I did it! After too many rounds of stuffing and squeezing, I got everything I wanted in my bags…then I had to figure out how to remove 7 lbs so it wasn’t over weight. Luckily the luggage scale I ran out and bought at the last minute was super accurate.
Sadly, my ride to the airport at the butt crack of dawn the day after Thanksgiving cost double the normal price. The was better than coffee as a morning wake up. Just had to suck it up.
Finally at my gate. There was one long line with lots of ill prepared folks. They didn't have their electronic health forms filled out (or know what was required for whatever country they were going to). Once I finally got to the front, it took me just a few minutes to show all my stuff and be done. Was glad I was anal about the research (you should see my massive spreadsheet) … & SO glad I wasn't the couple who showed up at 6 for a 630 intl flight.
Didn't get through security with all my stuff though. They took the butter knife in my brand new cutlery set 😞 ... but I think they left the chopsticks. Go figure.
Hoping that the worst things have already now happened on the trip. 😏
It’s was a bit of an adventure getting here, but so happy to be here. The welcome coconut was definitely a nice touch.
Final day at Hacienda del Sol. Flying out of Nosara airport to San José to see other parts of Costa Rica.
I miss the jungle…this concrete jungle doesn’t compare. I don’t have to sleep under a mosquito net or get eaten on during the day, but I miss the sound of wildlife and sharing the path with a chameleon.
A shuttle, a double decker bus, a public bus, and. river taxi and 6 hours later we’re in Tortuguero. During the boat ride, I felt like I was part of a documentary.
Tour group went for early morning canoeing… I slept in without guilt
Gorgeous iguana they saw while canoeing
Headed to find coffee in Tortuguero
Afternoon hike through Tortuguero National Park
Howler monkeys in Tortuguero National Park.
Quietest “howler” monkeys I’ve seen so far
My first ever homestay in Juanilama, Costa Rica. It included an impromptu Latin dance lesson in the community center and an unexpected tarot card reading. One of the tour members was doing a reading for someone else (shown on bottom) that sounded like it was for me. Guess my energy was so strong it stole her reading. She did a real one for me after and they were very similar in interpretation: leaving the old for new adventures (that’s a super rough summary).
Almost didn’t recognize our tour guide without his red shirt
Group member got up close & personal with a sloth
Demo ceremony-Maleku tribe tour
Maleku tribe tour - decorative hand-painted masks
Maleku tribe tour - my artistic attempt
Okay, the gift shop Jaguar/Butterfly was better than my attempt 😛
Lava Lounge’s hot springs with swim-up bar
Impromptu Xmas caroling …They probably regret giving my loud & rowdy group Happy Hour drinks
View from Restaurante El Trapiche (on way to Monteverde)
Another beautiful banana plant
Should be sacrilegious to stand on coffee. (Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar tour.)
Several varieties of cacao
Making hot cocoa— drink of the gods
Restaurante Parrillero— Pricey but worth it.
Santa Elena just outside Monteverde
Leaving Villa
Meena’s photo
Almost to Manuel Antonio
Restaurant in Hotel Gaia - easily the best food I ate in CR
New Year’s Eve dinner at Agüizotes. Yummy.
serious bug bite. ouch!
Costa Rica is a No for me. Lush greenery and support for sustainable living, Yes. Barbed wire and bars on buildings and houses almost everywhere I went (even remote some remote areas), No. Living in bug spray or getting eaten to death, Hell No.
Things I discovered about myself. I’m more of a priss than I thought. I’m capable of sleeping with a beetle above my head on the mosquito netting…but I’d rather not. I thought I wanted a hot climate but that may have been the pre-menopause me.