Friday morning

OK, so I missed posting yesterday, it was a busy day. But first, our last evening meal with Mom was at the Mexican venue, good food and everyone enjoyed it. Hustled Mom off to bed with a wake up call planned for 03:00 h. I got up and made sure her trip got off on the right foot (had arranged her check out night before). All well with hotel and got her settled in for the transfer to the airport. Back to bed for me and up again at 05:30 for our excursion with Javier to the estuary. We drove for about an hour, with brief stops to show us some of the flora: virgin teak leaves for natural oil stain, cashew nuts, and fauna: Howler monkeys (they show their displeasure by pooping in their hands and throwing it at intruders), and iguanas. We got to the park and boarded a boat for the estuary tour. Stopped to feed White Faced Monkeys and had lots of fun with that. The birds were incredible. Saw lots of Crocodiles, but the big ones were not interested in eating, so we approached a juvenile that was pretty hungry, fed him big chunks of raw chicken. After the estuary tour, we drove back to Filadelfia and stopped at a central park where we saw some really huge Iguanas. Then off for a traditional CostaRican lunch of fried egg, rice and beans, tortillas and either fish, chicken, beef or pork in a little town called Communidad near Liberia. It was really good. Alongside the restaurant was a coffee bean roasting house so we stopped in to see the process and learn a bit about Costa Rican coffee business. Picked up some coffee, and also visited the souvenir shop. After that, it was the long drive back to Paradisus, Javier slept most of the way as his many jobs had him up most of the night. He provided us with an excellent private tour. When we got back to the hotel, I learned from Marcia that Mom had missed her connection in Houston, and next available flight would get her to Calgary at 21:30 h. Ouch. Between not having our rooms ready, getting pickpocketed, thinking that her jewelry was lifted, constant troubles with her safe, leaving her door wide open one evening, I`m not sure Mom had too much relaxation on this trip. Not much we could do about it. I've been constantly frustrated with using my phone for texting, Karen's works much better so we are relying on it, but texting is infuriating at the best of times. Eventually got a message from Marcia that Mom had arrived at last and all well in the end. Spent the afternoon at pool and beach, then off to the Asian restaurant. I had a sushi appetizer (worryingly served on a very warm plate) and a tuna steak cooked rare. Predictably, I suffered from some intestinal discomfort. All of us have had minor bouts with tourista, in spite of hand washing and bottled water. Not too bad so far though. Anyway, off to bed. Got up this morning and KM&M went shelling while I took a run down Playa Brasilito. They found lots of shells, Matthew had a swim in the ocean, and we linked back up for a nice breakfast. Now we are off to the pool, and plan to golf with Brian Dick this afternoon.