TODAY IS THE DAY

It's here. Today is the day. I'm currently on an airplane on my way to New Jersey. My time in Costa Rica is over (for now) and I'm on my way to starting a new chapter in my life. For months I have been looking forward to and dreading this day at the same time. I am so excited to begin studying again and to be close to my family and friends for longer than a few weeks for the first time in almost 4 years! Of course on the other hand, I am leaving my love and best friend so that he can finish studying, himself. But luckily, Paris has been nothing but understanding and supportive and we are both ready for this next challenge in our relationship. So here we go, people! With this new transition in my life, will most likely come some new things for this blog. I mean, no pictures of volcanoes and tropical beach trips! But look forward to some new posts on healthy living and yummy food recipes.

See you soon!

PRETTY PLACES PT. 2

Last Sunday, we went with some friends to the top of a mountain. We've made this trip before and a few other times not documented here on the blog. Like I mentioned the last time, the trip to the top of this mountain is scary (although typically I am the only one who thinks so). The road up is just so steep that I usually have to close my eyes so I'm not imagining the car just rolling backwards. On this last journey here were about 5 cars just stopped on the way up because they couldn't go any further!

But besides the terrifying  ride up, the view is just something spectacular. Before we headed up, we grabbed some ceviche from our favorite hole in the wall place where the ceviche is seriously to die for and my favorite blackberry tea and had a lovely little picnic while we watched the sun go down. I must say, that even though the ride is a bit scary, the view is totally worth it. It is one of my favorite Costa Rican pretty places I have found to date and I'm glad I have been able to enjoy such places during my final weeks here.

PRETTY PLACES

Since I have had a lot of free time after my school year finished up, I have been trying to take advantage of all opportunities to get out of the house! Last week, Paris's sister invited some cousins and myself to take a day trip to her husband's finca for lunch. The property was just beautiful, with what seemed like hundred of hydrangeas blossoming everywhere. We had a great little picnic and enjoyed the cool, pure air, which was such a relief from the heat we have been getting! I've said it before, but I love finding new beautiful places in this country. I even have another one coming at you next week.

EXPAT DIARIES: FINDING NEW PLACES

Two weekends ago, we took a little day trip to our friend's family property in Cartago. Cartago is a beautiful place and it is known for being mountainous and much cooler than the Central Valley Area where we live. As soon as we got there, I fell in love with the house and the surrounding land. It is the perfect getaway place. The house was just a main room, the enclosed deck, and the bathroom. It was the perfect size for a weekend home when really, all you are going to be doing is sleeping in there. The rest of the time would be spent on the deck or outside where there was a gold course, a lake to fish in, and beautiful scenery to simply sit back and look at. Why we were only going there for the first time, I'm not sure! But we had a lot of fun just hanging out, eating tons of BBQ food, and enjoying the fresh air. It is these kind of days, where you find a new favorite place that I just love.

linking up today with Rachel and Chelsea for the Expat Diaries and Nicole for TreatYoSelf Thursday!

COLINAS DEL POAS: ANOTHER VOLCANO TRIP

Last Friday in Costa Rica it was Teacher Appreciation Day. Let me just start off by saying, in light of recent events, I found it very ironic. Nonetheless, it was a day less of being in class that included a free lunch, some beautiful scenery, and lots of laughs with my coworkers. The place was called Colinas del Poas, and it was a beautiful outdoor recreation center nestled away on the mountain of the Poas Volcano. It was just lovely. We didn't do that much other than enjoy the sunshine. Some of us may or may not have taken naps on the grass and may or may not have been judged by the less "campesino" teachers. Regardless, it was a much needed break for my coworkers and me. Not to mention, I got to visit a new corner of the country I had never been before. Always a plus!

BARE FEET KEEP YOU HEALTHY

After our day at the beach, we headed about 20 minutes down the road to a family friend's house. We arrive and it is extremely clear that the person who lives in this house is a hippie of sorts and someone doing their best to live off the land and off the grid. It reminded me somewhat of my post last week about trying to live with less things but to the extreme. He talked to Katie about how he hasn't been wearing shoes the past two months because the energy from the land keeps his body healthy. Now, I am knocking his lifestyle because to each his own. However, I do believe that there is a difference between trying to simply live with less and trying to live with as little as possibly and I was definitely exposed to that this weekend. At the same time, his house was just a stones throw from a beautiful and very peaceful beach that we got to snap some gorgeous sunset pictures on. I think the sunsets in Costa Rica are just beautiful and I was really glad the rain from earlier in the day didn't ruin our chance of seeing the sun go down.

Now I'm ready for the next weekend to be here!

THE IRAZU VOLCANO IS ALWAYS CLOUDY

On Sunday morning, one of Paris's friends very kindly offered to take Katie and I to a volcano on Sunday since Paris had to work. We decided on the Irazu Volcano because it was close to the Sanatorio which is something I thought Katie really would like (and she did). Now, my last trip to Irazu was not completely successful as it was freezing cold and completely cloudy so that we couldn't see anything. This time, we went earlier in the day but we were still victims to a really cloudy day and did not see much of the crater. We were, however completely prepared for the cold and spent a little bit more time walking around. 

Even though it was a bummer we couldn't see anything, I think Katie was excited to be on a volcano for the first time. Paris's friend was surprised to learn that the only volcanoes in the USA are located in Hawaii which neither of us had been to before. It was also really interesting to us that most of the people visiting this volcano were Costa Ricans rather than tourists. He told us it is a fun, cheap day trip for ticos, who usually bring a picnic lunch or some snacks to enjoy.

$2 MARGARITAS ANYONE?

On Saturday, Katie, Paris, his sister, a friend, and myself hopped in the car and headed to the beach for the day. We went to Jaco beach which is one of the easiest beaches for us to get to. We bought a few chairs and an umbrella and began lounging. Unfortunately we only had a few hours of beach time because the rain started. We packed up our stuff from the beach and headed into town where we stumbled upon a sign that said $2 margaritas and we just couldn't walk any further. We spent the next few hours sipping on our drinks and having a really good time.  It was one of those days where we hadn't really planned much but it turned into one of the best days we could have had.

INDEPENDENCE DAY IN COSTA RICA

This past Sunday, September 15, was Costa Rica's Independence Day. For weeks leading up to last week, my students were constantly being pulled out of class to rehearse for their performance on Friday. Every year the day before the 15th (or the Friday before if it falls on a Sunday like this year), schools put on performances called "actos civicos." These actos civicos are a mixture or short skits, typical dances, readings, and songs all in honor of Costa Rica celebrating its independence from Spain in 1821. I watched a full week of rehearsals and couldn't have been more proud after the final show.

Sunday morning, on the actual day of celebration, we walked down the street to watch the parade go by. It reminded me of being at home on July 4th with my parents, watching the parade go by with all of the different bands playing, officers marching, and baton twirlers twirling their batons. It is pretty similar in Costa Rica except the majority of groups marching are students holding flags or playing the drums. If you can't tell from the faces of these kids in the pictures, it was hot. And this was the end of the parade so I can only imagine how long they had all been marching in the blazing sun.

Happy Independence Day, Costa Rica!

Today I am linking up with Nicole and Rachel for the friends around the world blog hop. I hope you'll go check out some of the other great blogs that are out there!

a $2 boat ride

even though our weekend did not turn out as we had hoped, there were still some parts that made it worth it. we spent saturday at the beach that was just down the road from our house. it was much smaller than any other costa rican beach i have been to but it was very beautiful and quite peaceful.

at one point a man came over and offered us a ride on his boat for $2 each. a bunch of us said, sure why not and hopped on. what a lovely ride. he took us to an island that was full of pelicans. i'm talking hundreds of pelicans sitting on the rocks, and sitting in the trees, and flying around. hundreds of them. of course the closer we got, the more they flew away but the last picture up there you can see a bunch of them.

it was nice that something so simple as a short boat ride made me feel so much better and less stressed about what was waiting for me when we got back to the house. sometimes it is the little things that you have to appreciate rather than stress about the negative things.