Storytime with Rob: Costa Rica Edition, Chapter 1.
I wish I could illustrate the following story with some of the photos I took during the time, but as the story progresses, you’ll understand why that’s not possible. I am also breaking this into several parts because, as a friend once remarked after hearing it: “That was the longest story I’ve ever heard… “
In the spring of 2014 I suddenly, and unexpectedly, lost what had been a very fulfilling job. My world was rocked, and much about my future was uncertain. At the time of this story I was living in Long Island and preparing to relocate to Washington State, but before I started that journey, I wanted to take advantage of this unexpected boon of free time by taking a much needed vacation.
After much deliberation, I decided on Costa Rica. According to reviews from its many enthusiastic champions, I presumed two things:
1) The national motto must be “pura vida” as it appeared on every souvenir I’d laid eyes on.
2) Their primary mode of transportation is a highway of inter-connected zip lines.
I planned several stops on the week long trip. 3 days surfing in Montezuma, a couple days doing tourist stuff in La Fortuna, before meeting with a college friend at Monteverde National Park and presumably, handling sloths, and feeding them fruit or something. At least, that's how it was supposed to go.
The first few days were unbelievable. Montezuma was a quiet beach town, with 1 ATM (which ate my debit card), 2 restaurants, 1 supermarket, and about a dozen yoga studios. Every night, I saw the same five people hanging out on the street smoking weed and playing drums. I was informed the town’s close relationship with cannabis earned it the nickname “Monte-fuma” (from the Spanish verb to smoke).
I ventured down unmarked roads and forded a small river in my rental SUV, stayed at a homey jungle hostel that employed a family of howler monkeys to provide wake up calls, showered outside, took a couple surf lessons, ate a lot of friend plantains and drank cachaca around a bonfire on the beach with other travelers. On the third day, I said goodbye to Montefuma. I tossed my large pack full of clothes in the back of the truck and my day pack (with my phone, wallet, cards and other essentials) in the front seat, and headed for La Fortuna.
I arrived to La Fortuna late in the evening, checked into my hostel “room”, which was actually a large tent, dropped my bags and immediately asked directions to a secluded hot spring I’d seen in my guidebook. This seemed like the ideal relaxation activity after a long day of driving. I found the spring about 10 miles away, at the end of an unmarked trail down the road from a large resort. I grabbed my day pack, so I had a bag for my flip flops and towel while I was swimming, and headed into the jungle.
I walked towards voices and the warm, orange glow of flickering candlelight, descended a few stone steps, and then paused to take in the rustic beauty of the simple stone structures. There was a small cave to the left, with a group of 15 people, whose voices I’d heard reverberating through the chamber. To the right was a small waterfall, with a pool a few feet below. I lowered myself into the secluded pool, leaned back as the water rushed over me, and looked through a hole in the canopy. The night was clear enough to see stars despite the intermittent bolts of lightning, and light rain which tumbled through the trees. THIS was my Pura Vida moment. I would surely buy a t-shirt at the airport when all this was over.
Meanwhile, about 50 ft away, my backpack, which I had neglected to empty of all my valuables, sat unattended. This was my pack I had sitting next to me in the passenger seat for my drive, with all the items I would most likely need to access during the trip: credit cards, passports, phone, camera, shoes, and cash. Being swept up in the Pura Vida surfer’s paradise good vibes, I had totally spaced on removing all the valuables from what I’d only brought with me to hold keys, flip flops and a towel.
[Enter old timey radio announcer]
What will happen next? Will Rob’s bag still be there after his transcendental soak? Tune in next time, for Chapter 2 of Storytime with Rob: Costa Rica Edition!