Volcano Trekking!

First and foremost, the Costa Rican countryside is absolutely beautiful and the people are also gorgeous inside and out.  I had an amazing bus ride through the hills of the country on my way to Arenal, an area known for its adventure and amazing views of the nearby volcano.  Along the way, I met a kind student who not only suggested great restaurants in the city, but also encouraged me to open the bus window as far as possible so that I could get the best shots of the scenery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

First up was a hike around the volcano, so I stopped in the town for a quick lunch before heading back to my hotel to get picked up for my afternoon adventure!  I had a perfect view from my 2nd story table to see over the town and the food was incredible.  There was even a pretty little river AND I saw a wild gecko just hanging out on some bushes that I found.  

 

 

 

  

 

The first night, I went for a hike on an inactive volcano...I was a little sad that it was only 2 years ago you could see lava flowing down the side, but alas, we can't have everything we want in life.  During the trip, I learned so much about the plants, wildlife, and the history of the surrounding area. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We hiked up to a spot that had a 360 degree view of the cloud-covered volcano, the lake and the lush landscape.  It was incredible!

 

 

...and then we hiked even higher to get an even better view of the lake!

 

 

Before the night was over, we stopped at an amazing natural hot springs (with over 20 different pools and some waterfalls as well!) for some light swimming and relaxation.  The grounds were beautiful and the poorly lit pictures barely do the place any sort of justice. 

 

 

During the trip, I met two amazing sisters from southern California whose brother was spending an extended amount of time in the country.  They were even kind enough to give me their contact information in case I needed anything for my upcoming trip to LA!  The world is a truly beautiful place, so I love great reminders like this.

The Other San Jose

It was about a year ago I was booking tickets and making plans to head to San Jose for a couple weeks of work training.  This time, though, I am excited that my travels bring me to the other San Jose…in Costa Rica.

I landed in the afternoon and made my way by public bus to the center of the capital city.  I was afraid of having the correct Colones for the fare, but the bus driver had a whole organized container of coins to make change for passengers as they got on the bus.  Aren't they afraid someone will steal?  Apparently that must not happen...  And I loved that the list of stops were just put at the front of the bus in simple self-adhesive letters.  No fancy schedules or electronic signs.  Just simple self-adhesive letters. Also, please note the fabulous rainbow interior! 

 

 

Despite only having cross streets (but no map), I was able to find my hotel after being dropped off in the middle of the hustling and bustling city without even needing to get a cab.  My sense of direction just keeps getting better and better with every new adventure.

I walked around the town, got myself lost wandering around and looking at some cool statues and parks, but eventually found my way back to the familiar main street of the town.  During my afternoon journey, I found some very cool things such as beautiful streets with interesting architecture and statues,

colorful murals,

and bright buildings. 

I absolutely love the abundance of color all around the city in the buildings, people, food, everything.  In comparison, the U.S. seems very bland, but I guess we also don't really have the tropical climate that seems fitting for bold colors (at least not in Seattle!)

I had a lovely dinner at a nearby restaurant.  Since I am American, they asked if I wanted some French fries instead of the fried plantains that were typically included.  I appreciated they were trying to make me feel like I was at home, but was slightly offended they would assume my people would not want to experience the local cuisine.  If I knew how to say homegirl in Spanish, my response would have been “homegirl, I did not travel thousands of miles to bypass epic fried plantains for French fries”, but a nice “no thank you, I prefer the plantains” sufficed instead.  Everything was so delicious!

 

They even have “Pura Vida” brand soap!  I was very excited when I found it (can you tell?...the sleep deprivation from the red-eye flight might have played a role in my excitement).  No wonder Costa Rica boasts the happiest population on earth…they get everyday goods plastered with positive and inspirational life philosophies.

Why Thanksgiving with my family is awesome.

Thanksgiving in my family is awesome because beyond the turkey, cranberry sauce, gravy and potatoes, it consists of the following very awesome (in my opinion) activities:

1. Spending lazy afternoons at breweries.  Alright, the colors should have been purple and gold and the mascot should have been a Husky, but I guess you have to work with what you are given.  I do give them props for all the school spirit despite the fact that it wasn't even a game day.  They were just getting really ready for the Civil War (ducks v. beavers) a day early!

2. Learning about butterfly and bug family classification through my brother's grad school project.  

3. Playing with pets!  What better opportunity for some family bonding than feeding a tortoise a carrot and watching it eat?  It is so adorable!