TRAVEL - COSTA RICA

This was a bit absurd but I got to tag-a-long on a fancy vacation with my brother and his wife. I had the time of my life up in the hills of Uvita de Osa, but who doesn't love to feel rich? The only deeply alarming part of the trip was the lack of warning about the mountain road to get to Rancho Pacifico. With little to no hope at every turn, we drove (manual - not me) up this treacherous beast. We lost a tire along the way. The beauty was in the signage of small, discreetly placed arrows pointing you towards the top to the hotel. When it rained, we had little chance of survival. However at the top, paradise. Here are some things to do specific to Costa Rica:

1. Water therapy

One of the most important elements of the trip was the time I spent in Julia's arms as she performed "water therapy" on me. Essentially you rest your neck on any given shoulder, relax your arms, and allow a loved one to hold the back of your thighs as you melt into yoga's "happy baby" pose. Rest your mind and body as your loved one slowly moves you around the pool. Typically family members will give up on you because there is really nothing in it for them (unless you trade) so you can't really count on this for more than a minute. Unfortunately I couldn't trade services with Julia because she is 6'1" and I can't wrap my arms around her body.

2. Master the art of hotdog legs but with your fingers. to try and trick your friends that your fingers are legs.

Nuff said? Also nice to do this photoshoot while drinking a piña mango colada made special by Julio. 

3. Hold a Puppy that you can't Actually Keep

This is very traditional Costa Rican. Here is Julia, an animal lover, doing the classic pick up a stray (unlabeled perro) and pose for the camera. Something you can only do if you stay up at Rancho Pacifico, whose claim to fame is that Anderson Cooper stayed there so EFF OFF.