Costa Rica: The Outtakes

It's not possible to include all the photos from our trip, so click here if you'd like to see everything.  However, I couldn't resist putting a few more on the blog.  It's a random mix of photos so I'm calling it "The Outtakes".   (some pictures borrowed from what other people on the trip took).

Chad with his regional manager, Robyn, and the other sales manager in his region.

Gold Club 2010 - Robyn with her sales managers and account executives that earned their trip!  Great job team!

We never really figured out why this was the "theme" and at our table, but we had some fun with them!  But looking back on the photos we look kind of scary!

Relaxed and happy

Love these girls!  :)  Last night with Intercall at the awards dinner

The Ramseys and Robyn - she's a lot of fun!

Umm... overserved.  I'm not sure why the open bar pool party was scheduled the same day as the fancy dinner.  Yikes!

So nice for us to reconnect.  If you have children... take a trip!  Kids are one of the greatest things you do together as a couple, but it's not always easy.  Vacations like this are truly priceless.

"Pura Vida"!!!

So long Costa Rica... thanks for the memories!

Costa Rica: Sunsets

We all know when you're somewhere warm and tropical... sunsets are gorgeous.  It's so peaceful.  We snapped some good sunset photos on our Costa Rica adventure.

You know what makes this picture awesome and not cheesy... they were getting ready for their sunset portrait and I snapped this one before they turned to face me. 

The Dubinskys... Joel - this one needs to go up on your wall of photos!

I would usually nix a photo that leaves me just out of the shower with wet hair and no make up... but I love how natural the whole shot is!

Great friends... great vacation!

Costa Rica: Wildlife

Costa Rica is known for access to observe birds, monkeys and other creatures in their habitat.  Our trip was no exception. 

Baby Sea Turtles on the beach that were one hour old... cute!

 

Monkeys in the trees while were were on the Zip Line, it's a family... sweet!

But not all wildlife encounters can be observed from a safe distance.  While enjoying late night (2am) room service nachos on our balcony with Paul and Steph, I look up and here is what I see...

AHHHH... HEEBIE JEEBIES!!!!!!!!!!

Which lead to me... standing on a chair for the next 30 minutes saying "heebie, jeebie, heebie, jeebie"

While the boys spent the next 30 minutes (and the rest of our nachos) encouraging the scavenger.

All I could think was, "are you crazy"?  "does this animal have a disease"? "Is this animal going to come back every night because it thinks we're a food source"?  Seriously... reliving it again is giving me the heebie jeebies!!!

Sorry guys, I don't care how much you tell me it was going to be ok... I still was on the look out everytime I stepped outside of my room for the rest of the trip.  But I'm glad you had fun getting close to the wildlife and torturing me.

Costa Rica: Zip!

Once we got to the second leg of our trip with the Joel, Robyn, Paul and Stephanie we decided to do one group excursion... a Zip Line!  I'm not usually much of the "adventure" type, but was really interested in trying this out.  It was a lot of fun! 

*  The only thing I was a little disappointed about in Costa Rica overall was some of the scenery... while it was beautiful and tropical (and wow was it HOT)... I was personally expecting it to be a lot more of green, lush rain forest like we saw when we went to St. Lucia.  It turns out that the rainy season is from May-October and dry season from November to April.  So getting there in mid-April was just about as dry as it was going to get.  I mention it here because on our zip line tour, it's even more obvious.*

The boys locked and loaded... time to get started!

Chad's first trip on the Zip Line

As you move along they give you a chance to make it more interesting... here's Robyn doing "The Superman".

Chad... always up for a thrill did "The Superman" too

If you know me... you wouldn't believe it.  I went upside down all by myself!

The whole group at the halfway point. 

Costa Rica: The Dance

Paul and Chad kind of have a love affair, and take a lot of pride in their brotherly love for one another.  Sometimes I kind of get the feeling Chad and Paul just get into their own groove and the rest of us around them take a back seat.  I'm ok with it... at least I also agree that Paul is good company! 

Here's the thing... Chad and Paul put sunblock on each other... actually not at all a big deal... but just funny since Steph and I were just right there, I mean, I was close enough to notice this and take a picture! 

Sharing a moment... they have a lot of these.

This is the start of something... I love this photo because Stephanie's face is priceless, just thinking... "what the heck are these two doing?" 

 Here my friends you will see "The Dance".  Chad was really eager to show off his moves from the Latin Dance Lessons we took a few years back.

Costa Rica: Boating Excursion

Our first full day in Costa Rica, Intercall had set up a huge group excursion on two large boats with a stop in a cove for some swimming, snorkeling and lunch. 

On the Dock, approaching one of two boats the company had chartered to tote us all around.  It was like a huge two story pontoon boat.  It was nicer and faster than that, but that's kind of what it made me think of.  Just a massive party boat... perfect.

A view of the lower deck... it was very, very hot on the upper level so most people camped out here.

Chad and I ventured to the upper deck once the boat got moving to check out the scenery.

Yes... I'm a mom of two just six months out from the last babe and rockin' a tankini (I did wear a bikini a few days on the trip, but you won't see that here). 

The boats docked for awhile

A picture of the beach... a mix of white and black sand. 

The old digital camera I have doesn't take the clearest or sharpest photos... but it is 100% waterproof and totally useful for things like this!  Here is a shot I took look back towards the beach while I'm floating in the water.

Paul and Stephanie take a break from snorkeling

A shot of Mr. Fox underwater

Costa Rica: The beginnings of a hotel snob

Spoiled.  It happens quite easily.  I was never a hotel snob.  Give me the least expensive room in a good location that is clean and I'm satisfied.  But after spending four days at a Four Seasons, I can see how easy it is to become accustomed to traveling in that extra treat of luxury.  Aside from the gorgeous surroundings and beautiful rooms... the food was amazing... the pools were fun, but not crowded in a spring break sort of way... the beaches were nice, clean and quaint... and a lot of small details that really made you feel special.  So, I'm still not a hotel snob, I haven't logged enough time for that.  But I can see how it happens, and now I have this great experience to compare things too.  Like the RUI... place didn't get a fair shot!  :) 

There is many, many things to post about this Costa Rica trip, so this is only the beginning.  Here are some pictures enjoying the Four Seasons...

The view from our private balcony (we had half a villa with two rooms and large outdoor patio all to ourselves)

Dinner at Sunset on the Beach

Stephanie and Robyn chillin' pool side (see the pretty beach that is so close in the background?)

A picture from the lower pool area towards the second upper pool area.  Look at the trees... beautiful!

Paul with his fancy super zoom lens.  This not-so-secret bird watcher and wild animal lover was happy here!   (More on that later).

Calling Room Service... Breakfast on the balcony.  This is the life!