We have officially reached the halfway mark in our family gap year journey. The surreal feeling of “wow, we are actually doing this” has faded, but still sneaks up on me from time to time. It usually happens during unexpected moments of adventure, like an almost secluded beach on Guam, or riding home in a…
Category: Costa Rica – La Fortuna
Costa Rica Recap
As our time in Costa Rica comes to an end, we have been talking about all the memories we have made. I have had several people ask me if we would come back here again, and the answer is absolutely yes! There really is something about their Pura Vida culture that is calming. We rarely…
Schools Around the World – La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Something I am hoping we can explore this year are all the different schools around the world. It’s so interesting to see how other countries do day to day life, and school is definitely a part of that. Escuela Finca Zeta Trece This was the school in our neighborhood in La Fortuna. Similar to the…
Favorite Memories from La Fortuna and The Little Things
We leave for Jaco tomorrow to begin the second stop on our adventure. La Fortuna has been a really amazing first location for our year long journey. When I asked everyone what their favorite memory was it was mixed bag. Dave and Alexis loved El Salto and my favorite was Mirador El Silencio. Braxton’s favorite…
Night Hike With The Froggies
A couple nights ago my dad and I went on a night hike through the rain forest. We saw lots of bugs and poisonous animals on the trail. We saw frogs, lizards, spiders, crabs, snakes, and a scorpion. We also saw a cute armadillo and a funny looking sloth. It was a really awesome experience!…
Kalambu Hot Springs – The Adventure That Took Its Time
Uber was back in service and we successfully made it to the hot springs today! We rode there in an extremely small car, but it fit all of us and we made it! Rain, Slides, and Natural Calm The weather was rainy today, although for a hot springs that didn’t necessarily matter. There are several…
Transportation Troubles – When the Ride Becomes the Story
So far not having a car has been inconvenient at times, but has not kept us from doing anything we’ve wanted to do. Today was a different story. We had planned on going to the Kalambu Hot Springs. This was a kid pick activity and is essentially a hot springs water park. When the Uber…
Mirador el Silencio – Hiking in Costa Rica
Yesterday we went to Mirador el Silencio. Translated in English, this means ‘Silence Viewpoint’. As with most things we have done, Dave found this place and did all the research on how to get there. The cost was $10/person for entrance and we would happily pay that again! Mirador el Silencio has 550 acres of…
Chasing Pura Vida
There’s a saying here in Costa Rica that the local people live by – Pura Vida. It translates to ‘Pure Life’ and is more than just a saying. It is a philosophy and a reminder to slow down and appreciate the moment. Similar to my motto for the year of ‘Be Where Your Feet Are‘….
The Alexis Angle – Costa Rica
While in La Fortuna, I’ve noticed some pretty weird or at least different things from Colorado. I was actually talking to my friend via Marco Polo and telling her about these things. Here are the weirdest in my opinion: #1 No Stoplights I’ve walked to La Fortuna multiple times from our little town and one…