Anyone who has been to Costa Rica knows that the roads leave much to be desired. Most roads are unpaved and filled with potholes and deep trenches created by the torrential downpours of tropical storms. It is especially bad after rainy season, which is right now. The Witwers and I decided to go with Richard, our surf instructor / real estate agent / home builder / farmer / smoothie king, to look at some land for sale in Santa Teresa. About a quarter of a mile past Giselle's house - yes, I mean Bundchen, wife of Tom Brady - the edge of the dirt road fell out from underneath us and the back passenger side tire fell into a hole leading down into a deep ravine with vegetation being the only thing that might slow us down if we rolled to the bottom. I was in the back passenger side, so I slid over. This prompted Richard to get out of the car, quickly. Stephanie, who crawled into the back seat to exit the teetering car, and I, followed him. As soon as we got out we realized the car was balancing on the rear license plate and this was not going to be an easy fix. Brian asked if he was safe and Stephanie replied that she wasn't sure, but she wanted him to hand her the camera. How can you miss a photo opportunity like this?
Knowing that if Brian got out of the driver's seat, the car would likely fall into the ravine, he stayed put while Richard called over two locals clearing a nearby hillside and a neighbor driving home. I stood on the door frame next to Brian and the guys pushed us from behind while Brian gently tried to use the two wheels remaining on the ground to drive the car out of the hole. At this point I was calmly (at least that's how I remember it) calling out explicatives indicating my fear of being launched into the ravine. But in a few short seconds Brian was driving up the hill, the locals were back to clearing their property and we all signed in relief that we were still breathing. Richard asked if we wanted to keep going to the property, to which we replied "no, since we are definitely not buying anything up there." We had, after all, taken out a quarter of the road.
The Witwer's have left and I have settled into my new home at Pacifica Surf School, it is great; $40 per night for a large room with kitchenette, bathroom, AC, pool and steps to the beach. I am out of the water for a few days due to an ear infection, but hope to be back in soon.
