Hasta la vista Costa Rica

Today's the day we leave paradise.  Last night at dinner we took a bowl of fruit back to our rooms so Lisa, Muma and I could walk down and feed the monkeys in the morning . 

We headed out at 6AM.  On the way down Lisa hung like a monkey from a tree. 

We fed the monkeys

They like grapes and bananas but did not like orange. They had no idea what to do with a whole apple either. 

Then we took about a million more photos. 

Mama carrying her baby

Muma was taking a rest and don't realize this little guy ran right behind her!

They were drinking juice out of people's cups:

This monkey butt photo is for Lisa

This guy was around again too:

Swinging monkeys!

So enough monkeying around...we had to head back and check out.  I put on my sloth drivin hat and we headed to bring Juan Paco home. 

 When I went to check him in they said there was a crack in the windshield...oops...guess that's what insurance is for. 

When we arrived they made sure to tell us to get back 3 hours in advance of our flight. So we did. Good thing because it was dead quiet and we got right through security.  This is pretty much it- 7 gates. 

Sadly I missed JJ at the airport but I'm hoping he finds the gift I left him in departures before the cleaning crew does!

We actually boarded early.  Grover had to fly as a stow away as the seats around us were filled. 

It was an uneventful flight.  Movie selections were not great. I watched Joy and point break. Jen called it when she said the movie sucked but at least he was a better actor than Keanu Reeves. After that it was mid Dirty Dancing.  When we landed a half hour early I was excited; until our gate wasn't ready and we sat in the Tarmac for an hour:-(. Oh well. Our driver was calling though because our flight said we landed. Felt bad he had to wait over an hour for us to taxi in, get through customs, find our bags and then him. He was nice though and, after hearing the fantastic job Lisa did planning this trip and all the activities he got her business card so he can start booking through her!

So I leave with this as I forgot to put in the photos of the second hotel. 

The halls make me think I'm in an insane asylum 

They match the curtains to the chair upholstery 

And then to the paintings

And you only get half a lamp 

And some half lamps don't even get shades. 

And finally the beautiful open air lobby. 

So that wraps up Costa Rica 2016. As they say in this neck of the woods Pura Vida!

Day 8 - it's all fun and games until a monkey tries to steal Grover

I decided to head towards the beach around 7 and took the path down where we were told we may see monkeys.  They were there sleeping in the trees. 

As I was standing there I started talking to a woman who asked if I'd been to the monkey bar.  Jen had mentioned this but I didn't see it at the beach.  She said it was about a 15 minute walk down the beach then off on a path there's monkeys there in the AM. I texted Muma to see if they were on their way down yet (Jen was a good girl and went to the gym this morning).  Knowing we weren't all really checking phones, when I didn't hear back (dad, if you're reading this stop here), I headed down the beach alone. I found this sign and headed in

This guy was waiting there to greet me

As were these guys

Dad, if you've read this far you're really going to want to stop here. 

So I went off the main path into these isolated woods

Once you're in there there's monkeys all around!  People were hand feeding them fruit and they'd sit around.  Here's about a million pics because I was so excited I just kept snapping  (you'd think I'd never seen a monkey before - I mean I shook hands with one 2 days ago!). 

There was also this other animal there we think the call a cuadamundi. It looks like a cross between a badger and an ant eater.  People were feeding him as well. 

So Grover needed his picture taken too. At first I was holding him up which was fine. 

Then I rested him on a branch and, as I was trying to get a picture I realized the monkey was getting ready to pounce!

 I grabbed Grover just before the monkey pounced!  Lisa said she thought it would have been great if the monkey just started hugging him. I said it was more likely blue fur would be flying.  But Grover is safe and ready for a new adventure. 

So then I saw one monkey carrying another and they stopped on a branch and he looked so cute looking down. 

Then next thing I know the other monkeys on top of him. 

For a minute I thought I was shooting monkey porn but turns out it was thankfully just bath time so it's all fine. 

There really is a monkey bar though

And the "fence" they have is fantastic. 

And I did find another marked path that has a loop off of it to bring you back to the monkey area 

I headed back to meet Muma and Lisa. They saw my note but, when I said down the beach they thought I meant there was a trail the other way. Oops. 

Anyways we lounged at the beach for a bit. After all the excitement Grover needed to relax on a lounger. 

Around noon, Lisa, Muma and I walked backdown to see if the monkeys were out. Sadly they weren't so we'll head back in the AM before we check out. 

On the way back we had a great view,

Saw some fantastic trees,

 And Grover took time for a sexy beach photo op. 

I also got my coconut water (guy literally chopped the top off and put a straw in it...doesn't get much fresher than that!). 

Muma, Lisa and I then headed down for beachside massages (we decided Jen pretty much had her own mini vacation because she's been hanging at the pool meeting all the people while we've been beaching it!). 

Massages were awesome. Nothing like a good deep tissue massage as you're laying out listening to ocean waves crash!  

After we headed to lunch and then the pool for a few hours.  

We went into the pool with the built in loungers. As Muma sat down in one, the bald guy came over and made a joke about how the chairs were rented out for $5/day.  For a second  Muma believed him.  As we were leaving the area the guy was throwing his kid up in the water. I told Lisa to go over and say she wanted a turn. We went over and she said she was getting in line for him to throw her in the air.  I think he may have really done it had Lisa given him a chance!

I was getting out of the pool at one point and got the quote of the day. There's a ramp going out and this 4 year old girl in her little water tube is heading out and she turns to the 4 year old boy who is back in the pool and says, clear as day, "you're an asshole". 

There was also a point we were jumping out the side of the pool and I had to give Muma 10 fingers. I was laughing so hard I couldn't get out.