Day 3

Drive - Unpack - Home!


I am writing this on the sunny morning of Day 4 - the mountains were very misty when we awoke at 6:30, but the sun arrived and it feels like a beautiful day.


Day 3 was busy.  Up and packing at 8 - we needed to reorganize some of the stuff that was packed for airline travel (weight and safety) to make it fit in the SUV.  After the shower, shave, breakfast routine, we managed to organize 7 suitcases, 2 picnic coolers, a printer, two 25# dumbbells, two yoga mats, an electric drill, a hand saw, 12 bottles of wine and groceries into the cube of a vehicle and still be able to see out the rear window.  So we were off - 10:20 am.


The drive was good - the Caldera (toll road) was fairly quiet and without much construction - they appear to have raised the tolls - what was 480 colones is now 510! Not to panic - that's about 6 cents.


Off the Caldera and onto Route 34 - 175km straight to Ojochal.  About 10 km down the road a police check point - - and us with the car packed to the roof!  "Buenas"  "Armes?" "Drogues?" - well at least he said good morning!  Guns and Drugs - what is he thinking! Of course not!  That is followed by two of them peering in the rear windows - he comes to my window and asked to see in the glove box and my knapsack - then he asks for passports.  "Jaco?"  no - Ojochal - that brings a lost look - Uvita?  he nods - "por las mujeres?"  NO!  "Hombres?"  Si.  He hands back my passport - Lisle's is being recorded by the other guy who returns it a few minutes later - "Gracias.  Buenas Dias" - Hopefully that is our police encounter for this trip!


A quick stop in Uvita for food and Jucaloa for vegetables and then home - record time - it is only 2:10.


We turn the corner at the top of the road and there is the house - what an amazing difference the landscaping makes - more on that later!


3 hours later we are unpacked (more like uncrated) - only damage - a dint in the bread maker, and the food processor bowl is cracked - plus the 3 new suitcases that are missing pieces or cracked (so much for the indestructibility of Heys!).


A dip in the pool, dinner, (including the howlers calling) a glass of scotch and a movie - bed at 11 (late by Costa Rican standards).


It was very dark and very quiet - our first night alone in the house - peaceful but a little spooky knowing there were very few folks around - only a few noises in for jungle behind.  Good to be home!