Random Shots of Two Small Gems in Costa Rica

Tortuguero 

Puerto Viejo, outside our villa.

It was so hot. Havana looks drunk from the heat but it turns out this was when she started to feel under the weather.

Our villa. It was an oasis in the jungle.

Toucan Crossing

I love Toucans. Yet even the word love does not aptly describe the excitement  and awe I have felt from my head to my toes during the rare moments I was blessed to see them in the wild. My soul child loves toucans.

In Costa Rica, our family got to see a species new us  the collared aracari, That I got to share in the joy of that, as well as listening to their song, seeing them fly, hang out in a tree or make eye contact, with my family nearby made the experience even brighter. I have always hoped that the girls would fall in love with the natural world. Don and I have planted those seeds since before their birth. That we are able to share in each's others delight of seeing our favorite birds, trees, animals or landscapes, I feel a deep sense of gratitude that those seeds were planted have blossomed and are thriving.

We are able to see the toucan up in the national park, at the green macaw sanctuary and to my utter delight, flying over head at dawn while taking in the silence of the new day. I felt honored by all the visits we had. It made traveling all those thousands of miles so worth it.

The End of the Road (Gandoca-Manzanillo National Park)

The only way into the National Park

 When feeling into where we'd the spend the majority of our short time in Costa Rica, (that is how I plan most traveling; I have a calling or pull to a place) and then researching those places, I discovered that just a few miles down from our villa in the jungle in Puerto Viejo the road ends. There you will come upon the small village of Manzanillo, a tiny place within the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Park, where the road the road goes no further. There sea and jungle meet with Panama lying somewhere beyond. I knew for sure that this one one place we'd have to check out.

One can spend hours hiking in the jungles of the National Park but since Don, Havana and I were both starting to feel under the weather (we initially thought a cold) we opted for a shorter hike, a quick dip in the sea and then had a Caribbean lunch that was both satisfying and relaxing. Things move slower outside the USA, which allows for patience building for us all!

It was not hard to miss the Jamaican influence in the village. On the restaurant was a mural including Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley, and Haile Selassie. Reggae music could be heard and the local people we encountered were of African descent. I don't think the smile was gone from my face other than when the kids did a bit of quarreling. As mentioned previously, the type of environment we encountered in this part of CR felt like home.

The local people we met were engaging and warm. The natural beauty of the river, sea and jungle were restorative to mind, body and soul. The only downside was that we were not up to our normal selves, so while we made the best of out our time there, I think if we'd been feeling better, we'd have taken in more of both the jungle and village. I guess that leaves a door open that we have to cross into again some day.

It was quite hot and humid inside the park. Coconuts provide all the nutrients to restore. They're also delicious.

                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                     

The Jamaican influence.

Might as well Jump

Havana Ruby watched her sister make multiple leaps off this wooden boat on Chino Beach, her eyes filled with caution and desire. Havana is not quite as adventurous as her big sister. Which is fine. Havana is a quieter, gentler soul. Havana much prefers doing art, reading or playing with her dolls.  Yet sometimes, we all want her to try some of the more thrilling aspects of life.  Still, it took several years to get her to ride a roller coaster and just last summer she learned to ride a bicycle. Havana does things in her own time and in her own stride. But we did not have time to wait in Costa Rica. If she wanted to experience jumping off in the warm Carib waters, she had to make up her mind sooner than later.

And she did.

The very next morning after she declined to join Amara in the fun, Havana decided she would give it go. Hesitant at first but with us all cheering her on and with the safety of her Papa near by, Havana took a leap of faith. Literally. Then she did it again and again and yet again!

~Jumping With Joy~

I have been photographing Amara at the beach since she was about three years old! Pure joy radiates from her entire Being whenever her she touches sand and salt water.  These are the latest in my Amara jumping for joy collection!

Caballos en la Playa

 The girls have had their own dog boarding business for close to two years. One of the motivations for our business (other than we enjoy the dogs) is for saving money for when we travel. Be it any type of souvenir or some type of excursion that the girls have earned the money for what they want to purchase is an important part of their learning financial responsibility.  Sometimes, like in Thailand when we wanted to spend the day at an Elephant rescue center, the expense can be dear.  When the girls work and save money to help pay it seems they better appreciate how what they spend their money. 

When we got to our villa in Puerto Viejo, there was a riding stable across the road. Both girls (but especially Havana) were eager to sign up for horse back riding through the jungle and to the beach. When I informed them the price and that would come from their Rover money, I got no resistance. It was their money and that was how they wanted to spend some it. I was in complete support of their decision, as it seemed a good way to enjoy their hard work.

The girls have had some horse back riding lessons through Girl Scouts and so they were comfortable with their horses. We set off in the hills, made our way down the gravel road, through a field, across the main road, back into the jungle, eventually riding along the sea. We had spectacular views through it all and even saw several sloth hanging out in the trees.  Like in Panama, I got a feisty horse who wanted to trot or canter. The guides were not too keen on that as we were on a tight path but we still got in a little movement. The girls were happy with their more mellow horses. 

It turned out to be a highlight of the trip for them, reaffirming that working hard can equal good times in special places.