costa rica: the end

As we headed to our
final costa rica destination,
we found this amazing
stop on the way.
How can you choose
just one?

We also had another
pleasant surprise while
on the road.
My dad caught up with
us from his trip to
the embassy.
We pulled over and
he rejoined the party mid-route.

We were heading to
Playa Hermosa,
the most beautiful beach
in the whole world.
It is a very private, secluded
beach with black sand
and warm water.
Just what we needed
to end this extreme
adventure vacation.

Needless to say,
we spent a lot
of time in the water.

The waves were not
very big so the ocean
was alive with lots
of fish and we even
spotted several
stingrays.

While staying at our
beach location,
I had my 28th birthday.
We went to a local
restaurant to celebrate.

It was quite the walk
from our hotel to get there
but the food lived up
to its reputations.
It was a great birthday!

My brother brought
his spear gun and
his first catch of the
trip was this unfortunate
puffer fish.

They are poisonous
so we didn’t eat it,
but the boys did go
on a deep sea fishing trip
and manage to catch some really
yummy fish.

Curtis caught
this little black tuna
and Sam caught a Wahu.

Then the boys
were able to spear
a couple of fish
while snorkeling.
While the boys were
out trying to catch
dinner for that night,
the girls had their
own fun.
Our morning started
with massages right
on the beach.

And then we
went shopping
in the little town
Coco Beach.

We all met back up
later that afternoon.
The boys took the fish
they caught to the
hotel restaurant
and the staff prepared it for
our dinner that night.

We had two of these
big platters of fish to
eat and between the
nine of us, we still
had left overs.
It was some of the most
delicious and probably
freshest fish I have
ever eaten.
We finished it off
with another birthday cake.

After a couple
amazing sunsets,

 

it was time
to pack up and
head back to reality.
But first,
one more stop.

This was a trip of a lifetime
and if somebody invited me
to do it all again,
I would be ready to go tomorrow.
I must thank my mom and dad
for making this all happen.
They really are the greatest!

And anyone who has
not had enough of
our vacation to
Costa Rica,
and you have a
spare 35 minutes,
click on the picture
below to watch video.

costa rica: part 5

We continued our travels west
to canon de la vieja.
The main adventure here
was a zip-line canopy tour.
It consisted of 9 different
zip-lines that went back
and forth over this river.
Which is called the Colorado River.
Very original name.
We also visited the costa rican
Grand Canyon.

Zip-lining a hundred feet above
the ground is an adrenaline rush
in and of itself but our guides
really kicked it up a notch.
They had us going upside-down
and superman style.

Everyday during the trip,
we had afternoon rains.
We always enjoyed sitting out on
our fronch porch and watching.

My dad found out that he needed
to go back to san jose to the
embassy to get a new passport
since his was stolen earlier in the trip.
The drive was 8 hours round-trip.
He choose to do this during the day
we had scheduled horseback rides.

Horseback riding was so much more fun
then I was anticipating.
The cowboy sized us up with our horses.
For the most part he got it right except
for one pairing.

Jack looked like he was
riding a pony at the fair.

Each horse had its own
distinct personality.
Sam’s always had to be
in the front
And my mom’s had to be
next to Sam’s.
Curtis’ was lazy beyond belief
and would graze on the grass
as it walked.

And my horse,
well it had some
major discipline issues.
It bucked at brooke’s horse
and allison’s horse.
Only afterwards did the
cowboy tell everyone
to stay away from my horse
because it bucks.
Thanks for the heads up!
Even still,
it was the best horseback ride
ever!
Especially when we were
able to open up into a gallop.

i'm two!

Oliver turned two today!
And while I am sitting here
wondering where the time
has gone, I realize he has
grown up someway,
somehow.

Here is Oliver at 2:
- favorite food: cereal (preferbly the berries in captain crunch)
- favorite toy: balls of any shape and size (or anything he can throw)
- favorite hobby: dancing and reading books
- favorite TV show (yes he has one): mickey mouse clubhouse
- favorite place to visit: the zoo or the library
- most likely to be when he grows up: a baseball pitcher (he has a wicked arm)
- favorite songs: he likes actions songs like popcorn popping or wheels on the bus

We just love our
little Oliver to pieces.
He is the sweetest,
happiest, and most loving
little guy.
I love the hugs and kisses
that he gives and
his sweet little voice.

More pictures to come from his
birthday party.

costa rica: part 4

After finishing with rappelling, we took the rest of the day easy.
The girls lounged at the pool
while the boys went into
town for some souvenir shopping.

In the late afternoon,

we took a guided hike around
the Arenal Volcano.
It was really overcast so we
couldn’t see the top of the volcano
but we had some great views of
Arenal Lake.

Our guide, Kojak,
gave us lots of great info
on the history of the volcano
and the local flora.
The most shocking part was
when he ate a handful of termites.
Yuck!

After the hike we went
to the Tabacon Hotsprings.
The spring are all natural
and the resort has created
a river with waterfalls that
the springs run through.

The water in each pool
varies from 77-120 degrees.
The resort calls it hydrotherapy.
I call it relaxing.

La Fortuna,
you treated us well!

costa rica: part 3

On Monday afternoon,

we finished our rafting trip

and headed west to the arenal volcano.

Tuesday morning we woke up early for

some canyoneering and rappelling.

To get to the Lost Canyon,

we traveled the back roads of costa rica

via a jungle limo.

We rappelled down three waterfalls.

The first waterfall was 30 feet and was for practice,

the second waterfall was 150ft,

and the third waterfall was a 210ft rappel.

Some of us on the trip have a fear of heights.

The scariest part is when you move off

the platform and hang out over the edge

putting all your weight onto the rope.

However, once you came within an arms

reach of the guide he would quickly clip

you in and elbow you off over the edge

before you could even rethink what you

were doing and change your mind.

Very effective!

Everyone in our group did all

three waterfall rappels.

Not only was the rappelling exciting

but hiking down the canyon was

just as much fun.

There were watering holes

we jumped into,

smaller waterfalls we climbed down,

but the highlight was when the guides

used their bodies as dams to create

a mock flash flood.

(I know this video is on my brother’s blog

but I had to post it too)

Flash Flood Video

What none of us realized was that

hiking down this canyon meant at

some point we would have to hike out.

It was a steep uphill climb out of the canyon

but luckily they had a homemade lunch

waiting for us at the top.

We looked like a bunch of wet dogs

coming out of the canyon but

we had a blast!

costa rica: part 2

On Sunday,
we drove north-east
to the Pacuare River.
We rafted mostly class II
rapids today.
But along the river we
stopped and hiked to a
swimming hole.

In the afternoon,

we arrived at our lodge
and we were greeted
with fresh juice cocktails.

Our lodge for the
night was located right
on the river's edge
and is only accessible
by boat.
It has no electricity
so at night the rooms
are lit by candlelight.
It was amazing!

Each couple had their
own bungalow.
Instead of walls and windows,
the bungalows had screens all
around them to give a feel
of sleeping in the jungle.
It rained that afternoon
and we all got the best
naps of our lifetimes.

While at the lodge,
we enjoyed gourmet
food served to
us by our river guides
turned waiters.
We hiked to a nearby
waterfall,
checked out the 
honeymoon suite but mostly
just lounged around
and enjoyed the rainforest.

Monday morning
I enjoyed the best
banana pancakes ever
and then geared up for
the river.
Today we did class
III and IV rapids.
The passengers on our boat
all stayed intact
but I can't say the
same for my brother
in the other boat.

The scenery
around the river
was gorgeous
and I kept waiting
for a dinosaur to pop
out because it looked like
we were at Jurassic Park.
The rapids were awesome
and it was a great way to
start the vacation and
definitely one of the highlights
of the trip.

Next stop:
Arenal Volcano

Costa Rica: Part 1

I have put off
blogging about
our vacation to
Costa Rica
because there
are not words
to describe what an
amazing trip this was.
Even the pictures
don't capture it.
But here goes my best attempt.

On Friday,
I smothered Oliver with
hugs and kisses
and left him with his
grandparents for 9 days.

On Saturday,
Curtis and I got on a plane
with my family
(except Maddie and Lindsey
who had their own fun in Hawaii)
and headed to Costa Rica.

We stayed the night
at the Hotel El Rodeo
in San Jose.

That night, we ate
at the hotel's
steak house
which had enormous
steaks.

After sleeping off the
plane ride and a belly
full of meat,
we woke early the
next morning to really
start our extreme adventure.

We stopped for
breakfast en route
and had some
comida tipico;
rice, beans, eggs, and fruit.

Little did we know
that while we were
enjoying our breakfast,
someone else was enjoying
rummaging through our bus.
They walked away with my
dad's backpack which had a
laptop, money, passport, and
wallet...so nothing really important.

Next stop,
Pacuare River.

Roosevelt Lake



In mid July
we spent a
weekend camping
on the beach at
Roosevelt Lake.

It was hot, hot, hot
but lots of fun!
We went tubing,

my dad dominated
at sand darts,

my mom and I
slalom skiied,

and Oliver and Hank
ruled the beach.

Then at night,
we would retire
to our sauna tent.

Oliver in his
port-a-crib.
And Curtis and I
on an air mattress.

As Oliver and Hank
played one morning,
bees surrounded Ollie.

And one stung
him behind his ear.

We found out
it was his sunblock
that was attracting them.
So he got a quick
bath in the lake.

Even with that little
incident the trip
was an absolute blast!