Monteverde

The orhers were off and away before I sufaced after a great sleep tucked in under the blankets listening to the Wellington style wind whistling through the trees. 

I was well refreshed when I headed off downhill to go exploring. 

I returned to the centre we were at last night to buy a cheese board I had seen. Perhaps the best thing I’ve ever bought on a trip and hoping they don’t take it off me when I hit home. It’s wooden. 

Moving on the first thing I came across was the frog sanctuary which would have been great at night as most of the frogs were nocturnal creatures. All were tiny wee things and all in cages because they were poisonous. The few that I saw were hard to spot and get a shot of but were too cute. 

There was also a butterfly and insect display attached to the sanctuary and some of the moths and butterflies were out of this world. The huge insects were the best. 

Each of those critters was palm size so would anyone a fright if they pounced on you. 

The Orchid Garden Cafe caught my eye as I passed and I realised it was well past coffee time. My espresso was rich, hot and delicious but it was overtaken by the pineapple and coconut pie I had as well. A smooth and crispy short crust stuffed with a moist, soft, oozy filling of coconut and pineapple. OMG. 

I gave the Orchid Garden a miss. 

Moving on I came to the ‘town centre’. Absolutely crammed with backpackers and coach tourists and not at all inspiring. I did stop at a wee art gallery with some amazing work and ended up going back to buy a couple of postcards. The biggest attraction in the shop was this chair. If it was for sale it would have been shipped home to me. 

The town centre was souvenir shop after souvenir shop and sleazy restaurant after sleazy restaurant but it gave me my fix of town life. All the while I was walking I was thinking of an octopus dish I had seen on the menu of a restaurant near the shop I bought the cheese board and ended up making the uphill trek back there. The meal didn’t quite live up my expectation but it was great. 

Costa Rica, we were told is very expensive. Maybe in compared to the other countries we have been but not in comparison to NZ. My Octopus meal cost $NZ25 which is less than I would have paid for a similar meal at a similar place at home.   Cheap food is available as is some street food but it is all Westen style and been hanging around for a while. I was happy to be paying the $NZ25. 

The espresso I had after my meal not only gave me a kick but was one of the best I’ve had this trip and left me with a lingering after taste of chocolate. How much better can that get. 

Ok now I am going to swoon. I decided not to go anywhere for dinner and chose to stay in the hotel. A Tequila Sunrise and a Mojito later I ordered dinner. Pork with a blackberry and rosemary sauce with salad and mash. The Malbec that I was sharing  was just what the doctor ordered and then came my pork. Pork is my fave meat but this takes a pork sirloin to another level. The pork falls apart but not dry.  The blackberry and rosemary dressing enough to send me to another level. I dont know how to describe it but ‘mind blowing’ comes to mind. The sweetness of the grilled pork, the tartness of the berry and the tang of that hint of rosemary takes it to another level. Malbec de Mendoza might not be the perfect accompaniment but it is sublime. I’m mopping up the dribbles.

OMG the photo does not show the meal, just the drinks and you do not need to see them. Shame because the presentation was wonderful. 

The waiter Juan Badilla asked that we mention the him on Trip Advisor. I’ve done better. Perfection. Fine dining food at casual restaurant prices and environment.

By this stage there were only the ywo old girls and a young member of the group from Khasakstan left at our table and we sat and talked aboit all sorts. Learning a bit about Khazakstan, its past and the present  made me more determined to visit. Maybe pretty soon. 
A Canadian couple joined us, a desert junkie one of them and we ordered crepes. Not the best ideas but I needed something sweet and innocuous to finish my meal. That did it perfectly. 

A great finish to a nice but indifferent day. Roll on La Fortuna tomorrow.