Travel date: June 30, 2024

We are in Costa Rica this week to celebrate Ken’s mom’s 80th birthday with family.

Our flight left Dulles at 3am yesterday morning. This is an absurd hour to travel. 0/10 do not recommend.

Today, I’m grateful for scopolamine patches. The three hour car trip from San Jose Airport to Quepos (where we are camped for the week) looks like a wet spaghetti noodle on the map.

Brief stop at the Walmart in San Jose for provisions and a cultural experience. Imagine 13 people all shopping together, but without any real plan. I asked our guide what his favorite Costa Rican candies are and bought these. Have no real idea what I’m eating, but delicious. Was super thirsty, so bought myself a road beer for the bus.

Saw about a million mango trees on our way to Quepos. Our guide told us there are several different varieties of mango in Costa Rica. The large ones are called mangA. The smaller ones are mangO. You can buy 40 *pounds* of mangoes for $8. At home, I can buy 4 mangoes for $8.

Stopped at the famous “crocodile bridge” over the Tarcoles River. Several crocs sunning themselves in the brown river water below. (Did not dig my zoom camera out of my bag, so used my iPhone, which is ass for taking zoom photos). Just one of many animals in Costa Rica that could take me out. Will not be dipping my toes in any brown rivers while here.

Lunch break: Had a delicious drink called Coco Loco. Could have downed about 4 of these! But I didn’t want to flame out on day 1, so followed with a big glass of watermelon naturale, which is extremely fresh juice, instead.

Look at this limon – green outside and orange inside. It’s a hybrid between mandarin orange and lime. Was suuuppper sour. Everyone made faces trying it.

Made it to the house without tossing my lunch. Kids having fun exploring the house and playing in the pool. We were warned to shake out our shoes every morning, and our pillows at night. Because we’re in the jungle, and ….. critters.

Critter count, Day 1: 5 crocodiles🐊, 1 giant grasshopper 🦗, and 3 baby geckos🦎.

Salud!

Salud!