Some thoughts on Costa Rica Part 2

• It's still hot here, but I guess I'm getting used to it and it doesn't bother me as much as it did before. It's now the rainy season, which means it's sunny until around 3pm, then a massive storm will roll in. The storm only last a few hours, usually clearing up just in time for one of the beautiful sunsets and then reappears sometimes in the night for the perfect sleeping weather.
• With the rain brings the mosquitos, and these aren't you normal ones. These little suckers are fast and smart. One day I applied my daily does of deet by the pool, only to have my son jump in and splash a small drop of water on my leg. It only took 5 seconds for the mosquitos find the opening and begin feasting.
• The rain also turns the normally bumpy dirt roads into a roller coaster ride. There is one particular road, which happens to be the only way to our new rental, that almost bounces the kids out the window each day.
• Food is expensive here unless you know where to shop for certain items. It's become a weekly habit for my wife and I to travel to various stores and markets to get the best deals. No longer a single trip to Publix or Walmart with suffice for us down here.  
• It's now been 6 months since I've worn socks.

Cost of Living Update

A trip to the local famers market and $18 later:

Mamon Chino

Mamon Chino or Rambutan is a local fruit here in Costa Rica that I've never had before in the states. Once peeled you eat the fruit around the small seed and it tastes like a grape, without the skin.

Tamarindo Beach - Nara's First Ever Horseback Ride

A typical day driving the kids to school

A recent trip to paradise

We just came back from a trip to Sensoria, and I truly believe that its a piece of paradise. It's located just north of the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano. We had a private tour of 2 large waterfalls, and 2 volcanic pools all while hiking through an amazing rainforest. If you are ever in the area, do yourself a favor and visit this amazing place!

Some thoughts on Costa Rica

Having been here almost 2 months, here are few things I've noticed living in Tamarindo, Costa Rica:

• It's hot here, like Africa hot. Costa Rica has 27 different micro climates and we live in the Guanacaste region, more specifically on the coast. There are 2 seasons in this region, the dry season and the rainy season. Mid April starts to get into the rainy season and it lasts until November. I'm actually looking forward to the rain as today was the first day since we've been here that it's been cloudy. It's been Sunny and 95+ every single day, and it cools down to about 75 at night. Most, including myself, would think that's perfect, but it's time for some rain. From what I hear, it doesn't rain all the time during the rainy season, especially the first 5 months or so. A stray shower during the day or at night is expected, then towards October and November it rains throughout the day.

• In Atlanta we would have to drive 10 minutes to get to one restaurant, here we can walk 10 minutes and have access to over 50 restaurants . . . strange. 

• The sun rises around 5am and sets around 6pm every single day throughout the year. Honestly, I wish the days were longer, but I guess it's something I'll have to get used to.

• There are no addresses here, so mail isn't delivered to your house. You can setup an PO box at the post office, but I love not getting mail, more specifically junk mail. 

• Apparently it's common for the water to go out all day at least once a week here. This takes some preparation and getting used to, but still sucks every time it happens.

•  It's been 55 days since I've put on a pair of socks.

Good Friends

Some good friends of ours asked me to take some photos of them on the beach yesterday. They are leaving for the States tomorrow, but plan to move down here in a few months. Thanks Micheal, Jill and James for the opportunity!

Surfing Part 2

This is my third time surfing - first time without an instructor. I recommend an instructor.

Surfing

Went surfing today for the first time ever. The verdict is: Ocean 1 - Stephen 0, it kicked my butt!!! But we rented the board for a week and will be going back everyday. I will get my vengeance, in this lifetime or another.

BTW Max loves to watch.

Zachary Lucas

Cost of Living Update

Red peppers: 40 cents
I remember paying $5 for 2 at Publix!

Coffee: $3.80
And this is no ordinary coffee, Costa Rica has some of the best coffee in the world!

Six pack of Corona: $12
Looks like I'll stick to coffee!

Posted a video of us driving through our town of Tamarindo

You can find it here

Cost of Living Update

Pineapples: $1.60
These pineapples are amazing, they don't have any bitterness to them at all, it's pure sweetness!

Maid service: $3/hr
We felt so bad for only paying that much so we agreed to pay for her transportation, but that turned out to be $2 a day.

Gas: $5.87 a gallon
Yikes, this is why people take the bus for a dollar.

Some pictures from Playa Langosta

I decided to break out my good camera and take some pictures instead of using my iPhone all the time.

 

 

Zip Line!

 So proud of my little ones for going by themselves! We went to Piilla Canopy Tour, they we awesome.
http://www.pinillacanopytour.com/index.html

My first snorkel accident

We went to Playa Conchal today and was told it's a great place to snorkel. I rented some gear and went to check it out before getting equipment for the rest of the family. The waves were pretty rough and the area had large rocks that were half in and half out of the water. I swam out about 20 yards to check out the area and the waves just kept on pushing me back to shore (where the rocks were) and I got slammed up against a few of them. I also got about 10 sea urchin spines in my hands from trying to push away from the rocks. Glad I checked it out first, my kids would have been toast!

Found a little piece of heaven

Called Playa Dantita

We hiked over a huge mountain to find this place and we were the only ones on the beach except for a few passing people that stopped off their boat for lunch.

Is's big green and ugly, but it's our new ride!

It's called a Hyundai Galloper, never heard of it myself, but it's supposed to be easy to work on down here.

Not your average way to travel

Before we got our car, this is how I would take the kids to the school bus stop.

So far so good!

Nara having fun in the pool in our backyard

Max loves to ride!

Fun at the new house

Here is a pano of the backyard of our rental house.