(This is an article from the archives, part one in a series of nine about different parts of the world. This was not part of our South America/Mexico trip of 2017.)
At the end of 2014, we were given the opportunity to live in an off-grid house in the jungle of Costa Rica. It's a great story, which will be published in depth some day. was about the two ecovillages I got to know while living there, and the contrast between two very different approaches at creating community.
While living on the farm of our friend Matthew Human, we learned about jungle permaculture, installed a large garden, got to know the local communities, and spent lots of time down at the river. We also took some time to explore Costa Rica, thanks in large part to Laura's sister Jurate, who came down and traveled with us, and to my Dad and Susan, who came down and met us and took us on some cool tours and to two really nice resorts.
We had an Isuzu Trooper down there, and we took it all over, though we certainly explored only a small part of the relatively small country. It takes so much time to get to know land. I feel lucky to have seen so much, yet I get but a glimpse as I wander about. Those who live on the land, who stay on the land, are the only ones who can truly grasp the way of a place.
For those of us not fortunate enough to live in any of these amazing places, there's always the Nikon. Here's a compilation of our adventures around Costa Rica.
Human's house
Rio Arenal
Jaco
Playa Potrero
White Faced Monkey, Miramar
Poison Frog, Cara Cara National Park
Three Toed Sloth, Manuel Antonio National Park
Tarcoles RIver
Puntarenas
Rio Machuga
Feria Verde, San Jose
Playa Brasilito
Jesus Cristo Lizard on the Rio Frio
Our friend Lisa's family farm in Miramar
Playa Hermosa
Tree Planting Event, San Mateo
Hot Springs at Arenal
Manuel Antonio National Park
Jaco
Cara Cara National Park
Garden Party at Lisa's House, San Mateo
At the park in Orotina
Near Manuel Antonio
Playa Tamarindo
Atenas
Playa Potrero
Playa Grande
Arenal Hot Springs Resort
Waterfalls at Rio Machuga
Swimming Hole near Miramar
Manuel Antonio
HIking at Cara Cara National Park
Arenal Volcano
Walking around Jaco
Playa Potrero
Miramar
Tarcoles River
Rio Frio
Downtown Orotina
A nice little organic restaurant in Alajuela
At the awesome resort where my Dad put us up when we met down at Manuel Antonio
The church in San Mateo
Weekly Market in Orotina
Feria Verde, the Organic Farmer's Market, San Jose
Playa Brasilito
Jurate and Laura, at the Arenal Resort
Puntarenas
Exploring an abandoned mine near the Rio Machuga Falls. What did we find inside?
Just a cave river crab. And a waterfall.
The girls had a good group of friends in Costa Rica
We went to lots of birthday parties. Pinatas at every one, and Lila still knows how to sing happy birthday in Spanish.
Eva was thrilled to go horse back riding on the beach with Jurate
At Playa Tamarindo
Lila with Big Daddy
Brad's dipping pool at Tacotal
Many thanks to Human, who set us up with this whole situation. It was a great time, hanging out in the jungles of Costa Rica with so many awesome people.