Started off in San Jose... That is where the international airport is. About the worst city I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. Poorly laid out and difficult to get around in. I won't even talk about the polution, sewers running in the streets exposed.
Went to Arenel the first night. All the hotels were sold out and not a soul at any restaurants. Found a decent place with cabins facing the Volcano. Only 76- bux a night which was a bargain there. Didn't nearly compare to the place I stay in Sosua for $30 a night. People were nice at the hotel. Foggy and couldnt see the Lava.
Went to Montecristi and Santa Helena cloud forrest the next day. Found a nice place to stay although by most standards it was a dump compared to the place I stay in the DR. A bargain at 75 a night. We didn't care, we didn't spend much time in the room.
Did the "Original Canopy Tour" which was exhilerating. Wires were strung between trees at the tops and ran for hundreds of feet. You have a harness that they attach to the cable and you fly through the air. Then you repel down off the trees. Quite the experience.
Drove the next day to Manuel Antonio National Park. Of course I drove 4 hours of which 3 hours were NOT paved and about the worst roads you can possibly imagine. Beautiful beaches and a great Park which we hiked through. Saw White Faced Monkeys, 3 toed Sloths, Caitis and all sorts of birds. Also inside the park were beautiful beaches and of course views. Rented a bungalow that was bigger than we needed with 2 bedrooms but also a dump compared to the place I rent in Sosua. Cost 80 dollars a night. Drinks, food and lodging were almost 2x what I am used to paying in Sosua or even Boca Chica. (I wasn't too thrilled with Boca Chica BTW.) Stayed here for 4 days to relax.
Last night was spent at the Hampton Inn at the Airport for 104-bux
Food prices were as much as I pay in NY which was a surprise since the prices are so cheap in the DR and like the DR labor is cheap cheap cheap. They have local food restaurants called "Sodas" which had good food and cheap. Sanitation wasn't great but you have to close your eyes to what you expect and just eat it the way they serve it. Gringo places were not as good as the typical restaurants were and 4x to 6x the prices. There simply wasn't a Rockys type place or an Eddys type place that you can have a reasonably good meal at a reasonable price.
Water was potable and brushed my teeth from the facet without a problem.
Roads? What a joke. Have you ever been on a dirt road? These roads are rock roads and you cant go more than 15 mph without having your teeth and kidneys in dire straights. Made me pray for a dirt road. Sometimes when I was driving there were just parts of the road missing and sheer falls of hundreds of feet were common. If I ever hear anyone complaining about the pot holes in the DR again on DR1 I am going to puke and then I am going to shoot the dopes.
I liked the people who are called Ticos and Ticas. Both the men and the women were attractive looking people. The people that worked in the tourist areas spoke great English. Nice folks that I would be able to live with and next to.
Geography was absolutely amazing. One of the most beautiful countries I have ever visited. Climates changed every hour and so did the geography. I took about 100 pics that were so good they should win awards. When I get back down to earth and things settle down I will post them at another site such as worldisround or another of the free picture hosting sights and post the link here.
I don't think I will be going back to Costa Rica although I am glad I went and it had been on my short list for a retirement destination.
There was a LOT of the country that I didn't see such as more than half the country. I was only there 8 days and hardly consider myself an expert on Costa Rica as I believe that I am on parts of the DR. I only saw the Pacific Ocean and there is another side that fronts the Carribean which I didn't get to see at all. These comments are just my personal feelings and I am sure we have all heard very negative comments about the DR here which many of us disagree with.
More to come if anyone is interested...