Jaco beach

Eating lunch at the beach on our way to Manuel Antonio.

Monteverde

After a boat ride and a very bumpy four wheel drive transfer, we made it to Monteverde cloud forest.
Today a hike in the morning and then relaxing in the pool at our hotel this afternoon. As I write this from the chair using the pool internet, Joe is hanging out in the pool with Sarah and Hank. Kat and Ryan are on the chairs next to me.

I love the giant leaves. We are on a hunt for the biggest ones we can find.

Joe enjoys the airplane plants.

Dinner second night

I think blogging while I have internet access and time is probably my best option, so here goes.
We're on our way to dinner at a SODA. I think it's some sort of Costa Rican diner.

Zipline

We are back from our tree top adventure.

La Fortuna, day 2

We spent most of yesterday traveling here. Two flights and a 3 hour car transfer, but it was completely worth it.

It is beautiful here. It is warm and  humid but feels more pleasant than home has lately. Plus, everything is green.
The top of  Arenal volcano was visible when we arrived, so we took pictures while we could.

Today we zipline and enjoy the hotel.

Here is Joe enjoying his breakfast.

Packing for Costa Rica

Vacation. Paid Time Off. Running away from home. Call it what you will, but the time has come for us to take a journey. Joe and I don't travel as much now as we did in our pre- and early married days, back when we were both working at the firm. We had numerous days off there and less responsibilities. We were not owners of a dog day care. Things were different then, but not better. Because of this though, we haven't been on a big trip in at least a year if not two. Until tomorrow. Because tomorrow we leave for...

Costa Rica!

Yay! With our friends Katrina & Ryan Wymore and Hank Crowder & Sarah Patterson, we are taking to the open road. Well, not so much the open road, but definitely to the open air, and down to Central America. Back in 2011 we discussed the idea of taking a big trip all together. Many destinations were optioned, and we decided on Costa Rica in August 2012. It is close, but not too close, it will be adventurous, but not too adventurous, and we could book it all together as a private tour. Exciting!

We leave tomorrow morning. Joe and I are approximately 40% packed - and by packed I mean that we've laid stuff out all over the house and made numerous lists. 

This does not count as being packed:

Neither does this:

That suitcase is new and completely empty.

But soon it will be full and we will be 100% packed and on our way to adventure, fun, sand, sun, volcanoes, rainforests, cloudforests, and fab memories with our best friends.

See you in 10 days!