Friday, December 23, 2005
Samara Day 4
Waking up before sunrise,while the sky is bright but not yet yellow, is a rewarding feeling. Somehow you feel like you got a jump on the day. The sound of the ocean draws me in and I go for an early morning swim. The water is refreshing and almost a little too cool to stay in for too long.
Snuggled up in a towel, I enjoy my last morning cup of coffee I'll have on the beach for a while and watch as the sky brightens into mid-morning.
Working up a sweat after packing up the tent requires a dip in the ocean, and this time it feels refreshing and I don't want to get out. I float for a bit and hear the high-pitched call of the Osprey above me. Closer inspection reveals a second Osprey soaring in the thermals with the numerous turkey vultures and the occasional Wood Stork.
The time to depart arrives.
Reluctantly, I get in the car.
The drive back to San Jose passes more quickly than the journey here as most people appear to be headed to the beach for Christmas rather than to the City. I am always a little sad to leave the beach, but now that my home is in Costa Rica, I know I can return anytime.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Samara Day 3
There is something about being at the beach for several days that soothes the spirit. I think it’s the consistent crashing of the waves that eventually slows me down. After a day or two, I feel the rhythm of the waves slow my breathing. I feel so relaxed and peaceful.
After my morning ritual of coffee and a swim, the day just seems to float by.
On my way to the store for the night’s meal, I stop at one of my favorite fruit stands to enjoy a pipa fria (cold coconut water). They serve it from a fountain drink dispenser! It’s ¢50 for a small cup. I wonder how much they’d charge to fill up my nalgene bottle?
After driving the wrong way down a one way street (it changes to one way for the last block of the road and the signs are not very obvious), I make a quick pass through the mini super for dinner supplies. It looks like we’ll be eating another frozen meat tonight because there is no fresh meat to be found in any of the supers in Sámara.
I arrive back to the campsite in time to walk again to the tidal pools, but this time, I get there before the high tide moves in. There are tons of shallow rocks, making shallow pools of HOT water. There is not much to find except a few crabs, some cool seaweed and some camouflaged hermit crabs, but its still fun to explore.
After a brilliantly colored sunset, the heat of the day breaks, but suns warmth still radiates from my tanned skin and keeps me warm. Tonight’s dinner of frozen hamburgers, chips and salsa, and ½ a Snickers Bar each, fills us up and sends us happily to bed.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Samara Day 2
It would have been a very relaxing night’s sleep except for the very loud alarm that went off in the middle of the night for about 10 minutes at the house right next to our tents. Oh well, I have plenty of time to nap and relax today, I’M AT THE BEACH!
Early mornings are quiet and calm here. Howler monkeys and parakeets are the dominant sounds, balanced by the constant booming of the waves in the sand. I love to sit and drink my morning coffee as the sun rises. You actually get to see part of a late sunrise over the ocean during this time of year (the beach actually faces southeast).
Its low tide and the ocean is gleaming, just begging for a swim. The water is cool and feels refreshing this morning as the sun has not yet had a chance to heat up the shallow water. What a great way to start the day- coffee and an early morning swim at the beach. ahhh.
During most of the day there is a breeze that keeps me just cool enough as I sit under the shade of the beach almond trees. Down at the waters edge, the sand is fine and appears dark; accenting the white coral pieces that dot the shore line. There are a variety of sea creatures like sand dollars and sand crabs to observe as I migrate to and from the ocean.
As the high tide approaches in the afternoon, more and more surfers meander to the ocean to take advantage of the good surf. Cooler water creeps into the lower stratus of the water and it is even more refreshing, especially during the heat of the day.
The beach itself is part of a cove that makes the waves perfect for beginning surfers at high tide. They say that waves get quite large sometimes, but today they are long, not too slow and just the right size.
Late afternoon is the perfect time in my book for a beach walk. I head towards the tidal pools located at the southwest end of the beach. When I arrive, the high tide has progressed too far and most of the rocks are buried. I divert and head towards the wetland area I had passed on my way here.
Just a short walk up from the ocean shore, a river mouth (I’ve looked on maps for the river’s name, but it is not listed) trickles into the ocean and this wetland area is bordered on each side by mangroves. Here the water is brackish, and there is rumored to have been a crocodile sighting earlier this week. Off in the distance a tree filled with a flock (20+) of snowy egrets gathered to roost for the night glows, as the setting sunlight reflects off their white plumage. Along the river bank there is a guy fishing for snook, but he has not caught anything yet.
As evening approaches the heat of the day is slowly blown off shore. With more energy to cook tonight, I prepare a “gourmet meal”. Tonight we’ll enjoy chicken quesadillas (once frozen chicken patties cut into strips and grilled with flour tortillas, cheddar and mozzarella cheese and grilled onions), a side of fresh cut tomatoes and sour cream. A few of the resident dogs join us on the periphery, hoping for leftovers. There aren’t any.
There are at least two dogs that live at the campground but in the evening, there appear to be even more. I’m not sure if they all live at the campground or just come over to visit. They are all friendly enough, but keep their distance. They understand “NO”!
The dry white sand that now covers my feet is cool and soothing. It is coarse enough that it easily wipes off my feet before getting into the tent; An easy end to an easy day.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Samara Day 1
Dec 20, 2005
As I sit typing away in my tent 5 days before Christmas on a perfectly sunny, calm, serene day at the beach in Samara, Costa Rica, I am reminded of all the reasons I moved here. The fact that I am at the beach in December and not bundled up in a winter parka is reason enough. It brings me such peace of mind to know that at any moment I wish, a tropical beach is just a few hours away from my home.
Though Playa Samara is a good distance (5 hrs on a good day, it took us 8 hours because of broken down vehicles and accidents) from San Jose, it is “vale la pena” or “worth the pain” of the drive to be here. The road to Samara is pretty good most of the way, but there are some large potholes during the last 10km of the drive before you arrive in town. (We’re talking pot holes big enough to swallow a VW beetle!)
There are other beaches only 2 hours or so from San Jose, but Samara is one of my favorites. It is yet to be over crowded, the beach is beautiful and tranquil, and the currents are usually safe and swimmable (is that a word?).
We are staying at a cozy campground, Camping Cocos, located at the east end of Playa Samara. We have beach front camping for around ¢1500 per person, per night. After the long day's drive, we set up our tents under the high shade of the coconut palms. It looks like our tents will stay shaded during the heat of the days ahead.
There are a few other campers here, but everyone is quiet and keeps to themselves. There are cold water showers and flushable, clean toilets and there is even a simple lamp, provided in the form of a single light bulb at each camp site. There are a few old plastic chairs, some with only 3 legs, an old wooden table and an old grill grate, perfect for cooking over a campfire. There is enough here to scavenge for a makeshift kitchen.
Evening approaches quickly. I always really look forward to the sunset. It’s my favorite time of day. I love to watch the sun as it appears to kiss the ocean surface and sink below the horizon, casting fading hues of orange, yellow and red, Ahhhh.
But in Sámara, because the beach actually faces south, the sun sets over an outcropping of land that juts out into the ocean. It’s still pretty, but not the same. Not that I'm complaining.
I sit in the cooling sand until its almost dark. I am so happy to be at the beach.
Macaroni and cheese will have to suffice for dinner tonight. I’m too tired to cook anything more elaborate. It feels nice to crawl into the tent. Since its only the first night, its not too sandy inside yet.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
InBioparque - A park in the City
It’s a perfectly beautiful sunny day in the central valley. A great day to take a break from the hustle bustle of the city and visit INBioparque, located in Santo Domimgo, just outside of
When you drive up to InBioparque, you immediately get the impression that it mimics a
The welcome center is a nicely organized building with large glass windows that tease the newcomer with what awaits beyond the cashier. Admission is about $15 for adults and less for students, children and residents. A nature guide is included in the fee, should you choose to want one.
I choose to wander without a guide so I will be able to take my time and browse the labeled plants and displays. They give me a map and off I go. It’s a little confusing in the beginning as there are many buildings to bypass, but eventually I find the paved trail that passes through the “Bosque de Valle Central” , meant to mimic the type of forest found in the Central Valley.
There are many trees labeled for the curious botanist and above my head I spot a plant I recognize. It is a much bigger version of a
There are a number of exhibits to visit along this trail including the bromeliad garden and the frog and ant displays. There is an amphitheatre I pass by on my way to the Aquarium, along with a restaurant where there is this very unusual vine growing as a canopy over the area. It has enormous fruits that are very oddly shaped….? Is it a type of passion flower?
There is a lagoon with some basking caimans and Iguanas above the aquarium display, which is underground. There are several types of turtles in the turtle pond, along with a Green Heron who sits along the pond’s edge tossing bits of plants into the water to entice an unknowing fish to the surface for his lunch. A quick trip up along the Mirador trail reveals a sleeping Mott Mott, the Nicaragua National Bird. He sleeps as I photograph him, while trying not to disturb him.
Along this same section of trail there is a bee exhibit with non stinging bees, a farm with pigs, goats, a sugar cane patch, a garden with all sorts of herbs and veggies and a fruit tree display garden where I sample a few juicy, ripe fruits. There is also a small butterfly garden with lots of Blue Morpho Butterflies and nectar producing plants like Verbena and Lantana. The entrance is adorned with a favorite host plant of some butterflies and a favorite flower of mine, the Passion flower. There are hug fruits hanging from the curly vines, reminiscent of a once beautiful flower.
At the other end of the park is the dry forest and humid forest display gardens. All these garden areas are maintained as naturally as possible. There are only paved, paths cleaned of fallen leaf debris, everything else is left as one would find it in the forest. Fallen leaves, broken branches, and seedlings permitted to sprout as they wish help lend the natural feel to the garden areas. There are even sloths living in the naturalized canopy. There is a juvenile two toed sloth sleeping in the trees in the humid forest on my way to the orchid display. He is so cute a furry.
The animal displays are well maintained and clean; all the animals look healthy and free of pests. There are a few large educational displays. One building lists all the national parks in
The main educational building had beautiful displays on biodiversity, ecology and conservation.
To me, the most beautiful display was the Boa display in the dry forest exhibit. There were 4 or 5 gorgeous boas intertwined around one another. One of them was absolutely huge, its girth was bigger than my upper arm. It was hard to tell which head belonged to which tail. What stunning, sleek creatures.
All in all, INBioparque was a pleasant way to spend the day and to quickly learn about Costa Rica’s biodiversity, thought the park really only touches on the surface of all that Costa Rica has to offer. It’s a great way to learn about the differences between the main types of forest biomes found in Costa Rica and to begin to understand some of the plants and animals in Costa Rica without having to travel all over the country. It’s a good place to sum it all up.
For Info: www.inbioparque.com or (506) 507-8101Hola Blog
So I'll be publishing the blogs for a while. I've recently made a huge life change, and I now call Costa Rica my home. I love it.
I want everyone who visits Costa Rica to enjoy it as much as I did my first time here. Costa Rica is incredibly beautiful and diverse. Natural wonders are around every corner, palm trees accent every horizon, mangos, coconuts and papaya grow in the wild and there is always sun to found somewhere. Be warned, Costa Rica might steel your heart too.
It was snowing at my old house in the States today, but here in the Central Valley of Costa Rica, there was not a cloud in the sky and it was a perfect 80F with a light breeze. Do I need to explain why I moved here?
Anyway, I've got a little catching up to do. We were waiting to publish new blogs until our new site came out, but all good things take time. So, in the meanwhile, here's some new blogs for your reading pleasure. enjoy-
