Oh the places you’ll go.

Updated - I am now in a spot where I can write more. I am splitting this up into a few posts to make it more manageable. I don't want to scare you off!

Part 1: The Farm & Mountain Life

My travel to Costa Rica and to Paul's farm in La Florida took about 16 hours door to shay-cloth (no doors at Paul's). I was exhausted and ready to crash once I hit San Isidro, but travel to "De Campo" in Costa Rica is rarely that simple. Traveling to town from the farm takes about an hour each way, and includes washed out dirt roads that cling to perilous drop offs. A few days prior to my arrival a dump truck slipped off the road and tumbled 150 meters down the mountain. Paul and my return trip included wrestling with a new 12 foot ladder and battling kerosene fumes after a spill in the truck. The amusement of both vastly surpasses the inconvenience.

Paul's farm was vastly improved from last year when three of us were living in the bungalow where lumber is set to dry where every moment you were confronted with a snake bite and the onslaught of Piss Ants (it's there name). This year the pillars were up and about 60% of the floor installed. I stayed on the farm 5 nights, and enjoyed the quite of the cloud forest. As you drink coffee in the morning, you can watch the clouds spill over a distant mountain and fill the valley below, only to rush up and consume the entire farm in a dense fog. Despite the dampness, the experience is very tranquil.

Paul's Farm & the Vally:

Mountain living is hypnotic. The heat of the morning and birds singing pulled me from bed each morning. Day's slip together as the movement and pace of nature drives your life. If you want to decompress and loose track of time, i highly recommend going to a cloud forest hut with no electricity.

The first morning Paul and I hiked to the top of his ridge for one of the best views in Costa Rica, the "Whale Tail," a rock/ coral formation on the coast line that creates a surf break in the shape of a massive whale's tail. From the ridge you can see the entire coast of the Oas Peninsula and up towards Mal Pais on the Nicoya Peninsula.

During my stay on the farm, I helped Paul work on his house. We got a lot accomplished, including: installed 2 walls in his new kitchen, constructed a new sink table and moved running water into the house, and installed a stove! It is wonderful to make coffee in the morning out of harms way; although, the piss ants still tracked me down.

One last amazing feature to come to La Florida, Pizza! Yes, pizza in De Campo. If you would like to meet an amazing couple living their dream on $600/ month, track down the entrepreneurs of Pizza Rica, Andy and Michelle. The couple purchased the faltering business from another Gringo last year and have transformed the operation into a real business. The take & bake pizza's are now available in 4 stores around San Isidro with planned expansion. If you know where the Pizza Rica kitchen is in La Florida you can stop by for a hot pizza and equally nice, a hot shower. Thank you Andy and Michelle for your kindness and beautiful views on life.