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Amy said today that Sarah and Samuel both seem to have grown since we have been here. Sarah looks taller, and has gotten more muscular with daily swimming (both of them were in the water or on the beach about 5 hours today).

Samuel is bigger too, and has become more contemplative, asking more questions and just taking it all in. They both love it here, and will have definite withdrawal when it is time to leave.

It is hard to think about leaving the ideal temperatures and incredible environment. Despite the daily power outages and the lack of many of the conveniences we are used to, life here is peaceful and more elemental than anywhere we have been.

Today Donne and his family were heading to a beach. The crowds of Costa Ricans that were around for the 2 week July break have left, so many residents take a day or two off and plan special activities. The influx of foreign visitors, meanwhile, seems to have picked up. Our friend Sonia at the Uvita Information Center has been busy each time we’ve gone by, and she had 3 separate clients to get to after we left her today.

We were inquiring about waterfalls to hike to and visit that might be a little more conducive to the kids. Amy is a little afraid of the one we went to our first week, with its steep sided pool and slippery passage. We got information on two others in the area that we can get to pretty easily. We’ll work them into our schedule as half-day trips this week or next.

Today we went to Dominical Beach again, and it was the first time it didn’t cloud up and rain immediately upon our arrival.

We found some huge driftwood trees that had washed up,

some beautiful waves and surf,

and some randomly arranged stones in the sand. This one makes a great desktop background.(right click and select "save as windows desktop" or "set as background")

Dominical is a very cosmopolitan town for a surfer hangout. Grouped together on its main street are a crepe restaurant, a Thai place, sushi bar, American sports bar, and numerous seafood places. We had lunch at a kabob restaurant run by a Turkish guy. The kabobs of chicken, beef and pork are charcoal grilled and served on a homemade bun with lettuce, tomato, and a special sauce. Not Costa Rican, but delicious.

Later we got home and found some lizards enjoying our ceiling (outside). They like the warmth up there, and sensed the rain, which didn’t begin until almost 5pm today.

Before it rained, I got some pictures of the sunset. It was one of the first times there was  a somewhat clear sky on the horizon as the sun went down.

Tomorrow is our big trip to Manuel Antonio National Park. Early to bed for everybody tonight. We’ll be doing a lot of walking there. Pictures and video tomorrow.