WAYNE AND I TRAVEL TO COSTA RICA IN 2006
	HOME
		We flew on 4 airplanes for 15 hours: Victoria, Vancouver, Denver, Houston, San Jose       The Best Western Irazu offered an hour of free drinks at 5 pm.  The pool was too cold for a long swim.  They had free internet plus a Denny's & casino attached.    We walked the downtown in San Jose.  This market was our best discovery as was Los Posados a nearby restaurant.  The National Museum had bullet holes in its outside walls.   A domestic airline called Nature Air carried us the 40 minutes from San Jose to the Drake Bay Airport.  We were a little shocked at the gravel runway and the remote location.   The airport was a work in progress... on outhouse and a grass roofed reception shelter.  We were met by Miguel and his Landrover which forded two rivers on the way to the beach.       The final leg of our long journey was a boat ride across Drake Bay to the resort.  Miguel used his cell phone to summon the boat. Sir Francis hid out in the bay, hence the name.   The "better" accomodation didn't appeal to us as much as cabina #1.  It was within peeing distance of the sand and had no neighbours for us to bother.  (Map of the area)   Such a view!  The surf pounded constantly and a heron fished within spitting distance of our deck. With a bucket of ice and a bor- rowed chair we entertained guests for "happy hour".   Every day we saw pelicans. This view looks North towards the Sierpe valley home of the mysterious people who made the huge stone balls. One morning a pack of white-faced capuchin monkeys landed on the dining room.  This guy's eating a too ripe banana. They bounced across the tin roof as if it was a trampoline. The foot lights along the paths attracted bugs and hence toads. Our routine was to finish "happy hour" in the bar after enjoying a drink or two at the shack. Each dinner was a new set of guests since people were leaving and arriving daily. Beans and rice were always there, as was a jug of local juice. The grounds around the resort were covered in a profusion of different kinds of tropical flowers. It was a delight to walk the paths. The route from the resort to the village of Drake Bay crossed this suspension bridge.  A few boards were loose or missing but the river view was excellent. The trail spilled out onto a wonderful sand beach fringed with palms.  A few of Drake Bay's 200 souls wade to their necks before casting.  Ben first led us to this restaurant for a glass of very tasty juice made from a local fruit.  We went back later on our own for a second hit.  Ambience! We joined a "Bug Tour" one evening led by Tracy and her husband John. This trapdoor spider was one of several with "houses" in a clay bank. Our excursion to Corcovado National Park began with a some heavy rain which kept us cool for a couple of hours but when the sun began to shine... hot, hot, hot! The forest became a steam bath.  The trail was mud in many places.  Our guide, Manuel, hiked with a huge spotting scope slung over his shoulder. After a very pleasant bag lunch provided by the resort, Wayne and I followed Manuel up to the waterfall and swimming hole.  This tiny nesting bird, seen through the spotting scope, turned out to be almost invisible but only 20 feet away.  (Wildlife photos) These Howler monkeys (note the baby) posed for a picture taken through the the spotting scope. Manuel was a master of this technique. Most days we kayaked.  This paddle was followed by a short hike to a river mouth and a canoe trip up the River Claro. Ricardo, the artist, had created a "garden" of sculptures from driftwood and beach debri.  After a short paddle across Drake Bay we entered the Rio Drake.  A pair of ibis lived in the estuary along with egrets, crocodiles and numerous lizards.