I sit at my laptop with coffee in hand and a fruit bowl mixed with papaya, mango and pineapple as I write my last email in Costa. My heart is so full with gratitude and happiness as I reflect on the people I've met and adventures I've experienced this past week. Here are some updates from the past few days.
Two nights ago the talk of the town was this "fiesta." Everyone was raving about it so after dinner we got a tuk tuk to take us to this undisclosed location. Well, let me tell you that this was not the kind of fiesta I was expecting. As we arrived, we saw a bunch of people circled around this Costa Rican man-made bull ring. No Joke! There was a clown in the middle of the ring getting the hundreds of people in the stands worked up. As the bull riders came out, the announcer screamed a million Spanish words a minute and the crowd went absolutely wild as the riders individually came out and held on for dear life. It was a pretty ridiculous site to see!!! I asked myself if I was in Pamplona for the running of the bulls or Costa Rica on a casual Sunday night lol We had a few beers, had some good laughs and called it a night.
The following morning, I woke up and took yet another tuk tuk to the top of the mountain where my yoga retreat was supposed to be held. The 360 views were absolutely breathtaking!!! The staff kindly greeted me and gave me a tour of the property, which was purchased 20 years ago by the owner Darin for $25,000. If you guys only saw the view from this place overlooking the ocean and rain forest and the thousands of acres of land that he purchased at that cost, your jaw would have dropped. It was something else! I chatted it up with the owners and staff for a while as they kindly invited me to teach a retreat next year. I was flattered ;)
So, remember when I said everything happens for a reason in my last email? Well, it was a blessing in disguise that this retreat got cancelled, as I found out that everyone who stayed there the previous week came down with an awful 72 hour stomach virus. Getting sick in Costa is the last thing I would have wanted to experience. I'll definitely be back to teach, but it just wasn't meant to be for me to partake in this yoga retreat this time.
That night, we had dinner with a few friends, watched the sunset and went to a Tapas bar for some wine and laughs. I found out that two of the girls are from my hometown. We went down to the beach for a bonfire with all the locals and the two girls walked me to my resort before heading back to theirs. I am so glad I met the girls as they were wonderful travel companions. One of the girls lives in Manhattan Beach and we've already made plans to go to the Green Yogi for class when I return.
Taco Tuesdays are big at this surfer owned restaurant called Beach Dog Cafe. There is live music and open mic for anyone to sing and perform. I refrained from singing since I didn't want to blow out any ear drums lol. After dinner and music, we took the fiesta (this was more of the fiesta I was use to) down to the beach for a bonfire, cerveza and Smores. I met the owners son of the resort I am staying at who is from Canada and moved to Costa 7 years ago to help his dad build out the Bodhi Tree Resort. It was great hearing his story about his transition to live here full time.
Today is my last day. I'll be getting a massage, doing yoga, surfing and doing last minute shopping. Although my trip has quickly come to an end, I know I will be back to this charming town of Nosara. The locals, the yoga, the food, the people and the positive vibes have all captured my heart!