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Published: June 14th 2012
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We woke up way too early, I had a shower and we packed up. The car was back at Avis by 5:15, and we were on the shuttle to the airport by 5:30. After we paid our taxes, we stood in line until Sophie got called to the front; evidently they were confused with the Aussie flying to Houston onto Australia. It worked out really well because it gave us some time to do some souvenir shopping before heading to our gate. We were cutting it pretty close. I bought Sophie a little pin of a blue jean frog to take home with here and remind her of the trip. I thought it would pair well with the Captain America magnet I got her in LA; I have the nickname with her roommates so I thought I would embrace it, what guy wouldn’t like to be referred to as Captain America?
The flight was a somber one. Both of us know that we’d have to say goodbye to Costa Rica and to one another in Houston. Many people are awful travelers. If you are reading this blog you have to understand what I am talking about. Sophie was the exact opposite. Always one who was up for anything and just rolled with the punches. Kind to strangers and quick with a smile. Those things are so important, and I was proud to have her as my travel companion. The goodbye in Houston was hard. Neither of us wanted to have to say it, one of us may have even shed a tear or two, not saying which. After a lunch together I sat with her at her gate until she had to board her flight, the last one in her group. We said our goodbyes and she was off to LA to connect to Sydney and finally to Brisbane. She still had over 24 hours of travel time left, what a little soldier. I told you she was a good travel companion. We have already said that it won’t be two and a half years until we see one another again. Once she was gone I sat at the gate and watched her plane taxi off, I needed to hustle to my gate as my flight was leaving soon after.
Now for a little trip reflection. Costa Rica was amazing. Rainforest, cloud forest, volcanoes, waterfalls, thermal hot springs, beaches, frogs, birds, snakes, and great people. What an experience?! They have a saying unique to Costa Rica, it is Pura Vida. The literal translation is pure life. Now I will confess that I thought the saying was cheesy and hokey, I had already heard it before I left on the trip and I was sick of it. The thing is that I had no idea. I never really knew until I experienced it. Juan told us more about it. They say pura vida for many things. When something is “cool”, “awesome”, “sweet”, “sick”, “wicked”, etc. they say pura vida. They use it as a greeting, as a response to a greeting, and even when they see something great. So how was Costa Rica? Pura Vida mae, pura vida. You’ll never really know until you experience it for yourself.
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