Inspired

View of the lake, with Volcan Arenal faintly apparent in the background (right of center)

Our days in Costa Rica have been slow and easy, quiet and peaceful. Even with the slow pace, we have been able to do a lot in the short time we have been here. For me, and I think Ryan would agree, the highlights have been connecting with the unique cast of characters who live, work, and vacation in this region. For example, our friend Dave had a party the other night and it was attended by people from Germany, Italy, Canada, Costa Rica, Poland, and I don´t know where else... The lingua franca is more Spanish, here, than English, which we appreciate because we love practicing every chance we get. I love the challenge of trying to have a conversation in Spanish with someone whose first language is Italian; we end up with SpanItalIsh, rather than the usual ¨Spanglish.¨What fun!

Another highlight occurred on Friday, when our friends Francesco and Laurie took us hiking by Rio Celeste. Francesco and Laurie are wonderful; he´s from Italy and she´s from Toronto. They are part-owners of the most amazing inn called Mystica, here. Laurie is a Reiki healer, both are yogis, beautiful people. They´ve been taking very good care of us :)

Waterfall at Rio Celeste/ Hiking with Francesco and Laurie

We hiked in to the waterfall, then beside the river to a natural hot tub. There, we swam in a pool that was heated by bubbling hot gases coming from within the volcanic earth. It was a very strange sensation, to feel (and smell) the hot bubbles moving through the cold river. We joked that we were swimming in Mother Nature´s farts! Somehow, it was still magical. Ha!

Natural hot tub in Rio Celeste

Besides this unique and beautiful excursion, we have mostly stayed close to the house. We have done a lot of yoga. Ryan has been running down to the windsurf site and back every other day, and kiting and windsurfing too. I´ve been content walking and hiking, painting, journaling. This whole trip has been both grounding and inspiring for both of us, and we know that the energy of this place will go with us.

The house at Lake Arenal. Main house is on right.

Ryan catching air on the windsurf board!

I don´t have much else to say right now, so I will just post a few more photos, below. We hope you enjoy them, and that you are enjoying whatever it is that you are doing with your days.

Sending you love and magic,
Jess and Ryan

Francesco, Norman, Ryan, and Antonello at the windsurf site