Roca Verde
		I first saw Roca Verde (which means "Green Rock") on the very first day I was in Dominical. We were driving south from Dominical and I was looking out over the ocean when my eyes delighted in a gorgeous island just offshore. It was covered with short shrubs and palms and protected by coral reefs. On the shore was an impressive string of palm trees, which lined the cove, and I dubbed the entire cove "a place that has Highrock written all over it." The cove is unique because it is sunken beneath the road, which overlooks it from a cliff above. From the road, one can see its beauty, but not its power. I took several photos from the cliff and put it on my list of places to "get away" to later in the week. That day would come in the middle of the week as I dropped Dan off at a favorite surf spot and told him I would return at nightfall. With a couple hours til' sunset, I snuck away to Roca Verde. I was hoping to park near the main road and make my way down the steep hill to the cove's edge. Upon closer examination, I found a road that lead from the main highway directly down the hill to the small cove at Roca Verde. I thought it was a driveway to someone's house at first (and it probably was,) but eventually realized that it was also a road that was fair game to use (Costa Rican's aren't very possessive about things like that and I figured that no one would call to have me towed.)
		Once down the hill and near to the cove, what I found would be burned in my memory for the rest of my life. A beautiful island sleeps just offshore, surrounded by a plethora of coral reefs, sharp rocks, and strong, violent surf that crashed mightily against the rocky banks. However, behind the rock, protected from the surf, was the most docile and tranquil cove I had found all week. There was a remarkable dichotomy at play here that so intrigued me. The Green Rock was like a father, protecting his offspring from the hostility and aggression of the sea, calmly taking the beating while looking back at the cove for motivation. The sacrificial forbearance had preserved a soothing and peaceful setting for my early evening and as the sun began to set, it got more and more beautiful. Lining the cove was a wonderful group of palm trees that extended in a semi-circle around the cove before eventually making their way down the coast. The water was calm in the cove, but very rugged beyond the island. I ventured forth only enough to observe, not wanting to get caught in the foray. As the sun began to set, I began to be overwhelmed by the awesome beauty of this place and God sent me a muse as he has many times in the past. I wrote the following poem about Roca Verde, which I eventually combined with a photo of what I was seeing when I wrote it. : I didn't see a single soul during my three hours at Roca Verde. It was all about the Creator and me. It was our time, and a time I won't soon forget.
	Costa Rica 2000 The Village of Dominical Cabo Matapalo Playa Uvita Playa Hermosa/Dominicalito Roca Verde Playa Matapalo/Quepos/Manuel Antonio Animal Life Sunsets What I learned on this trip

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