Where to begin my friends?! It’s been quite some time since I have posted, as a result of a busy and prosperous summer. Prosperous, in a wholesome and fulfilling light with friends, family and travels. I have spent the last week and a half backpacking around Costa Rica with one of my bestest friends and now my sister. It has been quite the adventure. We begun in San Jose and made our way over the mountains and through the valleys, traveling high and low to experience all that Costa Rica has to offer.

On the second night here, I had my entire backpack stolen from our hotel room, and although I felt disappointed and slightly taken advantage of, it makes me realize how lucky I am to live where I do with all that I have. The truth is that those goods have little importance to me, and yet to those who don’t have as much those material things are like gold. Ironically, I had the intention of giving away virtually all of my clothes at the end of my journey, but a higher power had a different plan in store for me.

Aside from that little bump in the road, this trip has been a fantastic adventure. Arenal was breathtaking, filled with a lake we skinny dipped in, a volcano to stare in awe of and waterfalls pouring out natures love. I convinced Mary Beth to go horseback riding while we were here, and to say the least that was more rigorous than anticipated. Nonetheless, being followed by blue butterflies through the mountains to a waterfall, with nature at your fingertips was a memory not to be forgotten.

After the adventures in Arenal, a pit stop was made in La Fortuna to deal with the policia from my robbery. However, we didn’t let this take more time than necessary and after our business was done here we quickly continued on to Playa Samara. The drive across this part of the country was amazing, not to mention the talks that were shared in transit, both bringing tears to my eyes and making me laugh till I cried.

Pulling into our tree top abode, Dos Aguas, it felt like Playa Samara was welcoming us with open arms. Did I mention that Mary Beth was taking photos in exchange for a few of the places we stayed; this meant we got the tree top suite which felt like the coolest tree fort anyone could ever dream of. After walking around and chatting with the locals, I immediately found comfort in this little beach town. I fell in love with the beach here, the cute restaurants and stores I frequented, and the people I met. Did I mention that Mary Beth and one of the girls who worked at Dos Aguas surprised me with a birthday cake?! Couldn’t think of a better way to ring in MY new year, than with one of my bestest friends in such a neat spot. What a lucky girl I am!

After staying in Samara for a couple days and regaining love for Costa Rica, we traveled long and far up to Nicoya, over and around to Malpais and Santa Theresa. This was one hell of a drive, with much time spent venturing over pot-holed, dirt roads that seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. After five long hours, we picked up my little sissy at a bakery and spent the night at Casa Zen. This was a very cute surf town, where I drank yummy coffee, wandered the streets, ate delicious food and sacrificed my soul to the sun gods:)

Thankfully, our next stop Montezuma, was very close. This was yet another adorable beach town on the Pacific. Brightly painted wooden structures lined the streets and peaceful beaches were plentiful. Here we spent time on the beaches, zip lined through the jungle and jumped off waterfalls by day; listened to live music, enjoyed local drinks and played cards by night. There were times we were perhaps overly aware of our surroundings and who had their eyes on us, but this is what makes it an adventure and gives appreciation to where we come from.

From here, Mary Beth headed home and Cati and I continued by ferry to Jaco and down to Quepos. We spent brief time in Manuel Antonio, and then headed back to San Jose in order to venture to the other side – The Caribbean. We are now in Playa Viejo de Talamanca and I absolutely love the town. Once again I feel as though I am being watched over, wink wink. This town has been exactly what I was looking for, mellow and warm in more than one way.. I have thoroughly enjoyed lying in the sand reading, playing in the water and rejuvenating. The people have been friendly and our hotel is perfect. In a few days we plan on continuing south to Bocas del Toro and Panama City.

It is the times away from home, the times you are outside of your comfort zone that you discover more about yourself and more of what the world has to offer you. It is in these experiences that we shed our old layers and expose new facets of ourselves. It makes me think of snake shedding his skin or a butterfly flying out of her cocoon…

Pura Vida xo