Cozumel 2017

A way-back-when-photo of Rich and my first dive trip together

Rich and I just completed our dive trip to Cozumel.  We swam with sharks, turtles, eagle rays, and countless fishies.  I saw my first octopus on our night dive.  Rich and I watched him scurry upon the ocean floor on its nocturnal hunt for so long, we lost contact with the rest of our dive group.  We swam through the inky blackness waving our little flashlights around until we found our group a few minutes later; it was kind of a rush to wonder if we would have to surface solo a half hour boat ride from the shore in total darkness.  When we finally did ascend as a group, we turned off our lights and bobbed in the toasty waters while star gazing the impossibly bright Milky Way.

Ginormous flag in central Cozumel

While on the island, we stayed at an all-inclusive resort called Iberostar.  This was the first time I traveled chichi on purpose.  The resort was gorgeous and the staff were the most attentive and hardworking I have ever seen.  Each day we walked around the manicured grounds to watch flamingos, iguanas, and peacocks frisk about.  Although I loved the property and staff, I had very little in common with the clientele, so I don’t plan on traveling all-inclusive again anytime soon.

Our technicolor hobbit homes

I have been studying Spanish each day and have upped my linguistics game a bit.  I can now sound like a confused 3-year-old in 4 different verb tenses … sometime hard fought victories are very subtle :)

I’m back in California tonight and look forward to catching up with friends soon!

Each day we watched the flamingos honk and battle over mud sifting rights

I’ve seen towel swans before, but it was a treat to get a towel dinosaur

I’m not good at reading emotions, but I think Rich was enjoying himself …

Always happy to be on a beach

Hard to capture how delightful the last sunset on the beach was …

Costa Rica 2017

Sunrise surfing with old friends, hiking with anteaters, kayaking in crocodile infested waters with monkey’s jumping above, backcountry road-trips with no idea where you are going … Costa Rica I love you.

The amazing Corcavado Park where we
alternated between hiking the jungle and the beach.

I flew from Havana to Costa Rica to see my friends in Jaco at the School of The World (SOTW) Spanish/Surfing school.  Since my last visit, the Dutch-Duo of Kirstin and Rodin have seized command and now coordinate their budding empire.  The power has corrupted them a bit … they won’t let me visit their air-conditioned office unless I bring them a smoothie as homage :)

Sunrise Surf :)

From Jaco, Ivan, Annalou, Sophie, Gundi-the-Superdog, and I set out for the Osa Peninsula which is in the southernmost part of CR.  We had a tiny Toyota that had no business traversing flooded unpaved backroads, but with Ivan’s coaching, and the rest of us walking the steep hills and river crossings, somehow we made it.  We found a rental house near Playa Pan Dulce and visited the pristine and empty beaches nearby.

In my defense, Rodin never specifically told me I was
not allowed to sit on her board while waiting for waves.

The pointy end is for picking up fruit loops.

Steph from SOTW was in the hood, so we went kayaking together in a mangrove swamp near Puerto Jimenez.  Our guide was on constant lookout for crocodiles and caimans that pervade the area, but all the while told us not to worry because they are rarely more than 6 feet.  In our Lord of the Rings Elvin swamp setting, we saw monkeys swinging from trees, basilisk lizards, and herons galore.

Sunrise surf with Ivan and Rodin.  They may be more photogenic …
but I’m far more famine resistant!

The next day we went to the Corcovado wildlife preserve which is considered one of the world's most biodiverse regions; its wildlife includes scarlet macaws, tapirs, jaguars and squirrel monkeys. Hiking trails follow coastal and inland routes through habitats ranging from Pacific beaches and mangrove swamps to lowland and montane rainforests. 

Corcavado Jungle Babes beneath a ginormous ficus tree.

Steph’s dream of seeing a tapir was not met, but she nearly passed out in joy when an anteater walked down the path and put on a tree climbing show for us paparazzi.

I’m now in Cozumel awaiting Rich G. to join me to go scuba diving.  After that, I’m heading to San Diego to visit with my parents.

Looking forward to seeing you soon, Tony

A delighted Annalou returns from her surf with Ivan.

A playful anteater strikes poses for us only a few feet away.

Mangrove swamp near Puerto Jimenez.  Crocodiles and caimans teem the area, but It was so beautiful, I would have been happily eaten.

Ivan and Cristian summon the surf-gods to give us sunrise waves.

Ivan and Gundi had to walk each flooded passing before we plunged the Yaris into what I’m sure the rental car company would have been totally cool with.

Already looking forward to the next visit!