When the small country of Costa Rica gained its independence from Guatemala back in 1821, the newly formed country went by a new name - The Rich Coast. While those who were naming it were talking mostly about the richness of the resources found in the country (due to millions of years of volcanic activity, there's minerals galore), I believe the Rich Coast has to offer a wealth of natural beauty, culture and adventure.I was there for Tom and Kathleen's wedding and honestly, they couldn't have picked a better location. I arrived at the Flamingo Resort and Spa in Guanacaste (an hour outside of Liberia) and immediately hit the pool for sun and relaxation. This wedding was a bit of a reunion of sorts and also an opportunity to meet some new faces.
The first two days were incredibly lazy and relaxing. My routine consisted of breakfast, pool, walks on the beach, pool, naps, pool, and sun x infinity. It was great to be able to do absolutely nothing and have no time restrictions. Replacing meetings, status calls, contact reports and other mundane Account Management jobs with those activities made me grin like a baby who just pooped their diaper, knowing someone had to change me shortly. (Sorry, probably not the best simile to use).
We started off the first two evenings with drinking games and a night out in Tamarindo at a bar called Sharky's. There, we crooned to awesome Karaoke songs and confused everyone at the bar as to the invasion of 20 or so Asian people drunk off their asses. Drinking games on Monday night helped the group bond and connect by laughing at one another's ineptitude when it came to abiding by drinking game rules. Always have a lookout when the Queen of Thumbs is played!
Thursday was the big wedding day (a separate post about the wedding will come later) but safe to say, it was one of the most beautiful ceremonies ever. A clear, breezy evening, with the sun slowly starting to set in the background, was the perfect backdrop for Tom and Kathleen to exchange their vows. Surrounded by a small but loving group of friends and family, the happy couple said some of the most touching words to each other that I've ever heard. Their love for each other was palpable, and their happiness showed in the big smiles they carried throughout the evening. We feasted on a great meal that the bride carefully picked out and listened to speech after speech from loved ones who professed their best wishes for Tom and Kathleen. The love expressed that evening was touching - especially the love from their respective parents. We all danced the night away while trying to drink the bar dry before 10pm. Best of all, their parents danced like it was their job and really became the highlight of the evening when they all joined Kathleen and Tom in a circle and danced the happy dance.
We spent our time wisely and got in a few adventure tours - on one day, we did ziplining, horseback riding, slid down an out of this world waterslide in the jungle and enjoyed a peaceful mud bath and hot springs; on the other, we did more ziplining (this time, it included a Tarzan jump) and after a day of zipping through over 3KM of ziplines, we relaxed at the most gorgeous resort overlooking the Aranale volcano, located in central Costa Rica. The Springs Resort in Costa Rica - a recommend for any honeymooning couple.
I cannot tell you how much fun I've had during my one week stay. This was certainly the 1st Chapter of a great adventure to come. I was so lucky and so happy to be a part of Tom and Kathleen's new adventure as a happily married couple and was blessed to have hung out with lively and friendly people during my stay.
If any of you need tips for Costa Rica, let me know! I'd be happy to give my suggestions!
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