The last week was lovely! Richard and Roth came down to visit, and I took them around downtown San Jose and to visit Mesoamerica to show them where Elon Costa Rica happens. On the Sunday after they arrived, we traveled by bus to Monteverde. I had been there the previous weekend, so I had lots of plans for us. We stayed at the Hotel Montana and relaxed for a couple of days, enjoyed some good food at the Treehouse, Pizza by Johnny, and Moon Shiva and loved the views. On Monday we had every intention of ziplining, but none of us felt like it that morning, so we walked the canopy bridges, watched hummingbirds and coatis, and had a very informative tour of the butterfly garden. We enjoyed the sunset from the jacuzzi that evening. On Tuesday morning a shuttle took us to Manuel Antonio on the Pacific coast, with a stop to look at the crocodiles off the bridge (see earlier post). We had to adjust to the hot, muggy weather at the beach since Monteverde had been cool, but the beach was beautiful and our room had air-conditioning! We enjoyed the beach and the pool, watching the white-faced monkeys in the trees around the hotel and the iguanas constantly laszing around by the tree under our balcony. We enjoyed one of the best meals I have had in Costa Rica at El Avion, a restaurant built areound an old spy plane that holds the bar. Our long walk through Parque Manuel Antonio on Wednesday was a good chance for us to see sloths, birds, lizards, and more monkeys--especially at the third beach, where tourists were encouraging them to take chips and other food--something that is definitely NOT encouraged in the park. Mostly we just loved lounging around on the beach, in the ocean, and at the pool.On Thursday, we headed to Quepos to catch the public bus (old with no air-conditioning, but enjoyable just the same) back to San Jose and the infamous Coca-Cola station, where it took a bit of doing to find a taxi with a working "maria" (meter), and the one we finally did find drove all around our neighborhood before dropping us off. I don't know whether he didn't know where he was going or thought that he could take some sappy American tourists for a few more colones. Either way, we arrived home, wishing we had had a few more days at the beach.The guys went home on Saturday morning, and I've been missing them, catching up on blogs, doing Spanish homework, and preparing class work. I'm having a stay-at-home day today because I have the sniffles and just didn't feel like getting out today. The real world starts tomorrow.The group heads to Nicaragua on Saturday for our mandatory get-out-the-country visa trip. I'd like to wish my brother Richard in Knoxville, TN, a very Happy 50th Birthday on April 3! Feliz Cumpleanos, mi hermano!!
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