The Lotus Garden (Jordan's Jacuzzi Suites) Puerto Viejo

... out some more.<br><br>7th August<br>Meet Carly for breakfast on what looks like a brilliant day, planning to hire bikes and ride three or four beaches down the road to hang out for the day. that thought disappeared pretty quick as monsoon rain set in!<br>Nothing much you can do in that weather, so went back to my room, listened to some tunes, talk and just hang out.<br>Both had a little nap before getting ready for tea, ended up going out with the four german girls ...

... road towards the beach, which is two blockes away.<br>The quiet of the morning was only interrupted by the sounds of crowing roosters, heavy construction and other big delivery trucks going by, and people greeting eachother first thing that morning in a different language than at home. The morning smells were similar to what I am used to in Jamaica; smoldering wood, breakfasts cooking and the occasional wiff of diesel exhaust, mixed in with the ...

... country. Costa Rica has always been a country that knows how to respond to these kinds of problems. Solidarity is part of our culture, even when you hear about all these crazy events where crime, drugs and ...

... a real shame because I would have loved to have spent a day just wandering around the waterways at a relaxed pace (definitely would have been worth getting the camera out). Went back to Banana Azul Hotel near Puerto Viejo for two nights - nothing too spectacular to report there except more amazing food, great staff, great room and a very relaxing time (highly recommend Banana Azul ...

... up the crab in his beanie and walked around with it, posing for pictures and probably hoping to collect more tips. I slipped him a grand, about two bucks American. After dinner we met Gerald and his friends at their "pre-party" hangout, a bar called Tex-Mex. My liver only had room for one more drink, but I made it count; that was the best mojito I've ever had in my life. Eventually the weary old over-25ers made our way back to the hostel, while Alli and Lydia danced into the night.

... 4 to 1, something that the three girls exploited to the full - getting free drinks, practising their Spanish and being dragged around a dancefloor to Salsa beats! Speaking little Spanish, me and Oli could only sit back and wait to provide the bouncer-esque escort back to the appartments! As despite our beauty and charm, no senoritas chanced their arm! Saturday was spent relaxing on the beach and around the hostel, scratching the many ...

... is a little stream running through it where we could fish for prawns! Apart from me, there are 2 other volunteers from Spain, Patricia and David, who are a darling couple. I am like their adopted child who gets to join them in their whacky backpacking weekends in rural Costa Rica. There are 2 ticos (a short name for costa ricans) working here: Francisco works in the taxonomy of macroinvertebrates; Edward is in charge of the general maintenance of the whole ...

The journey here was long and difficult, the seats on the bus were tiny and the 2 people in front of us insisted on being really inconsiderate and putting their chairs back. Epi was literally wedged into his seat, he could not move at all. We had 4 and a half hours of travelling like that and the only thing that kept our spirits high was the fact that we were heading to the Caribean and the views were amazing. When we ...

... Iain to get a good shot on the camera was to rustle the packet of raisins I was eating! As we carried on we also saw lizards, an agouti and a racoon. The highlight was right at the end of the walk, just before we reached the bus stop, when we saw a sloth actually moving so we were able to get a good look at its claws and face.