Adjustment in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

The 4 hour air conditioned shuttle van ride from San Jose was very comfortable, especially compared to the overwhelming heat when we arrived. It was as though I climbed into a tanning bed with a wool blanket and closed the lid. We walked around town overwhelmed by the smells of food, garbage, sewer as well as the fresh ocean air. I enjoyed watching 2 small boys build a sand castle and sing in Spanish beside the hot Caribbean Sea. The town had a distinct Jamaican flavour and the dreadlocks were impressive, especially on the old shirtless men who leasurely peddled their bikes down the rugged pavement. We rented bikes once and road 9 km to Punta Uva where we played in the most perfect waves, the seats on the bikes were unfortunately very uncomfortable. Our highlight was my husband taking surfing lessons at Cocoles, the most beautiful beach in the area, he did so well! Our hostel was terribly hot at night and the mosquitos were small, silent tormentors causing me to get up in the night to put on more bug spray. Otherthan those two annoyances, we enjoyed our time exploring and meeting nice people from the U.S., South Africa and Sweden as well as utilizing the large kitchen to cook up some new favourites (chalupas and fried cheese). On our seventh day in Peurto Viejo we walked on a black sand beach and then headed for Panama.