Samara, Costa Rica -- night

Today was another good day. I've really enjoyed having someone to talk with and spend time with.

After Ronald came back my room this morning to wake me up, we went to the ocean to swim. After I ate a breakfast of casado con chuleta, we decided to try to hike a hill near the town. Once we got there, we realized it was pretty heavy with undergrowth. But we decided to continue on into the jungle regardless. We slowly climbed down the steep slope, with gravel and rocks sliding past our feet constantly. At the bottom, I had to take off my sneakers and socks to get all the loose gravel out. We continued on down until reaching a dried-out creek bed, which we followed for about 50 meters farther. At that point, we turned right to climb the hill because it looked clearer and more passable there than at other sections. Pulling ourselves up from tree to tree, we eventually reached the top to find that we had made a nice circle as we had thought we would.

After walking away from our jungle adventure, we returned to the town to buy a couple of melons (cantaloupes) for 240 colones. We took them to sit on a log on the beach under some palms, where I cut the melons with my knife. How sweet and juicy the melon was!

The rest of the day was spent drinking lemonade, conversing, taking a nap on the sand, and conversing some more. In the evening, we walked around the town a little bit, stopping to watch a large soccer match in the only field in the town. Ronald explained some of the differences between European football (soccer) and Latin American football (soccer), namely that European football is more team- and pass-oriented, whereas Latin American football is more individual- and performance-oriented. However, he explained that the two styles are beginning to merge, with the greater numbers of Latino players playing in Europe.

Later, we played pool at a bar on the beach, while continuing our conversations. All in all, it was a good day. Tomorrow, I believe I will leave for Santa Cruz, and then from there go to Liberia for the carnaval there. I think Ronald will meet me in Liberia, and from there we may travel together into Nicaragua. We shall see. Either way, it shall be interesting and adventurous.