I lost my mind but found my Peace at a restaurant in Jaco, Costa Rica

 On a previous post I had written about traveling here to Costa Rica on a backpack surfing trip with my surf Sista who is 20 years younger. I knew that no one in my age range would want to do this sort of thing so when the opportunity presented itself for me to go with her after finding out 5 days before the trip, were heading to the Pacific side known for some of the best surfing beaches in the World. 

We spent a couple of days in Playa Hermosa at the Wipeout Hostel customized for the surfers before traveling further down the Coast. 

I had left an overwhelmingly stressful event of circumstances in Los Angeles to living out a Hippie backpacker adventure arriving in this place called Jaco after leaving city where I'm looking up at this huge statue that read Paseo De los Surfista's which means walk of the surfer. "Las Playas de surf" means the surfing beaches and  "Mas famosas de Costa Rica" which means most famous in Costa Rica. Above her head on both sides were 10 surfing commandments to be followed. We knew we were in the right place seeing  a bronzed sculpture of a surfer chick.

A place that have surf etiquette signage are the best spots to surf at. People are more respectful, kind and everyone is usually having more fun. In my opinion and Bravo (picture me clapping my hands) to the female surfer representation. Personally, it set the pace for my whole trip.

Even though we planned to stay away from the most touristy cities, we were curious about this famous Tourist Destination.

Jaco Beach 

 It was known for clubbing, beginner friendly surfing and local sodas, the name for restaurants. I'm not usually a beans and rice kind of woman however I've found they taste a lot different outside of the US and every Country that I've been to over the years. I enjoy learning about the different ways of preparing and seasoning them so I was actually looking forward to trying some knowing it was their main staple dish. 

My experience in a Soda (restaurant )

We were there on the off season before spring break so most of the sodas were empty and we just picked one that was nearest the beach where we could enjoy the scenery. When sat down, the waitress came over right away, giving us water and menus, then we didn't see her again for almost 30 minutes which was starting to put me in a "hangry" mood. When she returned walking calmly to take our order, it was like she just met us.

Another 30 minutes passed by and I was already  twitching, rocking back and forth since the first 20 minutes had passed when we got there thinking how this would never be acceptable in the US. 

We'd be walking out already. To take my mind off it, I decided to relax, stare at the trees, the jungle view and the ocean from my seat.

Jaco's Wildlife 

That's when I noticed the most amazing looking birds. There were black with yellow, red, green, blue and orange.  I saw flying by were in Fuchsia and blue, I was like, what is happening here? Learned that a Keel Billed Toucan aka the fruit loop bird wasn't just something I saw on a cartoon but it was real! I had never seen one in real life. Jaco has a beautiful rainforest that attracts over 100 different species native to Costa Rica like the  Scarlet Macaws, Spectacled Owl, Roseate Spoonbill, Crested Guan,

Red-lored Parrot and Pale billed Woodpeckers.

So enamored with my surroundings, I don't know how much time had passed by but I was relaxed and my mind had drifted in the warmth of this paradise, looking at the different fruit on the  trees, plants and wildlife.  

I glanced up and she was there smiling with here head titled like it was all apart of the experience. She sat the food down and I was completely in the most peaceful state of consciousness I know for sure, I had never felt before. 

Finally, the food had arrived served hot and smelling delicious, the spices they cooked the beans and rice in were on point!!! Plantains crispy on the outside, firm but soft in the inside just the way I love them and cooked to perfection seasoned potato's. That was the meal for the whole day. 

The weather was so hot, I was surprised that I didn't get sleepy afterwards but you do so much walking and hiking there that it was the best meal to keep the energy going just make sure to stay hydrated because that heat ain't no joke.

My review of Jaco

 By the end of my lunch which is the most popular time of the day to eat, I wasn't in a rush to do anything anymore. My mind suddenly realized I was on vacation. 

I had forgotten about all the distractions of my regular life. Not one single worry in the World I had in that moment. That's when my trip . I lost my mind but I found my peace. Pura Vida! 

Have you ever been to the beautiful Santa Teresa? An incredibly beautiful Surf town in Costa Rica, this place offers intermediate to advanced surfing spots and you might catch a local surf competition. It's the Pura Vida for me!! 

 https://www.creativelycultured.com/2023/02/santa-teresa-surfers-pura-vida-paradise.html