Manuel Antonio State National Park

I finally made it! I had heard about the park from, well, everyone I know that has been in Costa Rica, and had wanted to visit, but each time I have been here fate has intervened and made it impossible.

Friday was a work day - we closed negotiations for a canje (trade) with surf lessons for David and a board for the time we're here for a 1/3 page ad in the phone book. Sales wise it was a good day, but not a fun one for David, so yesterday we took a day off and went to the park.

This is an amazing place, not unlike our national and provincial parks with wildlife running er...wild and small animals easily seen. Because we're here, there are monkeys, sloths, odd little deer things, rabbit sized rat-like creatures (rodents of unusual size) and mapaches. The animals here have no reason to fear people, and basically ignored us. An annoyed monkey may throw something at you, and mapaches will steal your food right out of your hand, but other than that, you are at most an obstacle that has to be walked around on the search for food. The beach is wonderful, and the weather was fantastic, considering we are supposed to be experiencing the worst weather of the year. We are planning to go back one more time before we leave, due to time considerations we couldn't take the trail to the waterfall, and missed the best lookout point.

On the way there we saw the non-existant Ollie North drug plane, now a restaurant, and visited the town of Quepos, which is a great little place I would like to spend more time in.

We managed to grab some sunset pictures at Jaco beach, which is unusual for this time of year, since it usually clouds over at around 4:30. As usual we were 10 minutes late for the best shots.

We ended the day laughing at music videos from the 60s 70s and 80s.

Unfortunately Geoff wasn't able to come with us to the park, as he and Mauricio had a trade show to go to , so sadly we have to go to the beach today, in order that he can have a day off. It is my favourite beach on the other side of the rocks. I wonder if I will get any new bruises...