Christmas was low key. We had breakfast in our little cabin, hung out with la bella Bella, and then drove along the lake before having lunch at Cafe y Macadamia. The food was delicious, the view was fantastic, there is a terrific little gift shop, and a wonderful bakery for a take away dessert.
All dressed up with no place to go, we decided to drive around looking at "neighborhoods" and then scout out a route for our daytrip for the next day. Waze sent us east from Macadamia and north into the hills, where we drove past the home of some Americans (allegedly) who had a Bernie campaign sign in the window.
Shortly after the Bernie house the road turned to gravel and we decided Waze had made a little mistake. So we turned toward home.
We popped into a little convenience store and while there five 50-ish American women met up in the parking lot and came into the store. Me being me, I struck up a fact-finding conversation with them. Two were from Emerald Isle, North Carolina and lived half-time in nearby Turtle Cove - one of the 'hoods we'd explored.
Again, we were told to rent not buy. And we learned that the Lake Arenal area is "the land of eternal spring" (temperatures). Cool nights, warmish days.
Christmas lunch
My delicious lunch, plus a frosty ginger lemonade
Eco lawn mower - a goat staked by the road
Who would think you can buy Italian Christmas treats in a convenience store in Costa Rica?