Costa Rica July 20-30

Travel and Acquires

This trip is finally here.  Departure time is 9:40 for a direct flight to San Jose, Costa Rica.   Carry-on luggage only.  We are practicing being a traveling family!  

The flight was very smooth for the most part; we arrived in San Jose, breezed through customs and got a sim card for local phone then shuttle to the rental car.   Settled in the car, we began an adventurous drive to Acquires, which is 15 minutes from Vanessa and Theresa.  The drive in the city was busy, less traffic than Atlanta but I’m sure our professional driver, John, had to get used to the driving habits of locals.  Once we got out of the city, we were driving a mountainous road where there are brief areas of lush green farm lands and natural terrain interspersed with local homes, lots of people walking, bikes, motorcycles, cows and dogs.   Dogs everywhere.  At one point, I was telling John, “Dog, dog, dog..” because he was laying in the road where we were about to run over him.   John was looking all around except in the road.

 

We finally arrived near our location and drove in a few circles trying to figure out where the caretaker’s home is to pick up the key and be guided to the villa.  Leaving the paved road behind as we arrived in Acquires, we found major pot holes.   We were looking for a bakery but didn’t know there would be no sign.  We finally drove by the bakery and ‘Maria’ Fernanda came out to us, in the street, because she was looking for us.   She squeezed into the back of the car with the kids and I do mean squeezed.    We drove to the top of a bumpy, pot hole like you’ve never seen, road which ended at a beautiful lawn with two little homes across the lawn.  Behind the villa’s was a huge valley extending into a hillside of coffee trees.  Coffee and banana plants all around us.   

While John touched base with work, the kids and I went with Sabatian to explore the area a little on foot.  The boys had been playing futbol with him on lawn.  We left the property and Parker helped Sabas knock a few guava from the tree to try.  The kids and I weren’t as brave to just break it apart and eat like he did but we took it back to cut open and try.  We wandered down the hill to visit the horses and play with the kids in the park.    We started our observations about how simply the people live and they are so friendly and happy.

We settled in a little, touched base with Vanessa and Theresa and decided on Pizza at Vanessa’s house for the evening.   Vanessa has three very sweet dogs so Carter was in heaven.  She held Grace in her lap all evening so she was in heaven.   Parker was just enjoying the new atmosphere and soaking it in.  What a fun time to spend with family and get to know Jonathan a little.  We think they are going to be so happy and good together!  Back at our villa, we opened up the slider doors for the night to listen to the sound of the river below.  Great sleep!!