We last left our heroines in the middle of a dirt road in Costa Rica with a construction worker speaking of la bomba rapidly in Spanish. Not understanding what he was saying at first, Katie and Kirby asked him to repeat and slow down so they could use their Spanish skills to decipher what he was trying to tell them. Turns out the girls little Yaris wasn’t as unstoppable as they thought because the poor little guy had a flat tire! The girls were shocked by the news and turned around promptly to head back into town and get the tire fixed before causing any damage to the car. The news was a little distressing and the girls fretted over how much a flat tire was going to cost in Costa Rica. Not knowing if la bomba was what the the Costaricans called a flat tire or if La Bomba was what they called the workshop where they fixed tires. After asking around a bit in town and maybe sounding a bit ridiculous telling people they had a bomba, the girls found la bomba, which turned out to be the workshop where a kindly gentleman fixed up their tire in no time for the low price of $8!
Back on the road again the girls were once again faced with the choice of where to lay their lovely heads for the night. Having been slowed down by the Bomba incident the girls were nowhere near Nosara and the sun was rapidly descending. Since they were headed back the way they had come to avoid closed roads they were pretty close to where their peninsula adventure had started at Playa Naranjo. Making their way carefully back, the girls spot a beautiful gated resort called Hotel Oasis.
Driving in, the girls were pretty sure that this amazing place was out of their price range. However, a lovely neighbor visiting the resort to take a dip in their pool greeted them and assisted them in making a deal with the resorts keeper. Since it was off season the place was completely empty. The girls were able to negotiate a great price to set their tent up on the luscious beach front lawn and even gained access to the hotel kitchen! Very exciting, considering the past few meals had been mainly made up of cereal or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Thrilled with their new digs the girls didn’t know what to do first! Swim in the huge bright blue pool? Set up camp? Grocery shop? Always ready to make the perfect plan and discuss all possible options, Katie, Kirby, and Shuli were quickly able to asses the situation and decide on the best course of action.
First things first! They set up camp making sure they would be nice and cozy picking the perfect spot to pop their tent. Unable to resist the beckoning call of the ocean at their front door, Katie and Shuli enjoyed a sunset swim in the sea. Afterward, the girls hopped into the warm waters of the hotel pool. The pool was huge and a photo shoot soon ensued yet again with the trusty Lumix! As the light faded on the water the girls heard the rumble of their tummies growing louder and after a quick change slipped back into their Yaris and headed for the nearest market. Now that they had access to a kitchen a plethora of culinary options opened up for them, however the three were still balling on a budget. After much debating the three agreed upon a feast of macaroni and cheese for dinner along with all the fixings for a grand breakfast and of course some rice and beans to carry along for lunch the next day.
Eating more macaroni than their bellies could handle the girls soon found their eyelids growing heavy. Crawling into the comfort of their tent after a long day of exciting adventure, the girls drifted off into dreamland enjoying the softness of the grass underneath them and the ocean breeze.
Waking at sunrise with birds chirping loudly and the bright sun pouring in through the netting of their tent, three lovely sets of eyes flutter open. The day is perfect and the three are excited at the endless possibilities of what lay before them. Kirby, an aspiring chef who is already quite talented in the kitchen, whips the group up a quick and satisfying breakfast of eggs, toast, and coffee. Feeling light and energized, the girls transition into workout mode. Lucky for Katie and Kirby, Shuli is a certified yoga instructor and she proceeds to lead a rejuvenating class in the serenest of settings. The girls gracefully move through the poses along with Shuli’s soothing voice, letting the splendor of the trees, flowers, sun, and water add their own inspirational touches to their practice.
Taking the road a bit easier this time the girls once again enjoyed the sounds of Costa Rica’s finest radio stations which boast a great selection from the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. The radio turned out to provide the perfect soundtrack to the girls road trip. Used to the bumpy, dusty and sometimes muddy roads by now, Katie tactfully wove her way around all the twists and turns while singing along to the radio hits, even avoiding this typical Costa Rican cart and oxen!
They made it to the beach at Samara and took a little break to walk around and see what the little town had to offer. Hearing the town in Nosara was really beautiful as well and not too far away the girls decided to venture on in hopes of camping in a new and unchartered territory. As the girls were met with several forks in the road they made their best guesses as to which way to follow towards Nosara. Ending up at a dead end where a river was running through the road and the mud was thick and sludgy, the girls decided they must have gone the wrong way.
The girls carefully turned around and headed back towards town and along the way they met a man riding his bike down the dirt road. He offered up directions and advice on how to get to Nosara. Unfortunately, the river crossing was the usual way to get there during the dry season but due to all the recent rain the road was still blocked and closed and if the girls wished to get to Nosara they would have to go around. With new directions the girls were determined to get to Nosara before nightfall and headed off the way the nice man had suggested. Meeting some real rough patches of road, the girls slowly realized they may not make it to Nosara before the sunset. Coming to a smart unanimous decision, the girls decided to cut their losses and head back to Samara so they would have time to enjoy the beach there and find a new place to set up camp.
As the girls headed back into town, content with the choice they had made a familiar bumpy, uneven feeling came over the car. At first the three thought it was just all the mud stuck to the tires but sure enough it was another Bomba! This time the girls were not worried but they were hungry. Slowly pulling out the spare tire the girls were ready to change this one themselves but they were met with a minor complication, an incomplete jack set! What were they to do? Well, at least one problem could be solved. The girls first pulled out their left over rice and beans and had a little brain fuel to help them ease their hunger and come up with a plan. Lucky for them a plan was not necessary. A few minutes later a nice couple from Massachusetts pulled up alongside and asked if they needed help. Although the girls were fully capable of changing their own tire, the chivalrous man from the US popped the flat off and had the new one on in no time. After thank you’s and you’re welcomes were exchanged the girls were once again on the road back into town.
The search for the perfect camping spot began as the sun was setting. Due to the bomba incident the girls didn’t have time to go to the beach that day but they still had fun plans ahead of them because that night was to be a night of celebration. While the girls asked around town for the best and cheapest place to camp in town, Katie and Kirby devised a plan to celebrate the birth of their dear friend Shuli. With Shuli’s birthday just a few days away, Katie and Kirby used their last road trip night with Shuli to throw her a surprise party. Sending Shuli the negotiator off to ask about camping spots, Kirby snuck into the grocery store and purchased the essentials for any good birthday party - 3 beers for 3 friends, a sugary cake, and candles.
The tent is set up with ease and the girls settle in with their surprise beers to look at all the wonderful pictures that have been captured by the brilliant photographers, each seeing the trip through their own eyes, at their own angles. Katie sneaks off to light the candles in Shuli’s cake and when she heads back over they all sing and Shuli is elated with the thoughtful gesture made by her dear friends. Enjoying cake, laughs, and photos the girls reminisce over their wonderful road trip experience. Although their journey is coming to an end the next day and Shuli must head back to the big city, they smile and revel in the fact that no matter what, they will always share the stories and memories of the epic journey in their little white Yaris.
Awaking the next morning with the sun the girls reluctantly pack up and head out, grabbing some quick coffees on their way out of town. Making their way back towards Katie and Kirby’s new home in La Fortuna, the girls hope to have time to stop along the way and enjoy a last meal at the end of their journey. They end up stopping at the same place they stopped at on their way out of town and the three are excited to sit at the cute table and chair set they had spotted days earlier. Ordering the cheapest yet hopefully satisfying item suggested by the plump cocinera, the girls sip their coffee, take in the view and wait for their fried plantains and cheese, a Costarican specialty and very delicious. The girls savor every bite and soak in the last few minutes of their relaxation before the reality of rental car returns and bus times take over.
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After a detailed car wash to rid the rental car of the muddy evidence of the girls fantastic adventure it is time to say good bye to their Yaris. Pulling into the Alamo office the girls breathe a sigh of relief having made it back all in one piece with all their belongings. They feel extremely blessed to have shared such a magical time together on the roads of Costa Rica. Although this trip and this story have now come to an end, the spirit of adventure lives on in all three girls and sometime soon there will be a new daring and exciting expedition into the great unknown...
Wow,that was Epic! The Birthday surprise was really the best part.I was so busy being annoyed with those two Russian guys who kept saying "CAMPING?!?! maybe on another PLANET!!" in their heavy accent, lol, that I didn't even suspect a Bday Party!
ReplyDeleteAlso- you forgot to mention the EARTHQUAKE!when we were just sitting there, on the solid rock table and chairs and I was thinking "wow, Katie is really rocking this table with her foot right now....". That was super cool, feeling the earth move like that!
Oh- and I just wanted to add that when we stopped at the beautiful cafe spot, before we ordered the delicious cheap treat, we were planing on being even cheaper, and asked the Mama if she could heat up our leftover rice and beans. The Mama took ONE WHIFF of that Tupperware and was like " NO NO NO! this smell REAL bad! beans no good!!! " hahahah. So basically, we've been eating some really spoiled food for some time. Oh well, nothing some Lazanno can't spice up!