relax.  William wanted to go play some pool at a spot in the Pueblo.  It is kind of unique down here.  You get an old shack, buy 3 beat up pool tables, and you are a business owner!  We had a good time, but Junior needs a little practice.  He got beat up badly on the pool tables.  Time for me to head to bed.  Later3;.

Dec 24, 2004  7:00 PM    MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE. 
I am now in the internet cafe while Lucy and William are at mass.  I hope everyone has a verry merry Christmas, we will be thinking of you.  Mother, I received your e-mail.  The duplicate dates are because I sometimes add a line while I am in the internet cafe.  (Like now).  The smaller font like above is what I write in microsoft word and then paste when I am in the cafe.  It is cheaper and easier that way.  Just posted some nice pictures, be sure to check them out.  We spent most of today at the volcano hot springs.  It was really beautiful, and very relaxing.  Lucy was ready for bed when we left at 3:00 in the afternoon.  Have a great Christmas.  Drop us a line.  Love to all, Dave

Looks as if I have a couple of days to catch up.  We have been so busy, I just haven´t found the time to write.  I want to get this posted tomorrow. 

Dec 24, 2004 Christmas Eve day was beautiful and we spent it at the Hot Springs.  There are actually several hotels in the area that have natural hot spring pools with varying degrees of luxury, and varying prices.  The entrance ranges from $8.00 to $29.00.  We chose the most natural of the group, with a great picnic area, few frills, and no restaurant.  It also happened to be the $8.00 one!   It was simply gorgeous!  The gardens were colorful, the rock and pool formations very natural, and we even saw toucans lunching on papayas in the trees.  We spent about 4 very relaxing hours there and met some wonderful Ticos who fed us as we were a little unprepared.  The hot water is very relaxing and I was ready for bed about 3:00 in the afternoon when we left.  Of course that can´t happen.  We went into La Fortuna and Lucy and William went to mass while I posted what I had written on the net.  We hung out in town a while, then headed home to have a family conference.  We decided to leave the mountains a day early, head back to San Ramon and the Posada Inn, and check out Sarchi on the way to Quepos.

Dec 25, 2004

The day was spectacular when we woke up.  After getting packed and loaded, we left the house about 9:00.  It was so clear and beautiful that morning that we decided to take a last look at the volcano from Mirador Silencio. (Silent Lookout)  The dirt road led us to probably the closest point for viewing the volcano.  I will have to post a couple more pictures of the volcano, but I promise these are the last!  It was incredible!  We could hear the woosh of gasses escaping and see and hear house size boulders caroming down the side of the mountain.  At least I assumed they were house size.  They looked like boulders, but from our distance, they had to be enormous.  You could actually see the lava flow creeping down the volcano with the naked eye, and with the binoculars, it was even more obvious.  We spent a couple hours just watching and listening to the mountain changing shape before we could pull ourselves away to continue our journey.  The ride through the mountains to San Ramon was scenic as it always is in the mountains of Costa Rica.  We encountered a small town with a lovely plaza and had to get out and walk it. (and of course take pictures).  We arrived in Sarchi about 3:00.  The town is famous for its wood furniture, doors, and souvenirs.  Of course on Christmas day, not much was open.  We decided to go back in the morning on the way out of town.   We arrived in San Ramon about 5:00, relaxed a bit and went to eat.  Lucy and I were tired, but William was antsy, so he headed out to check out the town.  It proved to be fruitful as he returned in about an hour with a German Shepard that had a very attractive young Tico girl attached to the leash.  They left to go see her family and pick up her 15 year old sister.  William then escorted the young ladies around town and to the newly opened Mall.  Guess he got some admiring looks as he had a girl on each arm parading around town. 

Dec 26, 2004

We got up, packed, had breakfast at the hotel and headed to back to Sarchi.  The wood furniture and souvenirs in this country are a thing of beauty.  The problem is, Lucy wants to take back one on everything!!  Not only do we have no economical way to ship all the stuff, if she bought everything she liked, we´d be bankrupt!  We finally made it out of town with just a few nicnacs.  The drive to the coast was very pleasant and the temperature started to climb as we dropped out of the mountains.  We stopped in Jaco Beach for a late lunch, then took a look at Esterillos.  There is Esterillos East, west, and center.  We talked to Fletcher who is breaking ground on his beachfront house in Esterillos Center today.  I got some good information and liked the area.  An oceanfront lot can be purchased for around $150,000 and a house can be built for about $40.00 a square foot.  Interesting!  We then continued on to Quepos.  We arrived about 5:00, and although tired, we passed right by the hotel to get to Manuel Antonio Beach for the sunset.  It was awesome!  The photo can never do it justice.  (Be sure to check out the pictures)  We left the beach at dark and managed to find our hotel, Villas Mymosa.  No surprise here as we had checked it out from Dominical.  We settled in and had dinner and a quiet night.

Dec 27, 2004

Life´s a beach!!  We spent the day on Manuel Antonio Beach and it was great!  William and I spent hours in the water before he hooked up with a couple of cute Tico cousins and went into Quepos with them.  Lucy and I walked the whole beach and she had a sunset drink while I headed back for more waves.  It was a great day!

Dec 28, 2004

We got a rather late start today.  After breakfast at the villa, we went to Quepos and made the bank the first stop.  We needed to change more money.  What a surprise.  It was getting late, about 10:00, so decided to go south to Matapalo, and reserve a room for Jan 2.  We stayed around Matapalo beach for the afternoon, catching some waves and relaxing.  We stopped for a late lunch on the way back, and got to the Villas about 5:30.  William and I have showered and are heading into town to hit the internet café.  I expect to find Lucy asleep when we get home. 

Dec 30, 2004  HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!
Yesterday we spent the day in Manuel Antonio Park.  entering the park at 7:30, we were soon serenaded by the howler monkeys.  They can sure make a lot of noise; must be females!  We walked all the trails and down the hills to all the various beaches, each one more beautiful than the last.  It is one of the most beautiful places on earth.  The arduous task of selecting a few photos to post here was almost impossible.  I took 86 pictures.  Digital is great!
Today we slept later than usual, and I took off alone to check out the Esterillos area a little further.  Saw a couple of nice developements including one with a planned golf course.  It still seems our best option in the house near Dominical and Lucy it has given the thumbs up.  She really likes the house and that does make it easier!!  We will be back there in a few days to take a final look and possibly make a decision.  Best wishes for the New Year.  Dave

Jan 1, 2005

Well, it has arrived, the year 2005.  We wish everyone a healthy and prosperous New Year.  The year has gone by very quickly, and our Costa Rica time is drawing to an end.  I think Lucy is ready to go home.  Me, I wouldn´t mind getting in a round of golf!

Yesterday, Lucy and I went to the north end of the beach in Manuel Antonio (not in the park) while William rested in the room.  I got up at 6:00 and went to the beach alone to find the road, check out some spots, and catch some early waves. I then returned about 9:00 to get Lucy. At the north end of the beach, there are a lot less people, better waves, and you can drive your car on to the beach and park in the shade.  We walked a lot and spent a good deal of time in the water.  Check out the Snapper some locals speared for their New Years Eve dinner.  I was thinking about you, Brent and Andres.  I can hear Andres now, "Hijo de Pu3;!"  It was a big fish.  The Tico carrying the fish estimated it at 25 kilos (55 lbs).  I wanted to go to his house for dinner!  I am sure there was enough for 1 more at the dinner table!  We returned to the villa in the late afternoon and cleaned up.  Lucy prepared a nice dinner and we were finished up about 5:30.  Lucy had a couple Margaritas and a couple wines at dinner and realized maybe she had started the celebration a little early.  She took a nap while William and I watched a movie, and we left for Quepos and the street party a little after 9:00.  I think the reggae band that was supposed to be playing a concert also started partying a little early.  There was no music and after walking around a bit, we stopped at a restaurant for coffee and one of the band members was carried in asking to use the bathroom.  We didn´t know he was part of the band at the time, but seeing a Rasta man in Quepos, I put it together pretty quickly.  Sure enough, at midnight he made it onto the stage and they started playing after the fireworks.  They really could have used me as Master of Ceremonies.  There was no countdown or announcement that midnight had arrived.  The streets were packed with loads of people, but it was all rather anticlimactic.  We stayed until about 1:30 (or 4 hours past my bedtime) and came back to the villa.

Today, we all made it to the beach, albeit rather late by my standards.  We returned to the same spot, but unfortunately the topless ladies that were next to us the day before didn´t show up.  Oh well, there is always plenty of nice scenery around.  I worked on my golf game, we swam and surfed, and got a lot more sun.  Think we have all had enough.  Tomorrow we head down the coast for 1 night in Matapalo, then back to Dominicalito for the last couple days.  I´ll see if I can get this posted tonight.  It may be a few days before I get another chance.

Jan 4, 2005
Greetings!  The time is drawing near to leave this beautiful land and return to the real world.  I am going to be very brief as I need to get back to the room and start packing.  We are currently back at Coconut Grove in Dominicalito.  Since leaving Quepos on Jan 2, we stayed 1 night at Bahari Beach Bungalows in Matapalo, then back here.  I really like the Matapalo area.  The beach is wide enough and long enough at low tide to set up an 18 hole golf course!  You would just have to play very quickly, before the tide came in.  Today we went to some nearby waterfalls.  It was really refreshing, it has been very warm here.  Tomorrow we head to San Isidro, then on to San Jose.  Look out everyone!  We're a commin' home!

Jan 8, 2005  Coral Springs, Fl

EPILOG

Where did all the mountains go?!  Yes, we made it back to the flatlands of Florida.  Our stay in Dominicalito was way too short.  We had a little beach time and looked around at some properties as well as spending an afternoon at some waterfalls close by.  We left the beach for a stop in San Isidro before heading to San Jose and a meeting with the attorneys. 

We arrived at the hotel Mangos, next to the airport, around 7:00 and went out to eat before an early evening.  The day of our departure, we took a drive to Caliari, a golf community in San Jose.  There are some beautiful homes and a first class country club.  Of course we had to stop and buy more souvenirs.  Next time I am bringing an empty bag just for Lucy to fill with all the stuff she finds so irresistible!  All the suitcases we jam-packed by the time we left for the airport.  The flight was full, but really not bad.  We had the emergency exit row,

so we had plenty of leg room.  Jorge picked us up at the airport and we found the house cleaned and in great condition.  Thank you Jorge and Christine.  Now it is back to work!  As I mentioned in the Christmas letter, time to pay the credit card bills!!

Just a few observations before I wrap this up.

1. I did have a dramatic increase in the number of hits to my website in December.  Thank you Mother for checking the site 3 times a day to see if there was an addition!South Florida has better weather in January than Costa Rica.  It will be a high of 80 degrees today with gentle breezes.  It doesn´t get better than that.
2. If anyone (other than Mother) has read all of this, thank you for taking the time. (and get a life!)  I hope you found it entertaining.
3. Please remember, I am not in the travel industry, I am a Realtor.  Buy or Sell a property with me, I got bills to pay!!
4. South Florida is a beautiful place, but few places on earth can rival the beauty of Costa Rica.  With the beaches, mountains, flora and fauna, it is truly a slice of heaven on earth.  The people are great and unlike another beautiful place, Hawaii, you can actually afford to own property and go out to eat!
5. In closing, I did not find my piece of paradise yet, but I am still looking.  I have made many good connections, and I know Costa Rica is in my future.  My mind is in South Florida business, but my heart is in Costa Rica!  Best wishes to all for the New Year.   PURA VIDA!