On Sunday, February 1st, our son Erik, our daughter Jane and Jane’s boyfriend Mark were scheduled to arrive at the airport in San Jose early afternoon for a nine day visit.  We were so excited at the prospect of seeing them!  On average, it takes us about two and a half hours to drive to the airport from the beach, but we always allow at least three hours just in case.  About an hour or so before we were planning to leave for San Jose, I received an iMessage from Jane informing me that they were running late because Mark forgot his passport and that she wasn’t sure they would be able to catch their flight.  I really freaked out!  Eddie checked other flights and everything was booked.  Then, shortly after, I got another message and it was then we realized that they were playing a joke on us.  They were having a little fun during their layover in Charlotte.  For those of you who know me, I’m very gullible, however, Mark forgetting his passport was very believable…even Eddie fell for it for a few minutes!  Of course, I accused Mark of thinking this up because he loves to joke around, but as it turned out, it was Jane and Erik’s idea.  Fortunately, they confessed right away, so I didn’t get upset over it.

Mark texting us that they “might not make their flight” ha ha ha

The drive from San Jose  back to the beach was much longer than we expected.  On most Sunday afternoons during school break, the Caldera toll road authority closes down the lanes heading toward the beach so all lanes are heading back to San Jose.  This is supposed to alleviate traffic congestion.  We had to drive back the old way, which is much longer.  We did find a great place to eat a late lunch in Orotina, though.  Despite the long drive, we managed to get back in time to watch some of the Super Bowl with our friends, Toni and Gib.

Super Bowl Sunday feast at Toni & Gib’s

Throughout the week, we enjoyed relaxing at the pool and the beach.  Mark and Eddie had fun surf fishing at the mouth of the river at the beach.  They didn’t catch anything worthwhile surf fishing, but they had a lot of fun trying.

Ahhh, a cold beer in the pool

Mark practicing his throwing of the cast net.

Surf fishing at Playa Linda

One morning, Jane, Erik, Mark and Eddie went out for some inshore fishing on a small boat with Captain George of Las Rocas Marea Alta.  They had some good luck catching some fish out on the ocean.  They brought back five good sized Mackerel and it was very tasty!  It was a nice lean white fish and Mark grilled it perfectly.  The Mackerel here is much different from Atlantic Mackerel, which is an oily fish.  Mark won the contest of first catch, the most and the biggest fish.

Erik with one of the Mackerel he caught

Watch your fingers! These Mackerel have some teeth.

Another day, we went on a six hour ATV mountain tour with Diamante Verde Tours.  It was great fun!  Our guide was very knowledgeable about the trees and plants that we saw along the way.  So, we learned some new things while having fun.  We drove across some good sized creeks, climbed up a waterfall, and stopped to watch some paragliders take off over Dominicalito.  Mark, Eddie and Erik had a bit of fun drag racing, which was against the rules, but boys will be boys.

Diamante waterfall is in the background

Climbing up San Luis waterfall…gorgeous!

Watching the paragliders taking off

Trying the local craft beer at Patrons in Dominical

Since we all didn’t want to do the same things at the same time, I was forced into driving the truck as that is the only vehicle we have here.  Despite Eddie’s encouragement that I would be fine driving in Costa Rica, I had only driven the truck three times in the course of one year.  I’m used to driving a Lexus sedan in the city not a big pick-up truck in the country and mountains, so I was nervous about driving it especially driving up and down our steep hill.  But that all changed quickly.  After fishing all morning on the boat, the gang wanted to hang out by the pool and I did a grocery run to the Maxi Pali in Quepos (30 minutes away) all on my own!  Then, one morning, Jane, Mark and Eddie wanted to do some surf fishing at Playa Linda and Erik and I wanted to go to Uvita.  Somehow, that did the trick and I’m more comfortable driving the truck.  Now, I want my own vehicle!