Costa Rrrrrrrrica!

Since we have 5 posts that can be about anything we want I figured I'd tell you all about my recent trip to Tamarindo, Costa Rica. I'm not really one to boast about the things I do or places I've been but I must say that Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful places I've encountered in my life of traveling. Being the daughter of an airline employee I've enjoyed the benefits of cheap airfare and in all of my travels, Costa Rica is one of my top destinations (so far). What makes it great is not the sandy beaches, perfect waves, gorgeous volcanoes, or lush forests, it's the people. PURA VIDA!! The people of Costa Rica are so proud of their country that they go out of their way to make sure that you enjoy it as much as they do. The "pure life" as their motto goes is not only something they say after just about every sentence but it is truly a way of life for them. I would happily trade my middle-class life in the US to be able to live the "pure life" in a modest shack by the ocean. Being in a country like Costa Rica reminds you how little you need to really be happy and that happiness is attainable through very small means. I know I sound like a typical tourist disillusioned by the promises of a tropical paradise that has been created by man to get people to spend their money and come back for more, but I think Costa Rica is the real deal. How could a place that has no army, an impeccable human rights record, and is a top contender for "greenest" country in the world be an illusion?