Manny Anny (better known as Manuel Antonio)

  Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica
Monday, June 9, 2008

the bridge

This was our first weekend trip, and it was to paradise! It was a 5 hour bus ride from San Jose, through the beautiful countryside. We had to cross some bridges along the way as well that were extremely cool! One did NOT look sturdy at ALL, yet we made it over and there were HUGE trucks on the other side waiting to cross. At one point we stopped on a brdge to see the crocodiles floating all underneath. It's rainy season so water is abundant, there are mini waterfalls,water just flowing out of the sides of the mountain so beautifully.

paradiso

By the time we arrived, it was dark and rainy, but we hit up a bar anyway after getting all of our stuff into the hotel. I was on the second floor, and in the morning when I woke up, the balcony was literally paradise. It reminded me of Peter Pan's NeverNeverLand. There was this long, steep, slightly dangerous flight of stairs to go up and down that were pretty but really awful after having to go up them a

dangerously steep stairs

couple of times. My legs were burning! The woman who owned the hotel was also the cook and we got pancakes for breakfast before heading to the national park to take a hike. We passed the beach on the way there, and all we wanted to do was jump in the water, the Pacific Ocean! There was a little teaser walk before the actual hike that was flat and easy, but then I realized we hadnt even begun the hike. Once we did, it was up and down those makeshift costa rican stairs for about 45 minutes and I just about made it. definitely shelled out $2 for ice cold water at the end of it, I know the vendors make a killing every day!

Manuel Antonio national park

Then we finally made it back to the hotel (up the stairs even after that hike) to change into our bathing suits and hit the beach. The weather was perfect, not to hot, not too cold. All lot of our crew don't live close to the ocean, so it was really special to them. One guy had never been to the beach before! I can't even imagine that.

gorgeousness

los independientes

The second day was rinse and repeat- beach beach beach. And before we left we ate at this restaurant called "El Avion" where the foundation of the restaurant was a plane. SO COOL.