Despite being woken up throughout the night requiring several trips to the bathroom, the morning from our balcony was absolutely gorgeous and no amount of stomach-ache could make me ignore it. I couldn’t help but capture the glorious morning before the monkeys started howling and the mosquitoes started biting. Continue reading
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Early in the morning, we were back on the van headed to the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. It was a long drive that included gorgeous views from the mountain, naps, and the finishing of books for many of us.
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Awaking the next morning, Monteverde was exactly what a mountain lodge would be: chilly, dark, and wonderful. Plus, there was the most beautifully colored bird blocking the path outside of our rooms, without a care in the world but the scrumptious morsel he was trying to eat.
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Early the next morning, we packed our bags and loaded the van to continue our journey through Costa Rica. Not too long into the ride, we stopped along Lake Arenal to take pictures of the gorgeous landscape that we would be traveling around for the majority of the day. The girls and I rushed across the highway for better photos and it was more painful than I thought it could be.
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Our second day in La Fortuna was arguably one of the busiest of the entire trip. We started early and hopped from one activity to the next until we were completely exhausted.
Rising early, Karen and I headed down to breakfast to fuel up for our packed day. We decided to indulge in an optional horseback riding tour. Karen was excited for this opportunity having never been on a horse and I, never one to turn down an animal encounter, was game to explore Costa Rica by horse. Worried about two silly girls on their own, Papa Carlos decided to join us on our morning ride so he could keep an eye on us.
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After two fun-filled days in Tortuguero, it was time to pack our bags, hop in the boat, and head to our next destination: La Fortuna. We made the rounds of the resort saying goodbye and expressing our gratitude to our friends at Mawamba Lodge and we were off, ready for the next adventure.
The boat ride back to the bus had us spying a crocodile and more spider monkeys, but the real treat was after we had boarded our bus and got an up-close look at not one, but two of our most coveted Costa Rican species.
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The thunderstorm raged through the night. Rain pounded the roof and more than once, I awoke to the entire room illuminated from a lightning bolt. It was wonderful.
The itinerary for our second day in Tortuguero included a nature walk through a frog pound and butterfly garden, all on the grounds of the Mawamba Lodge, followed by an afternoon cruise on the river where we would look for Costa Rica’s wildlife. What we didn’t plan for was the rain. Granted, we were the ones who decided to travel during the wet season so we knew what we were getting into. Well, at least some of us.
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Early the next morning, Karen and I grabbed our suitcases and headed down to enjoy a nice breakfast before meeting our tour group. I sampled plátanos or plantains for the first time and I was hooked! I made it my mission to enjoy some at every meal and for the most part, I wasn’t disappointed.
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Last year, Karen contacted me twice to plan a trip internationally. The first time, I was still dating the ex and spending most of my vacation days traveling up north to see him, so I didn’t think I could spare an extended trip where I didn’t get to see him. I forgot about her asking me to travel and went about life. A few weeks later when Karen asked me again, I was single, heartbroken, and ready to say yes to getting the hell out of town. When I inquired where she was thinking of traveling to, she said she heard great things about Costa Rica.
Luckily enough, I have travel connections to make it happen.
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Oh, Wonderlings.
I have returned home from Costa Rica where Karen and I had the most amazing time. We laughed as we explored the rain forest, made new friends (of both the animal and human variety), and bonded like we never have before. Over eleven days, we journeyed to five different cities, all celebrating Costa Rica’s success in the World Cup.
Defining Wonderland 