Manzanillo Costa Rica - Maxi's Restaurant

Manzanillo, Costa Rica, 20 minutes south of Puerto Viejo.
Puerto Viejo is located on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica and has a uniqueness all its own. It doesn't take long to notice (and feel) the Jamaican influence. Surfers, Rasta's, young hippie dudes and older guys who wish they were one of the three, hanging in Puerto Viejo just makes you want to light-up and chill on a hammock at the beach..... with some Marley in the background of course.

Manzanillo is about 15-20 minutes south of Puerto Viejo and if you're in the area, you're going to want to check IT, and the other nicer beaches south of the cloud of pot smoke in Puerto Viejo. Make time for Cocles, Chiquita, Punta Uva and Manzanillo.

As you drive into the very, VERY small town of Manzanillo it's impossible to miss Maxi's Restaurant since it pretty much makes up the town and if you didn't stop you'd drive right through the front door, so directions aren't necessary.

Our friends, David and Mindy along with D'Angelo at Maxi's Restaurant in Manzanillo Costa Rica.
From the outside, Maxi's looks like MOST Tico restaurants around the county, a lot of wood, beer signs, soccer jerseys and open air seating but unlike most other places, the food was very good at Maxi's. The prices are pretty much what you would find in the States so unfortunately it's not 'cheap eats' but at least you're getting what you pay for.

Here's our VIDEO REVIEW of Maxi's Restaurant in Manzanillo, south of Puerto Viejo:



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A Visit to La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Volcan Poas

La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Volcan Poas in Costa Rica represent a GOOD day's adventure.
I can't believe we've lived in Costa Rica for 5 years and hadn't been to Volcan Poas or La Paz- not even once. *Our VIDEOS of La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Volcan Poas are BELOW.

I'm a BIG fan of volcano's and although I believe the Arenal Volcano in our neck of the woods, (La Fortuna), is hard to beat with it's magnitude, sheer beauty (especially at sunset) and ever-erupting ways, Volcan Poas is also worth a look see. But like the Arenal Volcano, the Poas Volcano isn't always 'out' and is often covered over in a misty fog and/or cloud coverage. I would say go to Poas first, the chances of a decent VIEW are better in the morning and then venture over to La Paz for rest of the afternoon. If you hike over to the 'other' lagoon at Poas, I think you'll be impressed with the trail, the foliage is VERY mossy-COOL there, so don't miss out if you're into vegetation and lushness. Actually, it's almost sp@@ky.

TIP: the souvenir shop at Volcan Poas National Park is stupid expensive, go elsewhere for your wooden toucan, 'Made in Columbia' and magnetic tree frog.

The trail from the Poas Volcano viewing area to the lagoon.
We were pleasantly surprised by La Paz Waterfall Gardens. A little 'zooey' for our taste, but they also mix 'zoo-like' with the 'natural' and it's a convenient place to go if you don't have a lot of time in Costa Rica to see the animals or perhaps you're older and need a more senior citizen friendly place to visit.

D'Angelo's new found skill: the 'Hummingbird Whisperer'.
I particularly liked the hummingbird garden... and the ocelots... and the toucans... and the waterfalls... and for about 10 minutes we even discussed (and rationalized) why we should steal the kinkajou and take it home with us.

The kinkajou. In the video D'Angelo gives him a massage, so CUTE.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Volcan Poas are worth it, especially if you're stuck in San Jose with nothing to do or you just don't have enough time to see the animals in their natural habitats.

Here's our VIDEOS:

A walk around La Paz Waterfall Gardens in Costa Rica.
And not to far away from the La Paz Waterfall Gardens is the Poas Volcano aka Volcan Poas. *Great thing is, you can visit them BOTH on the same day and ENjoY a nice day trip out of San Jose.

A video glimpse inside Volcan Poas National Park.
TONS of Costa Rica Travel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!

Someone can't drive 55 in Costa Rica

Is it possible to outrun the police in Costa Rica?
On our way from Manuel Antonio to La Fortuna the driver passed the Costa Rica police check point at approximately 85 mph, well, he did slow down a little, but apparently only as a ruse.

There's no WAY the driver missed the police motioning him to pull over, hell, the policeman was standing in the road for god sake, if the driver hadn't seen him, he'd have run him over- pork chops anyone?

The driver had passed approximately 8 cars on a double yellow and the police were sitting in a prime location to see the act in progress- hand TOTALLY caught in the cookie jar.

Enter cop- pointing to the driver and motioning him to pull over.

The driver acted as if he just might pull over but upon reaching the police check point the driver gunned it and the police quickly turned into a 'Laurel and Hardy' skit, complete with dramatic hand motions and speechless mouth gestures. At least that was the scene from the rear-view mirror.

This driver must have been CR-a-ZY! Hadn't he heard of walkie-talkies, helicopters... radar guns with the capability of reading license plates.... apparently NOT! Dumbass, he's going DOwn, you just don't run from the police.

I know for a FACT this is the second time this driver 'kept going', the other time being in San Jose when he was passing cars on the right and the lane abruptly ENDed and the check point began... f'in police, always RIGHT there when you don't need them.

I'm pretty sure I know what was going through the drivers brain- Immigration status, question after question, high fees, bribery, deportation, Costa Rican jail with a guy name Jose that thinks you have a nice ass....... the mind plays tricks, even I know that.

So, at some point the driver obviously says, "fuck it", let's see what happens- and punches it- Thelma and Louise style...bitches.

WOW, this could be interesting and I got a front row seat but as turns out, it's NOT.

And here lies the moral of the story as it pertains to Costa Rica- NOTHING happens, nada, zip, zippity-do-da, no chase, no helicopters, no fees, no jail time, no NOTHING... so I'm thinkin this driver deserves some props for having the gonads....

So, for your amusement and mine, and because I'm celebrating the fact someone has a bigGER than BIG BALL sac:



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