Osa Peninsula - Day Two

A leisurely morning, followed by an afternoon and early evening of guided kayaking! When on the Osa, you really oughta.
Restaurante Carolina would be our main cafe, as they served comida tipica for about three to four dollars. A plate full of food: beans, rice, cabbage salad, chicken or beef, and fried plantains. Yum.
We booked with the same folks that took Lorraine and I for yesterday´s hike through Matapalo. Their in-town office is within the restaurant.

Steve, Dale, Lorraine, Mark (of Germany), and I were picked up around one o´clock and promised an adventure on the waters aboard our one person sit-on-top kayaks.

Our guide, Joe, was from the states but moved here with his wife, who´s brother had met and married a local Tico (name given for folks from Costa Rica). They´ve fallen in love with the poor but peaceful way of life, it´s been fifteen years for them!

Afternoon = exploring the mangroves through a tidal river. Mangroves are trees with infinite and thick brown tendricals and exposed root systems. Their purpose is to collect the silt from the river and remove the nutrients, providing a home monkeys, crocs, exotic birds, tree crabs, and Jesus Christ Lizards.
Late afternoon = haul the kayaks over the dunes to the open ocean, stopping for a swim and fresh cut pineapples.
Sunset = sardines start jumping around our kayaks. Something must be causing them to swarm and dart back and forth. Ahhhhhhhhh, Dolfines!!! Surfacing and plunging, they came closer and closer to us in a chase for the sardines. What a natural high to be kayaking alongside wild dolphins. Many of them and they were on a mission, seemingly unbothered by our presence. I whistled to them, sang to them, even tried a few om´s in hopes to attract them even nearer. I have to admit, I was a bit unsure the closer they came. But it was an excited nervous, the kind you get then you know you want the thrill but are scared at the same time (like leaping off a bridge into the river -- only you don´t control the dolphins like you would your jump!).

As the sun set, we sailed back into the safety of the cove, the light shining through the surrounding mountains, creating a brilliant green scape for walls, and diamond glitter on the surf. Fishermen stood in their boats with hand lines and nets, catching red snapper and baracuda, both excellent for grilling.