I spent the 2009 spring break in Costa Rica. The journey to Mal Pais went something like this: cab from Manhattan to JFK, flight to San Jose (the one in Costa Rica), taxi to bus, bus to ferry, ferry to a hitch hiked ride to Mal Pais. I got to town just as the sun was setting, grabbed the surf board and headed out for a quick paddle. It was a great way to start the trip and pretty refreshing after a day of travel.
I was fortunate enough to share the experience with just short of a dozen of my friends from Columbia Business School and with my sister, who flew in from San Francisco. The "most-time-spent-in-the-water" award definitely goes to her. We settled quickly into a nice routine, which for the more surf-inclined involved waking up near sunrise, surfing, eating, napping mid-day, eating, surfing until sun set, and throwing back a few Imperials to "rehydrate".
It was a great way to spend a week, and it was made even more enjoyable by the presence and guidance of Raquel, a fellow CBSer that grew up in Costa Rica. She showed us around and even had a few of us over to her parent's house in Orotina. Hanging out in the shade poolside while listening to Latin music was one of the highlights of the trip, as were Raqui's and her family's hospitality.
Costa Rica's scenery is amazing. And with its government's focus on eco-tourism and sustainability and its lack of a standing army, one has got to recognize that they might be on to something. I'll definitely be back. Pura vida!
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