Chasing danger.

There isn't much to do in Cahuita, that is besides lay on the beach or in a hammock, or take a jungle walk. Fine by me! However, on a Saturday my Candian friend and I took a bus to the nearby town of Peurto Viejo. We rented beach cruisers and took a long bike ride to a beautiful beach. The sky was cloudy and It was sprinkling on the ride. I was happy because it was mostly a dirt road and I would have hated to be riding in the sun with dust sticking to me.

We spent about 5 hours lounging on the beach and swimming. On the ride back to town, the sun had came out. We stopped off on the side of the road and bought mango/yogurt pops. I felt like a 12 year old, riding with my bag in the front basket on the bike and slurping down my mango/pop. I was totally content!

After we returned the bikes, we went to dinner at a French restaurant. I couldn't help myself, I had lobster again. A little more expensive this time, but still super cheap. A band was setting up to play, so I decided to return later. I did and all night they played popular American tunes. As I was swaying along to the great music I noticed there were four others in my close vicinity doing the same. I then noticed that one of the guys was someone I had met a few days earlier in Cahuita. He had walked into a restaurant and I told my Canadian friend, I bet he's Californian. To test my theory, I asked and yup, he was from Santa Barbra.

I said, "hey Santa Barbra," he turned and said, "hey San Francisco." Just then the others that were also jamming along to the live music volunteered that they were all Californian as well. Yup, California knows how to party. Of everyone there, we were all enjoying the music the most!

On Sunday, we went to the beach just five minutes from our room. I asked the hostel to borrow a snorkeling set and decided to snorkel close to the beach. I saw angle fish, barracudas, and this weird starfish like creature. It had nine legs, was about 20 inches in diameter and was alive because I saw it move and wiggle into the sand. I felt really brave and touched it with my foot and found it too be hard like a starfish.

I called some people over that were grouped nearby and asked them to take a look. They were all Spanish speaking and claimed not to see anything. I am pretty sure they thought I was loca. When I took a break I told my friend about what I saw and she went to see for herself. She found it and was equally weirded out by the strange creature. She didn't touch it.

I started to get really curious and decided to find it and then bring it to the surface using my snorkel tube. I looked forever, but couldn't find the 9 legged dude. Bummer. On my was back to land some Australians asked if I was seeing anything. I told them about the fish and the unknown specimen. They were perplexed.

I went back under and saw what I thought was a manta ray. I got so excited! I immediately started following him at top speed. I got pretty close and remembered that there were no manarays in Costa Rica, but there were stingrays. Then I remembered that the Crocodile Hunter was killed by a stingray. I put on my fin breaks and popped out of the water. The Australian couple were nearby and asked what I had seen. When I told them, they both decided to leave the water. I decided to follow, with my head underwater. I saw the stingray again and freaked a little. I was also excited...

I really wish I had brought an underwater camera, even a cheap disposable one. Oh well, next time.