Tropical Moose Racing

Pictures on the wall of a motorcycle repair shop right on the beach in Tamarindo. Go figure.       

Wildlife

A tiny crab, not more than 4 inches/10 cm across, scuttling across Playa Langosta. Mrs. C found a bunch more on one of the lava rock formations jutting out of the water. They were wet and slippery, and I have a poor sense of balance (from creaky knees and trifocals?) so I decided to take her word for it.

Those are three tiny snails in front of the crab. I don't think it was interested in them as a snack. The crab found its way into a hole in the sand moments later. The bottom picture is a broad view of the area.              

Ocean Gate

Perhaps a piece of beach art. It invites us to use our imagination. Found on Playa Langosta.

            

 

Adios

Sunset at Playa Langosta. I hope this little movie is viewable. Don't know a thing about video editing and I've been wrestling with getting this done and uploaded.

Leaving Costa Rica today. Back to reality, which looks pretty heavy this week. Lacking any other material, I may have some more from here in the coming days.

             

La Luna, El Cocinero Y El Capitan

Almost time to go home. We went to dinner last night at the restaurant of a boutique hotel just down the road, Capitan Suizo. Our old friend, Jujo Molina, has become executive chef. He offers a tasting menu on Friday nights at a very reasonable price.

A just-barely-not-full moon was rising over the palm trees as Jujo and his staff served us culinary delights. There was a saxophone player making sure our blood pressure stayed low. It's going to be hard to leave tomorrow.    

Sorry no post yesterday. I shot some video of the sunset Thursday evening but I don't know a thing about editing them movin' pitchers and it took me hours to figure out the basics of iMovie. Then it took three hours to upload the clip to Blogger, and then it didn't work. It may show up here yet.  

Playa Grande

Playa Grande - Big Beach - is across the estuary from Tamarindo. Despite its proximity it is not easy to reach. You have to go quite a bit inland and then circle back toward the shore, maybe a half hour drive. Much of the area is a national park because leatherback sea turtles use it as a mass nesting area. So not much development and no crowds. Surfers' paradise, Central American style.

As you can see, almost everybody has fun, even the iguana who hangs out by the taco stand.   

Angry Birds

At least that's how the first one strikes me. A snowy egret, I think, with a bad attitude. Mean claws, too.

We took a two hour boat ride on the estuary between Tamarindo and Playa Grande with a local guide, Gerardo Santana, who knows his stuff. Almost all of the waterway is undeveloped and wildlife is left to itself but for a few small tourist boats. At one point we went up a small side channel, pulled up to the shore and walked through the forest looking for howler monkeys.

The bird taking off is a great blue heron. My traveling companion and family naturalist tells me that the third is a yellow banded black heron. Not sure about that - the beaks are so different.

Oh, and not a good idea to take a swim here.