February 8, 2022 - Tamarindo to San Jose, Costa Rica

Our Covid tests were scheduled for 8:15 this morning so were up early and down the street to get our noses tickled. It would take about an hour for the results so we headed back to the apartment to get everything loaded in the car and do our airport check-in. Just before 10:00, we were on our way heading back to San Jose.

We stopped at the Puente La Amistad de Taiwan (Taiwan Friendship Bridge) which spans the Tempisque River on Route 18. It is 780 meters long (about 2550 feet) and was completed in 2003. The bridge was financed and designed by Taiwan and built primarily by the Taiwanese with participation of Costa Rican engineers and workers. Prior to the construction of the bridge, this route required the use of ferries to cross the river or long alternate land routes.
 

About four years after its completion, Costa Rica cut off relations with Taiwan in favor of China.

Continuing on our way, we kept seeing roadside stands selling Vino de Coyol. Our curiosity finally got the better of us so we stopped at the next stand and bought one small bottle for $1000C (about $1.50USD).

It’s not wine but a beverage made from the fermented sap of coyol palms. The juice is collected from the trunk and is then left to ferment. Although coyol has a low alcohol content, it contains enzymes that cause similar effects as alcohol. It had a sweet taste but the smell, however, was unusual. We waited until after dinner tonight to share it. One bottle was plenty.

We had lots of traffic and finally got to our airport hotel about 4:30 this afternoon. After checking in the guys took the car back to the airport then Ubered back here.

After sunset we walked to a small Italian restaurant near the hotel for dinner, shared our Vino, and played our last card game of the trip. Tobey and I have an early flight back to Arizona so we said our goodbyes and are getting settled in for the night. Pura Vida!