A Regal Experience

Last you left Lisa and I, we were traveling from the beautiful possibilities of Thunder Bay for another road trip, this time making our way toward the city of Winnipeg (anyone hear a bear?) We got into the city (early for a change) and found the Marlborough hotel where we would be spending time in one of those attractive turn of the century palaces with all the modern conveniences Lisa and I craved…like wireless internet. Moved in and worn out, we located ourselves in the Regal Beagle (attracting me of course because of its THREE’S COMPANY reference) and enjoyed the company of Robyn- hostess, bartendress, and server goddess…needless to say, she did it all and took care of us. On top of that, she fell madly in love with the Aroma Muchacho, who was so enamored with the place that he stayed over that night. I had the chance to go out and meet some of the locals of Winnipeg as well and found they couldn’t be friendlier, asking me to join them in a karaoke competition (no, I didn’t need to compete and yet roused some more uncertain people to take the stage) while they listened to a bit of my Costa Rica rants- i.e. The Oaks.

The next day it was time for Lisa and I to again “shove off”, move on, even farther west to the province of Saskatchewan where we met some friendly young men who work for the ever present Oil Fields. They talked about all the great places they had journeyed to in Mexico but were thirsty for something different…and The Oaks in Guanacaste seemed just the drink to make their mouth water. In the end they couldn’t be more pleased or excited by the information we had to bring them and awaited their travel in the near future to the province…hopefully joining Lisa and I at The Oaks for their next adventurous visit.

Though Regina and Loydminster of Saskatchewan may not have been the most exciting places we have visited, with multiple oil wells and obviously newly purchased SUVs and HUGE trucks (signs of economic growth), the people and the conversations we had were some of the most positive and excited encountered since Thunder Bay.

Soon enough it was time we came to a familiar destination, Edmonton (only two hours or so from Loydminster), a place Lisa and I felt fairly comfortable (and better since the last time we saw it in February…brrr). All we can say is that in less time than it takes to say “do you think I will thaw” we were deep in the heart of the city at a place we knew would be great for future, potential meetings or focus groups…Hudson’s Public House. This place had it all, with beautifully designed wood-work walls and floors, including a back room that seemed to echo Independence Hall itself, we quickly realized it would be a phenomenal location for bringing people together to learn more about Costa Rica …and of course, The Oaks.

After meeting with two of our favorite Oaks Owners turned great friends, Sol and Judy F., for an incredible dinner in South Western Edmonton, we knew that we had truly made the rounds and had come full circle. It was nice to hear that “the dynamic duo” (this time I mean Sol and Judy) couldn’t be more pleased with their Oaks purchase and on top of that they couldn’t wait to get back! After being away from Costa Rica for nearly a month and a half, Lisa and I couldn’t be more understanding of that growing need but, as we broke bread and passed the potatoes, we said we would all be back soon.

Thank-you Canada for all you have taught us about your land of plenty and the people within it. We learn more everyday and, as we do, know that we couldn’t have come at a better time…nor met better people!

Check back in the next few weeks for more of Lisa and Ryan’s Excellent (if not Chilly) Adventure!

1st Destination: Easter Holiday Columbia, SC

I did not enjoy an easy rest in the wee small hours before Lisa, C.J. and I were to leave Winter Haven. All through the night, visions of bandits in huge vans or pickup trucks attempted to break into the new JEEP and make off with all its contents. I knew that the living community we were staying at was a safe one, but being out of the States for a few weeks and especially staying at The Oaks with its 24 hour security, my mind was running with strange ideas. My fears were allayed by the light of day as C.J. and I scouted the local area in search of bottled water for some very much needed coffee. Lisa joined us in the kitchen area just a few moments later to aid in the repacking of the vehicle.

In no time, we were on the road, stopping only for breakfast at the Winter Haven International House of Pancakes. As you can see, the Aroma Muchacho was a BIG hit with the ladies as he enjoyed his first taste of a Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘N Fruity breakfast (and throwing all table manners to the wayside) got it all over his face! After telling the A.M.’s story a few times (see the last blog), the newly formed OAKS TRAVEL TEAM jumped into our respective vehicles and headed toward the Orlando Airport. Thirty minutes or so later, we dropped C.J.’s truck off for safe keeping and were on the road again (Willy Nelson, we love you) heading north toward 95 to reach my parent’s house in Columbia, South Carolina. Other than a quick “re-fueling stop” at a Mexican restaurant, the trip was a quick one.

Pulling into my parent’s Columbia, South Carolina home was a perfect sight for tired eyes, as Lisa, C.J. and I arrived from Winter Haven around 11pm. Sluggishly piling out of the car and grabbing our bags, “The OTT” quietly entered the warm Colonial-style home to find my parents, Beth and T.J., slumbering soundly before the fire and election news television with dog-eared books in their hands. It wasn’t long before the two were wide awake sharing friendly hugs, kisses, and the usual, “How was the trip?” Although the fire was as inviting as the election news and conversation, we weary travelers headed for our rooms and some greatly needed rest.

The next day, I rose early to a bright and clear Easter Morning. It was hardly a warm one in comparison to Tamarindo or even Winter Haven, but in light of our coming Canadian Turn-buckle Tour, it was as good as any. Soon met in the kitchen by Ms. C.J., we dropped some of Costa Rica’s BEST coffee into the maker and immediately the pungent brew’s smell did its magic on the rest of the house, bringing Lisa, my mom, Beth, and father, T.J., to the caffeinated sunshine shrine. As is traditional, my dad made his FAMOUS blueberry pancake breakfast with a side of real maple syrup bacon strips and Costa Rican bananas! Many coffee cups later, the whole house got to work- Dad to his laptop, Mom to prep the house for dinner, C.J. to unpack the car and aid in setting up “The Nerve Center”, Lisa put on her master techie hat, and I got down to the task of divvying up my worldly possessions into several categories: Keep, Throw, Retrieve Later, and Memory/Keepsake. These tasks occupied us all for several hours until we converged upon the kitchen once more to create Easter Dinner!

Dad delegated dinner duties to his new crew with the most important effort going to myself- to make my family’s “secret recipe” Sweet Bourbon Manhattans. Lisa and C.J. happily took some of the work load off my Mom this year and came up with a divine looking salad (bigger than your head), T.J perfectly prepared the Prime Rib, Beth heated up the Ham and steamed the veggies, and I whipped up my specialty, the mashed potatoes. Soon we were visited by my adopted sister, Laura, from next door who, always a whirlwind of fun and energy, added to the feast with a huge Macaroni and Cheese dish and Cake for desert. The kitchen looked like Hiroshima, but the dining room was immaculate (my Mother’s talent) as we sat down to enjoy each other’s company and this exquisitely created dinner. As is every occasion with my family, there was tons of laughing, story telling, political conversations, book reviews, discussions about the economy, and, of course, more LAUGHING! My Dad took the award that night for one of the funniest Taxi Tales the table had ever heard while C.J. astonished us with some amazing vocal acrobatics. Plates cleared, cocktails finished, coffee perked and cake presented, we all settled into our sugar induced comas and later said our good-byes. Another unforgettable holiday!

Early that morning, Mom took Dad to the airport for his usual weekly assignment in Cincinnati, leaving Lisa, C.J. and I to complete our travel item checklist (which I will blog about next time) and far too soon we were hugging my Mom goodbye and, with Aroma Muchacho in tow, hit the open road.

And Away We Go...

The journey continues! Lisa and I made an early date with a ¨puddle jumper¨ from Tamarindo’s small but useful airport, greeted by the calls of our bovine friends and some early rising Howler monkeys. The process was quick and efficient, the staff, courteous and accommodating for all we newbie fliers, and as the tiny plane was heard above us, anticipation was palpable.

Moments after the ¨bird man¨, a gentleman employed to ride his scooter onto the landing field to scare away the local squatters, made his rounds, the plane came to an impressive pause and the group of waiting wingers piled in. Lisa and I hurried forward so as to get the front seats so we could watch the pilots go through their motions and feel comforted by their professional airs.

The flight to San Jose was a quick and relaxed one filled with images of the beautiful countryside (some parts I believe would never be seen otherwise), from rolling hills and lush mountains and plains to rivers, inlets, and islands just outside of the Nicoya Peninsula. Astounding! Our landing, with its expected mountain-wind turbulence, was amicable and exciting as we taxied toward the San Jose International airport. F.Y.I. look for the N.A.S.A. ¨tent¨, which either is doing weather balloon or satellite surveying or communicating with aliens… you deicide.

We were met by an industrious young man who aided us by bringing our luggage the short trip to our terminal, then made our way into the heart of the port itself. A few well spent hours later (of course filled with many moments spreading the good word of The Oaks), we were on the plane to Miami, and from there, on to our new adventure. When visiting the San Jose Airport, enjoy the musical stylings of a native gentleman on his guitar, with CD at hand for purchase, as he entertains waiting passengers with gorgeous acoustic versions of everything from Puccini and Vivaldi to Eric Clapton and Sarah McLaughlin.

The American Airlines fight to Miami was unremarkable at best in the best ways possible: fast trip, no turbulence, easy landing… and THEN we were herded into customs. The waiting lines for Non-Citizens, seemingly innumerous and unclogged, contrasted greatly against the overcrowded and labyrinthine queues for Actual Citizens, making me long for the easy-going nature of our Tico counterparts. After a good forty five minutes or more, Lisa and I passed through Homeland Security’s gaping maw to find our luggage in baggage claim. Other than the fact we were misinformed about which carousel our bags were to be arriving at, collecting the luggage was a rather simple process and we exited the terminal to catch a cab.

Lisa and I arrived at the Weston hotel to retrieve my truck (revved up to get this journey underway) when the valet at the establishment informed us that they could not find the keys to my ¨Rugged Chariot¨. In hindsight, we were hurried leaving the first time for the Miami airport and the fact that my truck was left alone in their care for over a month, but all logic disappears at 10:30 PM when you know you have an hour and a half drive in store! The Weston staff was as helpful and apologetic as possible and called for a locksmith to get us into the truck. Less than an hour later said specialist arrived and, after a quick diagnosis, returned to his warehouse with my ignition in hand. Another hour later he arrived back at the hotel with two new keys that worked only to start the car… NOT lock or unlock it. Pura Vida, eh? We promptly paid the man for his services (which in the end was less expensive that the proposed parking fee that the Weston thankfully dropped) and The Oaks Duo was on their way! Finally!

The drive to the ¨West Coast¨ of Florida was crisp and filled with mass amounts of music and talk radio so as to keep the sleep from my eyes. More often then not, the dial fell upon some rather strange late night sermons by Florida based pastors and liberal "crazies" whose statements made even this fairly open minded gent cringe. We arrived at our destination and settled into a pre-planned room at the Ramada by our newly found "Lakeland" (now Winter Haven) friend, C.J., who was already well on her way to dreamland when we arrived. We slipped into our respective beds and followed suit. The next morning our Trio ventured over to the local JEEP dealer to purchase the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited that Lisa and I had had our eyes on since we first surfed the web for adequate and affordable transportation... and there it was. A few minutes of haggling and a bank trip to acquire the necessary funds later, we were driving off in The OAKS JEEP! Yippy! We attempted a drive to Fort Myers Beach to "soak up the atmosphere" but found even the road to get there far too overcrowded (unlike at The OAKS where you are mere moments from the FIVE BEST BEACHES in Costa Rica!) and decided to make other plans. Lunch!

The MacGregor Cafe in Fort Myers was the spot chosen for its outdoor patio and delicious sandwiches (special thanks to our Latina friend for her aesthetic abilities on the apple pie with vanilla ice cream, garnished with mini strawberry cake morsels!) C.J. and I then took a jaunt to my old abode to pack my belongings (more than I expected) to meet Lisa at her personal Mecca, Wal-mart. By the time we arrived, she had collected all the items we would need over the course of the next few days. Just as I was trying on some new cargo shorts (or what we call "The Lisa Jo Uniform"), Lisa's cart was mistakenly absconded away by a fellow shopper and we had to make a mad dash to seek it out. Twenty minutes later, we had discovered the lost cargo and made a hasty exit for the check out. Paid up, packed up, and settled in for our trip, the three of us made our way to Winter Haven, FL for a good night's sleep before we would continue on to Columbia, South Carolina to spend Easter with my parents and connect with the Auto Wrapping Specialist for our newly acquired vehicle!

We made camp at C.J.'s condo that evening and enjoyed some light guitar playing and story telling on the patio, accompanied by our mascot, The Aroma Muchacho! All I can say is that that Aroma loves to tell a tale, for he kept us up a bit too late! In the end, we made it to bed and dozed well for the next morning's journey!

There is MUCH more to come of Lisa's and Ryan's (EXCELLENT and getting CHILLY) Adventure!

I´M A RUBBER BALL

Ah, the tale of Lisa’s balls is one that should not be forgotten, as it plays out as a metaphor for all we attempt to do. We have all heard the statement, ¨One man’s trash is another’s treasure.¨ Well sometimes people don’t know what they really want or need until it you thrust it upon them… and that’s just what happened with Lisa’s squeaky balls.

Imagine if you will three fairly unassuming rubber balls with squeaky toy inserts that came into Lisa’s possession after a trip to the now famed Auto Mercado to replace some inadequate golf balls used for juggling. Juggling comes in many forms for us all: work, play, love, life… and these newly acquired rubber balls fit the bill for Lisa’s figurative and literal needs. But, oh, the story doesn’t end there.

As we savored our time at La Colina, the balls found a new purpose in the hands of our friends Ken, Duffy and later Mario and the boys from Milwaukee. Yes, in a pinch a handful of rubber balls makes for hours of fun, fun, fun. As I attempted to explain to anyone within earshot, the sounds issuing forth from the pool ¨slap, swoosh, slap, swoosh¨ were music to our ears of the fun enjoyed by all.

This is but a small moment in our adventures, one that may seem a tame remembrance in the memoirs I have added for all to read, but as I stated before, the story of the balls is one that speaks of what life in Costa Rica can really become… as charming and simple, relaxed and poignant as moments drift by into incredible memories. To paraphrase The Bard a bit for my own end: ¨If Rubber balls be food of life, Play on, boys! Play on!¨

I´ve Had The Time Of My Life

No, the title of this blogspot installment isn't just a catchy tune from the smash American film, Dirty Dancing, it is the theme to all the amazing adventures we are enjoying in Costa Rica with all our new found friends... starting with Ms. Tara Cruz.

Lovely Tara made her first ever-so-graceful entrance into our lives when she took a look out at the sea from her balcony at La Colina. Lisa and I were "clickity clacking away" on our computers (as we are known to do), enjoying the soundtrack of our lives (especially the title song of this blog), and there was Ms. Tara dancing away on her terrace. Yes, Tara on a terrace (todas formas) in the room next to ours. As it seems to go, Lisa and I persuded our new New York friend to meet more incrdible Costa Rican inhabiltants. So...that evening, after a phenominal dinner at Bistro Langosta with our friends Melanie Frei of The Oaks (aka. Number One), her hubby Nick, kick'n Ken Shew, buddy Duff, and serenaded by the lovely song stylings of the Bistro's Erin, Brian and Brad, Tara felt right at home, and was assured by Number One that we would book her all the best tours in the morning. The next day, The Oaks' beautiful and talented Ms. Ana Lorena arranged all of Tara's Tours, tout d'suite, and emailed her an itinerary! Who knew Tara was going to be so intrigal to our adveture!

Oh joy, oh rapture! Guess who is coming to dinner? No, not Sidney Poitie, but Sol and Judy Froese from Edmonton. I guess Lisa and my alluring bananas and sparkling wit were just what these two fancy free Loonies needed to make a new lifestyle decision. They made arrangements the day after meting us at the RENOvation show (you have read our OTHER blogs, yes?) and next thing you know, here they are! Lisa and I hopped in our new BeGo (a perfectly compact SUV that is all the rage down here) and dropped by the Liberia International Airport to meet our new Canadian friends.

They told us their trip was quick and easy, finding themselves in Costa Rica lickity split... and BOY were they glad to get out of the cold! Before you could say VAMANOS these two were "Pura Vida, eh?"ing their way from restaurant, to beach, to poolside as if they were newlywed Tico and Tica. Yes, it's amazing what a little sun can do.

Sol, Judy, Lisa, and I scoped out some of the finer places to dine in downtown Tamarindo and decided that sea-side Nougies was just the right atmostphere for our newbie travelers. We payed our watching man (with watching dog to boot) and made our way into the restaurant to find... none other than Tara, seated alone at a table for four or more, offering us companionship and some steller choices from the menu. A few serenades from the local mariachi style performers later, Judy and I had finished our amazing coconut incrusted Talapia, Sol had his first (but never last) taste of Imperial, Lisa manned the camera, and Tara fell MADLY in love with the banana cream pie. When you get back, Tara, we will get you a whole one!

Thanks again to The Oaks, Sol, Judy, Tara and I made our date to travel to Hacienda Guachipelin where one can experience THE ADVENTURE TOUR (you see how when I write ADVENTURE in all caps how EXCITING it becomes? Todas Formas)! THE ADVENTURE TOUR is a remarkable experience for anyone young or Young at Heart, ready to try new things. If horseback riding, "tubing" down a fast flowing river ("Take Me To The River" is now endellably marked in my mind thanks to Ms. Cruz), zip-lining through the lush Costa Rican rain forest canopy, and dipping in natural hot spring tubs sounds like a good time to you, read the next paragraph. Go ahead, I dare you!

THE ADVENTURE TOUR begins...

Sol, Judy, Tara and I awoke early to meet a beautiful Tamarindo morning to the symphany of parrots and howler monkeys. Greeted at La Colina's reception desk by Liberia Tour's Greivin Reyes and our expert driver Minor, we hopped into the luxurious Tourismo (ok, maybe "hopped" is a tad more energetic than what we gringos ACTUALLY did that early in the morning but...) we traveled on toward Liberia, home to our trusty new companaros. The drive was filled with excited chatter about what we were going to see and do, until Ms. Tara filled me in that we were tubing on the river (there's that song again!), and at that time I was wearing jeans! Thanks to our industrious tour guides, the La Colina Four (yes, Marvel comics has opted to buy the rights) pulled into what can only be described as the SUPERest of Super Mercados this side of Wal-Mart. We scurried in and found all the worldy items consumeristic North Americans could want, including "Frappucinos" made with CR's perfect 1820 coffee (named for the year the Costa Rican coffee bean first hit the world market) and, of all things, bathing suits! Ok, maybe they were soccer pants but they were going to work just fine.

A few moments later we were back in the Tourismo with coffee buzzes, ready for ADVENTURE. First stop: the site of one of Liberia largest fiestas, where they were building a rodeo area for the bulls (NOTE: In CR they don't kill the bull, instead they allow the beast to abuse them in the ring once their Tico masters are good and drunk...hillarity insues!) Of course, Tara and I felt compelled to lend a hand. Soon we were back on the road to see another of Liberia's treasures, their Soccer Field. Other than San Jose, I am sure a finer Soccer Field could not be found in the land... and the reverance you could feel from its care-takers? Can you say, "Yankee Stadium"? (Todas Formas!) Now that we had seen some of the beauty of Liberia, it was off to Hacienda Guachipelin... and believe me, it was a Long Winding Road, and a bumpy one at that. This is Costa Rica, people! Pura Vida, eh? Along the way, Minor stopped on the road to show us where Cashews come from (trees!) and Greivin pointed out a huge gorge near the roadside. Incredible!


We made it to the front gates of the Hacienda and the excitement was Electric (boogey woogey woogey). Walking into the Hacienda's lobby was like traveling back in time, as sleepy dogs lie next to wood-carved horses. The only sign of modernity was the neon Imperial sign above the bar and the PC at the reception desk. The La Colina Four got "suited up" in our water-weathering-wear and added a healthy dose of SPF before the next step... horseback riding down to Rio Negra. For those gringos able to interpret the rustic wooden signpost on the horseback trail, Rio Negra sounded like the ADVENTURE we were looking for.

Tubing the BLACK RIVER:

Sol, Judy, Tara, and I, now off our horses and into protective helmuts and lifepreservers, listened intently to our ADVENTURE TOUR tutor, Santos. He made the rules simple and clear- hold on, don't fall out, and if you do, DON'T try to stand up! Easy enough, right? So we all grabbed our personal tube and climbed down the rock face to Rio Negra. Plooping (yes, plooping) into this natural setting in our protective gear must have looked to the white faced monkeys in the trees like some freak show of gringo madness, as we all blobbed our way down the river. Some of the rapids really had "oomph", to the point where I FELL OUT... and one step more, tried to STAND UP! Seconds later, Santos was there at my side aiding me back into my inflatable craft and the rest was smooth sailing... except when I trid to use Judy's sandle as a paddle.

"Where was Lisa this whole time?", you are probably asking yourself. Why she was back at La Colina with a terrible case of the CJ's (more on that later).

After a hike back up the hill with our tubes and lives intact, we made our way back to the Hacienda for a flavorful lunch of Casadas (typical Costa Rican lunches of rice, beans, meats and veggies), native drinks of papaya and tamarind (no, there are no tamarind trees in Tamarindo), and deserts. Yum. Then, BACK TO THE ADVENTURE as we suited up again in repelling gear and helmuts for our zip-line experience. Santos again masterfully explained the rules- one hand is the break, the other holds the rope, and keep your legs up. For some unknown reason I decided to go first as my compatriots looked on. What a rush it is to speed down a tightened wire cable all of twenty feet above the ground! Really, how wonderful.. what? There's more? They get higher? A gorge? How many feet?!

Sol, Judy, Tara, Greivin, and I all continued on through the maze of cables, rock climbs, rope swings, waterfalls, and possibly perilous precipices to much delight. Finally winded and warry, The La Colina Four plus One (Greiven) made our way back to the Hacienda to see some incredible photos and films they provided for a nominal fee, and met with Minor for the trip home. Now some of you may be thinking, "But, Ryan, didn't you say there were Hot Springs to enjoy?" Yes, my friends, there were, but at this point in the day, after all we saw and did, we were ready for one thing only... a nap or a splash in the pool. And that's just what we did. Saying, "hasta luego", to the guys from Liberia Tours was difficult, but we promised to blog about them and so... we have. Thanks again, gentlemen, it was a pleasure!


Last, but never least, Sol, Judy and I made our way to the always taste tempting El Coconut restaurant just below La Colina, where the proprietress Katarina serves up the BEST shrimp in avacado (Lisa's favorite), ceviche (freshly and finely chopped fish cooked in tangy limon juices), and beef carpachio... delicious! Needless to say (but I'm typing it anyway), this was a day to remember!


Join us again in a few more days for another ADVENTUROUS installment of Lisa and Ryan's EXCELLENT (no longer chilly) Adventure!