Costa Rica: A Night In The Jungle

While in Costa Rica we had very limited time to sight see and visit the regular tourist locations. We only had 3 weekends and we had to plan everything and find our own transportation and way around the country. The first weekend we visited the LDS temple and the capitol, San Jose. The second weekend we decided to visit Arenal, a volcano area that brings people from all over the world. It was a lot of work to figure it all out and a few people warned us it might be dangerous traveling with just the two of us, but we didn't have another option and we really wanted to see a new place. So that Saturday morning we woke up early took a bus into Heredia (30 mins), took another bus into San Jose (about 30 minutes), took a taxi to the bus stop to Arenal, and took another bus to Arenal (4.5 hours), got there that evening, visited a number of shops, found our hotel, which was on the volcano in a little house, and went swimming. We also enjoyed at least 3 warm showers each because the shower at our host family's house was quite cold.

The next morning we went zip-lining. Maren and I decided this was a physical way to show how brave we had been the entire trip. It's difficult to explain, but day to day I felt so brave and yet I felt no one could see how brave we were. Not even us. But both of us not being too keen with heights agreed we wanted to do this zip-line and so we did! It was pouring rain, but they still let us go and told us it would just make the line much faster and harder to stop (!!!). I would highly recommend doing this to anyone visiting Arenal. It was beautiful, even in the rain, and it was so fun to fly over the volcano.

 

^ Our hotel room ^

^ We were so excited to stay on big beds in a big room ^ 

^ Fun fact, you can't flush toilet paper down the toilet in Costa Rica, & we were on this bus in the back for 4.5 hours while a boy our age talked to us loudly in English unintentionally announcing to everyone who we were and where we were going. He was quite the character. But now that I think about it most of the bus probably couldn't understand his English anyway so I guess it wasn't too big of a deal. ^

^ While receiving instruction, I guess I was looking a little bit bored. ^

^ Some guys we met from our hotel ^

 ^ I just realized this picture was actually from the Bus Ride to Arenal and not from Zip-lining, but hey look at that green! ^

^ Told you it was pouring rain, I'm talking the kind of rain we don't ever get in Utah! ^ 

 ^ This was the Tarzan Swing, I have a video, but I will upload it on the next post because I don't currently have it in my possession. I will say, it was epic. ^

So that's all for our Jungle Night Stay! 

Next up: a few nights sleeping on the beach.

   

Costa Rica: Oh The Things You Will Eat

Here are a bunch of pictures of the food we ate in Costa Rica! (Mostly thanks to Maren). While I did love a lot of it, Gallo Pinto (breakfast made of rice and beans with cilantro and seasonings), Arroz con Pollo (rice with chicken), and Empanadas (breakfast made of handmade corn tortillas filled with bean paste and sometimes cheese), were my absolute favorite. The food was unlike anything I've ever tried before and it wasn't anything like what we consider Spanish food here in the U.S.. Rice and beans were used in every meal, but there are so many ways to eat those so I really did enjoy it! Although there were a couple things I did not like and will never eat again if I have any say in it, I have labeled these with their pictures. Enjoy!

^ Fanta & lemonade on our weekend excursion ^

^ This meal was by far the most disgusting. In fact, it is the only one Maren and I couldn't even finish. If anyone knows what it is actually called and what it is, I'd love to know because with our limited ability to communicate we could not figure it out. The orange apricot looking things were very stringy and tough and that white blob? That is mayo that you dip the mystery "fruit" in. Then on the side: a corn tortilla with a fried egg that includes some rice left out from the night before. Also...I can't stand eggs. ^

 

^ These fried plantains with cheese were very popular, but I don't think I'll miss them much. ^

^ Manzana De Agua, (Water Apple) from the fruit trees outside ^

^ Anuna, basically a fruit that tastes like cotton candy, so good! ^ 

^ Bean paste, arroz con pollo ^

^ Corn crackers Maren loved but I couldn't choke down.. ^

^Yuka I believe..?^

^ We got a little desperate for chocolate and this stuff was good :) ^

^ Mint that Maren may have swallowed..^

^ More fried eggs ^

^ those black things are giant beans! ^ 

^ Pico (no chips), fish, squash, and rice, yummy!^

^ Corn tortillas with mayo for breakfast ^

^ Soup ^                                         

^ Arroz con Pollo, I love this meal!! ^

^ Gallo Pinto, This stuff is GOOD. ^

^ A gluten free coffee cake type breakfast ^

^ These cheese quesadillas and empanadas were our favorite breakfasts!^ 

^ Some colorful potato salad-ish side along with ham, beans, and rice ^

the perfect point.

This post is going to be all sorts of out of order for my blog, but in the order of my life it is most perfectly placed. I still have a couple more posts I'd like to share from Costa Rica, but hey life has a way of not stopping and I just haven't had it in me to write those quite yet.

First of all -- New Blog Design!!  & I am definitely loving it. Look around a little bit before you go!

Next, here are some happenings of late:

The last week has been an emotional roller coaster  hurricane. Not even a week ago I returned home from Costa Rica, sad, excited, relived, & every other emotion you can imagine. Tuesday night I picked up my best friend from the SLC airport and Wednesday morning she left for the MTC (missionary training center) where she will begin training for her 18 month mission to CAMBODIA! yeah, I miss her already. I missed her before she even left so cue the longest 18 months in history.

Then Wednesday night my family and I attended WICKED at Capitol Theater in Salt Lake City. It was incredible. I would go again in a heartbeat. & Guess who else was there? Pres. Uchtdorf the second counselor in the LDS church. Alli, Zach, Zoe, and I all had the opportunity to say hello and shake his hand which was super neat.

Yesterday I attended the Timpanogos Temple with my dear friend Aubrey, made a quick smoothie stop, & then I purchased the beginnings of my new herb garden! I've been wanting some living, growing plants for my apartment this fall and what better plants than herbs? After planting these cute things I had a sisters night with Ali (16). & Although The Fault In Our Stars was sold out (it's okay I would have just bawled the entire time) we went to get smoothies, colored with sidewalk chalk, and ended up at home to watch a movie of our own. Heck, a day with 2 smoothies just can't be bad.

This morning my cute brother Zach (13) and I went and hiked to the "G" in Pleasant Grove which is quite a bit steeper than I remembered.

& Finally lots of pictures:

^ I know the touch of construction really adds a nice vibe and we can never get everyone looking at the camera ^

^ Pres. Uchtdorf (sorry it's not the clearest photo) ^

^ my herbs ^

                                                

 ^ hiking with this cute boy ^

^ did I mention I miss her? last selfie the morning she left ^