Life is full of contrasts.

Just over a week ago I was squiggling my toes in the sand, warm winds were knocking off my straw hat, and I was basking in the glow of new friendly faces and foreign lands.

This week, however, I’m helping my parents move into their new house in the freezing temperatures of a Washington State winter – up to my elbows in boxes of memories and arbitrary collections, and all the baggage that that entails… (I.e. the folks at Goodwill and I are practically on a first name basis.)

Taking a much needed break to edit this video, though, has given me some respite from the taxing residues of the past, and another opportunity to swim in the warm memories of our adventure.

Because, in a word, Costa Rica was divine. The people were so kind and tranquilo, the wildlife was out of this world, and the topography was lush and bucolic ad naseum.

You may be curious – can one find vegan food in Costa Rica?

¡Si! Fortunately, we didn’t we have much trouble getting vegan fare during our stay. Most places had gallo pinto (Costa Rican beans and rice,) plantains, veggies, and always salad. Plus, since there are loads of expats there, we never got any deer-in-headlights stares from waiters when we explained we were vegan.

Today’s vlog is quick summary of my family trip to the island of the “Ticos,” including some of my favorite moments like zip lining and jet skiing.

I didn’t film that much, because, honestly, I was focused on enjoying the time off and disconnecting a bit. So though it’s a short video today, I hope you enjoy it nevertheless.

Vamos!

Have you traveled to Costa Rica? I would love to hear all about your adventures and stories in the comments below! Of course I can’t wait to return and discover more of the country because we only had time to explore two locations. Next time? The Caribbean Coast.

Hope your new year is off to a fabulous start!