We arrived into Costa Rica 20 mins ahead of schedule and had no issues with immigration or baggage so were very quick out the door. Avis was waiting with a shuttle to the car rental depot (which was strange since the reservation in my hot little hands said 'on airport desk' which is why I chose Avis - that and I could get a 7 passenger vehicle for when Jay and Trevor arrive and later when Maggie and Alice arrive on Friday). The Avis depot was very close though, within a few minutes of the airport and then our reservations check in was quick and easy and Manuel was very helpful putting directions into the GPS for us. As I remember from the last time that we were here - my car rental was $700 pre paid in Canada for 2 weeks with a Nissan Pathfinder, but by the time I left the office I owed an additional $708USD in all the fees and insurance they require. I knew this time that I didn't need the best insurance, $64USD per day, so I paid with my Gold Amex and brought a print out of what my insurance covered and they only made me take the liability insurance which is $24USD per day.
We asked Manuel if the route that the GPS took us on included the "Monkey Trail" because the house reservation lady had told us not to take it - he said no, it takes you the long way around, but you have 4x4, you could take the Monkey Trail if you wanted to...so we told him to take the short cut and we would be fine. We were fine, and the girls every two minutes would say "This isn't a good road, is this the Monkey road?" No, this is just how the roads are - you'll know when we hit the monkey road.
The Monkey Trail is 7 km long and cuts off about 20 minutes travel time because it is the most direct..Mom, Dad, Matthew and Carrie-Lyn you might remember it - we did it on the scooters to get to the zip lining when we were here together! Imagine that same road 12 years later...12 years of rains and wind and neglect. lol. At one point I said to Maria "Does this make you nervous?" A little.."Really? That surprises me, I didn't think it would make you nervous but I kept seeing you checking the service on your cell phone!"
We made it to the reservations office in Potrero in a little under an hour and Rita, who met us there, said we made really good time. I said "well, we did end up taking the Monkey Trail" and her eyes bugged out (which looked very comical with her blonde wig).
We followed her up to the house from the office, which is up a 1.5KM mountain road that is in the same shape as the Monkey Trail, so I really don't know what her issue was since she raced up there in her tiny suv and left us in the dust.
We arrived at the house and met Antonio, the groundskeeper, and Rita showed us around the house. Its gorgeous but the best part is the view for sure!
We used a grocery service where they will stock the fridge based on a list of groceries you send for a $25USD fee. Totally worth it to arrive and already have all the fixin's for dinner (and sours). Rita ran through the groceries with me to make sure we had everything on the list and said "You have a shitload of food"...ok, what do you say to that?
After Rita left the girls and Maria set to making our first pitcher of sours...so glorious.
The girls had peanut butter sandwiches and Maria and I had grilled cheese with 'I can't believe its not butter', which I totally CAN believe its not butter because its gross, but that's what they bought instead of butter, probably because it stays soft in the fridge.
We had an early night, like every night in Costa Rica - up with the sun and in bed by 8pm.
Tomorrow the plan is to go to Tamarindo and do a little shopping before Jay and Trevor arrive on their flight.
Tomorrow the plan is to go to Tamarindo and do a little shopping before Jay and Trevor arrive on their flight.
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