"Pura Vida" is a common phrase often used in Costa Rica. It literally means "pure life", but is used as a substitute for hello, you're welcome, good morning, etc. As Keira pointed out, there was a lot of Spanish being spoken. It was fun hearing her say basic words such as "Hola" and "Gracias". She enjoyed learning new words. I enjoyed brushing up on my Spanish as well. The locals were pretty jazzed to learn that I knew enough Spanish to ask basic questions and answer questions too. I wish I had more opportunity to practice, but fortunately I know enough to get around a Spanish-speaking country.
Anyway, we really enjoyed spending time at the Springs hotel and were sad to say good-bye to head to the coast. But, after a few days in Fortuna, we were in a van headed for the coast. Our next destination was Tamarindo. While we had no issues with air or car sickness to this point, the ride out from the mountains toward the coast was another story. The roads were so rough and windy that I felt pretty nauseous for nearly 2 hours of the 4 hour trip. Even Mark said he didn't feel great. But, both of us made it without issue and Keira had no issues at all. There was a marked difference going from the lush rainforest to the drier and browner plains and beaches of Costa Rica. Looking back I have to admit, I enjoyed the lush environment more even though I absolutely love lying on the beach and soaking up the sun.
After our ride we arrived at the Cala Luna Boutique hotel which was nice, but not quite as luxurious as the Springs. However, it was suitable and had the amenities we needed, including a beach and pool. Keira spent most of the time at the beach looking for little seashells and jumping and swimming in the pool. It was much, much sunnier and hotter on the coast. Keira's skin didn't react well. In fact, she broke out in a rash. Fortunately it didn't bother her, but signaled to us that she needed to stay more in the shade which meant limited sun time for Mark and me. It was probably for the better, anyway. Our time in Tamarindo was slow-paced and leisurely which was just fine.
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| Heading to the beach |
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| Playing with the sand and digging for seashells |
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| Keira and Mark enjoyed a morning walk at the hotel |
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| Keira (bottom left) enjoying the pool |
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| Beautiful sunset |
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| Reading while I got ready to brush her hair |
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| Rash that broke out on Keira's body |
After our days in the rainforest and on the beach, it was finally time to go home. While it's always sad to have vacations end and going back to reality, I think we were all ready to head home. No matter where we go or what we do, there's something wonderful about going home.
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| At the Libera airport. Keira was starving and ate this giant piece of pizza. |
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| Afterward, she stood in front of this dessert case...hoping... |
Bottom line - If you have the opportunity, you should visit Costa Rica. It's not only a beautiful country, but the people are kind and helpful. There's tons to do - nature centers, beautiful geography (rainforest, hot springs, cloud forest, volcano, ocean, rivers, lakes, black sand beaches, etc), activities (hiking, white water rafting, zip lining, horseback riding, etc)...Here are some tips...Even though the exchange rate is 500 colones to $1 USD, we found that the cost of goods and services is on par with and sometimes more expensive than in the U.S. Make sure to bring sunscreen, insect spray and after bite. These things are significantly more expensive in Costa Rica than in the U.S., even in the non-touristy areas. Those are just some random tips off the top of my head. If you ever find yourself interested in traveling to Costa Rica, I can provide more info and tips, as well as offer a great travel service through Persnickety Travel. We truly didn't have to worry about anything as we traveled through Costa Rica and that was invaluable. Pura Vida!
