Pura Vida State of Mind
I am a very lucky gal. I just got back from two magical weeks in Costa Rica. I had never been to the country before, and am now under its spell. I started off at Volcan Arenal. I was immediately enchanted by this place. Arenal’s commanding peak rises out of lush farmland, spotted with oxen. Mist and clouds swirl around the top of her. It’s wonderful. I conquered a major fear, and did a zip line here. The lines stretched as long as .5 mile, and were 1000 feet off the forest floor. Some of the zips send you flying at speeds around 60mph. It was terrifying, but beyond awesome.
After a few days in Arenal, I headed to the coast at Mal Pais. After a ferry ride, and some 4×4 driving, I arrived in Mal Pais. This part of the coast is a haven for surfers. The coast is rocky, wild, and inhospitable….and then it opens up into a perfect crescent beach with monster waves. After, Mal Pais I headed up the coast to Playa Grande. Playa Grande is where sunsets live. I saw some of the most beautiful sunsets of my life there.
After leaving the shore, it was back to the forests. I spent one night in the Monteverde Cloud forest, and hiked the national reserve. Everything in the cloud forest is green, and lush. The wind whips wildly, and is sometimes frightening. And there is always small, misty rain in the air.
The last stop for my travels was near Volcan Poas, The Peace Lodge. It was the most fantastic place that I have ever stayed, an oasis in the middle of nowhere.
It was so difficult to leave such a place of beauty, but I’m already thinking about the next time I visit.
Cheers to Costa Rica and all its many beauties!
