Monday, February 14, 2022

Biting ants

Above: Playa Grande, Montezuma, Costa Rica.

Friday 12th February 1988

After the usual breakfast I waged war against the ants that were invading my vitamin pill bottle. We then took our hammocks and books and set off for the third beach, Playa Grande. We set up our hammocks in the trees by the plane wreckage and enjoyed the ocean breeze.

We went for a swim but by midday we were getting bored. We watched a crude cart pulled along by two oxen move slowly down the beach to gather wood. We then went to get some natural pineapple ice cream. This, plus several exotic fruit juices, went down a treat.

We stopped briefly at our hotel and downed some Cokes and then headed for the upper waterfall by a novel route. This involved following a narrow stream bed up into the hills. My first mistake was to wear flip-flops instead of trainers.

We clambered through the sandy trench, real jungle terrain, scrambling from rock to rock amongst the vines and the creepers. We disturbed some exotic spiders and lizards and I dreaded finding a snake or scorpion with my bare feet among the dead leaves.

After sliding about and falling further behind Declan I gave up and cut out on a muddy trail that crossed the stream. I wandered about on a dusty track, dripping with sweat and lost for about half an hour.

I eventually got back to the hotel, sod the waterfall, at about 15:00 hrs. I threw my dirty wet clothes straight into the sink and washed them. Declan returned, having enjoyed his expedition despite a heavy fall and an onslaught of biting ants.

We concluded that this river did not lead to the waterfall. I went down to the nearest beach for a swim in the sea. Some huge black carrion birds were scavenging and mauling the dead fish which had been dumped by the fishermen.

I went back for a shower, and we chatted with Chris and read the Costa Rican guidebook. We arranged for a taxi-jeep to take a group of us to Paquera tomorrow at 06:00 hrs. It will be a shame to leave here. The Hotel Lucy is a great place to stay despite the huge black wasps which seem to have nests in every room.

We had a few beers with Micheal who was not paralytic yet. He had been out on the beach riding an aging nag and enjoying himself without drinking. We ate a meal in Chico’s Bar and then moved next door to join Chris and Gary.

A bit of wheeling and dealing went on and Chris swapped an Alaska T-shirt for an Emu Cigarette Poster. Declan traded a 35mm slide film with Micheal for two tall, decorated cups, late of the hotel bar!

We sat on the beach for one last time on our way back to the hotel. Gary smoked his pipe and Chris went for a final swim in the ocean, viciously stubbing his toe on the way back. I was practically falling asleep, so I was out like a light in seconds when we finally returned to our hotel room at 23:00 hrs.

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