Spotlight : Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Every 26th day of the month, I'm going to "spotlight" one of my favorite places. It may be far away or up the road, but somewhere I've thought worthy enough to go back through photos and type up a few words. A friend recently asked me for Costa Rica recommendations, so perhaps it could serve another purpose aside from a trip down memory lane for me. I could talk for days about any of these places, so if you're interested in more recommendations, please don't hesitate to ask!

It only makes sense to come out of the gates for my first spotlight post with a real winner and arguably my most favorite place on our planet earth. Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, is la creme de la creme. The standard for which all other tropical destinations strive to be. This tiny little place, located on the Central Pacific coast, has more natural variety in its pinky than other countries have in their entire body (figuratively speaking). More than 5% of the world's biodiversity can be found in Costa Rica- although it's only the size of Rhode Island- because of its latitude and variations in elevation.

I went to Costa Rica in 2009 for an internship at an impoverished school and to travel around the country. I loved each of the 10+ cities/towns I visited in their own ways, but (although my blog is sprinkled with a little bias) Manuel Antonio has that little extra something that pushes it to the top. Resorts and hostels, candlelit tables and street food, it's not one or the other. Every corner has its own personality, from surfer/hipster beach towns to mountainous rain forests.

Manuel Antonio is so nice, I went there twice. The first visit I stayed with some friends at Wide Mouth Frog, a fun and funky hostel in neighboring Quepos (recommended to us for budget travel to this area) and the second visit I stayed with my mom at Arenas del Mar, an incredible beach resort on the quiet end of the main beach in town, Playa Espadilla.

Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio National Park is the country's most iconic landmark. It's a bit touristy, like any amazing attraction would be, but for good reason. I've always described Manuel Antonio National Park as a zoo without enclosures. Spending just a few hours walking through the park you can see all of Costa Rica's famous critters (see photos below). I highly recommend hiring a local guide to explore the park. I've experienced the park with and without a guide, and having one made all the difference to learn more and point out things you might have missed otherwise. If you go in the morning, you'll have plenty of time to walk around, then spend the afternoon on one of the beaches inside the park (take a picnic, no food is sold inside).

Map at the park entrance

Bamboo grows abundantly all over the country

When I took this picture I couldn't tell why this white-headed capuchin monkey had
a lump on it's back, then I zoomed in on the photo and about fell to the floor.

Surprisingly small toucans

Smiley sloth

There are a handful of beaches inside the park.
This is the most popular, Playa Manuel Antonio.

  

Around Manuel Antonio

Of course the park is the main attraction, but you could also have a nice visit to Manuel Antonio and never even go to the park (but that's just crazy talk). The town is stretched along Playa Espadilla and hotels and restaurants back up into the hills, which make for the best sunset views. Many people who travel to Costa Rica plan to horseback ride, go on a canopy tour or "ziplining," hike to waterfalls, surf, relax on the beach, eat great seafood, etc. and all that can be done in or around Manuel Antonio. 

Shops along the main stretch of town


That's no butter knife

Horseback riding to Tocori Falls

With some friends at the base of Tocori Falls

"Sodas" are little informal food stands or restaurants that sell snacks and whatnot


One of the rooms at the Wide Mouth Frog

My mom walking along Playa Espadilla back to Arenas del Mar during my return visit
(she's not lost, everything is tucked in the trees)


View of the pool and beach at Arenas del Mar (there are only 38 rooms)

At my favorite restaurant, El Avion (no website = no link),
they turned a Fairchild C-123 cargo plane that was shot down
over Nicaragua in the 1980s into a bar.
The restaurant is built around it with some of the best views in town.

So that's that. My first spotlight post! The famous saying in Costa Rica is pura vida which literally means "pure life," and is evident in the happy people and easy living. Although tourism has significantly increased over the past 15 years, the country takes their land seriously and are cautious when it comes to over development. My house there had a poster that said, "Costa Rica: No artificial ingredients." So true. 

[photo source: Mrs. WRCIV]

   

My cup runneth over

Thank goodness for Thanksgiving. I love that there is a holiday dedicated to being together with the ones you love and being appreciative for all you have. Every year, I am more and more appreciative of the simple things. Thanksgiving is also the gateway to my favorite month: December, the month of Hannukah, Christmas (the two we celebrate), my birthday, New Year's Eve, sweaters, scarves, and boots. There's a little something for everyone! 

Have a very happy holiday giving thanks! I am thankful for...

This kid

These kids

Great role models

Families

Travel

Friends

Patience (and safe friends!)

Technology


Airplanes

Freedom

...to name a few. Safe travels and Happy Thanksgiving! Gobble til you wobble.

[photo source: Mrs. WRCIV]

Namaste

[bow head]

The thought of upcoming holiday schedules getting you all in a tizzy? Shopping, traveling, everyone trying to squeeze in one more meeting...it happens every year. Recently I've become very interested in meditation, even though I would consider myself at whatever level has less experience than a beginner. Mostly because I've been paying attention to the fact that I could spend the entire day sitting in a chair and still go home exhausted.

My brain and eyeballs were tired! When my body is tired, I go to the gym, but I very well can't put my brain and eyeballs on the elliptical. Then, the other day out of the blue, a coworker of mine (and now, I assume, a mind reader...must be here clear and refreshed mind) asked me if I meditated. I took that as a nudge to look into it.

So, I did the obvious: Google. I was hoping there would be some sort of beginner's guide. All-knowing Wikipedia defines meditation as "a practice in which an individual trains the mind and/or induces a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit, although it can be argued that meditation is a goal in and of itself." Excuse me?

I wanted the "meditation for dummies" definition. Dummies.com defines meditation as "an age-old practice that can help relieve a host of ills brought on by the fast pace of modern life” and provided a handy cheat sheet. The only problem: the cheat sheet was, in my opinion, inappropriately advanced.

The search was taking me off into uncharted territory, somewhere I had no business going. I thought back to my original intentions which were to actually relax relax, not be-on-my-phone-with-reruns-on relax. One more search, but this time I typed in "relaxation.” I do realize this is a major shortcut in the quest to learn about meditation, but for the time being, it’ll do. Busy schedules are ahead, I'll save meditation for later.

Below I have thoroughly abbreviated WikiHow's "how to relax" to relieve all those "ills brought on by a fast paced life" (but here is the how-to in its entirety):

PART I:
Accepting Stress
Recognize stress
Set aside time to relax

PART II:
Relaxing Your Body
Practice breathing techniques (slow down and concentrate on it)
Make healthy dietary decisions
Exercise every day/regularly
Try a massage :)

PART III:
Relaxing Your Mind
Practice positive thinking
Think logically and restrain your emotions
Find a quiet place when you're feeling overwhelmed and pamper yourself :)
Stop feeling guilty
Learn to prioritize
Practice meditation (...or not)
Do activities that relax you
Spend time with your pet
Smile and laugh

PART IV:
Staying Relaxed Around Stressful People
Develop an invisible shield between you and stressed folk
Disconnect (from technology)
Avoid toxic personalities
Give hugs
Spend time with people you connect with

Having said that, check out this waterfall and rock pile:

 

 

Relaxing, right? Just me? If you don't want to try the above steps, you could also just spend a few moments looking at the Google images that come up when searching "relaxation." Surprisingly peaceful! Either way, I'm fitting relaxation in this holiday season. Namaste.

[photo sources: Home and Garden, Noupe]

The Amazing Race

I've always said that if I were to win the lottery of jobs, it would be to host (or even better, be camerawoman for) The Amazing Race. The host, Phil, has the best gig: travel around the world 21 times and counting. There have been times when I've thought seriously about what our video submission to be contestants would be and how we'd need to highlight a "persona" and what that would be. Not only would we get to visit over a dozen countries (potentially), but the winners of each leg of the race win a fabulous prize and the overall winning couple gets $1 million. So basically, it is an opportunity to: 1) go on a trip around the world, 2) win more trips, 3) win a car, money, etc., 4) possibly win $1 million. Sounds delicious, right?

Not so fast, my worldly friends. Think about it. It's a race. Not to be a rainy cloud of negativity, but when was the last time you went on a trip and thought to yourself... "Hmm. I wish I could visit this place as fast as I can, then leave as soon as possible"? Whenever I travel, I'm reminded of how terrible I would be on that show and how I wouldn't last more than one leg because the producers would have to come drag me away from the Japanese tea house (I envision my first stop to be Japan).

Where's the fun in traveling if you don't get to soak up everything around you? Great concept, would do it in a heartbeat, but this outlook keeps me from being too jealous every Sunday night at 8/7c.

Here are some photos from travels that prove I would be an epic failure on the show:

Can't travel and hurry at the same time

Lack of survival skills

Sub par internal compass

Inability to pack what I need to pack versus what I want to pack

Easily distracted by dogs

Pack too much

Can't drive a moped

So that's that. No need to be an unprepared, lost, weighed down, distracted American running around the world. Little 10 minute mini-trips browsing Groupon Getaways and Living Social Escapes will have to do for now. It's never too soon to start planning...

Finger lickin'

I L-O-V-E barbecue. Smoke it, braise it, grill it, bake it, sauce it up. There are so many reasons I love barbecue, I wish the food pyramid would replace grains with pulled pork, that would be the best day ever. There are regional and national associations and competitions with crazy people and wet naps that smell like sweet lemons when it's all over with. And, whenever there is barbecue, beer is usually not far away.

Forget about grilled cheese or chicken fingers, I've been ordering baby back (baby back, baby back, baby back) ribs and steaks off the menu since I learned how to read. Baby back ribs are one of those foods that the last bite is just as good as the first. I'm going to pull in the reigns here because I could blog about nothing but ketchup-based barbecue sauce.

But, one of the other things I love so much is that all the meats and sides have a lot of history and love in them. Long hours over a fire pit surrounded by secret sauces and family recipes, there's nothing like it. And each style is so unique to its region and the people that have perfected it.

There are four main regional styles of barbecue in the US:

Kansas City: My favorite. Known for smokey meats and thick and sweet sauces. I hate to say it's my favorite out of bias, but... it's the best. My parents' house is a long 5 minute drive from Jack Stack, and I've celebrated many a birthday drinking their sauces. This is the kind of food you want to eat if you could have only one thing on a deserted island. 

Texas: My second favorite. Known for "cowboy style" meats cooked over mesquite. The first time I ever had Texas barbecue was when my sister was a freshman at UT. She took us to Salt Lick in Austin and my life has never been the same. Their sauce is inexplicable, buttery but sweet and salty and served with these magical slices of bread. 

Carolinas (5 regional styles between the two states): My third favorite. Known for pulled or chopped pork and mustard or vinegar-based sauces. The only reason it's my third favorite is because it's not what I was raised on. I love it, because it's barbecue, but I couldn't eat it as often as I could Kansas City style. Doc's is where we always return to. It's a little out of the way, but there's always a line at lunchtime. That's a good sign.

Memphis: My other third favorite. Known for barbecue sandwiches and wet (brushed with sauce) and dry (seasoned with dry rub) ribs. In college, Rhett and I went to the Memphis in May World Championship BBQ Contest and it was like an underground cult of the friendliest people in the world all organized to smoke meats in trucks converted to livestock and drink all day off of pig ice luges.

My family is the kind that when we go on vacation, after breakfast we talk about where we're going to lunch and after lunch we talk about where we're going to dinner (we also exercise regularly and eat fairly healthy during the work week). Before you think we're completely obsessed, it is important to remember that there are four stages for enjoying a happy event: anticipation, savoring, expression, and reflection. We just happen to take the first two stages very seriously.

And now, I give you a visual:

 

Plate of sauces. Love them.

.

Proud grill masters. Love them.

Messy hands (sister's are clean because she is a vegetarian, thus adopted). Love them.

 

Long lines. Love them.

Crazy people. Love them.

Simple menus. Love them.

 



 



[photo source: Mrs. WRCIV]

Hello blogosphere!

I wasn't expecting you! But, you kept tapping me on the shoulder saying, "Get with the program. Do it. Just start one. Come oooon. I'm fun and Google-y and you'll just love me!" so I've decided to put my fingers to the keyboard and document life through my lens: travel, food, and culture. Love cannot be blogged, and is there anything else to life?

Follow me if you can: My dad was born on Long Island, NY. My mother was born in Kansas City, MO. My sister, Sadie, was born in Vail, CO (where my parents were married 30 years ago!). And I was born Napa, CA (legend has it this is where my love of chardonnay comes from). Sadie and I were raised in a perfect, little place called Lawrence, KS, where you could drive across town in seven minutes and you went to K-12 with your neighbors.

Okay... So then, Sadie moved to Austin, TX, to earn a degree in Advertising and Marketing at the University of Texas. Then, I moved to Columbia, SC, to earn a degree in Marine Science Spanish and Latin American Studies at the University of South Carolina. My parents gained a third daughter, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel I named Lucille "Lucy" McGillicuddy Caplan after my favorite show growing up, I Love Lucy. Sadie followed her boyfriend-soon-to-be-husband, Matthew, to spend a few years closer to his family near Winston-Salem, NC, then they returned to Austin because... well... I will "spotlight" Austin in a future post to tell you about why the locals campaign to "Keep Austin Weird." I found a blue-eyed blonde prince charming, Rhett, from Greenville, SC, and signed paperwork in May of this year to be his sidekick for life.

At the moment we call Columbia home because 1) we are exactly equidistant from the mountains to the beach, 2) we are both either currently or plan to earn our Master's Degrees at USC, 3) Rhett bought a house after Freshman year of college, and 4) Murphy and Jack- our two fuzzy kids- just aren't ready for any serious life changes yet.

Last, but absolutely not least, my dad signed on to his dream job and joined Parsons Corporation in 2010 to work on a waterfront city development project on the Red Sea for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He is currently overseas while my superhero mother holds down the fort in Kansas City.

In my short 26 years on this earth, most of my life lessons, wisdom, humor, and friends have come through travel, food, and culture. I work daily with underserved crime victims and believe a lot of my passion for diversity and helping those in need comes from my experiences across the country and the world.

I found my favorite quote tucked in a book in our basement when I was growing up. My dad had ripped it out of his father's book and I stumbled across it and it was love at first sight:

"Broad, wholesome, charitable views 
of men and things cannot be acquired 
by vegetating in one little corner of the 
earth all one's lifetime." --Mark Twain.

I've known this quote by heart since the day I found it and I have the piece of paper I found framed on my desk at work.

I love every little thing about travel, food, and culture. Southeast of the Midwest will document highlights of my favorite places, regional recipes, and little life lessons I would have never learned if it weren't for getting out there and experiencing all the little corners of the world.

Hasta la proxima vez...
Until next time...

This blog is in honor of:

Grandma and Poppa Caplan

Grandma and Grandpa Kaiser

Mom and Dad

Without them, I don't know what I'd write about.