Sunday was a relatively quite day in Quepos.  Junior and I decided to once again focus on Manuel Antonio beach as our destination.  However, instead of taking the bus – we decided to walk the 7 kilometer coastal mountain road from Quepos to Manuel Antonio. 

We departed at approximately 11:00am on our trek up and down the steep mountain slopes.  Combine the climb with the hot and humid weather and you have a true test of explorer resolve.  Junior did surprisingly well on the hike and never gave up even though he wasn't exactly sure he was going to make it.

Just when we thought the climbs had been completed and it was all down hill to the beach, another steep hill was suddenly before us.  Junior then noticed a trail down the mountain side to a river that emptied into the Pacific Ocean.  After surveying the trail's descent it appeared to be fairly passable.  I estimate we shaved 30 minutes off our road trip by getting down to the beach via this trail and continuing on the beach to where the mountain road eventually ended.  We arrived at the Manuel Antonio beach turn-around at 1:15pm … a little over 2 hours after starting out – mission accomplished!

 
Junior standing where the mountain river emptied into the Pacific Ocean at Manuel Antonio beach and the lizard that was there to welcome us to the beach.

After swimming in the surf for approximately 3 hours we returned to Quepos by bus, showered and headed out to dinner.  Junior finally decided to eat fresh fish instead of spaghetti so I was pretty excited, but not nearly as excited as Quepos about a completely unrelated matter; the entire town was fixated on the Federación Costarricense de Fútbol national championship game being held live in San José.  It was hard not to catch the fever as cars where diving around flying full-sized flags of their favorite team while passersby, taxi drivers and workers all paid more attention to the televisions in the restaurant than what they were supposed to be doing.

  

After the meal we continued watching the rest of the Costa Rica National Championship soccer game back in our hotel lobby with 'Alberto' the hotel owner.  Team Saprissa, the overwhelming  Quepos town favorite won 3-2 over Herediano to become Costa Rica's Tricampeónes Nacionales 2007-2008 … just thought the rest of the world should hear it from me first ;o)

Junior then headed out to see his grandmother and other relatives on the Quepos peninsula were they had gathered to welcome his grandmother back and to see Junior and his mother during their return from the United States.  I stayed at the hotel because I personally had done enough walking for one day.