Day 8 & 9

Day 8

We woke up to something that we have never seen before - a bright, sunny, blue-skied Costa Rican day!! We were off to the pool to soak up the rays for the better half of our day. Around 12:30, Jason, Chris, Mike and Bob arrive at our pool. The beer started flowing immediately. Yay amigos! The girls and I were off to a Mangrove kayak tour. 

The tour was …interesante. Our guide sounded like a recording and didn't really interact or show us much. The highlight of the tour was seeing monkeys jumping on Liz and Susan's kayak. And then returning and peeing in the river (in protest against the bathroom usage fee). 

Oh well, it was fun to kayak around in pairs. I just wish got to see more cool animals…or maybe even a crocodile. After the tour, we took a quick shower and then Jason picked us up in his sweet whip and whisked us away to their private bungalow on the cliff. We played some good old fashion American drinking games while we pounded beers. So fun!

Day 9
Today were were off early for an all-day horseback riding excursion. We were picked up late because our van broke down on the way to get us. A 35 minute ride down a dirt/gravel road listening to the best of the 80's like "total eclipse of the heart" and "that's what friends are for"  and we made it! 

 

We saddle up and head on out. I ask one of the cowboys what my horse's name is and he tells me with a straight face "diablito". I start laughing and ask, no, what really is his name? "Diablito". For those of you that don't know "diablito" translates to little devil. Apparently, my little devil likes to bite other horses when they're in his way - I learned that pretty quickly! 

haha 90 minutes out over the river and through the jungle on horse back until we reach a swimming hole that is filled with water from the biggest waterfall that I've ever seen in real life. It was super fun!! 

We trotted back and had lunch waiting for us. 35 minute ride back on gravel road, as we pull up to our glorious hotel plinio, the van breaks down. Somebody must have been looking out for us today because it seems that our luck is changing! 2 sunny days in a row -- I don't want to jinx it. Toque madera.
Some of our most favorite sayings from the trip thus far:
1) Are these horses donkeys?
2) Check for leaches between your toes.
3) Sometimes even Chelsea Clinton looks cute.
4) No Dora.

Dora - the resident dog at our old apartment