Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
[image error]
I hope everyone survived the holidays unscathed and are ready for a New Year filled with possibilities! If you were to tell me last year at this time that I would end up going on an adventure that rivals the CBS, television series, The Amazing Race, I never would have believed it.
Like you, I find the end of year a time for reflection. I objectively review the previous year for accomplishments and adjust in the form of New Year’s resolutions.
Last year, my goals were to publish the About Series and Rituals Lost. But like you, I don’t always achieve my goals in the timeframe established.
At the beginning of the year, I was on schedule, publishing The About Series consecutively within the parameters of my goal, but as the year progressed things changed and I found I had to rearrange my schedule.
In August my daughter eloped to Costa Rica and without our passports my husband and I were at a loss to attend the gala and celebrate this happy event. Here is where we need to take stock and realize that the one constant in life is change. Sometimes you need a little push to motivate you to get you in gear to accomplish something you have been putting off.
[image error]
My daughter’s marriage finally forced us to get our passport and plan a trip to Costa Rica to meet our new son in love!
Using the formula I created last summer for my six part series, Vacationing Within a 50 Mile Radius, on my Facebook Page, I planned our ten-day trip that includes, hiking, Ziplining, snorkeling, and visiting both the Caribbean and Pacific Coasts of Costa Rica using San Jose as our base because that is where the newlyweds are currently living.
[image error]We booked our flight on Spirit Airlines and found that we had to add exponentially for our seats and luggage, but it still worked out to be very economical.
We planned one day for traveling as there are no direct flights from Chicago to Costa Rica and had a layover in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Luckily, our flight was not delayed because of the December 12th, 2018 eruption of Turrialba Volcano in Cartago, that sent ash flying into the atmosphere delaying some flights in the early morning hours. We arrived in Costa Rica at 1:00 p.m. as scheduled.
[image error]We picked up a Costa Rican SUV, Telios 4X4 by Daitsuh, because I read about rough roads that we would encounter on our visit.
Driving in Costa Rica is different because of the mountains and rainy season. The roads are bordered by deep ravines for drainage that could leave you stuck in a ditch if you swerve or make a wrong turn. Traffic in San Jose is chaotic and frenzied, with motorcycles jogging in and out or driving in between lanes. There is no way around a traffic jam unless you are riding a motorcycle because there are no shoulders on most of the roads. Traffic jams are something to expect in the City.
[image error]We checked into the Double Tree in San Jose, near the airport as our home base and unpacked and went down to have a delicious meal.
The open air architecture is amazing, the lobby, restaurant and halls are all out in the open sheltered only by roofs with abundant tropical foliage.
[image error]I spent a lot of time researching the country and making plans to see as much as we could in the timeframe established. Every morning we started our day with a sumptuous breakfast buffet included in our hotel package with delicious fresh picked fruit, juices and a wide array of local cuisine. We enjoyed breakfast every morning of our trip. It is wonderful to taste fresh picked, watermelon, pineapple, and papaya, especially in December.
[image error]Our first day we got lost many times, even with GPS, there was a lot of recalculating.
Most homes in San Jose are built in the adobe style to accommodate 400+ annual tremors and earthquakes brought about by over 60+ volcanoes in the region.
[image error]Our daughter treated us to a Britt Coffee Tour. It was interesting to learn that coffee like all life originated in Africa and took close to 1,000 years to reach Central America.
[image error]
All coffee beans in Costa Rica are hand-picked because they can’t get huge machinery through the mountainous terrain. One 30 lbs basket of coffee beans yields 3 lbs of coffee. It seem we in the states need to appreciate the work that goes into that cup of coffee we drink every morning.
[image error]Coffee beans are red and ripe for picking in December, much like the holly berries in the north. Coffee has taken over a great deal of the natural landscape throughout Central and South America.
[image error]
After the tour we stopped off at the gift shop and bought some coffee to take home and enjoyed a delicious lunch provided with the tour. We viewed the butterfly garden before driving back to downtown San Jose to pick up a few things and take in the culture before picking up our son in love in Cartago where he is currently working as an electrician for a Burger King in the Mall Paseo Metropoli.
[image error]
Luckily there is ample transportation available in San Jose via buses so that you can avoid driving in the traffic.
[image error]
At the Mall Paseo Metropoli waiting for Leslis to get off work, with the active, Turriabla Volcano spewing smoke in the distance.
[image error]With the newlyweds at the rooftop cafe atop the Presidente Hotel in Downtown San Jose. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step and this was the reason for our trip. [image error]
With Day One completed, we dropped off the couple and headed back to the hotel, ready for some much-needed rest.
[image error]The next morning we headed out alone to see the tallest waterfall in Costa Rica. The Catarata Del Toro Waterfall is 270 feet tall and is sourced from a dormant volcano. Although this drive didn’t involve traffic, it was challenging because of hazardous terrain. Like driving up into the rocky mountains the views were breath-taking and the road was fierce.
[image error]
Pictures cannot do this justice! Once you reach the cloud level, the atmosphere is moist and the silence is all-encompassing. I am sorry to say, I didn’t catch more pictures, rounding curves and reaching higher and higher altitudes. We found at one bend beautiful cattle lowing and goats climbing. At another bend construction equipment for a resort or private residence.
[image error]
This is the breath-taking view at the beginning of our hike down some 400+ steps equaling 32 flights.
This waterfall is privately owned by a couple that charges US $14.00 or ¢8,400 Colonas per person. I was looking forward to having lunch after our long drive and hike, but the kitchen was closed because we were the only visitors that day. I sure would have enjoyed sitting down with the owners over a meal to talk more about this wonderous place.
[image error]One thing I was thinking while working my way down these stairs was that I would eventually have to work my way up.
Luckily, because of our frequent hikes to Starved Rock State Park in Illinois and swimming all summer in our pool, we were in great shape to take on this hike.
[image error]
These blue falls are too tumultuous for swimming and lead to blue rivers. The blue color comes from the mineral in the rivers combining with the volcanic minerals in the falls. I believe you can take many trips to Costa Rica and still discover something new.
[image error]
There are many nice benches to sit on along the way down this steep cliff. You can take your time and enjoy the pristine beauty of this sacred place.
If you look behind my husband you can see stairs built into the landscape and also get a feeling for the depth of this canyon.
The drive home was much quicker until we reached 10 minutes away from our destination on our GPS, when the traffic came to a stand still. We decided to get off the highway and have the GPS recalculate our journey only to be caught in a circle. We like many other drivers got off the highway and were stuck in the worst traffic jam I have ever experienced. Like the movie, Crash, this traffic jam created many fender benders as the angry motorist were stuck in a claustrophobic storm of standing still.
We circled around to find our only option was to get back on the highway to a standstill. We circled round like this for an hour. On our last time getting back on the highway we saw an ambulance well behind us. Luckily, some EMTs and police started to direct traffic and clear the right lane that we were in, to let the ambulance through. Finally we arrived at the accident ahead of the ambulance and saw the wreckage of gnarled steel. I later learned to my great sorrow that four people died in this accident.
The next day we picked up the newlyweds for an overnight stay in Cahuita! Cahuita National Park established in the 1970s has the largest coral reef in the country. There are also pristine protected beaches for turtles bordering the tropical Jungle. We stopped off at a Soda, which is another name for restaurant and I have to say that I was happy to see that there was not a lot of Corporate America scaring the landscape. Although in San Jose there was a Dennys, a Walmart, Burger King, McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken…okay there is a lot of Corporate America in San Jose…but not along the country roads in Costa Rica. We stayed close to the culture to support the locals. And although I didn’t get a picture of the Soda Hermanos Segura, the food, service and atmosphere was warm and welcoming. One day someone will have to explain to me why some of the ladies washrooms have latch locks on the outside? I have to admit that I would be leery going into these bathrooms if I was traveling alone…
[image error]On the drive down to Cahuita from Cartago we saw that the volcano was still smoking four days into our visit.
Again we drove through some beautiful countryside, but I had a Ferngully moment when we reached closer to Limon as the freight car yards loomed on either side of us. Delmont, Chiquita etc…Costa Rica exports $2.4 billion dollars of produce annually with 1.09 billion going straight to the United State via ships through the Caribbean.
[image error]We arrived safely at 3Bamboo AirBNB. We had a lovely two-floor house that we stayed in giving the master suite to our newlyweds. We quickly changed and went out to the pool where we found a lot of frogs at the water’s edge. The water was beautiful as we took a swim to unwind when we were greeted by the newlyweds.
[image error]We left them to enjoy the pool by themselves. Within minutes of reaching the porch we were greeted by a refreshing tropical rain. My husband and I sat and enjoyed the sound of the rain hitting the corrugated roof of the porch wondering what happened to the newlyweds. It turns out they weren’t going to let a little rain interrupt their late night swim.
[image error]
The grounds are beautiful in this secluded Eco-lodge where you can spend hours bird watching.
[image error]
My husband and I woke early to the sound of tropical birds cawing and roosters crowing. We made a pot of coffee and headed out to pursue the grounds and found this little poison dart frog on our path.
[image error]
I found the newlyweds relaxing the next morning before we were to head out to Cahuita National Park. I definitely recommend this AirBNB if you are looking for a place to stay near Cahuita.
[image error]
The newlyweds body surfing off the shoreline of Cahuita National reserve.
[image error]
Taking a break to wave to us on the shore line. The water was warm and wonderful.
[image error]We found a passerby to snap this photo of the four of us before we began our hike through the jungle.
[image error]Tree sloths, squirrel monkeys, racoons, iguana, and sea turtles are just a small sampling of the wild life you can encounter at Cahuita National Park.
[image error]
[image error]
A bunch of squirrel monkey came to play with us.
[image error]
[image error]
We stopped off at Vista Del Mar for lunch and I had the house speciality drink with a new discovery, soursop! Made from the Guanabana Fruit, (sour sop) a lactose intolerant’s dream come true as it is much like ice cream without the side effects associated with dairy products.
[image error]
On our drive back, you can see the bananas are wrapped in blue bags to protect them from the tree sap until ready for harvesting.
We took the scenic route back through the Braulio Carrillo National Park which is a beautiful drive and where we later went Ziplining. I will include, Ziplining, Jaco, snorkeling off Tortuga and the National Musuem in San Jose in part 2 of this post as there is too much to cover in just one post.
My point at long last is be flexible and open to the possibilities that lay before you; so I didn’t meet all my goals in 2018, I did meet and gain a new member of my family and that is better than any accomplishment I can think of. I will get to putting the finishing touches on, The Ivory Tower and publish, Rituals Lost in my new time frame. Remember it is never too late to change the road your on it just takes a little recalculating, the important thing is to enjoy the journey. Until next time, I’ll be thinking of my new year’s resolutions and how to accomplish my new goals. What goals have you set for 2019?
Did you miss any of your goals for 2018?
Don’t waste time lamenting, make changes today that will have you taking that first step in your journey of 1,000 miles.
[image error]
About the Author:
[image error]Carly Compass has a Bachelor’s Degree in Writing and English from Elmhurst College. She is an avid reader, reviewer on Goodreads and Amazon, as well as a member in good standing of Phi Theta Kappa and Sigma Tau Delta International Honors Societies.
Find her poetry and prose published in: The Prairie Light Review, Black Widows, Web of Poetry, and the Middle Western Voice.
Her first series, Electric, published in the fall of 2014 met critical acclaim and five-star reviews across the board for all three books.
She became a best-selling author on Amazon when Book 4 came out to the waiting arms of her readers in April of 2015.
Electric, The Beginning Book 1 is available for a free download.
Books 1, 2, 3, and Books 4, 5, and 6 are also available in a discounted combination set. All books read well as stand alone, but you’ll want to read every word and leave no page unturned.
New in 2018: About Life, About Love, About Family, A Collection of Short Stories and coming soon, Rituals Lost, A Pagan/Wiccan tale, Books 1, 2, and 3!
Pick up your free copy today and let the world know what you think by leaving a review!
Carly loves hearing from her readers, feel free to connect across the board on all social media.
