After a very extra busy few weeks, we're back to report on a fabulous visit from some of our kids. One daughter and granddaughter stayed with us for a full week before the rest of the gang, their significant others, and another grandson arrived. The trip was a combination reunion, birthday and graduation celebration, and most of it was spent on Isla Damas, near Quepos. But while they were with us, our little apartment (and an adjacent one loaned to us by our wonderful Ms. M.) turned into Fiesta Central!
Aside from the sheer joy of seeing the kids -- and having them visit us on our "new turf" -- the highlight the trip was a stay at Lands of Love Resort. The property is located about half-way between San Ramon and La Fortuna, on the way to Volcan Arenal, making it a great place to stay while exploring the region. And I can tell you that we fell in love with it the moment we turned off the main road and began our descent to the hotel.
The property is beyond incredible. The view from our very comfortable and beautifully appointed room left us awestruck.
But what really sealed the deal for us was the attention to detail, like handpainted accents on the bed linens and placemats, and the personal attention we received from the staff.
Our granddaughter suffers from life-threatening allergies to milk and peanuts - and, to a lesser degree, eggs. So you can imagine how scarry it was for her mom to bring her to a country where the food is very different from the U.S. and where the language barrier might present extra risks. Lands in Love, a vegetarian resort, turned out to be the perfect destination for Emily.
When we explained her food restrictions, the chef came to our table and spent an incredible amount of time discussing menu options with our daughter.
Then each and every one of her meals at the resort was prepared especially for her, keeping her special needs in mind. The chef even prepared delicious bread, containing no milk or eggs, that tasted fabulous and were perfectly safe for Emily to eat.
While we were there, we ratcheted up our courage and signed up for some adventure tours: a breathtaking zip line, a canopy tour that includes a Tarzan swing, and canyoning (or as I would call it, repelling into a waterfall). Never in my life did I expect to willingly jump off a perfectly good bridge - but I did it. And so did Emily, her mother, and Grandpa. What a thrill.
Next time we go to the resort, the kids want to add horseback riding and whitewater rafting to the itinerary and I want to save some time for a guided birdwatching tour. Even though we sighted some pretty cool ones -- including a small flock of toucans -- on this trip, I'd really like to see how much more we would see with an expert.
It was sad to see everyone off this past weekend. Yet it felt good to get back to our routine. What felt really, really good, though, was realizing that we actually have a routine to get back to -- and after only four short months here!
Pura Vida
