La Garita, Costa Rica – On our last day in Costa Rica, we had to drive from the Nicoya Peninsula to the airport in Alajuela, and then return the rental car and make our way to the airport for an early evening flight. I was sure the twins would fall asleep on the airplane. We just had to get there.
We estimated the car drive would be about four hours. Ideally, we would then find somewhere to stop so the twins could run around and expend some energy, before going to the car rental company and the airport.
What we found was the marvelous La Casona del Maiz, or “house of corn”. This is what they call “country cooking.” The specialty of the house if anything corny, including chorreadas, or sweet corn pancakes, pozol, or corn chowder, corn empanadas, etc. Although the restaurant is right off the highway, it’s also smack dab in the middle of the Central Valley corn growing country, so the menu is appropriate. And it is tasty. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
After four hours in the car, the twins were definitely not ready to sit down at the table and eat lunch. It probably didn’t help that we had been plying them with snacks to keep them quiet in the car. As soon as we walked into the huge dining room, I could tell it was going to be a problem.
They were way too antsy to sit still, and there were way too many interesting things to distract them. For example, the painted ox cart that was the centerpiece of the room. And the wait staff in traditional dress. And the glass cases filled with casona-made goodies.
Then there was the panda bear kiddie ride that would move and shake if you put a coin in the slot. The twins did not know that it would move and shake, but they still wanted to climb on it. At the same time. I was pretty sure I was not going to be able to accomplish both tasks at hand, that is, eat my lunch and keep my kids out of trouble.
And then I spotted it – in the far corner of the dining room, next to the back entrance, leading out to the parking lot. A trampoline. Glory hallelujah!
Never mind that it was about 100 degrees out and the twins had full stomachs. I could think of no better way for them to let loose, move their bodies, get their hearts pumping and tire themselves out… without getting into any trouble.
I have to get one of those things in my backyard.
