2021 September - Day 05 - Costa Rica - Liberia and Playa Hermosa Arrival.

 Day 5 is here and almost complete.  It is about 5 PM and we just came in from the beach.  Our day started around 7 AM because I was anxious to do our Covid testing the BinaxNow test kits that we had purchased and United accepts.  We did my test first and everything sailed right through.  Negative and docs sent in about 30 minutes.  We start to do Denise and the guy says I’m doing it under my account.  I assumed it was because I bought the kits.  Anyway, he clearly understands that this test was for Denise and we do the test.  She is negative.  But then the @nd proctor who validates the test says this will go under my name and won’t be for Denise as she needs her own emed account….which she did not have and obviously we did not use.  We got upset and the proctor gave us Customer Support after getting a bunch of info and ‘opening’ a report.  After about an hour waiting to speak to a Customer Support agent, I got someone who said he could probably get this fixed.  I gave him lots of info and he knew that a 2nd test was taken 13 minutes after my first one.  He also knew if was for my wife.  But he had to open a ‘Case’, get me a ticket. Number and elevate the case to some review board that he says will respond in 24 hours.  Well, it is 5 PM and I’ve heard nothing.  Maybe something will come over night.  I’m really glad we did all the testing in Playa Conchal as the WiFi at this hotel is not so good.  Anyway we wait.  Tomorrow, if I have not heard by 9 AM, we will either use a Doctor that services this hotel to do testing or make an appointment to do it at the airport which is about 30 minutes away.  But because it is a Saturday, the airport one closes at 12:30 PM.  So we have to be quick with our decisions.  We did take a route that took us by the airport to check it all out.  It should be easy.  Heck, nobody was being tested when we drove by.  Probably a slow time.  My luck, tomorrow there will be no appointments available.  But we shall see which way we go…with their Doctor or at the airport.  They said the doctor only charges $55.  The airport charges $65.  Frankly, for vaccinated people, this is all a big JOKE.  Just a money grab.  Costa Rica just asked for vaccination proof. Why can’t the USA use that instead of having to do all this testing for American citizens?  It is so political in the USA.

Anyway, our new hotel at Playa Hermosa is really nice.  We arrived around 12:30 and had to swim in the pool a bit until our room became ready.  After we got our room and put our bags there, we headed to the beach.  It was a 5 minute walk to the beach.  We walked most of the beach to a recommended restaurant for some lunch\dinner.  It was about 2:30 PM.  Denise had a seafood pasta that have more of the sea than she likes.  So I ate the funny stuff that she did not like.  I had a nice fish filet with French fries and a salad.  Mine was pretty good.  Denise liked hers too…but not things like Calamari rings, muscles, etc..  After eating we found a place on the beach.  It is a dark sand beach.  But much cleaner and the water much clearer.  The water is amazing lay warm and the waves were not nearly intense as the drop off of the beach was very gradual.  We enjoyed the swim.  i must say that the bugs are starting to get to us a bit.  They are just small things that just slowly irritate you.    The locals are just used to them.  We are hoping to see a monkey before we leave.  Fingers crossed.  Anyway, we’re about to head to a supermarket to get some snacks. 

Well, dinner has been served.  A run to the SuperMercado and now they have no sweets left!  Kind of fun to wander atround these stores to see what is ‘theirs’ and what was made in the USA.  One of the cookies Denise wanted to buy was from Pepperidge Farms…probably made in Logan Utah.  I did buy myself some chocolate milk, some lemon cookies and a few things between us.  We got some ice creams…I had a drumstick that had the soggiest cone I’ve ever eaten.  But the ice cream was good.  

Well…we are all checked in for the night.  Fingers crossed we get some confirmation from Abbott\Emed on our ‘case’.  Since the work day is over in the US…I kind of doubt I’ll hear anything.  So bummed I am!

Some pictures:

Playa Hermosa….looking towards the north of it.

This was our room at the Hotel Conchal where we stayed the last two nights.  It was a really nice place to be.  However, beach access was a bit of a walk especially to Playa Conchal.  But, when not at the beach, lounging here was awesome.

Denise’s negative Covid test.  So sad we probably cannot use it.  $35 down the drain as a result.  Totally my fault.  I should have realized she needed her own emed account!  But fingers are still crossed that they can adjust it.

The hotel front desk recommended this seafood place on the beach named Las Casitas de Mariscos.  I thought the food was good.  I think Denise did too…just a bit too much of the sea life for her liking in her seafood pasta. 

Camping out on the beach under a shade tree.  We are starting to feel the effects of daily intense sun.  We’re trying to be careful not to get burned…to bad.

Denise had read a bit about things to get when in Costa Rica.  One of those things is a Churchill or its smaller cousin, a Copo.  Turns out this guy was selling Copo’s on the beach.  His name was Mario.  He made Denise a cherry Copo.  It is basically a layer of shaved ice, powdered milk, more shaved ice, and sweet and condensed milk on top.  It was a unique taste.  It was pretty good.

You see interesting road signs about different types of animal crossings.  Here are a few of them…you have to guess what the animals are…..

Looking at our place under the trees from the ocean edge….at Playa Hermosa.

Mario finishing the Copo for Denise….after he was done, he hit us up to buy Sea Fishing tickets from his son to go fishing for tuna.  I said…next time!

This was the entrance to our hotel the past two nights at Hotel Conchal.  We were in the very corner room.  The pool is right behind Denise who took this picture.

Our run to the SuperMercado for dinner turned into a treat fest to get us home on Sunday!

The happy Copo buyer.  One of her ‘things to do’ checked off.  If only we can find empanadas now … or even Churros..  We hear they are pretty good here.