Casita Dulce Casita (Paradise Lost??)

We have returned from the Pacific coast today and never thought we would be so glad to get back to our casita! I fear age is catching up to us, and memories of past adventures will have to suffice! Maybe after we recuperate a bit, we'll feel differently. We definitely are partial to the Central Valley (amor del valle central)... it is about 15 degrees hotter in Manuel Antonio area than where we are, and the humidity-- egads! We've been gone from the Golden Triangle & Houston area TOO long -- gratefully we have forgotten what REAL humidity is like! One problem is that one must complete any activities before about 3:00 or 4:00 PM because the rains come at about that time EVERY day-- but the next morning is sunny & bright.
Anyway, adventures we did have: the unscheduled one was DiDi's Charming Bed & Breakfast -- it proved to be a little bit too 'charming' for us, so we stayed there one night only. Run by a good-hearted Italian man with the biggest lab dog I have EVER seen (at least 130 lbs) -- and he was WAY too friendly. Thought Jim was going to go end over end down the steps when the dog wagged his tail against him! As most of you know, I'm very PRO-dog, but having a wet one hanging around while guests are trying to dine is another story! So, we checked into the Blue Monkey hotel, which, under other circumstances, we would have termed also a dump, but it seemed like the Ritz to us because it had not only A/C but a dehumidifier as well! -- and free coffee, so it was a safe haven-- except for the parking! We spent the first night driving up & down the 'main drag' in the rain looking for a place to eat & another hotel.
Scheduled adventures: river raft trip down the Saverge River ("Savage" in English!). Was beautiful & very fun-- no rapids over class II.2nd planned adventure: Thursday we went to the Manuel Antonio National Park (a day later than we had planned due to mudslides the day before!). A typical rainforest surrounded by several beautiful beaches. Saw monkeys, sloths, insects, etc. Still did not see any toucans. Stayed for about an hour on the beach, then trudged our way back to the A/C and dehumidifier! On the beaches outside the park, which are all public, it looked just like Galveston beach with all the young people, and the shallow water looked much like the water at Galveston, too. But it was way more picturesque further out. The monkeys were very aggressive and would swipe stuff from people's backpacks & run up the tree with it. The one picture below is of a mama with her baby on her back. --The hanging strange-looking animals are the sloths! They have the best idea for 'living.'