Buenos tardes from San Jose, Costa Rica

It was with great excitement that I departed (escaped?) from Portland in hopes of finding a bit of summer. Just a smidge would do, really. For those of you who are reading this from good ol’ Stumptown, you understand what I mean. We got our summer in the spring and now we’re getting our spring in the summer. After days on end of rain, the prospect of a tropical clime was supremely inviting, and what better place to experience that than in Costa Rica? Yes, I realize this is technically their winter; however, July is their “veranillo”—or “little summer”— a time when the rains let up, the sun comes out, and the temperatures rise, yet not to the sweltering highs that they get during their actual summer, thank goodness.

After two blissfully short flights (why can’t travel to all countries be this quick and easy?), the plane lands in San Jose and we’re treated to our first sign of… clouds. Lots and lots of clouds.

[sigh]

Well, this is only day one of a trip that will span over three weeks, so I shouldn’t be too disheartened. There is still a lot of time for the sun to make an appearance and for me to get a taste of the summer I so crave.

So, here I am with David sitting next to me (you might remember him from the Israel and Ecuador trips last year), on a cloudy day in San Jose. We’ll spend only a few days in the city before we travel south to Ojochal to volunteer at an eco reserve (my first time volunteering with a companion), after which we’ll be let loose upon the unsuspecting country to mountain bike, paddle board, and experience this wondrous place.

As usual, this is my long-winded first post that is meant to simply say “I’ve arrived” (or we’ve arrived, as the case may be) and I eagerly anticipate the adventure ahead. Clouds and all.