WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE

When we booked our month long stay in Playa Grande, we had no idea what we were getting.  All we knew was that it had a kitchen, hot water, wifi, was cheap and most importantly close to the beach.  As we followed the signs into Playa Grande we wondered where the hell we were going, suddenly the jungle was closing in, the road was turning into rutted mud and was only as wide as the truck.  We thought we were staying in a town, boy were we wrong - we're in a gated ex-pat community, nestled into the jungle.

We ended up getting a whole lot more than we thought we would.  It had everything we mentioned above and one thing that we didn't know about - a MICROWAVE!  This meant popcorn.  Its these little unexpected things that makes us happy.  Annas even happy here, we haven't seen her relax this quick before.  We think its the couch.

This place has two rooms for rent and is attached to the owners home.  A three minute walk away is the beach and behind us is the jungle.  There are a couple of hotels and restaurants down the street, a very expensive corner store, some homes and thats about it.  This is not what we're used to.  Wheres the garbage, the stray dogs, music playing around the clock and just plain hustle and bustle.  It is so quiet.  Our first day we wondered if we would last a month.

our path to the beach

The first day here we heard the familiar roar of the howler monkeys and later saw them playing around in the trees.  (of course, we didn't have our camera)  Then that night, we experienced one of the most insane storms we had ever been in.  It all started with a clap of thunder and then the skies opened up and produced golf ball sized rain drops.  A massive tree fell on the neighbours house and then all we heard around us was trees falling in the jungle.  Suddenly, we both felt the hairs on our arms stand on end and then BOOM. Lightning struck somewhere close and turned night into day.  It made our hearts stop and took our breath away.  This particular storm turned into tropical cyclone Dora, when it got farther up the coast.  We can't imagine what it must be like to be in an actual cyclone.  As far as a tropical storm is concerned, this was nothing.  We don't ever want to find out what something would be.

after another rain storm - thats about 4" deep

We have seen and have been forced to interact with more creatures and insects than ever before.  Collisions with frogs happens daily, yesterday we had to get one out of our room after he hopped through my legs.  We had to give a wide berth to a six foot long big black snake.  We have run away from a cloud of strange iridescent mosquitoes.  We spent one day fighting off the mud wasps from nesting in our sliding patio door and we have to work around the spider community in our bathroom.  As well, we have been eye to eye with raccoons outside our door as they come investigate the recycling bin at night - they do not scare away.  In the morning, you can see the carnage of these cute halloween crabs that the raccoons have been feeding on. Not all of the bugs here scare us though.  When the power is out and the jungle is twinkling with fire flies  - it is the most amazing sight.

halloween crabs - they are so fun to watch

One morning we were awoken to a large boom.  Three seconds later, the bed started shaking - it felt like the room was moving a foot back and forth.  It was earthquake number four, for us.  This one only registered as a 4.9 but it felt more aggressive then the 5.5 one we had in Liberia.  I know these are small scale earthquakes but for two people from the prairies, they sure don't feel like it.

this picture is for our seashell loving, great niece, Kayla

taking the boat across the estuary 

We have travelled to Costa Rica twice before, both times in the dry season.  It was beautiful but it was brown.  To see this country in the rainy season is an entirely different experience.  It doesn't rain all day, everyday just here and there.  Its actually really refreshing and usually welcomed.  After the rain it does get really humid though and our clothes are always wet - whether it be from the rain or from sweating.  So if your ever planning a vacation to Costa Rica don't write off the rainy season - it is so incredibly beautiful this time of year.

So at the beginning of this post we wrote about wondering if we would make it a month.  We have been here over three weeks now and we are loving it.  Beach and surfing everyday and the odd itunes movie at night, fish from the fish guy and baked goods from the bakery that come right to our door - we just can't complain. And its not quiet here, living in the jungle is anything but.  We may not be getting much culture and our spanish is suffering but its really nice and relaxed here.  Good thing - we have four very important people on their way to see us and we have a feeling that they are going to be keeping us very busy.

we sit on this log every morning with a coffee and every night with a beer