Decisions, decisions!

Continuing with our exploration of the coastline of this province we have now headed north to an area called Playa Negra, Junquillal. And it is quite amazing how different the landscape and climate are just a couple of hours drive up the coast. 

We had already a booked an AirB&B for four weeks near the beach. Always a pretty risky venture when you are relying on just pictures and a brief description of the property. We all know how misleading these can be. But we always send messages asking various questions before arrival to make sure, like, is the pool really just for us? Are there fans in the rooms? Are you finicky landlords who pester us or will you just leave us be? Turns out the guys who own this place are very cool and relaxed. The guy is a French national  who has been here for 14 years, a surfer every day with the physique of a gymnast. He is 45 so I don’t have to be too ashamed of my extra middle age spread. His wife is a beautiful and quite exotic Chilean who teaches and lives and breathes yoga. She has tried to rope me in a few times already. She isn’t pushy though, does it in a nice and kind way. Not like the Yogi’s I have met previously who seem to be some kind of religion and try to ram it down your throat like it will save your soul. My soul is fine thanks, a bit raggedy round the edges, but understandably so after so many years on the planet.

The place is lovely too. Extremely quiet save for the wildlife which is everywhere, however, not as abundant as the last place in Playa Coyote. The town here is bigger, there are more people, the roads are better maintained, which is a relief for us and Marissa. But with more people comes more devastation, more forest clearance and less habitat for the wildlife. Jeremy and Maria, the owners, are very concerned about the environment and do all they can to provide corridors for the monkeys. They even planted many trees in which the monkeys like to hang and dine. 

We have a couple of bedrooms, a kitchen and patio area and two bathrooms, along with a pool and a beautiful garden which is all fully at our disposal. So it’s all pretty idyllic. It turns out that we have grown very fond of this area pretty instantly due to a couple of reasons. One, it has more in the way of services and infrastructure. It is close to Tamarindo which is and has been a destination for tourists for many years. Tamarindo, to me, is a horrible place. Too many people, terrible architecture and no soul. Pretty much like Benidorm is to Spain or Blackpool to England. The only thing it has going for it is the climate. But, because of the close proximity this area too is developing. Many Americans buy here, and with them comes the money and the infrastructure. 

Don’t assume I want or need to be close to people. That is far from the truth, I would rather be on a desert island far away from everybody. But that is a very difficult thing to firstly achieve and secondly to survive. Being alone isn’t my wish, I am a sociable ape. I like to chose if and when I communicate but when you are miles from anyone or anything that can be almost unbearable for a person like me. So here there seems to be a compromise. It isn’t overdeveloped. There is room to breath and be alone, but there is also a pizzeria, a cafe, and many other places to socialise, meet people and relax. 

After a month in Playa Coyote we came to realise that that kind of isolation was far more difficult than we imagined. Nothing was nearby, the roads often flooded, electricity and water disappeared, sporadically. The wildlife and pristine jungle were almost worth the seclusion, but in reality we need slightly more and that is what we are finding here. This was the original purpose of the journey after all. To discover what it is we both want or require.

We have been offered a longer term here for £600 a month which is a terrific price for what we have at our disposal and it is central enough to use as a base to explore around the area. So we may extend. We haven’t decided yet. Our main issue is that in six weeks we will have to take the car back out of Costa Rica for three months before she is allowed back in, or we pay £2000 to import her. It’s a big decision and quite an expense but one we have to make. She is older and a big engine so her resale value here is not so good. I am even thinking of driving her back up to America and selling her there but that would cost the same so maybe we should bite the bullet and just do it. 

Decision, decisions. Many to make, but we have time on our hands.

Daniela was asked by her best friend, Valeria, whether everything is ok between us, after so long alone together. Well, from my point of view and I think I can speak for Daniela too. I cannot imagine travelling so well with anybody else. We have the same thresholds. On a visit to some temples in Mexico a few years ago we realised that we both had had enough at the exact same time. After the initial awe and amazement at the truly stupendous and monumental grandness of it all we both began to tire as yet another temple appeared through the clearings in the jungle canopy, and then another, and yet another. Enough temples? Yep, let’s go then. We never argue, never. We are both tolerant and patient and able to allow each other to be. We enjoy many of the same things, together. We cook and eat wonderful meals always followed by ur favourite card game, Spite and Malice, which Daniela always needs to win. It’s her drive to succeed in everything she does that got her where she was in her company. And in our relationship I understand her ceaseless desire to win at everything. But I am more than happy to just play, enjoy the game, win or lose and acquiesce to her inbuilt insatiable desire to be the victor. So, Valeria, we are fine. No need to worry. 

And now, this has taken a while to write, more options are becoming clear to us. We have survived on our monthly budget very well. Despite buying a car and the cost of fuel and accommodation throughout our journey we haven’t really eaten into our reserves. We are surviving quite well. So why not continue. Why not carry on travelling selling and experiencing new countries. We could go to Panama, spend some time there, then get a ferry to Colombia and travel through South America too. We could then if we liked, travel to other countries and continue. Why not? Can’t think of any reason right now. ~Costa Rica is wonderful, there is no doubt. But there are other wonderful places too. 

Any suggestions would be most gratefully received. Leave a comment. x