Playa Nosara

Kelly is a writer for the Tico Times and the Voice of Nosara and was asked to cover the making of a film. Tico film director, Miguel Gomez, was filming his newest work, El Fin. She invited Max and I to go with her for a weekend of work and fun in Playa Nosara. The three of us piled in the front seat of Max's single cab, stick shift Ford Ranger and we were on our way.

It's about a seven hour driveand about half way through, I decided we would all be more comfortable if I made a bed in the shell of the truck and laid down and watched a movie. We stopped at a convenice store and before we even walked in, we stopped this guy and asked him for a photo because we thought his shirt was so funny. Even more funny was that there was a good chance he didn't know what it meant.

Josh and Marcia welcomed us at Hostel Refugio Sol in Playa Pelada. They are friends of Kelly and Max who moved down to Costa Rica from Savannah, GA to open this hostel. There's a calming garden, a bar, furniture made of wood and hammocks that line the front of the hostel and it's only a ten minute walk to the beach.

We had breakfast the next morning at Olga's, walked down the beach and went over to Playa Nosara through a shortcut in the woods:

The beaches aren't crowded. They're perfect.

There are sand dollars everywhere.

Costa Rica seems to have horses everywhere, especially on the beaches.

Monkeys.

That afternoon, Max and I went with Kelly and Marcia to the filming. Since the girls wanted ot take the golf cart, Max thought it would be a good idea to follow them in the truck just in case he wanted to leave early.

This part of the filming was set in an abandoned resort called Hotel Villaggio on Playa Pavones.

It was obviously vacant for some time but when I saw it, my mind went running wild with images of how incredible this place was when it was active and how amazing it would be if someone wanted to put some time and effort into reviving it.

There were multiple buildings that used to be sleeping quarters.

A pool.

What used to be an outside bar.

It was right on the water and I was mesmerized.

Kelly was interviewing the cast and crew between scenes and we were all getting a really good inside scoop on the movie and the ideas behind it.

There is so much that goes into filming, especially when it is taking place outside. It started raining a few times and they had to start over each time.

After a few hours of watching and interacting with everyone involved in the filming, we all headed back to the hostel.

Apparently, the golf cart was not fully charged before they took it out and it died about half way back. Luckily, Max had some tow straps in the truck and hooked them up so we could all get home.

Max explained that they needed to make sure they stayed behind the truck far enough so that the straps remain tight...

aaannnddd the straps broke when Marcia got too close to the truck and the strap went under the tire of the golf cart and SNAP!!

We had to tie it back together to get it back to the hostel.

That night, a group of us got together at the hostel for dinner, drinks, video games on the projector and to go out on the town.

Kelly and I got all purtied up to go out after she had me buy a dress and some heels, seeing as how I didn't have any going out clothes.

Good times at Tropicana where everyone got to shake a lil some'

Our last day was filled with morning pool time at the Green Iguana with some poolside jugo and lunch, the final filming pieces, photos and interviews of El Fin with a beautiful sunset...

Too bad Kelly has to get back to work... I could waste a lot of time just relaxing here.