The short of It:
Dave and I decided to celebrate a few things (no job pressures, turning 40, grandparents retirement...) but really just wanted to celebrate life and get outta town. Costa Rica it was! We took a week and (a few thousand dollars) and had one of our best trips ever. Costa Rica is about celebrating the pure life: the kind of life that makes us feel good, clean, and awestruck. We did just that. We stayed at three different places and had adventures everywhere in between---jungle, volcano then beach. Adventures were: white water rafting, driving through banana plantations, boating safaris to jungle resort, kayaking through jungle, seeing every kind of crazy animal and bird, flying to volcano, horseback riding, hiking on top of the jungle on hanging bridges, ziplining through the tree tops, swimming in waterfalls and natural hot springs, hiking to awesome beaches and of course, eating ourselves silly with fresh, beautiful food.
The long of it:
In the 1940's Costa Rica decided to totally abolished their military and instead used the money to educate It's people. So, now 70 years later we see the fruits of that decision. They are a peaceful, beautiful, and well spoken people. They have a strong sense of stewardship toward their land and it's resources. They live and breathe "pura vida". The land is overflowing with productivity and a sense of calm and respect. In my hammock in the jungle, I was reading in the Book of Mormon about the Lamanites who buried their weapons because they were just so sick and tired of all the senseless brutality. (Alma 24) That is essentially what Costa Rica did. As Nicaragua is barking at their borders they maintain their sense of calm, "pura vida" attitude. It is a marvel as beautiful as their landscape to behold.
The people of Costa Rica: I loved hearing Dave speak spanish to all the workers, guides, and drivers. Hearing people's stories, their everyday life, their hopes and ambitions always reminds us that around the world, we are all the same: we love our children and want to give them every opportunity to be happy, we enjoy good food and music and natures beauty, we want to work and be recognized for good work, and we all love and struggle with those we love. At the end of this dream-like week we were standing in customs at the Atlanta airport and this is what I happened to read---straight from God, just to remind me of this blessing: "....we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth". (Alma 26:37)
Here's more "long of it" in pictures. Warning: do not look at these pictures if you are suffering winter blues and tend towards self-pity of any kind today. If you're not......Enjoy the "Pura Vida" for a moment.
