“New Year’s Eve is over-hyped anyway,” I tell myself throughout the day on December 31 as the work day passes and no grand plans emerge from the patched-together woodwork of my relatively new and solitary life in Costa Rica. I’ve been living and working on a remote rainforest base in Costa Rica’s Central Valley for just … [Read more…]
2014 was a beautiful and moving year for me, filled with an unprecedented number of travel experiences that made the year pass like a travel aficionado’s dream sequence. Since January, I visited a whopping 22 countries, fulfilling my goal of traveling to 25 countries in my 25th year and pushing my total country count to … [Read more…]
With warm temperatures, palm trees and plenty of beachy scenery, Costa Rica may not appear at first glance to be a place that gets wrapped up in winter holidays. But just because there’s no snow, Santa Clause or winter jackets to be found here doesn’t mean that Costa Rica is missing out on the Christmas … [Read more…]
Last week I had the opportunity to celebrate the start of the holiday season in one of my favorite ways –with a performance of The Nutcracker. The Nutcracker at the National Theatre of Costa Rica I attended the ballet at the National Theatre of Costa Rica in San José. Built in … [Read more…]
In the morning we arise before the sun and I pull on my wet, dirt-stained shorts for the final time. As this was our last day I could have worn my sleep shorts for the final day of the hike, but wet clothes weigh your pack down and besides, I’d grown attached to those never-dy, … [Read more…]
I’m counting down the days, minutes, hours… Until the hike is over. Until I check my email. Until I’m wearing clean clothes again. Until my bug bites heal. Until I’m in California. Until I see my mother. A Hike Through the Costa Rican Rainforest, Days 8 and 9 This morning our task is to hike … [Read more…]
After a traditional “tico” breakfast of gallo pinto (rice and beans), huevos and tortillas, it is time to leave Magda’s house and hike to our next homestay. I do not want to leave Magda’s. Her home has been so warm and comfortable and I have fallen in love with her granddaughter Kimbra. Kimbra is without … [Read more…]
This past weekend I had the opportunity to visit Manuel Antonio National Park, home to white sand beaches, tropical forests, hiking trails and panoramic sea views. Located on the Pacific coast, some 80-miles from the capital San José, Manuel Antonio National Park is one of Costa Rica’s most visited tourist destinations. Though it is the … [Read more…]
It’s day four and when I wake up this morning my thoughts are flooded with happiness and pride in knowing this – I have survived three full days on the trail! I did not sleep much the night before in the swampy bog that was our camp site, but this has been our last evening … [Read more…]
If before my muscles were sore, this morning when I awake at 6 a.m. every muscle of my body is yelping in agony, especially some muscles in my calves and glutes that I don’t recall ever feeling before hiking for two days straight. I’m also freezing, and today I have to put on the same … [Read more…]