We decided to go to the monkey beach (see previous entry); it was closer, cheaper, easier, etc, etc, etc. Manuel Antonio is actually one of the National Parks in Costa Rica. It's located in Quepos, on the Pacific side of the country.
Upsides:
- The beach
- Kayaking in a Mangrove Forest, because honestly, how many people can say they have done that?
- The animals: monkeys everywhere, iguanas too, sloths (okay so I didn't actually see one but some lady said that there was a sloth hanging out in a tree at our hotel. So does second-hand sloth-seeing count?)
- A fish jumped (literally) out of the water onto Carolyn's lap while we were kayaking... some say suicidal fish... I say fish whisperer.
- Some guy said he loved me. That's cool I guess.
- Another surfer dude drew a picture of Carolyn... as a vampire... we didn't ask him to do this.
- Beautiful sunsets
- Drank fresh 'agua de pipa*'
Downsides:
- Pretty much everyone spoke english so I didn't get to practice my awkwardly worded spanish dialogue... way too touristy...
- And I'm pretty sure I still have sand embedded in my hair
* Only in Costa Rica is the coco fruit called 'la pipa!'
P.S. Spanish classes start tomorrow morning, finally! I found out where I'll be working too. It's a place called 'Amor en la Calle.' It's basically a Community Center for the poor and underprivileged in San Jose. Mon/Tues: Construction or painting, Wed: Prison, Thurs: Families with kids or teen drug prevention, Fri: delivering food or teaching. Spanish classes every morning for a few hours too! Busy! 
-M
-L
P.S.
Where's my monkey?