Lazy Day

We had plans to golf on our second day in Costa Rica but ended up socializing instead.  It was a nice way to spend a lazy, cloudy day.  We began by breakfasting with Sue and Henry, friends we snorkelled with in Maui two years ago.  It was good getting caught up with their lives.  They finished before we did so left to walk the nature trail around the hotel.  We moved to another table to drink coffee with Neal and Jennifer as they ate their breakfast.  When they left, we joined Martha and George for a chat and began making plans for dinner.  Glen wanted to return to the Grano de Oro and George was game.

We then hunted down Sue and Henry and invited them to dinner before Glen made the reservations and hired the same cab driver we'd had the previous evening.  After a stroll around the hotel and a brief visit to the gift shop, we ate lunch on the patio.  I had a lovely avocado stuffed with shrimp as I was still full from breakfast.  I learned later that avocados are imported and one could cost close up to $4.00! Glen had a delicious club sandwich.  We washed this down with Segua red ale made by Craft Brewing.  The label was intriguing and we soon learned its meaning.

When Costa Rica was young, the indigenous and Spanish people rarely mingled.   However, a beautiful, black haired Indian woman fell in love with a Spanish soldier and they had a torrid love affair until he abandoned her.  Having betrayed her family with this forbidden affair, she was cursed, turning her into La Segua.  She serves two functions in this legend, she warns woman not to be promiscuous and she saves them from the men who would prey upon them.

Late at night, she sings in the streets luring men to her.  Her beauty attaches them then she tells them she needs a ride home (notice she is hitching on the beer label).  Once inside the car, her head turns into a bloody horse skull with fire in her eyes.  Men are stricken with fear and either die or stop their womanizing ways making the streets of Costa Rica safer.  It is a warning not to drink too much but the beer was so good, it was hard to resist.

After lunch, we were going to sit by the pool but it was chilly so ended up spending an enjoyable afternoon reading in our hotel room.  We then registered for the meeting, see Sheilah and learning a few things about our tour the next day.

Supper at the Grano de Oro was magnificent.  We enjoyed the meal with Sue and Henry, George and Martha and, Alan and Denise (from Cape Cod).  Glen and I shared the rabbit/pork paté then he had roasted rabbit while I enjoyed the Snook.  I knew it was a fish but had never had one before.  It was tasty and I'd eat it again.  Glen ordered the pavlova dessert and it was an unusual version where the meringue was a twist of egg white and the fruit was the feature.  Everyone else's meals were excellent so we were happy we could introduce more diners to this venue.