Pura Vida!

Costa Rica is a small Central American country the size of West Virginia.

Size means nothing here, it is bursting with adventure, color, welcoming people and waves!

Our first adventure: White Water Rafting.

Costa Ricans are known for their laid-back attitude,

which translated into a welcoming vibe on the beach and around the town.

On the first morning of our trip we were in a traffic jam in-route to a

rafting adventure down the Pacuare River.

A car accident ahead of us left us waiting over 45 minutes on the mountain. 

Most of the commuters on a local bus took to walking to get to their destinations

instead huffing, shouting and pointing fingers. 

No worries. Todo bien!

“Show me your bananas!”

 

Once we arrived we were ready to attack the white water rapids.

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 These were pretty much the sweetest mangos I’ve ever tasted.

The 6 hour drive from the Caribbean side of the country to the Pacific side

was an adventure of its own. 

Two of the three cars broke down giving us time to enjoy local grub and scenery.

 

An evening in Tamarindo with dinner under a Banyan tree was a welcome sight.  Unfortunately the sea food was so distasteful we almost helped the chef get a new job that night.

The next adventure: Rincon de la Vieja National Park.

It is much like Costa Rica’s mini Yellowstone.

The sulfur pots, bubbling mud pools, and hanging bridges made the area both stinky yet gorgeous.

“Pull over!”

On the way home we passed by MONKEYS and iguanas playing in the trees. Interesting combo,

I know. We had to stop and take pictures with our first spotted family of monkeys.

  

The surfing adventure was next.

Costa Rica has a huge surfing community. 

I was curious enough to want to be apart of it so my little bro and I gave it a whirl.

 

With dad as my coach I caught a few waves, but for the majority of the time I found myself underwater wrestling with the surf board as the waves crashed around me.  As for my brother, he was a natural.

At least I survived!

 

Just as the waves were larger than life so were the animals.

I spy with my little eye a moth

(it was easily larger then a bird). 

Adventures at the beach were a part of the daily happenings.

It was paradise staying at a house right on the beach in Playa Granda. 

It made for easy access to the water an all day affair.

The dazzling sunrises were impressive to wake up to.

 

There was a brilliant effect the morning sunlight made on the ocean water that

Jon always enjoyed being the first one out of bed and on the beach.

 

Eventually we joined him and my dad before breakfast.

A typical Costa Rican breakfast always included rice and beans.

In fact, they were a part of every meal, their presentation is all that changed.

“Married” or “separated” were the options given.

Then it was off to book reading, swimming, limeades, card games and Kubb. 

It really didn’t matter what we were doing, it was a vacation from life, kids and work.

 

 

It was a treasure to enjoy both the sunrise and sunset everyday. 

Mental note: get up for the sunrise occasionally and capture the moment of the sun setting more often.

My mom caught this awesome photo of us hiking the rocks nearby our beach.

Adventure: Tropical forest. 

Something that amazed me was the extreme climate of the forest,

it changed from bone dry to drenching wet.

After hiking and zipping across the jungle in the heat of the day we were

ready for the cement sprayed volcano water slide.

Although a little alarmed when we came across the entrance sign reading:

Pick up tubes and dipers (women only) here. 

What is a DIPER?  She-women swimming diapers.

Watching the Costa Rican native help Tami into her diper

was enough to make me laugh for the rest of the day.

  

The bonuses: no wedges and a REALLY fast ride on our leather diper bums.

Our next adventure: sailing on a private catamaran through the pacific. 

Sea turtles, and manta rays were spotted.

Snorkeling.

   

Swimming.

 

Food.

 

Adventure: Boogie boarding!

Riding the barrel.

 

This is our crew.

We pretty much took over the beach.

  

The adventure ahead: motherhood.

Looking forward to coming back!