Hot as balls and holy mountain walking

January 4,  76 degrees

Clearly, by the title of this blog, we all now understand that each post is a combo of Mandy and Hot-as-Balls Kasia.    Maybe it's because we are 11 degrees from the Equtator.

Yesterday (Jan 4/Saturday), we decided to lay low and enjoy staying in the mountains.  The sky is clear and we can see the mountain tops.  We have a direct view of San Jose valley and the sun feels hot.  After breakfast we head to the garden and enjoy a picturesque view of the mountain tops and green, lush, scenery.  Mandy wants beaches, but must wait one more day.  Here we stretch, read and write about our days and experiences from the previous day and breathe in the fresh air.  We are finally starting to relax.

When hunger sets in, we venture off to lunch (again walking to Potreros, but with better directions), and the owners dogs slip out of the gate and begin to follow us.  Trying to not repeat the mistakes of a couple of days ago, Mandy is now convinced that she can lead us directly to the restaurant.  She says, "remember, the girl told is to go right until it dead ends and then go left."  We begin our mission to find this direct route.  We turn right and keep walking.  Going right includes a direct path uphill.  A steep hill.  Every intersection gives us hope that a dead end is quickly approaching.  Nudging my hand is the nose of the owner's dog who followed.  Guilt is setting in that it is hot, uphill, and that a dog is following.  Just as we begin to feel this might not be the right path, we come across a cab driver who speaks English.  We ask where the restaurant is and understanding that we went wrong, he agrees to drive us there.

As we climb into the cab and shut the door, we see the face of the owners dog.  We can't just leave him.  We are reminded of the owner's daughter who says it is ok if they get out because they know how to get back in.  Has the dog ever travelled this far away from home?  Are we being silly?  Of course this dog knows the area better than us.  We head to lunch as we see the dog run behind the car.  Our hearts drop.

Watching the cabby's every move, we now know how to get back.  It only took us three days of trial and error in the winding mountain roads.

We walk back, perhaps still too ambitious, as the roads are steep, the sun is hot, and we have only two good ankles between us.  Finally, we arrive at the driveway with two tall columns topped with lion statues and we are happily greeted by the owners's dog. Thank goodness.

Tired, hot and a little sunburned, we are ready for a siesta.

Tomorrow (Sunday), we get up early to drive to a neighboring town to share a shuttle to Tamarindo beach.  It will be nearly a 5-hour trip to the northwest Pacific coast.