February 23, 2011 – Hacienda Panilla

I can think of no better way to celebrate my 59th birthday than to wake to a Costa Rican sunrise with fresh coffee brewing in the main lodge and soft trade winds blowing over the pool area. The temperature today is expected to be 34 C but with the breezes it will not feel that hot, at all. Our plans today include a trip to the Hacienda Panilla Beach Club, which is a resort we are able to visit thanks to our hosts, Harold and Susi. It is only about 10 Km down the road and this is where Harold and I played golf a couple of years ago with his brother, Fritz and Fritz’s future son-in-law. I knew the place was scenic from our golf outing with vista views of the Pacific, but I had no idea at the time that farther down the road was a private beach club with restaurant, pool, private beach, and a pool bar. Now while Jimmy Buffett might have his Cheeseburger in Paradise in the Florida Keys, I have to say our lunch would rival that:

Cheeseburger in Paradise

After lunch it was quality pool time in an infinity pool overlooking the ocean.

Hacienda Panilla Pool

As you can see, there was also a pool bar and Edgardo, our pool waiter kept us well supplied with Bahama Mamas and Imperials.

Edgardo the Pool Server

After a day of lolling in the pool, absorbing my book, taking a power nap and wandering towards the beach, I spot something only one could see in Costa Rica. Now I have talked about Lola the pig who would lie in the surf in Playa Avellanas, but this is a new oddity:

Toro en Playa

Bulls on the beach that got out of their corral and decided to stroll and eat anything green in the sand. The Alpha Bull kept on moving to better eating until he cam poolside for green ground cover and non-salt water.

Yummy

We drove another couple who were staying in E Sabanero from Toronto and their young son, Graham back for dinner in the lodge and cocktails by the pool. Truly one of my best birthday presents, spending a day like this with Jackie.

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