What do you say about a vacation on which your 10 closest family members go to Costa Rica in Central America over Christmas Holidays for 10 days and while there experience:

Festival Popular, both in the streets of San Jose and at Zapote, and in Zapote they ride rides outlawed in the US (by Insurance Companies), see the best fireworks anyone in the group has ever seen, a Costa Rican Bull Fight which the bull is aggravated but not harmed, instead young Ticos (the name preferred by them for themselves) males and even some Ticas (females) attempt to run at the bull and tie a red flag to his horns for a prize. Many are trampled, and some are gored and evacuated to the hospital. This is interspersed with horsemanship, roping and bull riding. All this accented a harrowing 15 cent US ride on the public bus (standing room only) across town to and from Zapote.

The Museums and shops of San Jose, a city of 1.5 million. The Don Carlos and its extensive collections of Pre Colombian and contemporary Costa Rican art, the Architectural jewels of this Latin city including the Cathedral and the Basilica in nearby Cartago, Italian Restaurants that are "real" Italian, Shoe Stores and Mercados that were stocked to the brim with consumer goods. A huge parade of horses brought in on trucks from distant country fincas, a parade of old US Cars, '39 Hudson, '49 Ford, '54 Ford, all in primo condition. Dancing girls (fully clothed of course but with sprayed on clothes (in other words tight!) dancing in the back of pick ups drinking Imperial (the Costa Rican Beer), Policia on every corner and flying through the streets on souped up dirt bikes, smiling and making one feel secure. San Jose was a real surprise!!

"Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez in the dark in 6 hours (that's a fact guys, but we had a driver that knew the road). We splashed through mud holes bigger than the Great Lakes and bounced through Huecos (Pot Holes) big enough to swallow the Titanic, squeezed through narrow rattling steel bridges they said were built by the CIA and bounced through dusty and rainy towns full of pedestrians walking the narrow streets seeking to gather for the holiday in some local hang out (Soda), all in the dark, dark Costa Rican night.

The Lodge at Iguana. Off grid (no electricity except what they produce themselves) Cabinas sitting in the midst of the jungle on a beautiful volcanic beach, directly on the Sweet Gulf, Golfo Dulce, which has all the best attributes of a lake and the ocean combined. Good food three times a day, dark, dark, dark at night (stars blind you), sunrises over the Panamanian mountains to the east that are to die for and intensely sunny days under an equatorial sun (8 degrees north of the equator). Waves pound the beach in intense curls for hours then relent and the gulf turns to glass. Monkey troupes swing past in the trees and Macaws and Toucans are common like the Robins are in the yard at home. Sloths and even stranger critters stalk though the trees, and bugs are strangely absent.

From the Iguana adventure beckons, while all the group didn't do all the things, this is the list: Swimming with Dolphins and boating across the Gulf to Snorkel, Hiking the beaches of Cabo Matapalo, spotting all four types of monkeys, more Toucans, dozens of Macaws, Eagles, Hawks, Anteaters, Lizards, Snakes, Leaf Cutter Ants, Surfers and a car from New Mexico. Climbing a waterfall and cooling off in the pool right next to the beach, Kayaking in the Mangrove Swamp, Riding Horses on the beach past Killer Bees, Scuba Adventure to Canos Island, with a deep Pacific Dive from a Catamaran (a trip that was almost overshadowed by the excitement of the transportation to and from Drakes Bay), A Charter Flight in a small plane all the way around the Osa, Climbing a hundred foot hollow tree, Rappelling down a 200 foot series of Waterfalls into the jungle, using the Internet in a cafe 30 miles form the nearest paved road (and it is as fast as at home!), hanging out out the airport (no terminal, no security, no problem) shopping in the shoe stores in Puerto Jimenez and trying to figure out the ATM machine (the only air conditioned spot in town), and bouncing around in the Osa version of a taxi.

Back up the Pacific Coast along the Coastal Highway, the Cosataner Sol. Speeding along the highway past views and beaches uncounted, dodging Iguanas as they run across the road, bounding along dusty gravel roads lined with Palm Oil Trees and Palm Oil factories, passing long trains of palm nut carts pulled by tractors in the blinding dust, negotiating one lane bridges where the bold have the right of way and zooming past little factory towns built around soccer fields. Honking through traffic in the little town of Quepos, like Myrtle Beach was in the early sixties, small hotels, quaint little bars and a constant flow of cars filled with Tico Teens and buses loaded with Tourists on day trips out of San Jose. Relaxing at a beachfront restart in Jaco, watching as a parade of humanity passes along the beach: two out of place backpackers trudge along the surf with full gear (boy they must be hot!), a Tico rides past just above the surf on a spirited pony, stepping carefully among the sun worshippers, sail boats bob off shore and tents line the property next door, Ticos on Holiday, while the blue Pacific pounds the rocky cliffs enclosing the wide beach. At a river crossing hundreds of people are on the bridge, squeezed against the guardrail avoiding the traffic and peering over the side. We stop and walk back to see what's up, and see some real "Hombres", ancient Crocodile, ugly as sin!..

You say

Pura Vida !!!

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A few places to remember ...

Costa Rica, San Jose, Cartago, Poas, Irazu, Turrialba, San Isidro, Dominical, Uvita, Cortes, Palmar Sur, Palmar Notre, Cerro Muerte, Balcon de Europa, Don Carlos Hotel, Annamaries, News Bar & Grill, Hotel Presidente, Gold Museum, Jade Museum, Festival Popular, Zapote, Avienida Central, Calle 9, Parque Morazan, Plaza de la Cultura, Teatro National, Museo de Oro Precolumbino, Parque Espana, Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles, Plaza de la Basilica, Ballena, Sierpe, Rio Terraba, Bahia Drake, Rincon de Osa, Golfito, Golfo Dulce, Cabo Matapalo, Corcovado, Osa, Sirena Station, Canos Island, La Palma, Puerto Jimenez, Playa Plantares, Rio Tigre, Gato Negro, Highway 34, Rio Tarcoles, Orotin Highway, Jaco, Atenas, Juan Santamara, Balboa Park, Costa Rica, San Jose, Cartago, Poas, Irazu, Turrialba, San Isidro, Dominical, Uvita, Cortes, Palmar Sur, Palmar Notre, Cerro Muerte, Balcon de Europa, Don Carlos Hotel, Annamaries, News Bar & Grill, Hotel Presidente, Gold Museum, Jade Museum, Festival Popular, Zapote, Avienida Central, Calle 9, Parque Morazan, Plaza de la Cultura, Teatro National, Museo de Oro Precolumbino, Parque Espana, Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles, Plaza de la Basilica, Ballena, Sierpe, Rio Terraba, Bahia Drake, Rincon de Osa, Golfito, Golfo Dulce, Cabo Matapalo, Corcovado, Osa, Sirena Station, Canos Island, La Palma, Puerto Jimenez, Playa Plantares, Rio Tigre, Gato Negro, Highway 34, Rio Tarcoles, Orotin Highway, Jaco, Atenas, Juan Santamara, Balboa Park, Costa Rica, San Jose, Cartago, Poas, Irazu, Turrialba, San Isidro, Dominical, Uvita, Cortes, Palmar Sur, Palmar Notre, Cerro Muerte, Balcon de Europa, Don Carlos Hotel, Annamaries, News Bar & Grill, Hotel Presidente, Gold Museum, Jade Museum, Festival Popular, Zapote, Avienida Central, Calle 9, Parque Morazan, Plaza de la Cultura, Teatro National, Museo de Oro Precolumbino, Parque Espana, Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles, Plaza de la Basilica, Ballena, Sierpe, Rio Terraba, Bahia Drake, Rincon de Osa, Golfito, Golfo Dulce, Cabo Matapalo, Corcovado, Osa, Sirena Station, Canos Island, La Palma, Puerto Jimenez, Playa Plantares, Rio Tigre, Gato Negro, Highway 34, Rio Tarcoles, Orotin Highway, Jaco, Atenas, Juan Santamara, Balboa Park, Costa Rica, San Jose, Cartago, Poas, Irazu, Turrialba, San Isidro, Dominical, Uvita, Cortes, Palmar Sur, Palmar Notre, Cerro Muerte, Balcon de Europa, Don Carlos Hotel, Annamaries, News Bar & Grill, Hotel Presidente, Gold Museum, Jade Museum, Festival Popular, Zapote, Avienida Central, Calle 9, Parque Morazan, Plaza de la Cultura, Teatro National, Museo de Oro Precolumbino, Parque Espana, Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles, Plaza de la Basilica, Ballena, Sierpe, Rio Terraba, Bahia Drake, Rincon de Osa, Golfito, Golfo Dulce, Cabo Matapalo, Corcovado, Osa, Sirena Station, Canos Island, La Palma, Puerto Jimenez, Playa Plantares, Rio Tigre, Gato Negro, Highway 34, Rio Tarcoles, Orotin Highway, Jaco, Atenas, Juan Santamara, Balboa Park, Costa Rica, San Jose, Cartago, Poas, Irazu, Turrialba, San Isidro, Dominical, Uvita, Cortes, Palmar Sur, Palmar Notre, Cerro Muerte, Balcon de Europa, Don Carlos Hotel, Annamaries, News Bar & Grill, Hotel Presidente, Gold Museum, Jade Museum, Festival Popular, Zapote, Avienida Central, Calle 9, Parque Morazan, Plaza de la Cultura, Teatro National, Museo de Oro Precolumbino, Parque Espana, Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles, Plaza de la Basilica, Ballena, Sierpe, Rio Terraba, Bahia Drake, Rincon de Osa, Golfito, Golfo Dulce, Cabo Matapalo, Corcovado, Osa, Sirena Station, Canos Island, La Palma, Puerto Jimenez, Playa Plantares, Rio Tigre, Gato Negro, Highway 34, Rio Tarcoles, Orotin Highway, Jaco, Atenas, Juan Santamara, Balboa Park, Costa Rica, San Jose, Cartago, Poas, Irazu, Turrialba, San Isidro, Dominical, Uvita, Cortes, Palmar Sur, Palmar Notre, Cerro Muerte, Balcon de Europa, Don Carlos Hotel, Annamaries, News Bar & Grill, Hotel Presidente, Gold Museum, Jade Museum, Festival Popular, Zapote, Avienida Central, Calle 9, Parque Morazan, Plaza de la Cultura, Teatro National, Museo de Oro Precolumbino, Parque Espana, Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles, Plaza de la Basilica, Ballena, Sierpe, Rio Terraba, Bahia Drake, Rincon de Osa, Golfito, Golfo Dulce, Cabo Matapalo, Corcovado, Osa, Sirena Station, Canos Island, La Palma, Puerto Jimenez, Playa Plantares, Rio Tigre, Gato Negro, Highway 34, Rio Tarcoles, Orotin Highway, Jaco, Atenas, Juan Santamara, Balboa Park, Costa Rica, San Jose, Cartago, Poas, Irazu, Turrialba, San Isidro, Dominical, Uvita, Cortes, Palmar Sur, Palmar Notre, Cerro Muerte, Balcon de Europa, Don Carlos Hotel, Annamaries, News Bar & Grill, Hotel Presidente, Gold Museum, Jade Museum, Festival Popular, Zapote, Avienida Central, Calle 9, Parque Morazan, Plaza de la Cultura, Teatro National, Museo de Oro Precolumbino, Parque Espana, Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles, Plaza de la Basilica, Ballena, Sierpe, Rio Terraba, Bahia Drake, Rincon de Osa, Golfito, Golfo Dulce, Cabo Matapalo, Corcovado, Osa, Sirena Station, Canos Island, La Palma, Puerto Jimenez, Playa Plantares, Rio Tigre, Gato Negro, Highway 34, Rio Tarcoles, Orotin Highway, Jaco, Atenas, Juan Santamara, Balboa Park, Costa Rica, San Jose, Cartago, Poas, Irazu, Turrialba, San Isidro, Dominical, Uvita, Cortes, Palmar Sur, Palmar Notre, Cerro Muerte, Balcon de Europa, Don Carlos Hotel, Annamaries, News Bar & Grill, Hotel Presidente, Gold Museum, Jade Museum, Festival Popular, Zapote, Avienida Central, Calle 9, Parque Morazan, Plaza de la Cultura, Teatro National, Museo de Oro Precolumbino, Parque Espana, Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles, Plaza de la Basilica, Ballena, Sierpe, Rio Terraba, Bahia Drake, Rincon de Osa, Golfito, Golfo Dulce, Cabo Matapalo, Corcovado, Osa, Sirena Station, Canos Island, La Palma, Puerto Jimenez, Playa Plantares, Rio Tigre, Gato Negro, Highway 34, Don Carlos Hotel, Annamaries, News Bar & Grill, Hotel Presidente, Gold Museum, Jade Museum, Festival Popular, Zapote, Avienida Central, Calle 9, Parque Morazan, Plaza de la Cultura, Teatro National, Museo de Oro Precolumbino, Parque Espana, Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles

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