We Have Arrived!

After a smooth flight from Miami to Liberia, we arrived at the airport on time. As we made our approach, flying west to east over the Pacific Ocean, we were able to glimpse a full and orange moon to the north and a big fire burning to the south. A passenger seated across the aisle said, "Oh look, there's a volcano erupting!" It turns out, it wasn't a volcano. It was a massive burning of sugar cane fields, which is done deliberately in order to rid the fields of serpientes pelegrosos (dangerous snakes)!

Arrival at the airport was interesting. It is a relatively small one. We were told that eleven planes land there on a weekday, more on the weekend. The plane was only about half full, and lines for immigration and customs were very short. The customs process was almost a joke. Each bag was run through an x-ray on conveyor belt. That's it. No one's bags were opened. (Although someone did go through my checked bag somewhere between Boston and Liberia. It was partially unzipped and the lock was gone. I still don't know if anything is missing. I do know that nothing of value was in it.)

We easily located the shuttle to the Hilton Garden Inn, and checked in there around 8:30. We had a lovely room overlooking the pool with a king-sized bed (una cama king-size). We enjoyed a late supper outdoors near the pool. The night was very breezy and had cooled to the low or mid eighties. We shared a quesedilla and a lovely salad with tropical frutas, and Connie celebrated with a piña colada. (Bob had a headache and passed on that.)

After a much-needed and long sleep, we awoke refreshed, had a lovely buffet breakfast, again outdoors by the pool. Included in the breakfast choices were the traditional pinto de gallo (beans and rice), plantains, and lovely tropical fruits including pineapple and papaya. The coffee (Costa Rican) was delicious - smoother and less acidic than we are accustomed to in the states).

After breakfast (desayuno), we checked out and boarded a taxi (van), heading for Playas del Coco. Bob and the driver conversed quite a bit in Spanish. I was able to understand a bit of it, but could not contribute much. The land in this part of Costa Rica (Guanacaste) is very dry and brown. The only green we saw in the fields were some irrigated melon crops. El Coco is about 30 minutes from our hotel near the airport. The road is a narrow, paved, one with drainage ditches on both sides. When we arrived in El Coco, the driver went out of his way to show us the main drag with its shops and restaurants and the ocean with many boats bobbing in the bay.

Now, we are at Playas del Coco, sitting in the courtyard of the Las Palmas development, in front of the Creperie Luna de Plata - owned by a French-speaking woman formerly from Quebec. She has lived here for five years.

Our contact has arrived. Must close this blog for now. More later.

 

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