My time in Costa Rica was too special to convey with words. I found a true inner peace and calm within myself that had been stifled by the stress of life and business and all of the hard work we had put into our Peruvian Hearts project months earlier. Going from Peru to Costa Rica was such a change, not only in climate and scenery, but our attitudes. We were finally on vacation.
We stayed one night in San Jose at my friend’s beautiful house and then hopped on a bus from a local hotel to Tamarindo, a popular beach town on the northern part of the Nicoya peninsula and were immidiately in a cab on our way to another beach town just south of Tamarindo that was much more my style. Avellanas was a little slice of heaven. Much quieter and with zero obnoxious tourist shops, bars, or even a real supermercado, we had successfully found ourselves “off the grid.” We agreed we needed to stay for a few days at least to fully dissolve our former stressed selves into the new “tranquilla” lifestyle. It didn’t take long and with help from our amazing hosts, a Canadian couple who took over the Casa Surf Hostel, Ericka and Dan, we were adjusting to the “Pura Vida” life quite easily. We borrowed some good books and surf boards, hit the beautiful and wide open beaches, enjoyed Ericka’s incredible fresh and delicious cooking and made friends with the old shirtless surf dude locals Denny and Bob, a hilarious retired psychology professor.
At Lola’s Beach Cafe ^
Our first day at Casa Surf renting a board and sporting the sun protection of the locals: Desitin diaper cream.
Me and the Pelicans going for a wave ^
Avellanas was starting to feel strangely like home and we rang in the new year with a bonfire on the beach with all our new friends and made smores, including a “Virgin Sacrifice” of the first banana grown off Dennys “plantana” tree (banana/plantain hybrid) which made for a delicious addition to our 2012 Smore Fest. After an impressive firework display at midnight we threw inhibitions to the Costa Rican wind and Kiki and I went for a skinny dip in the warm ocean, watching shooting stars in the insanely clear sky and the bioluminescence creating glowing stars in the water around us. (Algae that glows in the dark) It was a magical way to ring in the new year!
Me and Kiki showing our LOVE for the great year that we had ^
This is me, slam dunking 2011 and all of its greatness on the final sunset of the year. ^
Sacrificing the “plantana” with Kiersten, Ericka and me. It made for a delicious addition to our smores. ^
Smores master Linz ^
Smores connoisseur Kiki ^
Although we loved our “new home” and our new friends the travelers inside us were getting antsy to see more of the country, so we headed out on a journey south, which isn’t as easy as one would expect. Just finding a cab or a ride was difficult and the buses were mysteriously difficult to get information on. After finding a cab, we got stuck in a river and Kiersten and I successfully pushed it out of its rut and we made it to Nosara. Guiones beach was my favorite surf spot. It was a bit more of a town with organic produce shops, yoga studios, local art galleries and cute little cafes. Our hostel, “Solo Bueno” lived up to the name and provided everything we needed; a bed, boards, a locker, a kitchen and great company. We enjoyed surfing 3 times a day and I found myself getting up at the sunrise, excited to get out to the beach and see what the waves had to offer. Being born and raised just a few feet from the sand, my heart has always been filled with happiness and peace while at the beach. That is something my father shared with me like his father him and I will forever find solace in surfing or just looking at the surf, imagining myself on the waves. The sunsets were incredible and being paddled out on the water that seemed to be on fire with the reflection of the sun was one of the most beautiful things my eyes have seen.
One of my favorite nights was at a local bar where folk singer / songwriter G Love (known for many collaborations with Jack Johnson) performed for a crowd of 80 people, a benefit concert for the Nosara Surf Foundation, raising money for local schools in desperate need of help. We were right up front of course, dancing and stomping right along with him to the beat and cracking jokes back and forth with him and his guest singer, Brendan O’Hare. He played a great song, “No keeping Track of a Woman Like That”… I think it was written about someone I know! ;)
Of COURSE I had to get a “Surf Dog” during intermission! I worked up an appetite and most people know I LOVE me a dog!
After a few days of yoga, surfing and reading in hammocks we decided to try our luck moving further South. The plan was to stop in Samara, a great spot for snorkelling but while waiting at what we thought was a bus stop we got picked up by a car full of people we met the day before at the concert and decided to go to Santa Teresa with them. The tiny rental car they got was not equipped for the terrible dirt roads, much less the 6 people and the luggage we crammed into it.
After 5 hours of uncomfortable, yet high spirited driving down the beautiful coast, we found ourselves driving in the dark and unmarked roads, desperate for a hotel. Instead we found ourselves wedged in a ditch, safe but scared and a long way from anywhere we knew of and no phone service. Luckily, not too long after getting stuck, a large truck full of locals heading in the opposite direction pulled us out of the ditch and gave us all a ride all the way back in to the next town. The kindness of people never ceases to amaze me. The travel Gods had our backs that night!
We continued on to Montezuma, much farther south than we planned, but we liked the cute and colorful town and met some really fun groups of travelers while exploring the waterfalls and swinging off rope swings and diving off rocks. We had a bonfire yet again that night and got to enjoy the glowing waves from the bioluminescence once more. Such a treat!
The next day we took a boat tour to Isla Tortuga and got some spectacular views of the bays and islands around as well as a snorkeling tour we really enjoyed. Four girls we met on the boat were from San Diego and Los Angeles. They really enjoyed the adventure of traveling and exploring new cultures and wanted to incorporate philanthropy with their trips as well. We discussed ideas and ways to make it happen and could see their excitement grow as we told our stories. It is SO rewarding to know there are other people out there who are ready and willing to help make the world better while viewing all of its glory. It is our dream to continue to grow this “network” of world travelers with compassionate and conscious hearts and minds! I am looking forward to a collaboration with these inspiring and inspired girls! (UPDATE: Since our return back to California myself and the girls I met on Tortuga Island have started Team World Changers, a community service and fundraising network and have already done projects in Los Angeles with the homeless and raised $600 for an orphanage in Tijuana during our Cinco de Mayo party!)
From Montezuma we took a bus and a ferry to Monte Verde on the mainland and immidiately off the bus headed to the rainforest for some canopy adventures. I fulfilled my dream of ziplining through the canopy of the Cloud Forest and even did the kilometer long “Superman,” where you are head first with your back and waist attached to the line just flying over the trees. It was beautiful. The 300 ft freefall “Tarzan Swing” terrified Kiersten who has a fear of heights but was the most exhilarating thing I’ve ever done! We also took a 4.5 kilometer hike through the Cloud Forest floor and really enjoyed taking in all the tiny details and natural beauty of the preserve.
In my Han Solo shirt about to do the “Tarzan swing” much like a bungee jump without the whiplash of being strapped by your feet.
Being a Rainforest Fairy ^
Another 5 hour bus ride and we were back at the home of our friend, with a full day and a half left to lay out by their pool, read, relax and enjoy our last full moments of peace and tranquilo! I fully enjoyed it and am so grateful to be blessed with blessed friends who like to share!
The trip back to San Diego was long with a 5 hour flight, a missed connection in Pheonix and a long drive in traffic home from LAX , but I maintained my mellow mood and was appreciative to be back in San Diego safely.
I feel like 2012 is the year of a more “tranquilo” Linz. Life is really too short and too sweet to not appreciate every moment and every blessing. I’ve resolved to smile at the people I walk past on the street, forgive the people that hurt or angered me in the past, say a Thank You before every meal and enjoy the amazing sights and activities all around San Diego, this amazing place I am honored to live with fantastic people! In the 40 hours I have been home so far I have walked along San Diego harbor and through Downtown, caught a sunset on a walk down Sunset Cliffs in Ocean Beach, and hiked to the top of Cowles mountain. I am still living PURA VIDA and no reason not to. ;) Life is Good.
