Day 7-Rain Forest

There is a national park that is close to Jacó Beach called Carara National Park. It is actually really close to where we saw the crocodiles, which as I write that it seems really scary. It was far enough away that there wasn't any real danger. But it isn't like they are gated off. Anyway, the national park was a rain forest. We arrived 10 minutes before the park opened only because we had the time wrong. We thought it opened at 7:00 when it really opened at 8:00. As we waited for them to open the gate there were tour guides trying to get some business. The first guy looked a little shady but the second guy that approached us inside the park seemed a lot more legit. We double checked with the park workers. The cost to get in was $2 for Costa Rican citizens and $10 for international tourists. That seems fair, right? All the kids were free though. The guide charged $10 per adults. It was a lot cheaper than the AirTram we wanted to go on that costs $60 per person! So before we even began the adventure we saw 2 Scarlet Macaws fly over. They are so beautiful and absolutely fascinating. How did I not know that Jaco was known for these Macaws? The tour started off by going off the path to see some white bats.





If we wouldn't have had a tour guide we never would have seen this caterpillar



There are thousands of different species of mushrooms in Costa Rica and only 3 are edible. This one is the most poisonous. He told us that one of these small mushrooms would have killed the entire group. They put this mushroom on the 10,000 colones bill so that Costa Ricans would know about this deadly mushroom. Rosa and Mami had no idea!



This is one of the creepiest spiders I have ever seen!!!



There were a ton of lizards posing for pictures!!







I can't imagine that banana trees would just grow randomly in the rain forest.



Costa Rica is known for their butterflies. They were everywhere and I was actually able to capture a few.





And to end the tour, we saw a White Face monkey and 2 Macaws. The monkey was not cooperating for pictures.
The Macaws, however, were acting as if they knew we were there taking pictures. Did you know that Macaws find a mate and stay with them their entire lives? Interesting!!























Anyone want to guess why they call it a rainforest??? Well, it rained and rained and rained a little more! The guide was worried about the rain because apparently that is when animals like to hunt! We were glad to find that out after the tour! We hiked for about 2 1/2 hours and headed back. About halfway back a cell phone rang. After passing it around the van and not finding an owner, we realized it was the guide's. He had put in in our pack to keep it dry. So we had to turn around and return it. We finally made it back to the condo, ate lunch and went to the pool.

Needless to say I have been on an emotional high since the hike in the rainforest! It was wonderful and I'm thrilled my kids got to experience it. They will realize one day how neat it was!!

Days 5&6-Vamos a la Piscina!

I've fallen behind on my blogging! Days 5 & 6 were spent mainly at the pool. I love my Lifeproof iPhone case! We have taken so many underwater pictures and videos with my iPhone! I had to download them off my phone because I was out of space and couldn't take any more pictures with my phone! Couldn't have that!!! The pool bar has the best piña coladas. And they should be for the price. We see iguanas everyday. There was even a tiny gecko in the bathroom. Jacó Beach is known for their Scarlet Macaws! They are absolutely gorgeous! And have they have the most distinct calls. It almost sounds like someone yelling. We saw 2 fly over and land near our condo. I took a few pictures but they are fast! It has been so fun seeing all the wildlife. Isiah and Addison are learning quite a bit of Spanish! Maybe I should actually teach them! I think they will actually want to learn it after out visit to Costa Rica. Well, until next time! Heading to the rain forest!

Day 4-Beach Club

Grandma and Pop make M&M pancakes for breakfast. Tita Rosa made Gallo Pinto and plátanos fritos. Delicious! I could live on Costa Rican food! Today was the first day we have had clear skies. Some of us drove over to the Beach Club and some of us walked. We enjoyed swimming in the pool and walking down to the beach. Addison and I collected all the pink shells we could find. There were a lot of rocks on the beach so it was hard to walk. All beaches in Costa Rica are national parks. Resorts cannot be built directly on the beach. We went back to the condo and ate the all American meal consisting of cheeseburgers, hotdogs and potatoes. The men grilled out by the pool. Soon after we got back to the condo it began to rain and didn't stop all afternoon. We drove to the marina, Jacó and to a lookout just to get out of the condo. We had rented a van the day we got here so we could have a vehicle to get around. Dave and Richie have been our drivers and have done an outstanding job! It was good to get out and be among the living. We almost hit a lady beacause the man she was with threw her bag in the middle of the road and she went after it. After closer inspection, they seemed to have been not in the best state of mind. we came back to the hotel and the kids watced Wall-E. all of their cartoon have been in Spanish. It has been funny because to watch them watch TV. We all went to bed very early because it was a long day!

Day 3-It really does rain in the tropics!!

We had a nice morning at the pool but it started to rain. We continued to swim but we got all wet!! The kids thought that was pretty funny!! We made Chalupas for lunch and they were delicious! Salsa Lizano sells black beans that are already ground and have salsa Lizano in it. We spent the afternoon cooking & playing games. We kept thinking that the rain would eventually let up, but then it would start raining harder. We waited all day for Tuto to get here. Isiah and Addison tried to stay awake, but when they were asking to go to bed at 7:00 I knew they wouldn't make it. Richie, Rosa and I drove to Puntarenas to pick him up. It was about 2 and 1/2 hour round trip and 87 miles round trip. It was so good to see to see Tuto.

Day 2-heading to Jaco

I couldn't wait to eat breakfast this morning in the lobby of the hotel! I knew they would have the Typical Costa Rican dish, Gallo Pinto. It was delicious! They also had Cas Juice, which is a special fruit they have here. I might just be in heaven! But it just keeps on getting better!! We left this afternoon to go to Jacó beach. The new highway to the beach is outstanding. It saved so much time and was absolutely gorgeous. Costa Rica has the most beautiful mountains! We couldn't stop taking pictures. We stopped in Tarcoles to eat lunch at a local restaurant. Then after we ate we walked the Tarcoles bridge to look at the crocodiles! They are enormous and absolutely fascinating! Even if I was about to have a heart attack from the anxiety of being on the bridge with 2 small children and all types of trucks and cars zooming by us! We made it to the condo and some went to the grocery store, some went to the pool and some napped. It has been a fun day but we can't wait to get to the beach!

Day 1 in Costa Rica

Our first day in Costa Rica has been tiring but one of the best days of my life! I love this place so much and my Tico family is absolutely wonderful. I have missed them so much. I feel like this is home away from home, even though it has been 8 years since I have been here. I still cannot believe that the first time i was here was in '98! 15 years ago!! unbelievable!! Had dinner at Outback right by the hotel in Escazú. It has been fascinating watching the kids interact with Rosa's son. My kids speak English to him and he speaks Spanish to them and I truly believe they know what the other is saying (most of the time!) so fun to watch.
Tomorrow we head to the beach for a week with our Tico family. Ready to sit and relax...and chase kids!