Costa Rica - Pura Vida!

The tranquil border crossing led us down the Costa Rican hwy where we luckily found Abe and Ashley hitchhiking towards the beach. It was nice to be together again, “La gran familia.” Ruffles, Vic, Abe, Ashley and I. The dry northern lands of Guanacaste greeted us with cloudful mountains and herding cattle. After a quick stay in Liberia we cruised to the beaches of the Nicoya Peninsula. The overdeveloped city of Tamarindo allowed us to re-supply and fix the long board before moving south to the smaller beach communities. Dirt roads, mangrove forests and hidden cabanas provided the backdrop to the white sandy beach of Playa Avellanas. Squatting on an abandoned beachfront property we past the next few days lying in hammocks, surfing, searching for seashells, playing music and enjoying the beach bum lifestyle. Motivated and refreshed we drove north to the lush jungle region of Volcan Arenal. Windy roads covered by elephant size plants helped shield the constant rain that misted over the pretty lake Arenal hiding the impressive volcano. La Fortuna with its booming tourist industry provided a quick stop for cool mountain air, natural hot springs and family dinners. A rainy morning has us packed up and off to the busy, congested and secretive capitol of San Jose.

The sprawl of San Jose provided a stark contrast from the sunny beaches and misty mountains of the rest of Costa Rica. Ma Cheri Cecile greeted us and got us situated for the next couple days of goodbyes, bienvenidos and airport runs. The nights provided hilarious entertainment for the Imperial Beer Music Festival was being held just outside the city in the surrounding farmland. With no tickets and hope for an easy entry we parked on the outskirts listening to Costa Rican rock and when it came time for the headline bands of Incubus and Smashing Pumpkins we pulled off the greatest break-in of all time. Which involved crawling through mud, leaping fences, dodging security and a black eye. Yet we made it inside and the music roared as thousands of Ticos sang along. Que Locura!!

Returning to the airport we said goodbye to Ashley wishing her luck in West Virginia, climb hard sista! Ruffles bid adieu, for the islands of Panama beckoned his artisan skills and Heather was now with us after a long flight from CA. So Abe, Vic, Heather and I cruised towards the beach with sun, surf and relax on our minds. Our first stop was Puntarenas to meet up with Abe’s friend. A packed beach house with studying internationals welcomed us as stories were shared over cold beverages and sunset slackline sessions. My birthday arrived as we set off on the ferry to Montezuma for some clear water, sandy beaches, wave action and small surf town vibes. A great day topped with a vino inspired ferry ride and beach side dinner with three very dear amigos, que buen cumpleanos! The sticky rustic port feel of Puntarenas as a city left to the will of the scorching sun, calloused hands and jaded paint followed us alone our way to Dominical.

Bumpy roads bordered by coastal cliffs and palm plantations had us scooting into Dominical where sarongs hung from palm trees and rental cars full of surfboards lined the beach as wooden tiendas and cute eateries clustered together around main street. Dominical had kept its small surf town feel and artsy vibe. Let’s hope it continues to shun the overdevelopment that has plagued much of the rest of coastal Costa Rica. Before getting situated we said our final goodbyes to Abe as he grabbed a bus up north to explore some hidden boulders before flying back to CA for a summer chasing bugs and climbing. His manera de ser will be missed, “buena suerte amigo!” We found a wonderful place to stay on the outskirts of town where we met some friendly guests from Holland and Australia. Days in Dominical were passed surfing, fixing broken boards, walking the beach, playing connect four, watching breathtaking sunsets, cooking gourmet meals under a tin roof, and afternoon treks to hidden waterfalls where the cool water oasis of San Cristobel touched to sky.

After a few days in Dominical we drove back to San Jose for final goodbyes. Heather flew away leaving Vic and I together to pass one more evening of recuerdos and storytelling before his flight for CA. With Vic’s departure thus marks the end of the first leg of Southbound Horizons, he will be missed but his presence will be felt and inspire new adventures when Southbound Horizons heads to Patagonia. Driving alone through the basurafied streets of San Jose many memories flooded my mind thinking about all the amazing adventures, experiences and wonderful people through Central America; 9,000 miles over 115 days, so many stories, so many wonders.

Until late September / early October the Southbound Horizons journey through South America will be put on hold for some amazing work opportunities in Costa Rica and Guatemala have presented themselves for the summer. I am currently working as a river and land instructor for Costa Rica Rainforest Outward Bound School http://www.crrobs.org/ and in early July will be heading up to Lanquin, Guatemala to work as a river guide on the Rio Cahabon with Guatemala Rafting. If you want to take a stellar river trip on a beautiful and exciting river through some the most magnificent landscapes in all of Central America then check out the website guatemalarafting.com or http://home.planet.nl/~bleij383/

Dear faithful readers, thank you for keeping our journeys in mind and heart and keep an eye or finger click ready for October when Southbound Horizons continuous through the next continent full of adventure, purpose, culture and buena onda.

“The future holds the realization of a wonderers dreams, greetings from exotic lands and the gratification of never knowing what follows the next horizon. “ -AH