I was fortunate to spend some time at the Valle Escondido Nature Reserve recently. Unlike the Monteverde Cloud Forest and the others that I have mentioned in the past, Valle Escondido is a private reserve. It’s also a little lower in elevation, making it a transitional forest, instead of a cloud forest.

If you’ve never wandered through a Costa Rican feria (which is a market) on market day, you likely have no idea the sheer volume of fruits and veggies that this country produces.

Coffee. Nectar of the Gods. Giver of life. For many, this rich warm brew is the catalyst that starts their day. The magic that pries their eyes open, and helps them face the morning. There is something comforting about the distinctive scent of fresh ground coffee, and the steady drip of the brewing process.

For those who are unfamiliar with the term “Pura Vida”, I think a little explanation is in order. Technically, the phrase translates to “pure life”, but in Costa Rica, it means so very much more. 

Some days you just feel… lucky. Today is one of those days.

Welcome back! If you’ve already read Part 1 of this post, you’ll know, I’m utterly fascinated with the beautiful crafts and artwork that can be found here in Costa Rica. Many of the indigenous tribes are using  skills, which have been passed down from generation to generation, to maintain important parts of their culture and to support their traditional way of life.

As an artist, I am continually in awe of the many amazing artisans that I’ve seen in Costa Rica. I have seen the most intricate paintings- done on a feather! I have seen jewelry made from slices of banana, and paintings so divine, they make me drool.

The turn of the year is always an interesting time. We say goodbye to the challenges and victories of the year before, and we take new lessons and a spirit of hope into the year to come. 

As someone who was born and raised in the frozen north, “vacation time” usually referred to a couple weeks in December/January. Mostly because by then we were already tired of the cold and ready for a break.