pura vida

as promised, here are a few photos from my recent trip Costa Rica.  i went with my best friend from home, Claire, and friend Tara, along with six other girls.  we stayed in Jaco Beach and took a boat to Tortuga Island one of the days.  the mountains throughout Costa Rica were beautiful.  the ride from the airport in San Jose to Jaco was close to two hours, and it was the perfect opportunity to take in the landscape and see the little restaurants and fruit stands on the side of the road.

the view from one of the tree stands i was on during our canopy tour.  i almost didn't make it due to the one too many margaritas i had the night before.

not so smooth landing.

guacamole at The Backyard.

the guacamole in Costa Rica exceeded my expectations.  i made it my mission to order it every time we ate out.  it was so much lighter and creamier than the guacamole i'm used to.  the chips were delicious too.  they always came out fresh and warm, and were thick and crunchy.  they were the perfect vehicle to deliver each bite of goodness.

The Vista Mar.

we stayed at the Vista Mar, which was conveniently located right on the beach.  the hotel had its own restaurant and served in the open, just as the majority of restaurants in Jaco do.  so, every morning,  i ate my dos huevos with rice and beans looking out at the Pacific Ocean.

breakfast of a champion.

Tortuga Island, where Jurassic Park was filmed.

view of the water while laying on the beach at Tortuga.

gift store in Jaco.

unfortunately, there weren't as many treasures, in the form of jewels, as i had hoped for.  gift shops in Jaco were filled with candle holders, bowls, and other nick nacks carved from mango wood.  i bought myself a couple of bowls to hold rings and other jewelry.  the one bowl is actually made out of a coconut shell, and some how has swirls of cinnamon carved into in it.  when you hold the bowl close enough to your face, you can smell the spicy cinnamon.

Claire and me.

chalupas at Wishbone.  by far, the best meal i had in Jaco.  i was stuffed after eating the first one, and still managed to eat the second.  they were simply that delicious.

enjoying a piece of pineapple upside down cake that i saved for the plane ride home.  i have little self control, and ate it before i even went through security.