Day 6

Today we rented a Suzuki Jimmy 4x4 with a GPS and started our adventure. We filled up with fuel in a little village near the resort and then headed down the "Monkey Trail" towards Tamarindo. The road was very rough and much like a quad trail. Joanne thought the road ended as we drove through a river and over tree roots, but the GPS said to continue on. We carried on up over a mountain with spectacular views of the ocean and valley down below. The road was barely wide enough for one car and was rock and dirt. We stopped at little villages and beach areas along the way for cervesa's and walks on the beach. The sand is much whiter as you go south and the waves were large enough for surfers. We stopped at playa Flamingo to buy souvenirs and while chatting with another tourist, found out there was going to be a carnival and rodeo at 5:00. Against Joanne's better judgement we decided to check it out. First we carried on along the beach route to Tamarindo. The beach was gorgeous with huge waves and lots of surfers. We had lunch and more cervesa's. At 5:00 we headed back towards our resort and stopped at the rodeo. We had a great supper at Out back Jacks and waited for the event. First, came the parade of cowboys through town and then the carnival started. Children riding rides that looked like they were from the 1940's, with games and food booths. The arena was logs wired together and the stands were 1x6's fastened together. We had a blast. It was only bull riding with some minor bull fighting. None of the animals got hurt, but not so lucky for the cowboys. We watched as cowboys got tossed through the air and stomped on, kicked, speared with horns and smashed against the fences. Joanne could hardly watch. After they got hurt some young guys from the crowd would rush in and literally drag them across the arena and push them through a hole in the fence to the paramedics. All to start again on the next victim. They are a tough bunch. Young people from the crowd joined the event by trying to be bull fighters, the beer guy walked around in the arena selling beer, while the bull riding was taking place. Local people, women and children included sat on the edges of the fence, all within reach of the bull. By 9:00, Joanne had seen enough and was anxious to get back to the resort. As we are walking back to our jeep, we remember that we didn't lock the back door, but all was in perfect order as we returned. The guard had kept good care of all our things. A good tip for him and off on the wild, dark drive home back over the Monkey Trail. Even scarier in the dark. Thank GOD for the GPS. We would still be driving on back country trails had we not had one. We arrived back at the resort at about 10:30 pm. The guards at the gate gave us a look like you crazy tourists, get back in the resort before you get killed. It was our favorite day and we wish we had more days to rent a car again. Next time.........