Tamarindo

My last Costa Rica post- many fewer than other big trips due to drained camera batteries & lousy weather.  There were some fun things about the trip, but it was one of the more disappointing trips we’d been on recently.  I think I’m just so spoiled by everything being super perfect & amazing, like in New Zealand or South Africa, that I take it for granted that not everyday on vacation is perfect.  Some of it was due to the last minute rush to just book a trip, some of it was lack of planning on my part, I really should have just gotten over forgetting all my camera stuff and not been Ms. Grump big portions of the trip, too bad we picked rainy season to go when a tropical depression was dumping even more rain than usual on the country.  We  still had fun, we still did new things together, we still relaxed, we still saw new places and still enjoyed it.

The one thing about Costa Rica is that there seemed to be tons of smaller town that are perfect for a vacation- some in the jungle, some on the ocean, Pacific & Caribbean side, volcanos and mountains.  Tamarindo came recommended to us by the travel agent & it was a sleepy (formerly VERY sleepy) surf town.  The main roads are OK, but getting out of the city, it becomes almost unnavigable in bad weather.  There were tons of kids, drifters, hostels and young people in this town just living the slow-paced life on the beach.  Despite the rain, I was really surprised at how NOT humid things were.  The weather was great when the sun was out & not hot at all.

The beach, beside the awesome waves, was very average & had tons of debris after a big rain and the water turned very brown & muddy. If you wanted to enjoy a dinner or drink on the beachfront, this is about the best view you are going to get in town.

On one of the few pretty afternoons that we were graced with in Tamarindo, the hotel dropped us off for a sunset sail & cruise around the bay.  Unfortunately, the boat cancelled at the last minute & we were stuck downtown.  So we walked the beach & checked out the town- mostly eats & drinks

 Most of the restaurants in town that are on the beach are actually tucked back into the brush line so the beach still looks very primitive and pristine.

The town was a typical tourist place in a Latin American country- busy streets, tons of bikers & walkers, gift shops on every corner, lots of half-completed construction projects, locals milling around.

We found an awesome little sushi place where we just grabbed some frozen mojitos & a snack while getting out of the rain & the commotion of the city while H checked his work emails.

We eventually wandered across the street for dinner & regretting not staying at Los Altos for dinner.  The food was OK, but not nearly as awesome as we’d been having the other nights & for much cheaper.  It was still nice to sit by the water & feel the breeze, but the view was pretty limited.

After dinner we went for a walk on the beach to catch the beautiful sunset- one of the very few pretty ones we were treated to while there.

That’s it for Costa Rica!  I enjoyed it, but not as much as I was hoping.  It’s a beautiful country, but nothing as spectacular as New Zealand or amazing as South Africa.  It’s a short, easy trip from the US (especially Texas) and things are relatively cheap there (though not as cheap as I expected in Latin America).  It’s a place for the young & romantic- lots of activities & adventures, plenty of pampering and romantic escapes and friendly people.

GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY: Excited about this weekend- heading home, maybe buying H a new car, 18 mile run tomorrow, Minute Maid park tour, massages & hanging out with friends!