Costa Rica- Part 1

On January 3^rd we boarded a plane for Costa Rica- planning to spend our first week as tourists before our house was ready in the mountains.

  We had a few hours to kill in a tiny domestic airport in san jose.  So the kids worked on their journals and befriended the agents at the gate who let adira speak over the intercom! This was our first peek into the fact that although there arent many young kids traveling where we are going, people tend to be enamored with seeing young kids :) 

We flew to San Jose to catch a puddle jumper to the south west corner in the Osa Peninsula- to be immersed in the jungle.  Well our adventure began quickly-- when our plane made a pit stop in a town 2 hours from our destination and got stuck in a heavy down pour.  The american family who sat behind us in the puddle jumper started cursing and getting mad at the poor pilot who was looking out for our safety, so I took it as an opportunity to reinforce what would become our mantra- this is an adventure, some things will be hard, but we will be together and ultimately it will be fun.  The kids really took this in, and out we went in the raining dark (3 hours after we were initally supposed to land in Drake Bay), and the kids and I decided to have a dance party at the only restaurant at this tiny tiny airport and ordered smoothies while Jacob called around to get us transportation. 

After 2 different cabs winding us through one lane dark bumpy roads, it was now 10pm and we had to take a small boat to our hotel that required us all to walk into the water up to our thighs before getting in.  We couldnt see anything in the water, and although images of crocodiles jumped into my head, we did not mention that to the kids- but did review what to do if you fall out :)  Our hotel welcomed us with dinner and the kids stayed up until midnight, a very exciting night for them!  They even woke early the next morning to go on our snorkeling excursion.  Where we were near Drake Bay was an oasis for me- we walked everywhere (which I now realize how much I value), explored different beaches, kayaking in rivers, immersed in nature without many people but with many animals :)  Our days were filled with exploration, but I was exhausted.  I wasn’t sleeping well, the kids were having major sibling rivalry and the hotel was not exactly built for kids, so it made me anxious about our kids being the only kids at the hotel and not sitting quietly at meals etc. But it was certainly a good choice to come here- the kids asked so many questions about the wildlife and nature, they took in so much and explored life from all vantage points in the jungle.  If I have the chance, I will go back in a heartbeat, its really a special place.  

After 4 days we headed to Manuel Antonio National Park.  My initial reaction here was that we were in a tourist trap and I needed to get out, but as soon as I released that feeling, I started to enjoy the boogie boarding beach, the monkeys next to our room, and the beautiful views.  Adira practiced her swimming skills every day--I took Shiloh ziplining as a birthday gift, and although he was the youngest one there, he was certainly the most brave! On our last day, Shiloh turned 7!  I asked the kids if they were happy to be in costa rica- and they said they missed their friends, but they were happy we were here.  Both agreed it was a good choice to come :)