Huevos Rancheros
Costa Rica Day 9

ahoyyy,

lovely day, first day it really felt like 'working' here. up at 6:30a, meditate per ush and bopped out to Sol Bakery for a pastry to hold me over until after my morning works calls at 8a & 9:30a. i realize i haven't talked much about food here yet! (in the journal, that is).

 

worth the wait, i set out to try somewhere new (and i was really hungry - tbh did not have dinner last night as i got myself a little spooked after dad sent me a cautionary tale over FB messenger of a woman almost getting kidnapped/taken. seen a million of them and didn't bother me at first and then i was just like, nope, not leaving the room tonight. Sebastian tells me today that they had a bar b q with the couple friends of theirs who are here and were looking for me last night! but that i didn't come out of my room past 7 and i explain why//nice of them to think of me! they can knock any time.)

at the end of our block, there's a spot that's hopping - all tables full! got to be good, then. I sat at the two-seater breakfast bar and get a view of the 'chaos' - barista's word, not mine - and we chat about the service industry. She's from Canada and been working here for three months. how cool! her parents came down here so she came down, too, but wants to go back for the skiing - but hasn't been able to get an industry job yet as it's pretty far into the season and the resorts all have their staff in order. i say keep at it, you never know who is going to need to leave mid-season with life and then they're going to need somebody, and you're there. she doesn't speak any spanish when i asked which was funny - she says she only knows industry words thru work but that it wouldn't pass outside of work - 'do this', 'make that'. i got huevos rancheros and it was good, esp with a bit of this salsa-y hot sauce that i saw in bottles there and asked for. on the whole, food is not what you come to Costa Rica for. but yesterday I got to try a really good local dish at Soda Brasilito (in Brasilito) and it was real good -- mashed beans and fried plantains that you dip into it. soo good. and a little chips with guac and pico de gallo, had to be done. just as i was leaving Playa Conchal and taking a last look at the view, a local woman asked me if i wanted a like hut or covering that you can rent to sit under for shade on the beach -- i say no thank you but ask her what's her favorite restaurant in Brasilito. Soda Brasilito! (to be honest i heard 'sola brasilito' but it's one of the few restaurants righttt by the beach so, figured it out. 

 

other food notes:

- Samantha said that the sushi in the food court at the end of our block is the best in town - and large rolls too. she's spot on - i had the salmon mango roll the other day and it. was. so. good. it was also after my surf from terror and it was just so satisfying. the fried veggie spring rolls are also chef's kiss (had them for the third time tonight)

- Sebastian and Sarah make food all the time -- as i've pestered them my where do you like to eat question which has since turned to what do they like to cook. Sebastian just a couple days ago outright says - 'The food is not good here'. he doesn't mean it in that it's NOT good (i don't think!), just that, the food is not what you rave for in Tamarindo and it gets the job done. when talking with sarah in the kitchen the other morning, she also says that it's really expensive for groceries here, so sometimes it's even less expensive to eat out (!). i did not know this about $$$ groceries.

- ceviche at Agua Salada i haven't forgotten about and want to go back. keep thinking about doing this but it's a longer walk to get there (10-12 mins) and it gets dark here so early (sun set is at ~5:30p) so i'd need to go early early to be able to walk back before nightfall. i did that walk on NYE which was fine bc everyone was out and about walking on the roads but wouldn't do it again.

 

aside from food, got a call from my sister today!! which was so fun! to see kristen's name come up on my phone. i was (shockingly) doing a little work at a lawn chair out by the pool and fun to catch up

 

waves were masssssive and wild today -- took a dip after my morning calls and it was doable then but by ~4:30p when i was down there after chatting with kristen, the water was a no-go. even saw a couple lifeguards go into the water with their surfboards to assist somebody who was struggling. then the lifeguard does a mini-surf and flips off the board  funny to watch. waves and (rip) tide were nuts at Playa Conchal yesterday, too, and when Sebastian hears this today after spending ~an hour with Sarah planning some excursions for my time off while here, he goes 'waves? in playa Conchal?' and i'm like yeah, and he follows with 'i'm going' - soo i'm thinking playa conchal is typically way more calm waters than it was when i was there yesterday. that would also make sense as it was this (seemingly) protected semi-circle cove.... yet had these rough waves! hence i did not swim. (also someone had to be rescued there yesterday!! the rip was intense and it was scary to see. he swallowed water)

 

that was a long, less interesting one but it's monday and got to do some chores (dropped off and picked up fresh laundry too, plus Cruz - one of our cleaning ladies here! - dropped off fresh sheets for me to change on my own vs them typically doing it. it was a nice sense of mundane routine), 

buenos noches!

 

8:15p, 9 January 2023