Our last few weeks in Pena Blanca and a visit to Playa Ventanas

We're coming to the end of our 3-month lease in Pena Blanca, Perez Zeledon and will be moving soon. We're not too concerned with packing as we don't have that much and we still have all of our bins used to move to the country, so we're packing things as we go depending on if we're going to use it again or not. It's still a lot of work!

Meanwhile, we continue to watch for birds. So many visit this area, our backyard, that it's always interesting.

Orange-chin Parakeet. They fly in flocks of 4 or 5 and are always chatting noisily.
They sound a bit like Budgies.

Hey, beautiful, do you want to go out with me?

The always majestic Crested Caracara

Our Canadian birds spend the winter here.

I'm really looking forward to leaving this place because of all the air pollution which is not good for my already diseased and affected lungs. Not only does our neighbour light a fire to cook almost every day (with the smoke coming right into our living room) but now they have started to burn the sugar cane fields for harvest. The reason for the burning is to remove all leaves so the canes are clean and ready to go (otherwise they would have to do it by hand and the fields are huge!) but apparently the resulting smoke and falling ash can be quite toxic as it carries pesticides amongst other pollutants. We are surrounded by sugar cane fields and yes, the smoke gets carried by the wind right into our house. And then there is the neighbour below us who smokes outside leaning on his railing, sending his second-hand smoke right up to us. We also have to deal with the cars and trucks emissions from the busy road in front. I'm afraid my lungs are getting a beating with all of this.

Burning of the field behind our place. You can see how hazy the air is.

Look at that odd coloured smoke rising up.

We decided to treat our friend Liz who helped us so much at our arrival and was always available for us if we needed information. Her husband is very sick and she's been really worried so we offered her a day just for her! There is a man who rents a room at her place that was able to stay and take care of her husband for the day.

On her suggestion, we went to Play Ventanas which translates into Windows Beach. Odd name don't you think? Until you arrive there and then it all makes sense! Before hitting the beach we stopped at a restaurant for lunch and had a pizza with drinks.

Alvaro, our driver who was really nice and spoke very good English,
and Liz, the woman of the day!

There are very large rocks that line one side of the beach and one of them has a hole that connects to the open ocean. As you can see there is the first window and then another one at the other end of the tunnel. When the tide is low people can walk through and reach the ocean. The beach is in a bay which might explain why the water was so warm! Glen was in heaven as he doesn't like to get into cold water.

There were little food stands and we rented a table and four chairs on the beach that was in the shade. You could also rent loungers or shade tents. Liz enjoyed her time and took advantage of this time to talk about her problems and had a good cry on my shoulder. I do think she needed that.

It was a good time for all, even our driver said that he was glad because he needed a beach day. Liz thanked us profusely and said that no one had ever done anything like that for her before. She was really touched.

A few new species showed up before we left.

Yellow-throated Toucan

It was sad to leave a place we had gotten comfortable with and where we had such great internet! Our landlords were super and most of all, our housekeeper Ligia cleaned our place very thoroughly and meticulously every week. She would often re-organize our cupboards and we had to laugh because we wouldn't be able to find anything. Ah, sweet Ligia! Even though she didn't speak English we got to be good friends. We are staying in touch through Facebook.

Ligia with her two sons whom she adores. 

 And we're off!