My body has been aching and sore for three days now so that, at least, should sound familiar to some of you retirees. Of course, in my case it's because I surfed four hours a day for a week. I'm finally going back out to brave the surf again tomorrow. It took real mental fortitude to resist surfing this morning. The winds were solidly offshore for two hours and the surf was 3-5 feet and hollow for the whole time! Instead, I coached Catalina for her fourth lesson. She, of course, performed amazingly. This time she even paddled for a wave on her own, caught it, and stood up and rode it to the beach. She rode a total of four waves standing up on a very small board, about 4'6". I can't tell you how proud I feel watching this healthy, strong, beautiful child relish the physical challenge of playing in the waves on a big yellow surfboard. I, of course, stole her board for awhile.   |
| Coati by the Porch |
Anyway, we've had a wonderful collection of lazy days full of walking to stores and surf shops, wandering the beach, cooking dinner, tutoring Catalina, napping, and snapping pictures of all the critters in the neighborhood. Last night, for example, we were awakened by a troop of howler monkeys not more than a few meters from our beds. Those things sound like a cross between harbor seals and wild dogs, despite their diminutive size. This morning, we were visited once again by a collection of Coatimundi. This time one of the braver buggers wandered right up to the house. I suspect somebody's been feeding him.
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| Butterfly on Porch |
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| Parrots in Our Tree |
- White nosed coati
- Blue morpho butterfly
- Iguana
- Howler monkeys
- Hibiscus
- Variegated squirrel
- Magpie Jay
- White-fronted Parrot
- Scorpion
- Preying mantis
- Sand crab
- Vulture
- Cat
- cows
- Chicken
- Horses
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| Bettys |
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| Sydney Loves Yogurt |
Today was typically lazy. We did some schoolwork with Catalina. We walked to the beach. Catalina surfed a bit. We had snacks, including the ever-popular banana crunch cookies., We read a few chapters in some good books (1491, by Charles Manning, in my case). Then we headed to Robin's for some homemade chocolate ice cream and some fresh mango sorbet. After that we walked halfway home before we were offered a ride by some locals. I then made garlic, pepper, grilled onion, and grilled pepper burgers while Shannon made a nice big local produce salad.  |
| The Happiness Hammock |
Robin's ice cream is truly impressive. Her "rum raisin" ice cream has lots of real rum in the mix. So good! Here's the Lonely Planet review. We brought home two chocolate chip cookies, but they were vegan or something. Frankly I prefer the Chips Ahoy I already had stashed at the house. Still, we'll be back for the sorbet and gelato.
Anyway, life is truly good right now. Shannon took a shot of me with kids on the hammock today. I call it the "happiness hammock."
By a strange stroke of luck our first night in Playa Hermosa was double-booked. That's good news because I was feeling that we didn't spend enough time in Playa Negra, an area we all liked, and where the surf is supposed to be good on Friday and Saturaday. Thus, I volunteered to arrive a day later down in Playa Hermosa and we're headed back to Cafe Playa Negra on Friday morning. The town there is great and we loved Cafe Playa Negra and Kontiki. Check out my Tripadvisor reviews of each:
Anyway, the surf is supposed to be good the next few days and the winds will be offshore. Time to break my surfing fast, I think. On the way back to Playa Negra we'll be passing Marbella. I will be checking that out for sure!
Here are a few clips of Playa Negra. The first is at high tide, when it's super fun and easy to ride. The second is when the tide is a bit lower and it starts to barrel. Still a pretty easy wave compared to the beach break junk I'm used to surfing.
One more full day in Nosara and then we're off again.
Pura vida!
Pura vida!
I love being retired with you, too, Mikey! Signed, Betty #1.
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