Costa Rica

We just returned from a week long trip to Costa Rica. Del and I spent the entire time, trying to take in all the sights, and sounds of this amazing country, and it is hard to describe the lush beauty of Centro America. As I would look around, trying to soak in all of the beauty, I realized that there were too many memorable images competing for space in my head, and my eyes were on sensory over-load! 

And you thought I gave you an extreme abundance of pictures in the past on my blog!? I documented this trip VERY well! Look out!

Warning! This trip was not hair, makeup and frills friendly. I spent the entire week sweaty, with helmet hair, and most of the time picking dirt out of my teeth, or the likes of it. 

So, I will start at the very beginning. I am still trying to keep this eventful trip straight. 

Los Suenos, Costa Rica was the location of the Patient's Choice President's Club. Del had seven reps reach their goals, and they were able to attend with one other person. 

We all had quit the trek to get there! I believe everyone but one couple had some pretty wretched flight times, and lay-overs.  

Our flight left Chicago at 3:00 in the morning. We went through Guatemala City, Guatemala on our layover. That put us in San Jose, Costa Rica at 9:00 a.m.

My sister, Lauren, and her husband, Christopher, were kind enough to take a week off of work to fly out and watch our kids. They brought their little guy McIntosh with them, leaving them with five kids eight and under. They flew in only hours before Del and I left for the airport, so it was quit the crash course for them, I am sure.

Here is a very fuzzy picture of me handing the keys to the castle over to Lauren.

Well... keys, and a binder with sixteen page-protected sheets of instructions and release forms about how to run our kids lives while we were away. This job is not for the weak of heart!

Preparing for this trip was so involved, and stressful, I would ward off panic attacks at the thought of not getting everything in order at night the entire two weeks leading up to it. THANK YOU, Lauren and Christopher for stepping in and taking away my worry. And my Aunt Sandy, who took over the last couple of days while everyone had to travel home. You are all such blessings in my life. Thanks for loving my children!

Our resort.

We stayed at the Los Suenos Marriott near Herradura, Costa Rica.

The nearest somewhat large city is Jaco. A surfing town. We were an hour and a half drive away from the capitol city of San Jose. A drive through the very mountainous country side of Costa Rica. We thought it was a nice location, with many options for activities nearby. And from what I could tell, it was the only major resort in the area. I was relieved to see that it was a nice place to stay. Planning a trip in a foreign country you have never visited for 17 people can be a bit stressful. Yay for travel agents!

Our first day was pretty much a blur of travel and fatigue. We did some sleeping (Del) and wading (me) by the pool. We took in the resort scenery and eating options.

The second day we were ready to go! We went into Jaco to scout out the local events, before the rest of our group arrived the next day. 

We bought some slingshots for our kids. I later, stupidly, put them in my carry-on and they took the elastic out of them at security. The security on the way home is an ENTIRELY different story! Sheesh! I'll get to that. 

I then decided that I was going to make this my spa day. We went back to the resort, and I got a massage while Del went to check in to surf lessons. The spa was beautiful, and I am disappointed I don't have any pictures of it. I was the only person there, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! We spent some time with the Georgia area manager, Rullie, and his wife Noelle, who also came a few days early. 

Day three found me poolside. 

I ran into quit the character while getting some sun. A girl came up and asked if she could sit next to me. The next thing I knew, I was spraying her down with sunblock, (top to bottom literally, as she requested I do the bottom of her feet,) fetching her some water when I got up to find myself a drink, covering her back with a swim cover-up, and finally, scraping an umbrella across the pool concrete with a loud screeching noise, when she decided she had had enough sun! At that point, I was OUTTA there! Apparently, I am way too nice - -- and she didn't even tip!!

 Del went to the beach in Jaco for his surf lesson. I am very sad I don't have pictures of that event! Del said the ocean "kicked his trash" was the description I believe he used. 

He came back scraped up, and ready to hit the zip lines!

We went with Rullie and Noelle, up into the rainforest, and this was one of my favorite activities. 

And yes, they suckered us into buying the pictures they took of us.

Bring on the helmet hair!

I have a very real fear of heights, and standing on the platforms waiting for my turn was about the end of me at first. I am faking it here. Fake it till' you make it! I am a firm believer. 

Rullie and Noelle.

Holy Shmow! This was an incredible feeling!

I kind of look like and idiot! But at least I am an idiot zip lining in Costa Rica!

That day, everyone in our group arrived, so had a little mingle in the lobby of the hotel, and headed off to dinner. 

Day four. We had a horse-back ride to a waterfall planned for all employees and their guests. We were picked up by our tour guide (Franklin)  and he filled us in on the local nature and wildlife facts. He was a wealth of knowledge. On our way home after the ride, he started to tell us about his family, and his dream of going to America to earn money. He said if he could just earn $15,000.00 U.S. money, it could change his life in Costa Rica. He could buy his own tour bus, start his own company, and change his family's socio-economic status. It was absolutely fascinating to talk to him. It was also humbling. My life is very secure compared to the place Franklin comes from, and I am OH-SO grateful for my U.S. citizenship. We live in a blessed land. Franklin talked about the help the United States gives Costa Rica, and it is a privilege to be able to help people as amazing as those we met!

Come on Washington! Don't blow it, or that will no longer be an option!

Franklin is trying to get his hands on one of the first iphones made. Those are the only models that will work in Costa Rica. I think he has seven employees from Patient's Choice working on it for him. He made an impression on everyone. 

Giddy-Yup!

This was pretty cool. We drove way up into the mountains to a small stable area owned by Spanish-only speaking locals. I must admit I have never really ridden a horse. Especially for such a long distance, up and down some major inclines. It was intimidating at first, but really such a great experience. 

Two words. Saddle sore!

More helmet hair!

Jill, (on the horse at the front,) is pregnant. She did the entire ride and hike like a champ! Her horse was also pregnant. Awww! I don't think I would be such a good sport if I were in her shoes.

When we got to the top of the mountain, we had an amazing view. I wish so badly the pictures did it justice!

We then hiked back down, down, DOWN, the mountain to get to the waterfall. Which was beautiful, with another view of the ocean. But then we all had to go back up, up, UP, to get to our horese! And there were a few snags for some. But we all made it! Round of applause!

Back at the resort, we had a good game of volley ball in the pool. This is Michelle in the pool with Noelle. You will know her by the shower cap she wears in the pool to protect her hair. We all got a good laugh with "shower cap." I love people who just are who they are, and are funny while they do it! She was a hoot!

Heaven forbid a BYU game should be missed!

The Bowcutts are from Utah, so they get the BYU thing.

Yes, I definitely have to go back to Costa Rica. And Day Five was one of the many reasons. I was very sore from the horse back ride. Del had planned an ATV ride through the mountains for the next day. I decided that I just couldn't go. But at the last minute, I changed out of my swimming suite, and threw some things in a backpack, and headed out with him. And I am SO very glad I did. This ended up being our favorite thing we did on the trip.

I have never been so dirty, or so happy to see what I was seeing in my life. I think I breathed in a pound of dirt, swallowed a pound, and wore 4 pounds, but it was so great.

We rode the ATV's up to another waterfall with a guide and three other guys from our group. I was the only girl, and yes, more helmet hair. I rode on the back of Del's ATV, and it was a rough ride for such a long distance, but there was so much to see, my mind took snapshots of everything as we sped by. We would still be there if I had used my camera like I wanted to.

Dirt on our teeth. We were a MESS! I love this picture.

When we got to the waterfall, there was only one other girl there, for about five minutes, and then she left. The crazy boys went to jump off the top of the waterfall. Scary high. I needed to put my suit on. Del told me to just go off into the forest and change. So I wandered off the path a bit and ran right into a spider web! And the spider stayed on me! I freaked out and ran out of the trees yelling, "Franklin SAID not to go into the trees!"

Del got the spider off of me, and stood by me while I changed on the empty road. RIGHT as I pulled my swim top on, this HUGE group of men came around the corner. There were about twenty something of them. And I suddenly had a great excuse not to jump off the waterfall. I was NOT going to be the entertainment for so many men. They were on a bachelor party get away. And they were drinking.

As we rode back after the waterfall, we saw one of them had driven his ATV off the road and right into a tree! It was crazy that he was not hurt worse than he was. I could not believe how far the drop was that he went off.

Del jumping.

The waterfall and drunk guys were most definitely not the reason I loved this so much.

It was the villages we drove through. With the little kids waving, and school girls in their uniforms and one room classrooms. The homes, some tiny and tidy, and others not so tidy. The fields that were so green they were neon. The moms walking with babies on the road, the old men and women sitting in the shade on the tile porches, and the farmers carrying their hoes, and machetes over their shoulders, walking home. It was a world so different from mine. Where everyone up there lives off of what they grow, and what is around them in nature. They go into the city maybe once a month for supplies. It was quiet, (until we drove through) and charming, and made me fall IN LOVE with Costa Rica and the people there. I was so glad I could share that with Del, and we will both always think back on that experience as one of our favorites. It made us go home with a renewed goal to serve a mission for our church one day. We may end up in the busiest of cities, but we would be doing it together.

A local mama and her bebe.  We stopped at a ristorante up in a very small village along the way. This family pulle up while we were there and blew up a tube to float their baby down the river.

Colones.

This house was in the process of being built. The family was there working on it. It looked like they were putting quit of bit of detail into the wood work.

I almost got eaten by a yippi chihuahua taking this picture.

This is Luis.

 He told me in very broken English that he is from the Caribbean side of Colombia. He has lived in Costa Rica for five years, and he plays a Colombian accordion, and wears a Colombian hat.

Our guide took us to the ruin of a restaurant that was built into the mountain side. The road getting there was seriously scary. Sharp switchbacks with eroded sides on the roads that dropped I don't want to know how many hundreds of feet.

The view was worth it.

The view is of Jaco. Ten years ago none of this was here. Just small dwellings. A decade of tourism has changed the face of Costa Rica. It is the second largest source of income.

Me and my traveling companions. Boy are we one filthy site.

I had to wash, re-wash, and re-wash-wash, my hair.

Del is so dirty, he looks deformed! I could not believe the illusion the dirt gave his face! It is hilarious!

I think the backpack we took is unsalvageable. And possibly my shoes too. But I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I think it is so cool that they build their fence posts out of trees! Or that the fence posts sprout branches. I am not sure which. Can you see the farmer with his machete through the posts?

This was the day that made me appreciate just what a once in a lifetime experience this trip was. Although, I do hope that it is not once in a lifetime. There is SO much more to see is Costa Rica. It has so many amazing National Parks to visit, where the wildlife is right at your fingertips. There are volcanoes to explore. Active volcanoes, like Arenal. Natural hot springs, tortoise sanctuaries in the East. Diverse cultures on the Caribbean side, and white sand beaches. All things that we simply did not have time to visit. The country has so much to offer!

We had a few hours of time in the sun ahead of us after our ATV tour. That night was the company dinner.

We got back to the hotel and got all cleaned up for the Patient's Choice dinner.

Here are the reps that did such a great job, and made a President's Club possible.

Rullie, and his wife Noelle.

Josh. His wife was unable to make it on the trip.

Jodi, and his girlfriend, Megan.

Jared, and his wife, Jill.

Deena, and her husband, Randy.

Ty, with his girlfriend, Michelle.

Todd, and his wife, Desi.

Del and I struggled to look at the same camera, at the same time. There were so many going.

Here we go!

And the whole group!

Our group at dinner.

Our last full day in Costa Rica was spent riding up and down the coast on a scooter we rented. We had a nice, long, lazy lunch, and after the action packed week, it was nice to take it easier.

MORE helmet hair!

We rode our scooters to Hermosa Beach. There are some nice waves for surfing on this beach, and the proof was that there was a surfing competition going on while we were there.

It was so pretty! The mist rising off the ocean gave the mountains just off the water such a pretty hazy affect. The sand is volcanic, so it is black. And HOT! I scorched the bottoms of my feet running across it with no shoes on.

Our kids would have been in heaven on this beach, but with the strong waves, and the hot sand, we probably would have had to stick to the calm inlet of water our hotel was built next to.

Tough guys. Del and Jared lathering up with the sun block.

Del and Jared went out to get knocked around by the ocean.

The last day we woke up early to start our nearly 19 hours of travel to get home.

On our way to the airport we drove over a bridge that has tons of crocodiles hanging out under it all the time. Costa Rica has so many of them. Some people in our group even went on a crocodile tour while we were there. Our driver stopped so we could get out and take a look.

On the way home, I  just had my point and shoot ready to go in my bag, and I am not the most happy with the image quality.

As we drove through San Jose on our way to the airport, we were looking out the windows. Suddenly a building that looked familiar to our eyes was right outside our window. Because of a lucky turn, we drove pat the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Costa Rica, temple. There is the angel Moroni on top. You have to look through the power lines to see him. We explained to all the people from Patient's Choice what this building was to us. I was so glad to get a glimpse, but wished we could have stopped.

We did stop down the street at a market for one couple to buy some local coffee.

We had a four hour lay-over in Guatemala City with Todd and Desi. We spent it in a Guatemalan, Italian restaurant. Interesting.

 It turns out it was a little more complicated for Del and I to get out of Costa Rica than we expected. We were randomly chosen for a security check, and had to have all of our bags searched. Then they did a wand search on me, and went through my carry-on.

In Guatemala, they had us go through security again, and then before we got on the plane, they had us all line up and went through everyone's bags again, and then did a pat down on every single passenger!

I guess getting into the United States is more complicated than getting out.

Guatemala City from the air.  I was so disappointed it was clouded over. On our way to Costa Rica we could clearly see the volcano that the city is built in the shadow of. Pacaya. This volcano erupted as recently as May of 2010. It looked as though the entire city was built on cliffs. Drop off, after drop off. Kind of hazardous looking. It did not seem as developed as Costa Rica. But that was just an areal impression. I would love to visit Guatemala some day.

We got home to our kiddos at about 4:00 in the morning. Lauren and Christopher had flown home, and Aunt Sandy was taking care of the kids. They are all so kind to allow us this trip! We love them, and their good examples.

It has been a long, tiring week of getting back into routine, and missing sleep. It is always good to be home, and I love the life I have here. I have never come back from a vacation in such need of getting my hair done, a facial to get all the dirt out of my pores, and a manicure, and pedicure. But I have all the time I need to get caught up. Well, not all the time. Now I am planning a baptism, with relatives coming into town.  All good things.

The kids looking at the book about Costa Rica we brought home. We missed them. I missed my babies smiles. But not blow drying that wet hair you see on Georgia. She hates it, and is not nice about it.

This trip was so uplifting. It was nice to hear what I already knew from the reps about Del.  He is a really good man. He is compassionate, and he cares about his employees when he has to make hard decisions about the company. He wants to support them, just like he has always supported me. He is an amazing guy to work for, and to be married to.

He should probably have married up, with all he brings to the table.

But I am so glad he is mine. I love him and the children we have together. This experience was the fulfillment of some dreams for us, and I hope and pray that there is just more good in the future.

I love you Del! Thanks for taking me to Costa Rica!