How open to the elements were the holiday rental properties we stayed in at Manuel Antonio? Susan, our brilliant concierge suggested we leave a light on at night on each floor of Casa Elsa “so the bats don’t think it’s a cave”. She wasn’t joking. But there certainly was plenty of monkey business. At the second … Read more
Our second home away from home in Costa Rica is called The Beach House. Now, there are plenty of resorts in this neck of the jungle that attach the name ‘beach’ to their title as often as they do ‘spa’. Some may well have a spa, but most are generally not on the beach. The Beach House couldn’t … Read more
Stay at Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, for a week and you’ll never again complain how hard it can sometimes be to meet locals when you travel. We had visitors casually dropping in daily at our villa, Casa Elsa – families of friendly, white-faced Capuchin monkeys. One day we also had a group of the cutest … Read more
This soft-centred chocolate cake recipe was inspired by our visit to the Villa Vanilla Spice Farm. Seeing fresh vanilla and cocoa beans was a real treat. Seeing the flowers that lead to the formation of a cacao pod and seeing the cocoa beans out drying in the sun was amazing. It was so inspirational that … Read more
It doesn’t take long after starting our sweet spice tour of the Villa Vanilla Spice Plantation, just 10 miles east of Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, before we see spices hanging out to dry and we’re inhaling the heady aromas of vanilla, cinnamon and cocoa. Aaahhh. These two food lovers are in spice heaven. Our lovely … Read more