Class, Srinath and Tracy visit...Caribbean again...a true adventure

That’s right, it is time for another scintillating blog update from David and Amy! A lot has happened in the last couple of weeks. Let me see if I can remember everything. First, I was thrilled when a colleague of Dave’s asked me if I was interested in taking part in a week long seminar on Non-profit Leadership up at the University. I decided to take advantage of the situation and I am so glad I did. Not only was the content interesting, but I was able to meet some incredible people from all over the world. I am hoping I will be able to attend more classes at the University this upcoming year. Thanks, Mohit, for inviting me to join the class!

Amy's Class Picture 2007:


Just after we returned from our trip to Nicaragua we got an exciting email from our good friends from Boulder, Srinath and Tracy, saying they were thinking about coming down for a visit. It turns out that they were doing more than just thinking about it, and before we knew it we were picking them up at the airport! We rented a car and drove down to the Caribbean coast for a long weekend. It was the first time Dave had driven in the bustling city of San Jose and my first time trying to co-pilot there. Moments turned tense when we missed the first turn and were henceforth baffled by the walking mall, which forced us to snake back and forth across streets crowded with cars, busses, and unsavory characters, all to the soundtrack of Srinath happily crunching handfuls of lime and chile flavored chicharrones (fried pork rinds) while watching the scenes of the street play out before his eyes.

Eventually we found our route. A deep sigh of relief and we were able to pick up the thread of conversation and laughter where we had left it almost an hour before.

We stayed at a great new hotel called Banana Azul on Playa Negra near Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, where we scored two rooms with an adjoining kitchen and deck that overlooked the ocean. There was everything you could want; hammocks, fridge full of snacks and beverages, potable water and an ocean breeze. In addition, our rooms overlooked the rest of the hotel compound. It was the best "TV" we have seen in ages.

Sunset at Playa Negra...20 meters from our room:


The first day we took a drive on down to a beach closer to Manzanillo. It is a beautiful beach, but aren’t they all once you get down there? We just relaxed, talked and tried the water on for size. But, there was a strict schedule to keep and we returned to our rooms in the early afternoon to make good on a promise we had made ourselves to take a nap.

The second day we decided to stick around near the hotel and play on the beach there. The fun and playing didn’t last too long. I got lambasted by a wave while swimming and Dave and I had to rush to the hospital. I had bitten through my lower lip and thought that I may have broken a rib. We went to the clinic in Hone Creek where I was third in line after a woman with a broken leg and a man having a heart attack. I had on my brave face (at least, I thought I did) until the doctor came in and began prepping me for stitches. Now, I have always had a terrible fear of stitches and just never got them. It wasn’t much of an option at this point, and even though I had known from the get go that the stitches were coming it still hit me hard and it was all I could do to keep from hyperventilating (and shedding a tear). Dave was a great calming influence and stayed with me the whole time, holding my leg and telling me what a trooper I was. He didn’t even pass out! He did a great job. After that, we followed an ambulance to Limon (an hour drive) to get x-rays to make sure my bones and insides were ok. What I remember of the hospital in Limon is long lines, many very sick people, and telling the doctor to call me Melinda (there was a reason for this, I was not delusional). We were there about 6 hours before we found out that nothing was broken and that I was just suffering from bruising and whiplash.

Wounded Amy:



We surprised the hotel owner by NOT going home but, instead, continuing our vacation. As you know, I have never had a family vacation disaster thus far and I wasn’t about to let this ruin my perfect record!

The rest of our days in the Caribbean were filled with more of that precious commodity we call relaxation. We took a nice, leisurely walk in Cahuita National Park, Dave and Srinath tried to surf a bit, there were some choice moments of people watching and dog watching from our vantage point above our hotel, and we had a nice visit with Simon and Julie at their house in Manzanillo. A highlight of our visit to Cahuita was a late lunch early dinner at Miss Edith's restaurant. Wow...what good food, traditiona Afro-Caribbean food like jerk chicken and ginger fish...sooooo yummy!

Monkey watching Monkey in Cahuita National Park:


Pelican in Cahuita NP:


Good North Americans making sure to give each other 12 to 16 inches of personal space...ha ha ha:


3 Amigos, Monos Amigos...Carablancas (White-faced Capuchin)...in Cahuita National Park:


3 Human Amigos (Sri, Dave and Tracy) in Cahuita NP:


Srinath giving props to Zompopas (leaf cutter ants):


Srinath and Tracy all googly eyed at Miss Edith's...just before the eating began:


Dave working hard, mmmm hamaca:


Back in Ciudad Colon we spent a day in town getting some things Tracy needed for her trip to Guatemala, and we went for a nice little walk on the UPAZ campus. Tracy and Srinath left on Saturday and we were sad to see them go. It was a much needed visit with good friends. Hopefully we can do it again some day, only without the trip to the hospital.

Srinath and Tracy on UPAZ campus...Nar Nar as Amy says...oh for cute:


Srinath gives props to Gandhi on UPAZ campus, mad love:


As usual we hope that you are all doing well, and we are now counting down the days until we head to Colorado to visit family and friends!!!

Saludos y abrazos a todos desde Costa Rica!
Amy (and David)