Chick Trip to Costa Rica
Matt has sent me away for my birthday every year for the past few years. You see, he’s a CPA and my b-day falls right during his busy season. And not just busy season but sign-off week for one of his biggest clients. Last year it was Jamaica with Mom and Mel, the year before that was LA to be on the "Price is Right", before that -- NY to visit Connie & Tara, and this year was Costa Rica with 5 girlfriends – Emma, Kat, Cheryl, Kelly, Kathy.

Day 1:
Henry stayed at Gramme and Grandpa’s and I woke up at 2:30 a.m. to make our 5:30 a.m. flight, which got us to Costa Rica mid-afternoon. We rented a mini-van and drove to our all-inclusive beach resort in Pappaguyo. We hung out at the pool and swim-up bar.

Day 2:
Emma woke us up bright and early saying the snorkel boat was leaving in 5 mintues – "Hurry, hurry, get up!" We threw on bikini’s and sun screen and headed out. In the afternoon, we hung by the pool some more and soaked up the sun. In the evening we drove to Coco Beach for a little shopping and seafood by the water.

Day 3: We had a big breakfast then packed up the mini-van for a 4-hour drive around Lake Arenal into the rainforest. We arrived at the Tabacon Hot Springs and Resort just in time for a late-afternoon rainforest hike.

When it got dark, we could see the lava rolling down the mountain. It was a really cool light show.

Then we made our way over to the Hot Springs to relax. The water was SO hot, I could barely stand it. The lava from the volcano heats up the water which flows through the rainforest and pools at the bottom of the mountain.

Day 4:
Morning – We rode horse back thru the rainforest for about an hour to see this beautiful waterfall. Man, I must really have a boney butt because my cheeks hurt the whole way there and back. I also got bruises on my ankles from the sturrips. Needless to say, Matt is going to have to take Henry horseback riding because I’ll probably never get on another horse. It was all worth it though. The waterfall was amazing and my horse, Memo, was super sweet.


Afternoon – Aching for more adventure, we took a sky tram up the mountain then, attached only by our hips, we zipped down on cables.There were 8 platforms that connect the lines that hang up to 600 feet above the rainforest. One of the runs was a ½ mile long. We get up to about 45 mph on that one. The view was amazing – rainforest below and Lake Arenal to the side.

Evening – We all got spa treatments at the hot springs. I got a sugar/coffee body scrub, banana-mint facial and swedish message in my own private bungalow. Heaven!

Day 5:
Big breakfast and back in the mini-van for our 4-hour return drive to the airport. We stopped off and got pizza in Libera. YUMMM…. We made it to the airport in plenty of time. Had a short layover in Atlanta and made it back into Dallas just before mid-night.

Of course the trip was a total blast! But I totally missed my boys – Matt, Henry and Shackleford. Five days, 4 nights is a long time to be away when you’re a new mom, so coming home was just as exciting as leaving.

More Rica chick pics -- click here>>.