Off to Costa Rica
Toronto to Liberia, Costa Rica
We are off on WestJet to Costa Rica and then travelling to Nicaragua. Graham drives us to the airport at 6:15am. Moving through security is quick and smooth.
The day the sun finally comes out in Toronto and we are leaving. After take off we get great views from the plane, especially of the 
Toronto skyline. We fly along the shore of Lake Ontario and pass by Oakville and can just barely see our house far below. About 20 minutes before landing in Liberia, Costa Rica, we fly over a smoking volcano that must be in Nicaragua.
Arrival to Gillian’s Place in Aljuela Region
My girlfriend, Gillian meets us at the airport. Gillian and I were roommates in university and she was also one of my bridesmaids so suffice it to say, we have a long and wonderful history together.
It is a two and a half hour drive to her house. We stop at a bank and supermarket then we start driving up into lush green hills…stopping at a giant tree called “the peace tree” which Gillian heard was used in the movie Avatar .
Gillian’s property is in the pineapple and papaya growing region of Aljuela in a small town called Katira.
Gillian’s Piece of Paradise
Upon arrival, we are greeted by Gillian’s eight dogs, her boyfriend, Manuel and friend Christian.
Gillian has a 2.2 acre property right on the Rio Celeste (Aqua River). Gillian is in the process of having a third house built on the property. The house she currently lives in was covered in 
grass to look like it was part of the landscape, however they recently had to take the grass off in order to do some repairs. The cabina (little cottage) that John and I are staying in is a smaller version of Gillian’s house. Both buildings look out onto the aqua coloured river. They are like human sized Hobbit houses…adorable.
Gillian’s new house is being built in a different style. It is also a two bedroom, two bath home and like all the houses on the property has gorgeous views from every window.
Her property is filled with all kinds of flowering plants and trees, coconut trees, as well as all kinds of fruit trees. Everything here grows so quickly in this hot, humid environment. It’s a tranquil, tropical paradise. Click here for a video of her property. Click here for a second video around her property.
Gillian does rent the one bedroom, one bathroom, studio with kitchenette cabina from time to time. If interested, feel free to contact me and I will put you in touch with Gillian.
We go out to a nearby restaurant for supper and then by 8:15pm, exhausted, I head for bed.
Market Day in Guatuso and afternoon in Katira
We sleep well in the cabina. In the morning after breakfast we head to the local market in Guatuso and do some grocery shopping.
The afternoon is spent enjoying the peace at Gillian’s place. Manuel collects oranges and lemons from the trees and I make lemonade and orange juice. We have lunch overlooking the river and Manuel puts up the hammock for my siesta. I have a few technical difficulties getting in and out of it.
There is so much birdsong. I see parrots flying overhead and an iridescent blue bird feasts on a peace of ripe fruit in one of the trees. Butterflies are all over the place. Click here for a video.
Internet and data service is a bit spotty here so I may need to wait to post the blog. Gillian said she is waiting for them to install much better internet. It is expected at any time now.
Tenorio Volcano National Park
Today we get up early and do some laundry. Gillian makes us a delicious breakfast and we drink the orange juice I squeezed yesterday. Gillian tells us about a lot of the buerocratic tape she deals with on a regular basis. It boggles the mind.
We head out to Tenorio Volcano National Park. There is a line up to get in but they are only letting in people that have pre-booked a time slot online. A guy points to a spot where numerous perplexed people are trying to get on the booking website but the signal strength is so weak that no one succeeds. A young guy tries to help but to no avail. We give up and go back to the parking lot that we paid to park in and leave.
A guy suggests we check out the Sloth Washing adventure a few km down the road. I am very excited until I find out it is Sloth Watching not washing. Not as interesting.
Rio Celeste
We park at a lovely restaurant called Restaurant Tapirus, make a reservation and walk down the road to see the brilliant aqua coloured Rio Celeste. This is the same river that runs through Gillian’s property. The river turns this gorgeous colour when at the joining of two tributaries, sulfur from one river mixes with aluminum of the other river. It is made even more brilliant when the sun shines on it.
A Visit from Toucans
We head back to the restaurant which has gorgeous carved woodwork throughout. We are seated beside a window which has a huge bird feeder beside it. Next thing we know, four toucans fly in to feast at the feeder. Click here for a video.
Back at Gillian’s, we spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing and watching the birds in the fruit trees. It is sooo peaceful.
On our Way to the Border
We are up at 5am and on the road by 6:03am. On the way we see a full rainbow framing the mountains and pastures. Being a Sunday and not being behind any slow moving vehicles, we are in Liberia in an hour and 45 minutes. We have to catch a shuttle bus to the Nicaragua border. The shuttle meets us infront of a supermarket in Liberia but as we are early we grab breakfast at a McDonalds till it’s time to go.
Too soon, we have to say goodbye to Gillian and are off to Nicaragua.