We set out early this morning for some deep-sea fishing. We rented a charter for the day and cast some lines to go trolling for sailfish. Unfortunately, there were no fish (big or small) biting that morning or afternoon. Every now and then we would see an unsuspecting turtle floating in the water with a bird resting on its shell.
In Miramar we found the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation. We started our day with a bit of adrenaline as we headed to Adventure Park Ziplining Tour in Puntarenas. This was the longest zipline tour in Costa Rica, with a total of twenty-five zipline cables over eleven waterfalls. Fortunately, we had some great guides – they often encouraged us to let go of our riding saddles while we were ziplining and also demonstrated some stunts. After riding a few basic zipline cables, I decided to try some stunts myself, including a flip off of the platform. The view from the canopy was breathtaking.
We drove to a remote part of Costa Rica near Alajuela. Honestly, I couldn’t tell you where it is or how we got there. I only know that we passed strawberry fields as we traveled up through the mountains on a tiny road (that was currently being built). A platform for a road hadn’t even been established yet, and there were pebbles that were being laid for traction for the tires. There were several times we had to get out and heave our van forward to move it uphill. Mario’s friend, Antoine, was building a farmhouse out in the jungla (jungle). Essentially, “La Virgen Del Socorro” translates to “untouched relief” referring to the area’s untouched wilderness.
Our trip to Costa Rica started April 6th as we flew out of Houston right into the capital of “Tico Land.” We traveled with our close friends, Elba, Andrea, Nilla, and Mario, whom was native to Costa Rica. We were able to stay with some of Mario’s friends in downtown San Jose, before we traveled out-of-town to a cabin in San Rafael de Heredia. Mario’s family and friends welcomed us with fried plantains (a staple dish in Costa Rica) as we celebrated our arrival at Antoine’s beautiful home. A typical phrase in Costa Rica, “Pura Vida,” is commonly used, and translates to “Pure Life.” I noticed it being used in a variety of situations – a form of greeting someone and as a way of celebrating life. The phrase seemed synonymous with “Hakuna Matata,” as if we were to say, “Life is wonderful – enjoy it.” We said it to everyone, and everyone said it back.
.: Wanderlust :. 