Los Chorros

One of the beautiful waterfalls at Los Chorros

We got up relatively early (around 6:30) and had a nice breakfast of gallo pinto, scrambled eggs and Fruit Loops for the kids. This was my first gallo pinto breakfast since being in Costa Rica this summer. Gallo pinto, by the way, is rice and beans (usually leftover) mixed together. For breakfast, it’s usually served alongside eggs.

We loaded up and headed to Los Chorros, secluded waterfalls that we had visited during our first trip here in 1994. Sofia rode in Inesita’s car with Alice, Inesita, Vicky, and Daniela. We stopped at the farmer’s market in Grecia and Marcos bought a watermelon and papaya. Alice and Inesita brought a pineapple as well.

To get to Los Chorros you take what is called “the old road to Alajuela” from Grecia. Unlike the “autopista,” which is the closest thing to a freeway here, the old road is a longer, curvy road through the countryside. About half way to Alajuela, in a small village on the left side, is a small sign that points you in the right direction. We probably made it up in 20 minutes.

When we got there, the man who minds the parking area had not opened the gate, but finally he opened it and we parked. We paid him 2000 colones to “care for the cars,” while we were down at the falls. From there we walked down a gravel road, missed the path, and were redirected by a driver going out. All the way from the road you could hear the power of the falls.

We got to the park entrance, where the attendant questioned us about “estranghetos.” Cristina quickly replied in Spanish that she was “Tica” and those were her children, in a tone that he didn’t question any further despite giving me a quick glance. I paid for all of us to get in, a mere 8000 colones, around $16 for all 12 of us (normally tourists are $4, residents are $3, Ticos are $2). There is definitely a price difference and I have learned to keep quiet, while Cristina shows her cedula (Costa Rican ID card) and handles the purchasing.

Marcos, Cristina, and Alex tasted the water from the exposed drinking hole at the entrance. Then off we went down the very wet and sometimes slippery path to the falls. As you walk along the path, you walk above the river that is flowing from the two falls and many streams. You also walk on top of some pipes that are carrying part of the water to supply parts of Alajuela. As you approach the bottom of the river gorge, along the banks there are many picnic tables, several small changing huts, a couple of bathroom “shacks,” a snack bar (closed), and a couple of covered table areas. Way more than a dozen years ago! So we put all our stuff down at one of the picnic tables and followed the roar and path to the falls. They are amazing, powerful, beautiful and majestic! The vegetation around the falls, thanks to the constant mist coming from the falls, is incredibly lush and vibrant. That mist makes it quite chilly, and if you venture into the mist, in no time you are soaked to the skin.

Beautiful...and cold!

We climbed around on the rocks near the falls, got a bit wet and cold, and took lots of pictures. We trekked back up to the picnic area and had some fruit, then went back to the falls for a little more play.

It looked like rain was coming, and we didn’t want to brave the paths with the additional mud and slop caused by rains, so we headed back. On the way, Alex was running with the other boys and fell, scraping his knees up and getting muddy. Cristina took him down to the river and washed him off.

The gang, right before leaving Los Chorros

We took a different route home, through San Roque, where Marcos’s parents live. During the ride, Daniela fell asleep in Sofia’s arms, much to Sofia’s delight. Back at Vicky and Marcos’s house, we took quick showers and changed into dry clothes. Sort of. I had a dry shirt and underwear, but I had to put on the same wet shorts I’d worn to the falls. My shoes were also soaked, so I chose to go barefoot the rest of the day, whenever possible.

The rest of the day would be spent at William and Alice’s house, just down the hill. Their house has changed a lot since the last time we were here four years ago. They’ve made a new driveway which goes behind the house, and the yard with the mango trees, previously very steep, is filled in and much more level now. A nice play area for the kids. Just big enough for Alex and Carlos to kick a soccer ball around. Inside, one of the four bedrooms has been made into a dining room and the adjoining hall has changed. The old laundry room has been made into a room for Gabriella. The kitchen is revamped and reworked and has newer cabinets and a new stove. The closets from all the rooms were removed due to termites.

Using the bamboo mango-knocker

The U.S. was playing Italy, and surprisingly the score was tied. Thankfully, the U.S. team looked completely different than their first game, so I didn’t have to be too embarrassed. While the game came to a close, we ate a delicious lunch of Vicky’s arroz con pollo. Cristina ate four platefuls. Even Alex had seconds, so you know it was good. We have such a fondness for Vicky’s arroz con pollo that in 2002, we had Vicky show us how she made it while Cristina translated the steps for me to write down. So for the past four years, every time we’ve made arroz con pollo at home it has been from Vicky’s recipe. But hers is still better than ours. They knew how much we have enjoyed it over the years, so despite it being Christopher’s birthday, and this not being his favorite dish, they made it for us. By the time we finished eating, it was close to 3 pm.

Afterwards, several of us sat on the front porch that faces towards Grecia. It used to be that you could clearly see the church at the top of the hill. But the trees have grown so tall and lush that you have to sneak glimpses of it thru the trees. Inesita decided she wanted to take advantage of having our kids along and wanted to get a piñata and cake to celebrate Christopher’s fourth birthday. Isabella and I tagged along with Inesita when she drove into town to get the party goods. At the store where Ines was buying the Spider-man piñata, Isabella wanted many things that she saw. I gave in on a little Mylar, heart-shaped balloon. It was on a discounted, buy-one-get-one-free table, so I picked up two.

Back at the house, William was home from work so we prepared for the big celebration. The kids each had a turn whacking the piñata before Gaby finished the job and the usual mayhem ensued. I thought a nice touch was that when the piñata burst, while the kids were on all fours scraping up the candy, Vicky threw confetti, adding to the festive chaos.

It had been a long day, but we still had cake and ice cream before we could wrap it up. The cake had a spider web on it with a Spider-man candle right in the middle. After Christopher blew out his candle, William dunked his face into the icing. After cake and ice cream, it was close to 8 pm. Finally, Christopher opened his gift from us, which was a silk, mini-parachute (very Waldorf). Christopher seemed mildly interested, but compared to the action figures he’d gotten from the other family members, our gift probably seemed a bit odd and out of place.

Inesita gave us a ride home. Alex and Isabella both fell asleep during the ride, which was a good hour or so. I knew that Cristina was going to let me sleep in the next day for Father’s Day, so I stayed up way too late working on the computer. I didn’t get to sleep until close to 2 am.