Christmas already seems long ago, as our entire family is enjoying this year’s Christmas gift — a week in Costa Rica. I’m just relieved to be here, with the surf crashing outside of our dreamy hotel in the remote Pacific Coast beach resort of Manuel Antonio.
I was a bit edgy getting out of Seattle. Snow was stranding people wearing Santa caps at the airport. I had logged on to the airport website to check on parking, which told me that all parking lots in and near the airport were full — even people with reservations were being turned away. So, since we couldn’t drive ourselves, I had to scramble at the last minute to find a loved one to brave the icy roads to drive us there.
And that followed a bigger fright. Two days before Christmas, my daughter Jackie realized she left her passport back at her dorm in Washington DC. We scramble to get it FedExed — but had no assurance that it was actually sent, as much of the country is snowed in. So the day before Christmas, not about to risk our long-awaited family vacation over a passport stuck in a snowstorm somewhere, we spent hours in downtown Seattle getting an emergency replacement passport.
There was a long line of people, the computers were down, and snow was threatening to close the office. We were nervous, telling the woman at the counter, “This is a real emergency — our entire family vacation depends on Jackie getting her passport today.” The woman curtly responded, “It’s the day before Christmas — it’s an emergency for everybody in this line.” We do the paperwork, they declare Jackie’s existing passport lost and cancel it, and send us away for two hours while they issue the new passport — but they say that with more snow threatening, they don’t know how long they’ll be able to stay open.
Trying to relax, we got word that Jackie’s original passport is actually on its way via FedEx and should be in Seattle shortly. Then the irony sets in. If the snow closes down the passport agency office, we could actually have gone to heroics to get her existing passport to Seattle while simultaneously cancelling it, and be unable to pick up the newly issued one before we were to fly out. Thankfully, the snow held off and Jackie got her passport (which was good, since the FedExed passport never made it in time). Flying out at midnight on Christmas night worked great. A quarter tab of Ambien gets me three hours of good sleep to Houston (dreaming of a four-legged tree and two happy monkeys). We then grabbed a burrito breakfast and good coffee before catching a flight to San Jose, Costa Rica, where another quarter tab of Ambien gave me the second half of my Christmas night’s sleep. (Ambien meets Starbucks…and Ambien wins.)
I feel clueless about Costa Rica. I simply signed up for the best eight days that my friend’s Costa Rica tour company could offer. I can’t even find where we’re going on the map. It’s fun being clueless. I actually brought the last of our Christmas Satsuma oranges all the way to Costa Rica, where the customs official made me toss them out. Not knowing what plugs work here, I needlessly brought European adapters. I’m paranoid that our iPhone will be accidentally on, and we’ll be roaming 24/7, racking up a huge bill…we’d be sipping cheap drinks while going broke.
At the small San Jose airport, we climbed into a tiny six-seater plane for the herky-jerky ride over lush mountains to a jungle landing strip and a quick shuttle to the remote beach at Manuel Antonio. The flight seemed pretty dangerous, but I kept looking at the pilot and his young co-pilot, who were incredibly nonchalant as they motored their airborne jalopy into a dense cloud, managing to push the right little buttons and switches as the entire cockpit rattled away in a complete whiteout. Eventually, like a stray chunk of two-lane highway, our landing strip came into view.
The kids are into this vacation. Jackie spent much of the flight reading up on Costa Rica’s civil war, local gender issues, and lively bars near our hotel. Andy’s all for getting up early tomorrow for our guided nature walk through the national park.
I’ve never been to Central America to simply relax. As golf carts are ready to shuttle us down to the beach at a moment’s notice, I’ll do my best not to think about economic realities over the border in Nicaragua and El Salvador. Costa Rica is the Switzerland/Disneyland of Central America, and for the next week, it’s our rum/sun/fun-soaked play zone. Tonight, stripping the meat out of my lobster tail, I told my family I need to get in shape in a hurry. The day after tomorrow, I learn to surf.
As someone who helped dig out three vehicles stuck in the Snohomish County Slush today, I am definitely envious of your trip. Costa Rica is amazing. Think of us here at home high-centered on a snow drift with nothing but a leaf-rake to shovel the drive! Merry, merry!
Rick it seems you have become a “Global Warming Climate Refugee”
Keep us posted on how you like it! We have been thinking of a trip to Costa Rica in Feb or Mar. Glad you are out of the snow and having a wonderful Christmas break! Happy Holidays
Have a great trip and Merry Christmas to all.
I am heading to Vermont for some skiing with my wife. Can’t wait to go!! Happy New Years to all!! (Anyone been skiing in Europe?)
Does Rick ever vacation in the USA? Just asking.
The woman curtly responded, “It’s the day before Christmas—it’s an emergency for everybody in this line.†Having been on both sides of the counter, ‘curtly’ is subjective. She might have felt the same way. Truly, you had an emergency. But I bet there were people telling her it would be all her fault if they didn’t get what they needed. Hope you enjoy your much earned vacation, ‘Clueless in Costa Rica’ :)
We were briefly in Costa Rica on a Panama Canal cruise. We went to a national park and rode 14 zip lines through the tree canopy. It was great. We want to go back and see more of Costa Rica. Have a great time.
Costa Rica is a great country to visit year-round. I am particularly fond of the volcano at Arenal, Manuel Antonio, and the turtles of Tortuguero. http://www.enduringwanderlust.com
Let’s see, after reading Rick and Andy’s blogs today, it appears Rick’s rules fly out the window and mean nothing to his kids. Keep your passport safe in your moneybelt. LOL. I love it! Welcome to the real world of traveling! Enjoy the warmth of Costa Rica. It’s miserable in the Pacific NW.
A heroic effort, Rick. Snow this year seems to come in volume and leave early – when I flew from Gatwick to Tallinn in November we were at the airport in London until 2am for a 6pm flight – and by the time I reached the end of my trip two weeks later there was not a snowflake in sight – although I was hoping to be delayed on the way back, all progressed smoothly :(.
I’d like to be in Costa Rica learning to surf. No shoveling snow here in Seattle. Have a great vacation!
Steve and family. Have fun, relax and go with the flow. Costa Rica has lots of opportunity for fun and beauty. It is a wounderful country with lots of friendly people about. Once you get past the roads and the toliet paper thing life becomes Pura Vida.
Now this was a great post, I hung on your every word.
Rick, as you’re recharging with the family on the beach … will you have time to reflect and share you “new years resolutions” with us … a post or an email from you a few years back is something I carried with me for a long time for perspective and inspiration … thanks and enjoy!
You go for it, Rick!!! Isn’t off-shore banking a big industry down there?
Sounds like a wonderful trip. As far as the passport, try UPS next time. :)
We’ve been wondering when you would go South! We and all our traveling friends have used your books for our travels in Europe. We’ve been to Costa Rica 2times and are going down for our 3rd in 6days. With the economy & the exceptional natural beauty and friendly Ticos I think more from the USA will be spending their travel dollars in like places. At least those we know will. It sounds like you had a great time.
A bit of coincidence — my family (my wife, son of 21, and daughter of 17)just returned from 19 days in South America. For the first time in our life we booked a “tour”. We spend a week in Peru, Matchu Picchu and a week in the Galapagos. Rest of the time was travel, 11 flights in the 19 days plus bus rides, train ride and four nights on a boat. We had a great time! But, I wanted to pose a question. Since this was a tour, we had other folks on the tour. Most were great people, but … There were about four that were incessant whiners and complainers. We didn’t understand why they came on the tour since they only talked about how these countries didn’t measure up to the USA. And, lastly they had terrible travel skills (no attempt to use the language, not even a thank you in Spanish), packing light was a 30 inch roller board, and not willing to listen to the guides. My question, is how typical is this? Do these types show up often or were we just unlucky. My response at time was to start speaking in Spanish with our guides. I got a few dirty looks but again it changed the dynamic. On a different note, related to an earlier post, it’s clear we have neighbors to the South that are thoughtful, intelligent, articulate. They also struggle with economic and political realities that make many of our problems look trivial. We found many instances of kindness and generosity. It reminded us that the holiday season is a time to give thanks and to try to open our eyes and hearts.