More Caribbean chilling

As we have been unofficially commisioned to investigate and report on Costa Rican beaches, we thought it only proper that we should make one final stop before hightailing it over the border to Panama.

01. Bike ride to Manzanillo

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a mere 45 minutes south of Cahuita, so we enjoyed a good breakfast and sleep in before catching an 11.00 bus south. Once off the bus, we immediately found our accomodation (a rare moment of decisiveness for Samuel), and set off for a a touch more shopping and a bit of a chat on the beach, discussing another business idea of Sam's. This one probably won't see daylight, but it was a very entertaining discussion none-the-less.

Where we were sitting gave us a perfect view of the 'Salsa Brava', the top wave in the Caribbean according to some, but didn't look up to its billing on that day, as the few surfers who were out there weren't catching many.

02. lunch in Manzanillo

Later in the afternoon we went for the usual 'long walk on the beach' (ah such romance!) and a nice swim - body surfing in the tepid waves. Francie's regular exposure of top-half flesh when catching a wave heightened the need for a replacement swimsuit (although the lucky Costa Rican geezers on the beach would probably disagree), while Sam's need to hold onto his shorts on every wave showed his dire need of reverse liposuction treatment to the derriere region, or at least a diet of 3 pies a day for the next 6 months.

Early night after a nice meal - Francie getting her fix of 'Mango con Leche' (a delicious Mango smoothie/mikshake concoction not unlike a Lassi) before we head off to less tropical climes.

03. lunch in Manzanillo

Next morning we awoke in our own sweet time, and having mulled it over for a bit the night before, went out and bought Francie a fantastic new B&W bikini - look out Europe! Both of us are well pleased with it! Needing somewhere to sport this new flesh-flasher, we hired a couple of bikes and headed off on a rather bumpy road to Manzanillo - a beach 13km distant.

The ride there and back was very nice - all flat except for one little hill - and no crazy driving from the cars on the road either! Much of the way the road was surrounded by beautiful bush, although apart from a swashed snake on the road, there wasn't too much wildlife to be seen.

04. Beach at Manzanillo

Manzanillo was definitely a fitting finale to our time in Costa Rica - this beach was absolutely gorgeous - miles of white sand, deep water, and perfect body surfing waves. We sat eating our lunch (the highlight of which were these unbelievably moorish coconut pastries) at some picnic tables under the palm trees, before having a couple of swims and the regulatory walk.

The bike back was a bit more pleasant, as the heat had gone out of the day, and we had yet another early night in anticipation of an early start the next day.

Adios Costa Rica! Gracias y Mucho Gusto! Pura Vida!

05. Puerto Viejo beach