pura vida

it's what all the ticas (costa ricans) say. pura vida. full of life. this is living. it's all good.

sitting beachside on the caribbean when a tica walks up peddling coconuts. he takes out a machete, hacks it open, and it's pure coconut milk straight from the fruit. pure vida.

riding through the rainforest, somewhere in between nowhere and paradise, a toucan (straight-up toucan sam style) flew past my bike. pure vida.

cheersing ice-cold cervezas underneath palm trees with new friends from all over the world. pura vida.

i think i could get used to the costa rican lifestyle--unfortunately, just stopped over in puerto viejo for a couple of days en route to panama. initially, i was planning on simply busing my way through the country, but decided to give costa a little bit of love. you can't really say you've seen a country if its all been through bus windows. although i do spend a lot of my time looking through bus windows. on buses in general, actually. ah, the joys of traveling.

next time i talk to ya'll, it'll be from panama! i hear there's a canal there that's a pretty big deal or something? i should probably go see what all the fuss is about.

p.s. happy thanksgiving!!! (and i chose the one hostel--in all of costa rica, probably--in which i am the only american. go figure).

today i am thankful for: my family and friends-who will always love me unconditionally no matter what, skype, bug spray and fried plantain chips. and for being able to live in a country where i don't constantly live under the fear of death, the pain of hunger or the oppression of ideas and values. and for having this opportunity to explore the lives of others and experience pura vida.

love and miss you all!