The wild west - Peninsula de Osa rocks our world

Good luck found us in Dominical just as our friend Rama was getting ready for a trip to the remote surf break, Cabo Matapalo on the wild Osa Peninsula. With the finca under control we decided that we were good and ready for a surf trip.



If you can rough it, and you like wild life I urge you to do the following; go to the Osa Peninsula immedietely.




Attempting to describe this savagely pristine environment would only make it slip further from my immediate memory. So in an effort to savor it's decadent taste in my mind I will break it down like so...

Monkeys. All four of Costa Rica's monos locos... Squirrel, Spider, Titi, Howlers. Throwing mangoes at humans and mating in trees.
Flocks and flocks of Scarlet Macaws. Streaks of red and blue, yellow and green.
Sand that literally walks with creatures.
Flowers with scents that will fold your senses into origami
The eyes of a stalking jaguar flashing fiercly in the firelight
Waves, pura rica linda olas
Gringos excersising immeninet domain and teenagers pissing in the face of their arrogant establishments.

Cultural Exchanges - Banana leaf seran wrap, and Death to chickens

My girlfriends of the family Salazares took an instant liking
to Moreno and Ashley. With the hurricane's damage done it was time to get onto a much anticipated hike up to the ridge for a view of the ocean and everyone was invited.
First we would need to pack lunch... not a problem. All we'd have to do is kill a couple of chickens, pull banana leaves, pick plantains and cook it all up with beans and rice.




Brad had been in a state of serious anticipation ever since he learned that he was going to get to kill the chickens. Let's just say that next time he's going to sharpen his knife.






I was pretty stoked on the use of banana leaves to wrap up my food. So all y'all in Southern Cali listen up, you don't even need seran wrap! Slice down banana leaves, hold them over a flame to soften them, wipe them down. Cut them in half and stack two leaves layered one of the other and place your lunch in the center...



Ticos like to use rice, beans, a meat, plantains and a little spaghetti. Fold up the leaf, wrap it in a handkerchief, grab your board and head out for a day at the beach.





If that doesn't say "Pura Vida" I don't know what does.






With our lunches wrapped up we set out for an epic hike through the country side that culminated in an amazing view of the coastline at Uvita. I still can't believe that we are so close to the beach yet so damn far away!

Karma Patrol- find a traveller in need and lend a hand.

As hurricane Alma began to make her way towards Costa Rica's Pacific Coast we decided that we needed one more trip to the beach to rest our landlocked souls. Passing through San Isidro we saw a VW bus being worked on by what appeared to be Gringos with British Colombia plates.


Enter Moreno and Ashley. These two are on their way from BC through South America and had not stopped to rest for the majority of their trip. With the weather coming and their van in questionable condition we decided that it would be best to offer our drive way at the finca as a resting spot for them. Under one condition, feed the animals.





Two days later the two showed up drenched to the bone but with a running van. Apparently they had not recieved the news that a tropical storm was in full affect. Assuming that this sort of torrential downpour was normal, Moreno worked on the van lying in a river of run off while the city closed down and 28 houses fell into the river.





With cultural immersion on the agenda, Ashley and Moreno made it to the finca just in time for some serious finca fun.