Austin and four other couples planned a trip to Thailand 1.5 years ago. But, the Coronavirus shut us down. Two week prior we changed our minds and headed to Costa Rica for 10 days. What a lovely vacation it was!
The coast was dry!
We traveled the rest of the day and awakened in La Fortuna in a mountainous tropical jungle.
Our front porch was not in bloom, but all the colors of green made it feel really cozy.
We spent the first two days white-water rafting and zip-lining through jungles.
We spent the evenings eating and exploring.
Sunday morning we drove back to the coast and enjoyed a testimony meeting in Espanol. I could actually understand most of their testimonies, and it made me want to really learn Spanish.
After naps and dinner a quiet walk on the beach finished our day of rest.
Monday morning we surfed. Seriously, every time the instructor told me to, "Paddle! Paddle! Paddle! Up! Up! Up!" I made it up and rode the waves. When he didn't push me, I just spent the time trying not to get pummeled by the waves. Luckily the water was warm and the air warmer.
A day in the sand and the backyard pool, then dinner waited by a brand-new waiter, ensured lots of laughter, lots of sunshine and lots of friendship.
I had to pose on the molar with board shorts. Could someone please help me pose correctly? I never get it right.
Tuesday was back to the beach for more sand and surf.
We found a little hermit crab.
We shopped at the market and practically lived on pineapple and coconut cookies.
The "SKYJO" card game was a kit in the evenings. Some of us won big, and some of us lost big.
Wednesday more relaxing in the sand.
Oh, we found an open-air market with a global melting pot of options. We ate eggplant parmesan made from a lady who spoke Italian and grew up in Napoli. We ate falafel and naan from Indians. We drank passion fruit smoothies and finished with nutella donuts. I mean, it was pretty much the best street food, ever.
More surfing Friday proved that Austin could get up and ride the waves solo. I road the boogie board into the beach over and over whooping and hollering the entire time.
Powdered sugar sand was magical.
I reread,
Boys in the Boat and spent hours napping.
If we weren't at the beach, we lounged under the pergola and ate more pineapple.
Saturday we headed back to the mountains for a final day of tubing in the gorge (probably my favorite water activity, ever) and rock climbing though zip lines.
Austin and I ordered la comida typico for our final dinner at the resort. I ate black bean soup and he ate a pile of beans and rice.
Sunday morning we headed to church and I played the piano in our meeting.
Here we are shuttling to the airport.
Reading sciptures and
Little Women on the ride home. (That's a really nice picture of Austin. He looks like he's spent a week relaxing and enjoying la pura vida.)
Home again and asleep at 2:30 am just to readily be awakened at 6:15 am to begin spring break with those that allow me a pura vida.
I need to recognize the two grandmas that each took turns loving and nurturing my darlings while we were away. Molly and Maisie were really sick, so they not only ran the household, but also nursed my daughters back to health.
Spending time with Austin is sweet and fulfilling. We laughed until tears ran down our faces, cried as we shared our deepest desires for our children, and simply basked in the sunlight, feeling the calming warmth spread through our souls as we reflected on our eternal union and the true purpose of our pura vida.
We do want to take our children back. But alas, our little Mexico trip is just so similar and only six hours by car.
