#29 - See One of My Favorite Bands Live

I was such a Green Day fan in middle school. I became a fan with Dookie and immediately went and bought Kerplunk! and 1,001 Smoothed-out Slappy Hours. While I like some of their later stuff, that's my Green Day era. But somehow, even though I've been a fan since the mid-1990s, I've never seen them live. So, when Dan Burns yet again had Riot Fest tickets, I was stoked to see them.

On Friday, I went to about 6 hours of Riot Fest and then 9 or so hours on Saturday, so I was wiped by Sunday. Still, I got on that train and got there, right on time, and was shocked to see how large the crowd was, much larger than I'd seen it for any other show in previous years. (Of course, they weren't playing against anyone.) I managed to find Bryson and immediately gave up on trying to weave through the dense crowd to find Washo. My brother then made it to us, and we jammed out.

I have to say, my favorite part was the beginning. They started strong with some political stuff and "American Idiot." 

Post show

Then, Billy Joe said he had a head cold, and I was a little worried he was going to phone it in, but instead, he asked the crowd who knew the next song and the people in the front row pointed out this kid (probably a high schooler). They pulled him up on stage, and this kid Argyle up on stage, and this kid rocked out. They even timed out a pyrotechnic jump for him. So cute. And even cuter when Billy Joe posted on Insta a comment from Argyle's mom saying they'd camped out all day in front of the stage, and Argyle's mom just had to run to the bathroom at one point and couldn't get back to Argyle through the crowd. She was super worried and then looked up and Argyle was there, on stage, singing with the band.

I mean, c'mon. So cute.

The rest of the show was fine. Not as much political stuff and for me, not nearly enough early stuff. Like, several songs from Dookie but I think only one from Kerplunk! and I don't know if there were any from 1,001.

But still. We had a blast. Super fun Riot Fest this year.

#88 - Eat Tapas in Barcelona

At Pinotxos
(a Jose Andres recomendation)

I admit: I added this to the list knowing we were taking a family trip to Barcelona and that it would be pretty hard to avoid eating tapas when we were going to be there for almost two weeks and all very much enjoy tapas.

While I assumed the tapas would be good, I really didn't know how consistently good they would be, pretty much everywhere we went. Sure, some spots were better than others, but I don't think I ever left a meal of tapas disappointed. 

I also rarely left stuffed. Knowing we could always order more meant that we generally either under-ordered or ordered just enough. Plus, these were Barcelona tapas portions, not American gigantic portions, so after a few tapas meals, we got the hang of about how much to order, which always ended up just enough to satisfy and never (I don't think) leaving food wasted.

The literal only downside to eating tapas with the Krones is that I'm the only one who can/will eat mariscos, bivavles, most shellfish, whatever you want to call it and the only one who will eat the small oily fish like sardines and anchovies. Luckily, I had some opportunities to order my own little thing and also got to enjoy a meal of paella and snacks with Maria and her family. I was so pleased when Pere asked if I liked seafood, and I got to answer, "Yes, I like all of it." So, in case you were worried, it all worked out ;) Plus, Maria and I had more tapas later in the evening!

I didn't take many pictures at my favorite spot, which was in Figueres, but this list item was about eating tapas in Barcelona, so I guess that wouldn't count anyways!

#96 - Go to a New Country

So, instead of giving gifts during the year for birthdays and Christmas, my family travels together. 

In December 2019, we went to Costa Rica. 

In November 2020, we were supposed to go to Florence, Italy. The thing is, November 2020 was not a great time to visit Italy, specifically, so we went no where. 

Then, in December 2021, we decided to go back to Costa Rica. We'd all been vaccinated. We'd have our own house. Nearly everything we would be doing was outside. And when we got there, we found that Costa Ricans were taking the pandemic and precautions much more seriously than Americans. So much so that we actually felt safer there than in the U.S. Everyone was masked, unless they were eating, including in outdoor areas. To enter a restaurant, even an outdoor one, you had to wash your hands. And none of us got sick. Interesting.

In December 2022, we went back to Costa Rica again because, well, we kinda love it there. 

In 2023, my brother wasn't available during our usual time of year, so we decided to go somewhere in August. That obviously limits options, especially as he wanted to stay in the Central or Eastern time zones, so he could work some. So we decided to go to the Finger Lakes. Found a nice house. Would find fun things to do.

Then, in May 2023, I got a call from my mom, who was at lunch with my brother and dad. She said, "Hey, instead of going to the Finger Lakes in August, do you want to go to Barcelona in March of next year?" 

Um... yes.

So we changed the plans. We spent almost two weeks in Barcelona. We rented an apartment in the Gothic Quarter and then just explored. My parents had been to Barcelona many times, so they had a few suggestions, and we had a few suggestions, but mostly we just kept it low key. 

I love a city that is very walkable and has great food and wine. That's definitely Barcelona. 

I went for a walk in the Gothic Quarter every morning, exploring all of the narrow streets and alleys. I ran most days, either heading to the beach or a nearby park. We visited markets. We went to La Sagrada Familia. We ate tapas. We drank wine (or beer or vodka). We went to the Picasso Museum. We rented a car for a few days and saw the coast and the Dali Museum. And I got to spend a really lovely day with my friend Maria, who lives here.

I'm so thankful we took this trip together and look forward to future trips to this beautiful city!

#74 - Visit a New UNESCO Heritage Site

I call this one "Where's Chris?!"
because my dad was worried, but
that's Chris in the background.

The only place I requested to visit while in Barcelona was La Sagrada Familia. It wasn't because it's a UNESCO Heritage Site, and I don't remember when I learned about it, but I just knew it was an incredible architectural feat and just art. 

Well, those teachings, wherever they came from, weren't wrong. Inside and out, La Sagrada Familia is incredible. The gothic architecture and attention to detail are striking. Outside, the towers and details are hard to take in because it's so much and so beautiful. Inside, it's like walking through a forest with colors popping through stained glass windows within white walls and fixtures. 

While I'm not religious, the intentional symbolism within the structure, inside and out, is incredible. There's just so much there. The pictures cannot do it justice. 

It wasn't until I heard a mention on a tour that it was a UNESCO site that I realized it could fit this list item. 

#1 - Complete the 2023 Book Riot Reading Challenge

Every year, I try the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge. I've never made it, but this is the year I've come the closest to it. I only finished 11 of the items, but I at least started a book for each of the 24 items. And I can't wait to try again because this list always expands how I read and pushes me to read new genres, many of which I end up really enjoying. This year, this list gifted me a new book on my list of very favorite books (Lonesome Dove), a book I never would have picked up on my own, and made me fall in love with YA novels. So much good reading this year with Book Riot!

**1. Read a novel about a trans character written by a trans author: Cemetary Boys by Aiden Thomas

3/6/23

This is the best book I've read in a long, long time. Thomas created both compelling characters and a compelling story. Each character is round, full, and incredibly human, with endearing moments and mistakes. It was one of those stories where it's clear so many of the characters have been through deeply hurtful experience in their past, but within the current story, their motivations are so caring and considerate. I say all that without even mentioning that it starts with a murder mystery that has twists and turns throughout the book. This book is inspiring me to dive a bit deeper in to recent YA literature because I loved this journey.

***2. Read one of your favorite author’s favorite books & 24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat!: 2020: Read a book that takes place in a rural setting: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurty

6/11/23

I cannot remember the last time I fell so unexpectedly, deeply in love with a book. I added this book to my queue as part of one of the Book Riot 2023 challenges: Read one of your favorite author's books. While Kurt Vonnegut is my favorite author, Stephen King is up there and talks frequently about other authors. When I Googled King's favorite book, I was surprised to see it is Lonesome Dove. I really wasn't looking forward to it, especially when it arrived and was 858 pages. Then, I read the forward... and dreaded it even more. It took maybe 50 pages or so to get me hooked. The characters are incredible, from the main characters to the side characters to the villains. I understand why this book may have lost favor because it's definitely a "Cowboys and Indians" story, and there is plenty of racism and prejudice against Indigenous people. Yet, it is told through the perspective of cowboys, cattlemen, Texas Rangers, and a handful of people who lived among them, including sex workers, barmen, musicians, cooks, etc. It feels honest of the perspectives of the time, yet gives such depth and breadth in characters and experiences. While the main group certainly holds harmful prejudice against the Indigenous people of the West, McMurty also artfully demonstrated how both groups were taught to fear the other; how both had both violent and peaceful tendencies, depending on the individual or group; how the fears could cause injuries and deaths and how those involved often knew it was simply a misunderstanding, not evil--though there were truly evil characters of many races/ethnicities; how each group also had instances of showing each other peace and kindness; and how all were affected by the decimation of the buffalo population. McMurty presented each character, except the most violent ones, with humanity and wholeness, showing how they each had something special to offer the world and how they could each care for others in unexpected ways. I have not sobbed so much reading a book in years and years, and I did so multiple times because I grew to care so deeply for the characters. I was also very sad when I reached the last few pages and realized I was at the end of the tale. I still can't stop thinking about Gus, Deets, Lorena, and Newt. And Po. And Walbinger. Just wow.

**3. Read a book about activism & 4 Read a book that’s been challenged recently in your school district/library OR read one of the most-challenged/banned books of the year by a queer and/or BIPOC author. The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas

I have been meaning to read The Hate You Give for awhile now and finally made it happen with a push through the Book Riot 2023 Read Harder Challenge item: "Read a book that’s been challenged recently in your school district/library OR read one of the most-challenged/banned books of the year by a queer and/or BIPOC author." As far as I know, very few books are banned in the Chicago Public Library system (though I'm sure they get plenty of challenges), so I went with one of the most-challenged/banned books, and now I understand why this one is so challenged: because it's incredible. If you've ever struggled to understand systemic racism and the anger that has spurred both protests and riots over the assaults and murders of Black people at the hands of the police, this book provides a really powerful first-person narrative of the complexities and emotions following a murder by cop. This is yet another YA book I've loved this year, and I highly recommend it for young adults, mid adults, older adults, etc. If you have a preteen/teenager, encourage them to read it--and read it yourself. If you don't, also just read it. It also has a fantastic list of resources and "read next" lists that I'm definitely going to use, as I continue to my own work and consider the ways I engage in activism.

*5. Read a completed webcomic: Succubishez

12/15/23

First, thank you to Chris Krone for explaining to me what a webcomic is, so I could find one I might like.

Succubishez was totally up my alley. A super honest take on being a young woman--or, rather young demon. The world is full of angels and demons, indicated with halos and horns, and these distinctions don't seem to have anything to do with if someone is good or bad. Plus, it the drawings are cute, and I saw a lot of myself in the main character.

6. Finish a book you’ve DNFed (did not finish): White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

12/24/23

Over 10 years ago, one of my students' moms (who worked at the university) gave this book to me because she'd noticed I like to read and thought I'd like it. At the time, I probably got 20% through and then put it down. I think I read part of it, left it at work one day, and forgot about it because while I thought it was okay, I just wasn't that interested in it. I picked it back up for this Book Riot item, and honestly, it's just okay. I could have easily never finished it again.

7. Listen to an audiobook performed by a person of color of a book written by an author of color: The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton

7/15/23

I (audio)read this for the Book Riot 2023 Read Harder Challenge item "Listen to an audiobook performed by a person of color of a book written by an author of color." I'm wondering if I might have liked this book better if I'd read it instead of listened to it. This is the second time I've listened to an audiobook with an ensemble cast, and I don't think I like that style. I find it really bumpy to either hear someone's name right before they're about to speak or to have to pay attention and remember the different voices to remember who is speaking. Weirdly, this book does both. So there was the bumpiness of hearing the name and also sometimes just jumping in without knowing who is speaking. And there are a LOT of characters. And some cameos. I tried to look up how many, and every source listed 7 names and then added "full cast." I can't tell if that means there were only 7 or if there are more than 7. What I did like is that the story itself felt so realistic that I, like many other readers, stopped to Google if it were a true story. It's not, but it feels like it could be. Walton weaves in real-life events and people into the telling of the story of this interracial rock duo, which is fascinating. I do think it would have made for a better novella or short story though. Everything seems to build up to this one event, which holds many family secrets, and the event itself is quite a scene. But then it goes on. And on. Like, there's a whole Part 3 after the climax of the story. And the events in Parts 1 and 3 just aren't that interesting. They're just people navigating a music career and life. So realistically that it was a bit boring because I feel like I've heard so many similar stories. I wish I'd liked it enough to try reading it to see if I enjoyed that more, but I just don't really want to put anymore time into this story.

8. Read a graphic novel/comic/manga if you haven’t before; or read one that is a different genre than you normally read: G.I. Joe European Missions "Ice Spy..."

12/27/23

This is only slightly off the genre I've read before, which is superheroes, but it definitely read differently because no one had special powers. It did have the same themes of good versus bad and the bad trying to pull tricks to gain power. I don't think the G.I. Joe series is one I'm going to revisit because I'm really not into worshipping war and demonizing "the other," but this issue was a quick read and I wasn't sure how they were going to remedy the situation. I am confused about why (spoiler alert) there was a glass "diamond" though.

*13. Read an author local to you: The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

At just 2 hours and 18 minutes, this book packs a big, intricate story. It is as series of vignettes told by a young girl, Esperanza, coming of age in a Chicago neighborhood. She dislikes her neighborhood and yearns for her own house, somewhere else, and some of her stories make her reasons very clear. Other stories, however, are really lovely, showing the complexity of growing up and living in an impoverished area. It's a really beautiful, quick read.

14. Read a book with under 500 ratings on Goodreads: A Spectre, Haunting: On the Communist Manifesto by China Mieville

Awhile back, I signed up for Haymarket Book's book subscription, where subscribers are sent one book a month. Honestly, they sent a lot of really interesting reads... that I couldn't keep up with, so I discontinued my subscription (for now). Because it's a smaller publisher though, many of the books they've sent fit this Book Riot Read Harder Challenge item perfectly, as many have under 500 reviews on Goodreads. When I'd checked this one, it had only 125. While most of it was over my head, I am really glad I picked this one because about a third of the book is actually just a reprinting of the Communist Manifesto, something I've never read. I've been curious about Marx, particularly once his name started circulating in popular culture again because of #BlackLivesMatter and their Marxist philosophy. While it's called the Communist Manifesto, it's really just a critique of an extremely stratified class system, one which we are certainly seeing widen in recent times because of late-stage capitalism, well past what Marx and Engels saw in the 1840s. It's also a statement of the power of the working class, as they are the ones who generate wealth for the elite. They explain how the working class needs to acknowledge and use their power to create a more equitable system for all. Both the Manifesto itself and Mieville's commentary on it were really striking at this immediate moment, when both the Writer's Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA are on strike, with very high-level celebrities supporting the movement and demanding that those who are not lucky enough to be in their positions be compensated and treated fairly because even they acknowledge that it is the billionaires who control the studios who are benefiting from the unfair compensation of the majority of the workers in the field. At this moment, there's also a looming threat of a UPS strike, which could really shake up the country as a whole. I'm totally here for this hot strike summer and am really glad I took on this read, so I could better understand the historical context of Marxism and workers taking up the power they have. Real talk: I hope higher ed is next.

*16. Read a romance with bisexual representation: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

3/20/23

This was a really lovely story. Some pieces were predictable, but also, there were enough surprises that it didn't feel like a trite or dragging love story. Even in the last chapter, I had no idea how the author could possibly tie up the loose ends and leave us with a satisfying ending, but they did. I particularly loved how Addie had a complicated relationship with The Dark. It reminded me of how dark places and times can have their own appeal, even if we truly want to reject them completely. I also really adored the magical realism of making an impossible wish, like being truly free from the expectations of others, and then needing to live with all of the consequences of such a thing. It felt so much like a story of desperately wanting to be seen and valued, which is so human.

*17. Read a YA book by an Indigenous author & 22. Read any book from the Ignyte awards shortlist/longlist/winner list: A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger

5/31/23

I'm officially into current YA lit. It took me a bit to get into this book, but it maintained my interest from the start. Then, the plot really took off, and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. I highly recommend it for young adult and fully adult readers. Nina and Oli's intertwined stories are so lovely and wholesome and relevant. It reminded me of the importance of holistic ways of thinking about our world and all the beings in it and how Indigenous ways of understanding could do so much to heal what we've broken--yet we still exclude and dismiss them. I'm eager to read more books by Little Badger, Indigenous writers, and YA authors!

#86 - Visit a New National Park

While I wrote this item with the intention of exploring more U.S. national parks, I have certainly jumped at the chance to visit national parks in other countries, particularly the very beautiful Costa Rica--the most biodiverse country in the world. During our December trip, I took a trip to Manuel Antonio National Park with Chris Krone and then a second trip with my parents. 

Both trips were lovely, and we spent hours wandering the jungle and beach.

The capuchins in the park are so laid back and playful.

Mangroves are weird.

Squirrel monkeys

Land crabs, which only emerge during the day a handful of days per year. They were EVERYWHERE.

My favorite insect: The leaf cutter ants. I adore them.
They cut pieces of leaves from trees and then march them in a line, down the tree, making trails as they go, back to the hole where they live, so more ants can chew them up, spit them out, effectively farming and harvesting the mold they eat.

I have no idea how many flights of stairs we climbed that day. 20? 30?

And then we got to views like this:



And this:

When we came back down from the Cathedral Loop, we had a lovely time watching the capuchins at the beach.

On my second trip (with my parents), we got to see the capuchins frolicking in the mangroves, a whole family, including playful little ones. The capuchins at Manuel Antonio are pretty chill since they're used to people walking through their home every day. Also, visitors are not allowed to bring food into the park, so they don't look to people to feed them, which is important in keeping tourism in Costa Rica (and everywhere) eco-friendly, which is certainly a value on display in this beautiful country.

Chris & I had a fun time exploring the tide pools.
We saw an eel, fish, and many, many hermit crabs.

Just <3 

#48 = See a New Animal in the Wild

Costa Rica is the most biodiverse country on the planet, which is one of many reasons I love to visit. We saw capuchin monkeys, sloths, macaws, brown pelicans, white herons, caracaras, crocodiles, and many others I'd seen before. Here are a few that were new to me!

My favorite sighting started like this: 

"Hey, Chris, I think I just saw a fish jump."

"Where?"

"Oh, there's another one!"

"It must be running from a predator or something!"

...the next day...

"There's more jumping..."

...the next day...

"More jumping? Where are the binoculars?"

Turns out, the jumping beings were not fish but devil rays! For two weeks or so, nearly every day, we'd see the rays jumping, surfing, and splashing in the waves. While that made me much more anxious about surfing (though I think devil rays are related to manta rays, rather than sting rays, so I'm still not sure if they sting), I was fascinated by these playful beings. 

I couldn't quite catch the jumping on camera, and the videos I took of them splashing just aren't that great, so here's a link if you want to see them jump!

We also saw a ton of birds, which I logged on my Merlin app, but most were too quick to catch a photo.

Here are some of the many animals we spotted in Manuel Antonio National Park.

Some kind of eel

Hermit crabs

Land crabs. Apparently they are usually nocturnal but come out en masse to breed a few days each year, and we managed to be there during those days. They were EVERYWHERE in the forested areas of Manuel Antonio Beach.

Squirrel monkeys. A whole gang of these little creatures played in the trees around and above us on our way out of Manuel Antonio. They were very cute and jump huge distances between trees, like little flying squirrels.

Howler monkeys. It's quite easy to hear these monkeys but much tougher to spot them, as they spend their days lounging in the canopies. It was so cool to see several of them walking around the tree tops on this day.

#8 - Walk 52 Times

 1 - 1/2/21, 40 minutes in Pittsfield Township

2 - 3/19/21, 30 minutes in Pittsfield Township

3 - 3/18/21, 5 minutes around the pond with my dad

4 - 3/29/21, 29 minutes in Pittsfield Township

5 - 4/9/21, 39 minutes in Pittsfield Township

6 - 4/17/21, 35 minutes in Pittsfield Township

7 - 4/24/21, 35 minutes in Pittsfield Township

8 - 4/27/21, 40 minutes in Pittsfield Township

9 - 5/10/21, 15 minutes to the store in Chicago

10 - 5/17/21, 47 minutes along the lake shore in Chicago

11 - 5/27/21, 16 minutes in Uptown

12 - 5/31/21, 47 minutes in Uptown

13 - 6/3/21, 42 minutes in Uptown

14 - 6/12/21, 110 minutes in Marbury State Park with Chris Krone & Jackie Schafer

15 - 6/14/21, 55 minutes in Pittsfield Township

16 - 6/26/21, 55 minutes in Uptown

17 - 6/28/21, 60 minutes in Uptown

18 - 7/5/21, 65 minutes in Uptown

19 - 7/17/21, 70 minutes in Pittsfield Township (Pokemon Go Fest 2021)

20 - 7/18/21, 81 minutes in Pittsfield Township (Pokemon Go Fest 2021)

21 - 7/20/21, 79 minutes in Pittsfield Township

22 - 7/30/21, 80 minutes in Uptown

23 - 8/4/21, some time around downtown and the Riverwalk with Nicole Green

24 - 8/5/21, 32 minutes in Uptown

25 - 8/8/21, with Grace in Bay Park

26 - 8/10/21, with Grace in Bay Park

27 - 8/15/21, with Corey Grassl and Christian Imboden in the Poconos

28 - 8/17/21, with Peggy Salsbury

29 - 8/18/21, 45 minutes in the Poconos

30 - 9/2/21, 30 minutes in Uptown/Rogers Park

31 - 9/9/21, 18 minutes in Uptown with Shaun Cooley

32 - 9/19/21, 32 minutes in Uptown

33 - 9/23/21, 16 minutes in Uptown

34 - 9/26/21, 34 minutes in Uptown

35 - 9/29/21, 90 minutes in Uptown

36 - 10/7/21, 30 minutes in Uptown

37 - 10/8/21, 32 minutes in Uptown

38 - 10/16/21, 30 minutes in downtown Chicago

39 - 11/3/21, 90 minutes in Lincoln Park because I ran out of gas and forgot my wallet at home

40 - 11/4/21, 110 minutes in the Morton Arboretum with Stephanie Souvenir

41 - 12/3/21, a very long time (3 hours or so?) in La Paz Waterfall Gardens with Jerry Krone & Kathy Krone

#95 - Go to a New Country

Yes, I knew I'd be going to a new country this year, but also, it's not cheating because this item is always on the list. But let me paint the scene.

I'm having Christmas dinner with my family. It's just the four of us (my parents, my brother, and me) for the first time in a long time. We're back to our old tradition of fondue, which is fairly easy for prep and clean up after a lot more effort the previous day for the Polish Christmas Eve dinner celebration.

We're finished eating, and my mom puts the palms of her hands flat on the table in front of her, and solemnly says, "We need to talk to you about something..." and I feel a little dread but have no idea what this information could possibly be. "There's some time to decide... But next year, probably between Thanksgiving and Christmas... " What terrible thing could we possibly know is coming a year in advance? "Do you kids want to go to Costa Rica?"

My brother jut our jaws out in awe, stare at her, and say, "YES" but with a definite tone of frustration.

"Why are you saying it like that?" she asks.

"Why did you ask it like that?!" we ask.

Apparently she was just bracing herself for us to say no. Not only was everything fine, but we were going to Costa Rica.

"There's one condition."

"WHAT?"

"I want to see a sloth. Last time we were there I didn't get to see one. So I want to see one."

I'm pretty sure Chris and I exchanged glances at this point. Because, yeah, duh, we all want to see a sloth.

We were there for 10 days, and they all kind of blend together until the end, so here is what we did, to the best of my memory.

KRONES

Wednesday

We landed after sundown and were staying in San Jose the first night. Before we even made it to the hotel, we experienced our first Tico time incident. We must have waited, along with others, over an hour for our rental car. Then, they didn't have any full-size cars that were automatic, so we had to decide between a stick shift and a smaller car. We could tell they wanted us to take the stick since we'd watch many other tourists attempt to drive sticks out of the parking lot only to end up in the bushes or not actually get anywhere at all, and my dad and brother could drive stick. However, the plan was to have me drive in the city since I'm the most used to aggressive drivers and also get pretty dang car sick pretty easily. So we crammed into a Corolla and headed to the hotel.

Costa Rica is the most biodiverse country in the world, and while I knew we were going sloth spotting and would likely see monkeys near the house, I was curious about what else we'd see. In the morning, while waiting to leave for the Pacific coast, I read all about Costa Rican wildlife: at least three species of monkeys, sloths, jaguars, macaws, toucans... harpie eagles (terrifying)... tarantula hawks (wasps that stun tarantulas, drag them away, lay their eggs on them, and then bury them so that their hatchlings have a fresh meal upon arrival to the world)... butterflys, leaf cutter ants... bullet ants (their bite ranks a 10 on the pain scale)... very few spiders and none toxic... but then ALL the toxic snakes: pit vipers, fer de lance (described as quick and excitable), boa constrictors, coral snakes, and all kinds of scary things. I was now less excited to go be in the middle of no where.

Thursday

On our 2-hour drive from San Jose to our little spot on the coast (near Parrita), we saw a ton of animals before arriving at our house: La Villa Dos Gatos. My mom found what turned out to be a fantastic VRBO in the middle of the most beautiful no where. It was 4 bedrooms; 2 full baths; a decent kitchen; a living room; a gorgeous, huge, second-story front porch; and a pool--plus they had surf boards, boogie boards, and floaties. Supposedly, there were also monkeys (capuchin) and sloths that hung out in the trees. I hoped there were no pit vipers hanging out with them.

Thanksgiving day we had a great meal at the little restaurant down the road, Mar y Sol: a perfect name for a Costa Rican restaurant with a great view of sunsets over the ocean. My dad and I had red snapper, pulled fresh from the mangroves just a few dozen yards away, and it was one of the best fishes I've ever had. The servers were great. Everyone was happy with their meals, especially my brother who had the first of what would become his daily arroz con pollo meals. We spent the rest of the night playing board games and debating whether or not it was the geckos making the barking noises. (Spoiler alert: it was.)

SO GOOD

Friday

I kinda don't know what we did. I think we just hung out at the house, reading, napping, watching the iguanas, later playing some more games. I made breakfast tacos, and I cannot remember what we did for dinner because I don't think I cooked twice in one day.

Saturday

We drove to Jaco, a nearby beach town, to catch the Michigan-Ohio State game. We wound up at a sports bar called Cheerleaders that caters to tourists and ex-pats, showing just about any game, match, competition, etc. from the states. The bartender (Bee) was stellar, and the only down side was that it was 11:00am, and they didn't serve food until 1:00pm, so we were quite buzzed by halftime and needed to take a walk. The upside is they had arroz con pollo, so Chris kept up his streak. The other downside is the game sucked. But we had a nice time wandering Jaco after.

Mom's bff: Gator

I think it was on this day that I made dinner: two types of roast chicken (one with a random spice packet I couldn't translate that we'd picked up from the grocery store and one with just olive oil, salt, and pepper) and some roasted potatoes. I had planned to attempt using a yuca root I had bought, but the power was out and there was no cell service in our area, and I had no idea how to prepare that giant vegetable.

Sunday

Because the beach is so steep and rip tides are so prevalent in that area, we were advised to only surf at low tide. However, at low tide, the waves were pretty meh the whole time we were there. Finally, on Sunday, they were closer to the 3-4' range one afternoon, so we gave it a go. On foam boards, I think we both would have caught some decent rides, but with new boards and small waves, the best I could manage was a few seconds in a kneel before I'd run out of wave or onto the beach. It was Chris' first attempt at surfing, and he had that new surfer smile on his face, that one that says, I'm terrible at this--but I can't wait for the next swell. I was just happy to be back and excited to be able to manage a new board on a new beach in a new country. Super lovely.

I think the furthest from the house we went that day was Mar y Sol, our neighborhood restaurant, where three of us tried something new and Chris had chicken and rice again.

Monday

I believe this was the day that we hung at the pool for a bit and then eventually ventured to Quapos, a city in the opposite direction of Parrita and Jaco, just because after so much relaxation, I was finally getting the bug to be active. My parents recommended the zip line tour at Manuel Antonio National Park, and it was too late in the day to do that, but I figured scoping out the rest of the town so that we could return the next day would be fun. We ended up having apps and drinks at the touristy-sh marina/shops/restaurant complex, but it was still a mix of Ticos and non-Ticos, plus there was a gorgeous view of the sunset over the water, so I enjoyed my margaritas and the breeze and didn't worry too much about it. I think this was the point where that Costa Rica vibe was finally in me, and everything felt so relaxing and pleasant.

Tuesday

Chris and I went zip lining with a company that goes through Manuel Antonio National Park. There were 13 lines, some of which were very long. I love a good zip line, and this was the best zip line experience I've ever had, by far. Of course, the place made a huge impact: huge trees in a dense jungle. However, the guides also made the experience that much better. It was clear on each short trail and on each platform, one of them was scanning the forest, searching for wildlife to share with us. They pointed out poison dart frogs and the sleepy plant. They seemed disappointed at one point and mentioned there are usually monkeys in a particular tree. They shared with us a fruit that kind of reminded me of a bitter pomegranate. I was fascinated by the leaf cutter ants, and they joked, "Yes, the Costa Rican army." At points, we were so high up, really zipping along the tree tops of the jungle canopy. Once they noticed I liked zipping fast, they'd give me little comments about which rides were the fastest and telling me not to brake unless someone motioned from the platform. One of the guides took beautiful pictures, and while there was a cost, we could purchase all photos of us and the scenery (including the frogs)--probably 20 or so photos each--for around $20 a person. Once I viewed the photos, it was clear they also messed with us a bit, like during the rappel when they encouraged each of us to put our arms out and then dropped us quickly, resulting in big, open-mouth smiles with arms stretched wide, to encourage really fun photos. It was really well done, and I would highly recommend it. I would also love to try other zip line tours to see the canopies of other areas of the country.

That evening, we went to a new, small spot for dinner, where everyone else claimed they had their best meal while there. My meal was good, but I couldn't stop thinking about that snapper.

Chris' bff: this cricket

Wednesday

Feeling eager for more movement, I suggested we go on a "short, pleasant hike" to a waterfall (according to our host's binder of activities). It wasn't quite a tourist destination as it was in the middle of nowhere on land owned by no one, but apparently we just had to park in this woman's yard, pay her $4 per person for the parking, and then hike in.

It was certainly in the middle of no where, including one-lane dirt roads through farmland. We eventually found the spot and indeed, a woman came out to collect for the parking and pointed us in the right direction, saying the fall were just 1km away, a 10-minute walk. Perfect.

The ground was a little saturated from the rainfall and bumpy due to apparent cow tracks, but the trail was fairly well marked, and there were leaf cutter ants to honor on the way. And then we had to cross a creek, which we did not anticipate, but whatever. (I was doing my best not to think about how the fer de lance snake hangs out near riverbeds and along trails, especially where cows hung out.)

Then, on the other side of the creek, there was so much mud that it was unavoidable. The kind of mud that makes it impossible to keep dry feet. The kind of mud that sucks off your shoes. And there's my poor mom, not the sportiest of the family, trying to be a good sport while her sport sandals kept slipping off and she needed one of us to lean on for balance.

But finally, we made it to the falls. They were called the Tres Piscinas, which we saw was because there were really 2 small waterfalls that fed one big waterfall (three pools). We waded in, and eventually my brother and I climbed up to the second pool. We almost climbed up to the top pool, but we were making my parents nervous by using the makeshift vine rope to aid our climbing.

Cleaning Mom's shoes

The way back was much smoother though we had a long stop at the creek for everyone to wash their shoes. (Again, not thinking about snakes, not thinking about snakes, not thinking about snakes.)

Thursday

Chris and I had signed up for another adventure: horseback riding. I'm not actually sure I've talked much about my riding experience on this blog, but I'm a fairly experienced rider. I mean, I took weekly lessons growing up, was part of the equestrian club in college (usually weekly rides still), and even now still ride most years at camp, so at least a few times a year. So, I was stoked to ride on trails in Costa Rica. Chris had never ridden before, but he was game, so we signed up for a tour I found from our host's binder.

Chris' other bff: Jalisco

We met the tour's van at a gas station and followed them there because we'd booked late and weren't staying at a hotel (where they did pick ups). That was a really good thing, as I mentioned earlier, I get motion sick easily, and we wove up some windy hills to get to the site. Once we got there, they fed us a Costa Rica breakfast (black beans, rice, scrambled eggs, and a tortilla, a breakfast I learned is right up my alley), split us into two groups, and prepped us for the ride. While I'm an experienced rider, I know that riding is a risky activity, so I only make my experience known when making reservations and when asked. As I knew I had a beginner with me, I didn't mention my experience at all while we were being given instructions, but it was clear the guides had read my reservation email and also put in a slight test. When introducing their very docile horses and how to direct them (not that many needed directing as they were practiced trail horses), the guide told us the slowest speed was walking and then asked what was next. I answered "trot." Then he asked the next and next (canter and gallop), and when I got those right, he said, "Megan, you have some experience riding, would you like a horse who likes to go a little quicker?" And I eagerly said yes.

It was a phenomenal ride through a secondary forest with a stop at a beautiful waterfall for a quick swim. Also, our guide told me that my brother and I seemed much more comfortable in the jungle than the others, and that's one of the best compliments I've ever received. Just a really lovely morning.

Views from Ronnie's place

We finished the day with dinner at this spot in Quepos I'd read about on Trip Advisor. If only we'd arrived just a bit sooner as it was the most beautiful spot to watch a sunset over the hills and the Pacific. We caught the last 10 minutes or so of daylight and then enjoyed our dinner with a view of the darkness. None of us got our hopes up for the quality of the food, as this was clearly a spot for tourists, but we were all pleasantly surprised with some fantastic food and lovely drinks.

Friday

Some of these suckers had to be
around 15 feet

It was finally time to leave La Villa Dos Gatos. We packed up, said goodbye, and drove off with the feeling that maybe one day we'd be back. We stopped in Jaco for some gift shopping, but the whole town was clearing out to make room for a festival of lights that night. We found ourselves at lunch at the taco shop we'd seen signs for during all of our drives, a tourist-friendly eatery. Again, we were shocked at how good the food was. The seasoning on their potato slices, fried chicken, and fried shrimp was bananas good. And yes, we had tacos in Jaco.

On our way back to San Jose, we came to a bridge that had been swarming with tourists when we were headed in the other direction. Suddenly, it hit me. "Is this the crocodile bridge?" We pulled over at one of the tourist traps and walked the bridge to gaze over the side at so very many humongous crocodiles. They were terrifying. And beautiful. And so creepy. I was so thankful we did this on the way home because I knew that there were crocodiles in the mangroves that were just dozens of yards from both our house and Mar y Sol. I would have been terrified at every step outside of the house and car.

NOT ARROZ CON POLLO

Back in San Jose, my mom and I walked to the mall while my dad and brother returned the rental car. Then, we all had a light dinner in the hotel, too tired and too aware of our 4am wake up calls to venture out again.



Saturday

I kinda dig the San Jose airport. There are so many shops for last-minute gifts, and the rum at duty free was cheap. And then we were off. And then we were home.

And yet, the Costa Rica vibe still isn't totally out of my system, almost a month later. It's a magical place, and I keep thinking about souvenirs that said, "I went to Costa Rica and all I got was happy."

#PuraVida

Actual photo my dad took at the beach we could see from our porch