Weekend at Jacó Beach

I made it home alive from my first vacation in Costa Rica. One of the greatest things about Costa Rica is that within 6 hours you can be anywhere in the country seeing one of the thousands of amazing places here, and you only have to pay less than 5 bucks to get there! I am really glad that public transportation has kept its prices really low. I suppose that's why Costa Rica is really popular among backpackers. Great prices on transportation, food, and hostels. So when you get robbed it balances right out, I guess.

The bus ride out to Jaco Beach offers some amazing views of the countryside. Actually, I have a feeling that the views were nothing compared to what I am about to see when I go on the famous Canopy Tours in the rainforest.

I snapped the picture below while riding on the bus. It offers a nice view of the countryside with a nifty fence in the foreground. For some reason I really like the idea of making a fence out of a row of trees and stringing wire between them. It'll be a long time until that fence falls down!

Life in the tropics sure is beautiful, but it comes with a few costs. For example, there is always the fear of being bitten by a mosquito that is carrying dengue, malaria, or some other type of scary disease. I believe the risk is relatively small, but it is a scary thing to think about.

Also, they don't call 'em rainforests for nothing! The rain in San Jose forces everyone to learn the habit of carrying an umbrella with them wherever they go. It seems to me to be intelligent rain. Not only is it very punctual, never missing an afternoon, but it also waits right until you walk out the door and have to be somewhere really soon to start pouring rain! I have to admit, it is kind of exciting, though. Along with the rain come huge cracks of thunder that shake the ground. I wish there was a way to take a picture of the experience.

Ok, now for the pictures of the beach...

Jaco is a little surfing town pretty much directly west of San Jose. Even though it is looks really close to San Jose on the map, it is a 2 1/2 hour bus ride, but its beauty and relative proximity to the city make it a touristic hot-spot. Don't be fooled by the picture above, it is usually full of surfers and sun-bathers. I took this picture this morning right before I had breakfast at a cafe just to the right of the tree in this picture.

Sitting right on the beach every day is a group of kids around my age who will rent you a surf board for 10 bucks a day. I declined the offer of a lesson for an additional 35, but after all the bruises from getting beat up by the waves I'm thinking maybe I should have accepted.

Yep, that is really me surfing in Costa Rica! I really couldn't believe it myself! When I was heading out into the water for the first time I couldn't stop laughing! I just couldn't believe where I was!

Back in San Jose at the bus station I saw one of the most original musical instruments in the world. A super smiley Caribbean guy provided us with some awesome Bob Marley music while we waited for the bus. He played a wooden box, attached to a string, tied to a stick. I think this picture is priceless. I think I'll call it the Poor Man's Bass.

Until next time... ¡Pura Vida!