Potrero, Costa Rica

 Two years ago we took all the kids to Costa Rica and Brad's been talking about going back ever since. Life got pretty crazy with surgeries, two weddings, and two graduations, but we finally made it back, only this time we came with our good friends from Nashville, Deb & Les Wright, and my brother Matt & his wife Brei.

All I can say is thank heavens we were able to sneak it in before being quarantined for months!

 We once again stayed in Potrero, located on the coast in the hotter/dryer Gaunacaste region of Costa Rica

 And stayed in exact same place - Potrero Sunset Condominiums

 I will refresh your memory...amazing ocean views from the front door

 and living room!

 Comfy living room couch,

 and kitchen with granite counter tops, eat at bar, and every other kitchen necessity.

 Debbie making her usual gourmet breakfast!

Potrero, nestled in its little cove, was just as perfect and peaceful as I remembered.

 View from the deck looking straight back

 View from the master bedroom

View looking towards the west

 And of course, views of the amazing sunsets!

We all enjoyed walking and/or swimming at the beach every day.

 Especially Matt, who swam in the ocean every opportunity he could get!

 

Deb and Les enjoying some much needed vitamin D!

I enjoyed taking pictures of Debbie taking pictures...

I also loved watching the birds fly gracefully atop the waves, and then suddenly nose-dive straight into the water.

 Les wading in the water with his pelicans friends,

who loved hanging around the fisherman, waiting for a free meal!

 Matt was fascinated with the prospect of fishing in Potrero Bay

I just can't get over the sunsets in Potrero...

 little boy playing with his dog

 two little kids playing in the tide

 We once again ate at our favorite place Estero Azul, right on the beach.

After dinner we walked back to our condo under the light of the full moon,

which reflected so beautifully off the fishing boats!

 Beach Hut restaurant all lit up, where we ate two years ago with the kids.

View from our deck at night!

 We again went grocery shopping at our favorite little market for breakfast and lunch food. Brei even found Merinda's drink! (which is super yummy btw, and I'm not evena soda drinker).

On Sunday we attended the little LDS church in Potrero.

 

 We were greeted by the Group Leader (since it was smaller than a Ward or Branch) and his counselor. He showed off his English by serenading us with Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire.

 It's nice to know that wherever you are in the world, the format and teachings of the Church are the same. I even sang my best Spanish interpretation of the hymns!

 The Group Leader spoke in Sacrament Meeting along with a recently baptized member.

 Even though numbers in Relief Society were few,

 the Sisters made up for it in spirit and passion!

 The teacher was so sweet, and I felt like I could almost understand her as I followed along with the English version of the lesson on my i-phone.

 I felt like the Group Leader's wife and I bonded as we talked about Seminary in broken English. She currently has four students in her Seminary class.

 It was such a neat experience attending church in Costa Rica, and it just goes to show that the Spirit can penetrate any barrier. 

 The day before we left Potrero, Matt finally got his wish of fishing in Potrero Bay.

 Walking the beach one morning he made arrangements to go out fishing on a small boat with a local fisherman (and entrepreneur).

 The boat only had room for four people in addition to the captain and his first mate so Matt & Brei, and Brad & I went fishing for a few hours.

Matt and I looking through the tackle boxes,

and finding some interesting bait!

However, for the type of fishing we would be doing we used pieces of Squid.

 I guess Brad and I aren't so great at fishing since we didn't catch anything.

I did However, have a lot of fish eat the bait off my hook (I had a difficult time deciphering between choppy waves and nibbles of a fish).

 

 Matt had a little Pelican friend that followed the boat wherever it went, staying right next to Matt's pole (even the Pelican could detect the true fisherman!).

 Matt caught the first fish right off the bat, but threw it back because it was too small.

 A few minuets later Brei caught a fish! We thought we would have a boat-load of fish to eat for dinner, but they pretty much stopped biting from that point on even though we trolled through huge schools of jumping fish.

 Our time was soon up but Matt was determined to not go back empty-handed, so he paid for another hour of fishing.

Finally, at the end of our last hour, a miracle happened... Matt caught a fish!!

And it was a beauty! (so to speak)

A Barracuda!

 

With long sharp Barracuda teeth!

 Barracuda's are known for their fearsome appearance and ferocious behavior (so I didn't feel so bad eating it for lunch!). 

 I would call this fishing trip a success thanks to Matt and Brei! 

 The fish were then filleted right there in the bottom of the boat!

 Other animals that were caught on our fishing adventure.

 Even though Brad and I didn't catch any fish, we still had the best time just site-seeing!

We loved looking at all the interesting rock formations and little islands.

 (this one had a large hole right in the middle)

 And looking at all the different types of beaches from rocky and treacherous, 

 

to lush and tropical.

Since he grew up there, our captain knew the names of every mountain, beach, town, road etc.

 

This particular beach was called Lover's Beach, it was only accessible by boat, or during low tide.

 So interesting to me is the huge Italian influence in Costa Rica, from the many pizza and gelato places, 

 to this authentic Italian village mountaintop resort.

 We also saw many sea birds,

 and jumping sea creatures like these Mobula Rays,

 that would jump and flip high in the sky catching the sun rays with one flip 

and completely reflecting them with another. (I read somewhere that the flipping out of the water is some kind of mating ritual)

 We also saw this ocean current which was pretty cool. 
I really didn't mind not catching fish because the whole experience was so entertaining and relaxing in it's own right.

 After fishing we met Les and Deb at the restaurant (that our captain owns...he's a man of many talents) on Potrero beach.

 We want to thank Matt and Brei for the wonderful fishing-boat adventure...

and for our super yummy lunch of melt-in-your-mouth Barracuda (and little black fish)!