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Published: February 20th 2010
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“Pura Vida” is a common figure of speech here in Costa Rica which means “Pure Life”. It’s used much like “This is the Life”, “Life’s a Beach”, or even “Hang Loose” back home. We’ve found ourselves using this phrase quite a bit in the last couple of weeks as, in its entirety, this trip has been absolutely incredible and each day leaves us feeling like this is in fact life in its purest form.
As you may have noticed, we’ve been unable to update our blog in the last several days. We’ve experienced a hiccup in being able to connect to the wireless network. While in part this has been a bit disappointing, as we’ve enjoyed being connected to our friends and family back at home, it’s also come as a welcomed relief. In the absence of the internet (and television too), we’ve been able to enjoy an even richer Costa Rican experience by spending more time marveling at the jungle and beach that has together surrounded us over the last week or so.
Since the last entry, we’ve traveled much further south in the country. We left Carrillo on Saturday, February 13th and spent about 5 hours driving
slightly east and then much further south into Manuel Antonio. We made only one stop along the way for lunch in a beach side town called Jaco. It is here that a cool little restaurant that came highly recommended by many (in travel books and some of our hosts along the way), Taco Bar, was located. Taco Bar was a little outdoor eatery, as are most that we’ve encountered here in Costa Rica, where you dine along a u-shaped bar that is wrapped around a salad and taco topping station in the middle. What made the place especially unique was that your dining experience including sitting in rope hung wooden swings at the bar. As you could imagine, Nikki was rather excited about this. We each enjoyed awesome chicken, mahi and steak tacos while sipping on refreshing strawberry and watermelon smoothies. The food was as great as the atmosphere was fun for all of us…
It was only another hour before we arrived at the Mango Moon Hotel. Upon arrival, we unloaded our luggage and quickly changed into swimwear in enough time to take a very steep hike down the hillside to the beach, so that we could get
back for a sunset view from our room. Of course, it was another FANTASTIC beach laden with soft silky sand, large black rock upon which the waves would crash, refreshing mist off the ocean and a SPECTACULAR view. What made this beach unique to us was that it was the first of which we’ve encountered where the ocean met the jungle. Behind us you could hear the call of jungle animal and insect and before us you could hear the crashing of waves. It was a sight that captivated each one of us.
We did manage to get back to our room in time for sunset. However, the sun became enveloped by thick black storm clouds that kept it from being one worth writing home about, though the view of the ocean with these raging storm clouds was still an amazing one. The real beauty later became a thunder and lightning storm that marveled us all. It was near the end of our dinner, about an hour later, that the crash of thunder and the jolts of lightning provided us with a few hours’ worth of entertainment. It ceased in just enough time for us to get to bed
without bother 😊.
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debbie
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Wow
Hey! Is that Shae drinking a beer?? I think you guys have inspired all whom have enjoyed your pictures to travel to Costa Rica!