Gaia Resort for 17th Anniversary

For a change of pace, we booked a week at the Gaia Reserve and Resort near Quepos, Costa Rica.  Loft Suite #133 was ours for our week long stay.  Our concierge for our stay was a young Costa Rican gal named Catalina. Thanks to WhatsApp she was available 24 hours a day….answering questions, booking dining reservations, and shuttles to the beach. The staff was amazing, always offering top notch service. Nestled on a hilltop surrounded by lush rainforest the views are breathtaking.

A quick ride down to the gate and we would catch a shuttle to Espadilla Beach.  Our concierge arranged for 2 lounge chairs and a umbrella for a relaxing beach day. 

The beach was beautiful, with gentle waves and warm water. The perfect spot to spend the day.  A school bus renovated into a restaurant served delicious burgers and fries.

La Luna, the restaurant at Gaia served a special menu for Valentine’s Day/our Anniversary. A spectacular sunset and a delicious meal with great service made the perfect pairing.

After a week of being spoiled it was time to head back to San Jose and our flight to Houston.  

Blu Azul for Xmas 2024

This was our first time staying at Blu Azul in Esterillos Este.
First off, we knew we had a 2nd floor unit, not our favorite but it was the only one available.  The room was spacious with a kitchen, dining table and chairs, a big bed, and big bathroom....plus good WiFi and AC!  The gas cook top was an old propane gas four burner that had seen better days and when ignited I always feared I would singe my eyebrows! The burner was tricky to use but I managed with some laughs and a few bad words! We didn't starve for sure!  The shower head called a suicide shower head was tricky!  It had exposed electric wires running to it and only protruded inches from the wall. It provided instant hot water but you had to press your body to the shower wall to get wet. Dale said just don't touch the wires! The bed proved to be the most challenging.  I think it was a King box spring with 2 thin twin mattresses on top.  During the night if you tossed and turned the top 2 mattresses would separate and a giant crack would appear. Dale always seemed to be in the crack but survived!  Part of the issue was the sheets didn't fit snug so the 2 mattresses would travel, sometimes moving partly off the bed.  Amazingly it was super comfortable and we slept great....except when in the crack!  Minor things were the toaster only toasted on one side, the sink had no hot water, typical of Costa Rica. There was a 1-2 inch lip in the tile between the bedroom and living area that proved to be a killer in the middle of the night on the way to the bathroom. I found a big heavy rug that covered the lip and probably saved us a few falls and broken bones!
Other than that, the place was feet from the beach with million-dollar views.  Two local rescued mutts were very lovable and always showed up when I cooked breakfast!  My alarm clock was a Tico that came by on the road about 5 am on a loud motorbike and a tweety bird outside my window that serenaded me every morning before the sun broke the horizon. 
But I'm an early riser, and always aim to put the first footprints on the sand in the morning. 
We rolled with the punches, laughed a bunch and survived with stories to tell!  As spoiled American travelers it is always good to experience other lifestyles as it reinforces how lucky we are to live with all our conveniences and comforts.

 

Dale’s friend Chepe

The Wedding 10/12/2024

 

On a beautiful October afternoon under clear blue Texas skies, Lexi and Ethan were joined in matrimony, surrounded by those nearest and dearest to them, and celebrated with a moving ceremony. 

 

Iceland the Land of Fire and Ice!

From waterfalls and wildlife to the contrast of icy glaciers and dramatic volcanoes, there are countless reasons to visit Iceland.  Icelandic nature is unspoiled, exotic, and mystical with its spouting geysers, active volcanoes, tumbling waterfalls, towering mountains, vast lava plains and magical lakes, Iceland’s Fjords, glaciers, and beautiful highland plains.

These are just a few of the reasons Cecilia and I booked the Ring Road guided tour with Nordic Visitor. To explore Reykjavik we flew in a few days early and enjoyed exploring all the city had to offer.

Photos and words sadly don’t come close to describing all we experienced in Iceland.  But I did compose a brief summary of our trip.

We logged over 1,400 miles in 8 days driven by our trusty tour guide, Havar!  

We soaked in geothermal spas, climbed over lava, strolled black sand beaches, picked up glacier ice, walked along fjords, saw thousands of sheep and Icelandic horses.  

Watching the Northern Lights dancing above our heads will be an experience we will always treasure. 

We sampled some delicious local cuisine…..from Artic Char, Lobster soup, Smashed fish, Icelandic hot dogs to pickled herring and fermented shark……and the best cinnamon rolls ever! We stayed in nine hotels while on the Ring Road.  Stood near. above, around magnificent waterfalls.

 

Exploring Reykjavik we visited the Perlan Museum, 

Harpa Concert Hall, The Whale Museum, Fly Over Iceland, Hallgrímskirkja (Lutheran Church) and the Sun Voyager. 

Iceland is a land of fire and ice with an ample supply of crystal clear cold water. Its beauty is matched only by its ruggedness. The climate is constantly changing….day by day….hour by hour!

Goodbye Iceland!