Mas Vida
Hoy es Sabado, 12-12-09
Hola from San Jose. Jodes and I are awaiting a bus to the Carribean Coast. We have a Cabina reserved for a week in the Puerto Viejo area of the south east coast.
Last I posted we had recently arrived in Tamarindo on the Pacific Coast. We stayed 2 nights there in the small gringo-ish town. Gringo towns mean there is alot of influence of tourism and travelers moving through. The original Tico (Costa Rican) essence has been marred by commercialism.
Tamarindo (tama-rin-doe) was our first beach town and provided some great beach walking and warm ocean swiming. Some good casados and even some wood fire oven pizza. Casados are a great simple way of getting a well rounded good meal. Usually coming with rice, beans, salad, a meat option and fried plantains. They usually are quite filling and a cheaper item on the menu and even if there not on the menu, the Soda (storefront, beachside, roadside restuarant) usually has them. Along with frittos papas, empenadas, pastries and a number of other cheap tipical foods.
From Tamarindo we headed further south down the Nicoya (nik-oy-a) Pennisula to the coastal town of Samara (sam-ar-a) A much quanter town with not much gringo going on. It took us about 3 hours on 3 different buses transferring in 2 towns and cost us only 3 dollars each. Costa Rica has amazing public transportation. Granted the buses are run down but for just getting places there awesome. In Samara we stayed in a hotel for the first night. We then met some friendly peeps while swimming who offered us space at there bed and breakfast. Alan, Marlene and Brian are from Arizona. Alan is a lawyer, Brian works with him and Marlene is Alan`s wife. Marlene makes a great breakfast of fresh bread, jams and spreads, fresh fruit, eggs, juice and coffee. We had a great time at La Mansion.
From Samara we rented a car and headed south once again destination Mal Pais. We were warned to take the inland routes and avoid the coastal roads due to river crossings and unsigned roads that´ll lead you everywhere but your destination. So we did that or so we thought. Once the pavement ends the real adventure begins, well actuall with the 18 inch potholes on the paved roads they too are still a roller coaster of fun.
Once the road we were on hit the ocean we new we were kinda in trouble. Especially since we had already crossed 2 rivers goated by 2 Ticos who offered to help as they assured us that the Dyhatsu GoBe would make it across the first river. It did and then we were off crossing the 2nd to find ourselves at the ocean. So we back tracked across the 2nd and found a new route. Making some progress before encountering more river crossings. Trying to avoid them since high tide reaches inland and effects these rivers. At one point we were given false information about river crossings and found ourselves 3 rivers in when we got stuck on the exit end of the river due to soft sand. This was around 330pm, darkness falls at about 5pm. Oh and there are no neighborhoods, we are in the back woods of the Nicoya Penninsula.
Immediately I am in the dirt and river trying to build some foundation for the tires, but there sand is wet and just spins under the wheels. 2 of the wheels don`t seem to be spinning at all. after about an hour I walk up ahead to see if any form of life and assistance can be found. Jodie is just behind me. No luck. But on our return to the car Louis, a tico, is there and assessing our dilemma. For the next hour Louis and I are building rocks up under the tires, clearing sand out from the undercarriage and tying a fresh cut tree to the front 2 tires and the rear 2 tires to act as paddles in a way. After a half an hour of working and resetting the log paddles or lifts we finally get some movement about a foot. In this time Louis´ family of Shirley, his esposa, Diana, his hija and 4 or 5 dogs have come to help. What was most amuzing was at some point Louis says a word that sounds like mageeber while we are tying on the logs. It took me a second but what he was referring to was MacGyver the TV show and how we were ¨MacGyvering¨ this contraption to get us out. Very funny time. With that foot of movement it was enough to get the wheels on the solid bank where we got traction to get out. Wooow! It could have been bad with a river tide coming up a meter later that night according to Louis.
We finally arrived in Cobano (co-ban-o) around 9pm and found a great community dinner happening. Jodes and I enjoyed a great pair of casados and bebidas. Then carried on to Mal Pais where we met up with my friend Kyle at his new Hostel called Carmen Creek.
We immediately got some booze in us after our adventure and since we were in friendly company. We walked around the beach and visited a discotek before calling it an evening. We stayed in Mal Pais for 3 nights surfing sunning and swimming. More on that later.
Adios for now.
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