Hey Char,
I can’t sleep. It is 4:46 am. In four hours I will be headed back to the US. Since I can’t sleep I figured now is as good a time as any to recap the last 13 days. To explain the bliss that is Costa Rica. To explain where I am at this moment. And to explain how Costa Rica has affected me in so many ways (already). When I decided to come to Costa Rica, I didn’t fully understand the impact that this trip would have on my life. From the very beginning, this trip caused turbulence and rockiness in my life.
I picked Costa Rica because his ideal vacation is to surf and mine adventures in nature. It’s actually very simple, I was trying to find the place where the jungle and the ocean came together. But Costa Rica had more in mind than that. When he told me he would never go to Costa Rica, I was heartbroken and I couldn’t explain why it hit me so hard. As usual my mom was there to pick up the pieces and offered to go with me instead. He was not pleased. It was then that I realized that my willingness to go despite his negative reaction was not good. Although we spent the next few months trying, this was when our relationship ended. There was no way we could survive Costa Rica and somewhere deep down I think we both knew that.
With time slowly healing my wounds I pushed on. Costa Rica was my goal, my destination. I was focused and ready. I made and itinerary, packing list, and an emergency contacts list. I got travel insurance and keens and more DEET than I knew what to do with (it’s actually become a running joke this trip that my kids are going to have 6 toes due to my massive DEET use. I’m going to feel pretty bad if they really do). I found amazing people to watch my puppy for a few weeks. And then I was off. What I didn’t fully comprehend was that Costa Rica was not my destination, merely the beginning of my new journey.
Flying gives me more anxiety than almost anything. I’m incredibly claustrophobic and terrified of heights, basically I am a huge chicken (I am pretty much scared of my shadow). However, I also understand that in order to travel and have the adventures I want, I must face my fears head on. I also understand the basic science behind planes and how safe they really are. Although it doesn’t change my fear, I get how illogical it is. Usually I just try to sleep on Red Eyes, but not this time.
Once we touched down I finally calmed down and was ready to begin our trip. Mama and I rented a car. When we arrived we hadn’t slept in about 30+ hours. After driving for 3 ½ short hours we arrived in a town called El Castillo about ½ an hour outside of La Fortuna in Arenal. People complain about the roads and the directions in Costa Rica. Yes, in some parts you drive down dirt roads for what seems like an eternity. But I thought the majority of roads were better than the ones in California. We got a GPS with the car and never got lost. It was not nearly as bad as we thought it would be.
In Arenal we stayed at an eight room b&b. The manager Nanci was delightful and helped us book an adventure filled trip. We hiked, zip lined, river rafted, and she even let us ride her horses.
Our next stop, Monteverde was a bit more of a trek. In order to reach our destination, we had to drive three hours down a bumpy dirt road into the middle of nowhere. We spent the entire three hours humming the Indiana Jones song, taking pictures, and laughing about the ridiculousness of this part of our journey. In the Monteverde Cloud Forest, we saw so many birds and critters. I went canyoning and we went on a coffee tour. Even mama getting pneumonia couldn’t slow us down.
Our final destination was the beach town of Manuel Antonio. This is where the jungle came to life. We were surrounded by animals everywhere we went; monkey’s trying to steal our lunch, lizards walking down the street, and parrots just hanging out in trees. I couldn’t believe all of the wild things we saw. We also made a few friends in Manuel Antonio and I hope our relationships continue to blossom.
More things happened than I know how to describe. Everywhere we turned, we met friends, had adventures, and saw unique and amazing creatures. The sheer attitude of the country had us in complete awe. It wasn’t just that each place individually was a fantastic experience, it’s that as a whole country Costa Rica strives to create greatness through togetherness.
As I look up at the stars, one last time from Coast Rica, I can’t imagine not being here. I’ve gotten used to throwing away my toilet paper. Being covered in bug bites is not as bad as I thought it would be (the B12 is really helping). I feel lighter than I have felt in 10 years. I have found a place where kindness is a valued virtue. Where sharing a meal with complete strangers is normal—even if they happen to be monkeys—just kidding DON’T FEED THE MONKEYS! Where nature and everyday life become one. The serenity of walking up to birds chirping, water running, and monkeys howling puts me in a state of complete peace. I am happy, excited, and ready for whatever adventure comes next.
Love you,
Al
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