Play Carrillo/Sámara Tag II

It has been quiet here for a while. I think you will understand why as we go along. Nevertheless, I would like to conclude this travel blog. My time in Costa Rica has been very special - writing fills me with joy - it allows me to internally 'sort' my thoughts and emotions. Since my return to Germany, things have been quite turbulent, and I am making a great effort to maintain the 'Pura Vida' attitude - this zest for life that I have come to love here - and not to lose it. My gain: to be better connected with myself - in turbulent times, it is said that one grows beyond oneself. But let's first return to the penultimate travel day. It is Thursday, March 26. One more day remains to explore the area around Playa Carrillo and Sámara. Tomorrow we will return to the capital, San José. We will be on the road for many hours, covering a manageable distance of a little over 200 km. 

The morning begins quite calmly. When I arrive for breakfast, most of the group has already left. Where to, I am not sure. I have a strange feeling inside me. What I have spoken little about so far is that on a journey with other people, you are naturally also confronted with things or challenges that are not so simple. Different perspectives on how to spend a free day. What each person likes to do. When to leave. Everyone ticks differently. A lot comes together. NEEDS :). Jeffrey's idea of giving us as much freedom as possible during the two days in the area around Sámara has somehow not quite worked out. While we had previously 'grown together' as a solid unit, everything was now open. Some were missing the structure, while others knew how to use their time quickly and autonomously. I was the same. However, since we are quite far outside the beach areas, it is logistically not so easy anymore. The shuttle belonging to the hotel is too small for our entire group. Jeffrey and Viktor have withdrawn completely, which many of us did not understand. However, we were all not really able to communicate this properly with the two. But that's not what I want to go into detail about here. That would be unnecessary and annoying. I just want to briefly illustrate that we often had different viewpoints and there were also discussions. Quite typical for Germans. 

After breakfast, I first met up with four other group members at the pool. We initially enjoyed the morning sun and swam a bit. Reading was also part of it. Just relaxing. Together we decided to have the hotel shuttle take us to Carrillo Beach. Yesterday we were more in Sámara, so today we definitely want to check out Carrillo. Initially, I thought that eight of us would go to this beach. However, three other group members had already disappeared from the hotel area and were not at the pool in the morning. There was no communication about this - none whatsoever. So we had to 'cancel' or 'reduce' the reserved spots at the reception. Ultimately, there were only four of us left. The fifth person decided to take the public bus to go directly to Sámara. Totally fine, but somehow it's a shame that the group is so split up. That's how it was.

Once we arrived at Carrillo Beach, we were lucky to find a shady spot under the palm trees. Here, you have to be careful with the coconuts. And then it was time for me. I walked about 100 meters across the incredibly hot sand into the Pacific Ocean. And what can I tell you? This feeling is indescribable. The sea is so warm, it smells so wonderful. The waves are so beautiful. Letting them carry you, swimming through them. Realizing where you are and what a privilege it is to be able to swim here. And how worth it it has been to take this journey. I think back to how it feels to swim in the Pacific again. It is really wonderful, and I feel pure gratitude. And the others enjoy it very much too. The sun is intense. Everything shines and sparkles. Meanwhile, four more group members who spent the morning in Sámara have arrived at Carrillo Beach. One participant even walked along the beach from there. Along the way, she passed the lookout point Isolte Chora. Together with two lovely travel companions, I walked a short distance to a small stand, which is simply set up, to see if they have drinks or a cold beer. We got into a conversation with a nice woman who sells ceviche and soft drinks. No beer: she reports that alcoholic beverages are not allowed to be sold down here at the beach. She tells us that a small grill is about to be fired up, where meat, maybe also fish, will be grilled. Do we have any interest in this? The woman is very open with us. Nevertheless, we move on and enjoy our time on the beach. Surprising it is, but we eventually do find a cold beer.

I spend a wonderful day with two lovely traveling companions, a couple from Frankfurt, who have been very likeable to me from the beginning of the journey. We break away from the group and design the day according to our own ideas and wishes. Even if it might feel unusual at first to break away from the 'mainstream', or shall I say, to do or decide something differently, we will be surprised at the end of the day how much we experienced. After the intense midday sun and two swims, the three of us take the public bus not back to the hotel complex, but one more time to Sámara. And I am increasingly surrounded by the fear of whether I am overdoing it and whether we will safely return to the hotel in the evening. It takes a while to see the bus, and it is also very humid. On the bus there is some time to catch our breath, and the wind from the open windows feels good. Upon arriving in town, we stroll a bit through some small shops, stopping by a few stands. Finally, some time to meander and look around. Here we meet more group members who are also on their way back to the hotel. Together with the two from Frankfurt, I arrive at the stand. The afternoon sunlight is so beautiful. All the sounds at the beach. The roar of the sea, the music from the restaurants/bars. The rustling of the palms in the wind. Children's voices. Animals. It is really great. We visit 'La Dolce Vita' one more time and then change locations to 'El Lagarto'. Here we have delicious cocktails and enjoy a pleasant conversation. While the rest of the group has dinner together, also along with Jeffrey and Viktor, we remain three today and decide to take a taxi (the public transport times do not align with our plans) to a great restaurant and viewpoint.

Off to the 'taxi stand'. There are 2 or 3 men standing there, chatting animatedly. One of them has set up his grill. It sizzles. Right at the intersection of a road. We ask the people about a taxi. We have a quick chat, and soon a man comes out of a shop. This is the taxi driver and his car is not far from us. The ride costs, which is reasonable, we share. After about 15 minutes, we arrive at 'La Cuesta del Sol Bar'. Look how beautiful it is there. We are lucky and get a table. The owners are originally from Sicily and have been in Costa Rica for about 1.5 years. We are all quite excited about the dinner. There are fresh pasta with shellfish, risotto, and a very good steak. Time and again we are drawn to the nearby platform from which you can see the sunset very well and look directly into the bay. We enjoy. We sit under the open sky. Above us, there are fairy lights strung everywhere. It is really beautiful here. Then there is dessert, and we decide to walk the rest of the way back to the hotel on foot. It's about 2.5 km. First, we walk through a kind of residential area. Then we continue along the 'Rute Nacional Secundaria'. The phone flashlights give us security. Here you definitely need to be careful. We make another stop at a supermarket 'La Guardia'. At around 9:00 PM we are back at the hotel complex. We stumble upon a larger part of the group that is hanging out by the pool. And so we quickly drop our things and join them at the pool. The group comes back together and everyone exchanges their experiences of the day. It feels good. The evening is relaxed. Around 11:00 PM I lie down in bed after a hot shower. Tomorrow we will leave the hotel at 9:30 AM. Enough time to pack. Buenas Noches.