Our Lighthouse

Pictures coming soon! Could we live at the beach? Could we live in Costa Rica? Can we live quieter, slower lives? Could we do it without killing each other? These were some of the questions that drove us to spend this extended vacation and what I call “sampling retirement”.

So we found ourselves a place in Playa Grande (featured in the headline photo for this blog). This place is called Faro Arriba, upstairs of the “lighthouse”. It’s a touch of whimsy, because in this area, light is very restricted due to the effect is has on the nesting leatherback turtles. Homes, hotels, and retaurants near the nesting areas must not shed light on the beach. It’s one of the few “zoning” rules in the country. So the idea of building a “lighthouse” as a form of lodging offers a kind of amusing irony. The building is in the graceful and classical lighthouse style. It houses two units with two or more levels. We spent a few nights in Faro Abajo, and it has certain charms lacking in Faro Arriba. But we like the light, the view and the privacy in the upper unit. In a room that’s round, a round bed makes sense. And, despite my reservations about a Vegas-style bed, it’s pretty comfortable.

Downstairs, we have a living area, dining table, bathroom and kitchenette. It’s pretty comfortable for us. There’s also a small pool and private patio just outside – really nice for a quick cooldown or eating breakfast on a cool (and bugfree) morning. The hotel has a turtle shaped pool, big enough for a bit of swimming, though not enough for laps. (Carolyn’s missing the PAC pool for lapswimming a lot!)

Our first mornings were very strange… the very common and always pesky magpie jays decided to greet us at first light with a barrage of beaks banging on the window panes. Bentley protested loudly, and after a few days, the birds decided to go pester someone else. Surprisingly, later on, other bird types came to take over. Bright yellow birds (one of at least a dozen bright yellow birds common in the area – heck if I know which one!) came next, and this morning, it was a black bird – going out on a limb here – I’ll call it a Grackle. (OK, that’s a bad pun – can’t help it!) Fred says it’s a Ani.