Costa Rica: Tamarindo

Tamarindo was scorching hot again today. This is a place where people come annually. We met several folk today that make coming here their vacation every year. I can see why. The lounge chairs are plentiful, and the surfing is great. The beach is full of colorful shells and the sand rivals Rathtrevor Beach for sculpting and sandcastle art. Drawing in the sand is a local habit here. You can tours, or do what we did, sit happily by pools and beaches pretending to do nothing.

Now, I don't do "nothing" well. In fact an hour in the sun and I get twitchy, wanting to do something. Having barely made it to breakfast before they closed, I sat on my opinions and left the kids in the pool for a lengthy stretch, only hauling them out when I saw shades of pink on the shoulders. We had a sketchy lunch in the room and then, I pounced.

Thanks to some "expert" tourists, I opted to walk along towards the river. Despite the complaints, I stuck to my guns and found boats at the river, willing to take passengers. We bargained and got seats on the boat for $60 for our group of four. At the resort, a tour would have been $35 per person. We had a shady canopy, and up the mangroves we chugged. It was lovely. The operator stopped for photos as we asked, and found us a group of howler monkeys. It was a great way to spend two hours in the heat of the afternoon. We walked back along the beach and then plunked down by the beach pool.

Dinner was at Witches Rock. If you want hamburgers that are thick and juicy, this is the place. They had a large campfire, and jugglers came by top form. This place is on the beach and is accessible from both sides. Amusingly, a dog came a begging. Even funnier was the demand for ice cream by two hopeful faces...of course we caved.

Now, I am listening to the Friday night crowd and dance music blasting from the clubs. Not having a barely there dress in my repertoire, it is likely better that I  dance on my balcony. Friday night in Tamarindo, I don't ink you can beat this...sorry Mexico, I have a new favorite place...on this side of the Atlantic anyway.

Popular outing

Howler Monkey

Tamarindo on Dwellable

Costa Rica: El Diria Hotel and Tamarindo Beach

If you are looking for brilliantly hot sunshine, tempered with a breeze and things to do, this is the place. In the morning, the El Diria Hotel provides guests with a complimentary breakfast. We were told it would be continental style. The feast before us included waffles made to order, cereal, omlettes made fresh just the way I like it, a huge spread of pastries, bread and fruit. This is not continental but it is delicious.

After breakfast, we got a prime beach front location. Being on the beach, everyone is going to try and sell you something. From whistles and pottery, to your lounge chairs in the sand, to surf lessons...everything is for sale. You can have a massage on the beach, or play in the sand. Eventually, I was tired of being pestered so I withdrew to the pool and parrot watched instead. They seem to have green parrots here. The kids are being fish in the pool so, a close eye has to be kept on sunscreen. Pure vida as the saying goes.

Lunch today consisted of more homemade sandwiches with the yummy bread. I think that is something we are really missing back home, the access to a good bakery. I tend to go overboard when I find one as I never get it otherwise. Sunflower seed bread...omg.

This afternoon, we drifted back to the clover shaped family pool. It has stools in the water for me as the tiles are blisteringly hot on the feet. There is a swim up bar for those that want it, but I was happy with my water, it's even too hot to drink here at 37 degrees. There are trees for shade and bridges with water spraying out. The pool is also much deeper than the beach side pools so the kids can actually swim. Swim they did, for over four hours, which likely saved them for a terrible burn as they instinctively swam in the shade. Even my sun loving self chose shade over the mid day sun as I was afraid of the burn.

Showered and changed, we opted for a sunset walk along the beach. The sunset was fabulous, and the monkeys nowhere to be seen. The sandflies so were enthusiastic and the pelicans were having a feast. I have to note that you will smell happy smoke wafting across the beach in sections the closer you get to the public side of the beach access points.

Tamarindo is young at hippie/surfer heart. The people here understand the love of surfing and have hostels aplenty. I actually feel odd that we are not hosteling it here.  The locals are on the beach as much as the tourists. There was even a pottery class.  There are a few touristy shops, and lots of tour options to choose from, but in the end, this place is about the waves.


For food, after the walk, we chose wok and box, or something like that for food. It was amazingly tasty and reasonably priced. Of course, we had to stroll back to the gelato shop to sample more of his flavors. Since we now know that he makes it all himself, I want to try cinnamon and baileys mixed together. I had hazelnut and coconut tonight and that is happiness in an ice cream cone.

Sleepy, I am ready for bed. Hopefully, tomorrow is cooler. But only a bit....

Tamarindo on Dwellable

Summer Road Trip 2013: Horses, Interpretive Center and Beach

This infernal mist is driving me crazy. Apparently, this is normal weather for coastal Washington and the locals are totally immune to it, but honestly? I did not come to the beach to wallow in the mist. I am a sun seeker that loves to play in the sand, swim in the ocean and enjoy the vistas…just not mist filled. Sigh.

I am also a just make the best of it type, so today I ensured that the family was packed up and ready to go so that we could be first in line for the horse back riding down the beach with Chenois Creek Horses. They leave from near the best Western, and that in itself was phenomenal as the beach is a designated state highway. Vehicles zoom past on their way north or south while we inadvertently decided to park in the sand. Turns out that we were early, so we headed back to get coffee. Unfortunately, I was not awake enough to realize that a London Fog in the US means a cold earl grey flavored drink, not my hot frothy milky concoction that I love. I drank it anyway – but it is now late at night and I am still missing my coffee.

Back on the beach, we parked and signed our waiver forms. The horses were assigned and off we went, my youngest proving to be an excellent rider in training. We walked briskly north along the beach, enjoying the sounds of the surf pounding the beaches, and watching the surfers attempt the waves. The first ride of the day is reputably the best, even with the mist as the horse are fresh and eager to go. I loved it. The staff were friendly and welcoming all while keeping an eye on things. Best $20 per hour going as far as I am concerned.

After lunch, we headed out again to the Ocean Shores Interpretive Center. I have to say that I am a museum geek by nature so I love to explore other people’s operations. This one has a lot going for it and I would strongly recommend a visit here prior to going to Damon Point, which is right around the corner. They open at 11 and close at 4, and here you can get your tidal map for free, as well as learn about the rocks that you will find on the beach. They explain their wildlife, ship wrecks, and history. Through interactive drawers, movies, touchable furs, colouring and voice messaging, they interpret their varied offerings very well. The volunteers requested that we sign the guest book to encourage funders to look at their grant applications, but didn’t even stress about donations. We ensured we purchased books from the book store as that seems to be their sole source of revenue, besides the donation jar. The volunteers are passionate about their work from cabinetry to educational programs for students, yet this is another place that is being forced to explore admission charges as the community and city they belong to has completely cut their funding. Got ideas for funding? This place needs them to keep the lights on!

The sand is really warm and they know it!

Chester and cars and cool fog

Through the mist

Ocean Shores Interpretive Center

Damon Point

Armed with information and breaking sunlight, we headed back to the beach to look for more rocks and birds. I saw pelicans, seals and creepy bugs, but the rocks still got most of my attention. Plus the wind. That wind could tear a strip off your skin with the sand snakes that waved across the dark wet sand. It actually stung and was too windy even for kite flying. We walked the beach anyway but wound up back at the Windjammer by 5:30. The kids tried out the pool and the adults prepped food, did laundry and eventually caved into doing not much. Tomorrow, I think we will seek some sun somewhere. I just can almost guarantee that it won’t be here. As little as I don’ t want to drive, I think we have to in order to have some quality outdoor fun that is WARM.

Ocean Shores on Dwellable

Summer Road Trip 2013: Ocean Shores

Ocean Shores on Dwellable

Morning broke in Ocean Shores with fine misty fog and little visibility. So much for the forecast being correct, and so much for the summer weather we had been getting accustomed to. Instead, we wandered to the church next door for Sunday Services. Being Sunday, and having a church next door, that was too easy. What was more interesting was that they genuinely appreciate the tourist traffic that wanders in their door and made sure that they told you their names as they greeted you. 

By lunchtime though, we still hadn’t found the grocery store, so we proceeded to the North Shore Grill as we toured the surroundings. I had a 10% off coupon, which always appeals to me. The staff was friendly and the service was very fast. I have to say hands down that they have the best clam chowder too. I could eat bowls, not just one. 

With the proverbial mist not lifting to sunshine, the car tour seemed like the best plan. We drove around until we found Daemon Point and went rock hunt

Suitable Art - not ours though

Driftwood Cottage

ing. There were rocks of all colours and shapes, including a moonstone for me, jade and jasper washing up. There was a driftwood fort that kept the kids occupied and sea shells on the other shore. If you ever have to kill an afternoon and like rocks, drawing in the sand and such things, it was wonderful. Happily, I love that stuff!

After a fun filled afternoon, we headed back to the resort to wait for Nana. She arrived but was hungry so we went to Alec’s for supper. Not the best plan, despite the rave reviews. Be prepared to wait for a table for over 30 minutes as they are short staffed, and don’t be surprised to see your meal sit under the heat lamps while the harried waitress tries to figure out where the food all goes. After over an hour, I got my congealed fish and chips and what tasted like out of a can clam chowder. My stress level was through the roof after dealing with restless kids and a displeased Nana, so I elected to leave most of my food on my plate and left hungry. I have no idea why people like it there, I’ll be back to the North Shore Grill in a heart beat.

Hawaii: Beach Day

Sometimes there are days when you want to do nothing much of anything. The perfect place to do that in Hawaii is Beach 69. And so it was when we got there. There were a few delays, but once out there on the sand, playing in the surf and being joined by a proverbial turtle. Life was good. Once done at the beach, we headed back into town, stopping at a lava tube, an historic site and the pier to watch the fish. Not much to write about, but a good day.

To get to beach 69, you have to find Puako Road, turn onto that and two first rights and you are there. Lovely.

(But there is a story here that I am not committing to blog post as my mother will not be amused. And yes, I know she will read this, but there are some stories that shouldn't be blogged and this is one of those.)

Kamuela on Dwellable