Puerto Viejo with our little Shulamith

After Cahuita we headed further south to Puerto Viejo. I personally was super excited to get there because I knew the beaches there would be amazing and I couldn’t wait to go swimming in the ocean. Although we had been by the beach while we were at Pacuare and again in Cahuita, the beaches weren’t really appropriate for swimming. I couldn’t wait to get in the warm Caribbean Sea! 

Katie has already written about our arrival in Puerto Viejo and the terrible hostel we first stayed in (The toilet bowl) and then she also wrote about Rockin J’s (Wisdom on the walls). Rockin J’s is one of the coolest places ever. I am excited that I get to go back to this spot before the end of our trip because our friend Amy is coming to visit and her one request was to be by the beach. Our friend Doug is also coming at the same time and we thought Rockin J’s would be the perfect place to take them as their first stop in Costa Rica! It is a beautiful spot and has such great atmosphere. The art and mosaics that cover the entire place are really beautiful and hold a lot of wisdom. We also love staying in the tents because it felt like we were at a festival minus the music and the mud.

Our own personal Corona Ad
but since we are in Costa Rica its
Imperial, every Tico's favorite beer!

Katie and I had a great time chillin by the beach and one day we treated ourselves to a fun day of renting bikes and bringing a couple ice cold beers to the beach. Puerto Viejo has several beaches so we first rode to the one closest to Rockin J’s and enjoyed our beers while they were still cold. While sitting by the sea, a nice girl named Laura came and chatted with us and gave us some tips on where the good beaches were and a nice lookout point. Laura’s tips were great and once our beers were finished we hopped on our bikes to headed to Laura’s favorite                

beach called Playa Chiquita. Upon getting to the beach, who do we spot there... our new friend Laura! 

The next day I stayed on my own while Katie took an early morning bus into San Jose to meet Shuli at the airport. I hung 

out with Laura all day and we mostly just stayed at the beach and swam and talked. While we were chilling out on the beach a nice couple from the US offered us some mud masks so we enjoyed a relaxing little spa treatment with the sunset. Laura is from Australia and has been traveling for quite some time. She is so sweet and I really hope that our paths cross again someday. 

Once Katie made it back that night with Shuli, I had a yummy dinner of Juevos Rancheros prepared. Even though our bellies were full we managed to muster up the energy to take Shuli out so she could take in the  local flavor and enjoy some more reggae music. 

The next day, her official first day in Costa Rica commenced and we were all excited to spend it together at the beach. It was a hot day and we swam in the water most of the time. The water was so still it was like glass. There were no waves at all and it was like our own personal jacuzzi. We were able to stay in the water for hours just swimming around and talking. Katie decided after awhile that since the waters were so calm it would be ok for her to bring her most prized possession, her camera, in for a photo session. 

Here are the AMAZING results! - 

Our view from the Ocean-cuzzi

Laughing over our Martha Washington hair-dos

Kirby's impression of Ariel from the Little Mermaid

Katie our personal photographer/waitress while we enjoy the mini surf

Happy as clams

Our best mermaid picture! This picture wasn't easy to capture and it took quite a few tries to get the timing just right. I am glad that we didn't let Shuli give up because this picture wouldn't be the same without her!  

The best of friends in another beautiful location

Our most graceful mermaid, Katie

Shuli, our most reluctant mermaid. Even though she fought the photo shoot every step of the way... I think she must be happy now that she has all these gorgeous photos with her friends in the Caribbean Sea!

And then it was time to go... this is the look I give Katie to get her to put the camera away and end the photo shoot. It was a great day at the beach and even though at the time we were somewhat reluctant models these pictures turned out better than we could have ever imagined! I know that now we are all so grateful to have them as memories. Being able to look back on this day, even now, makes me smile and makes me so happy I made a new friend. It is so amazing that Katie was able to share her friend with me and now I have a new friend in my life. Friends are so important and I hold them all so dearly and close to my heart. Our time in the ocean with Shuli was unforgettable and I am happy share it all here with more of my family and friends.