Zip Lining in Costa Rica

I did it.  I survived zip lining in Costa Rica.  I originally thought it was Nate’s way of cashing in on my life insurance policy.  Not so lucky this time dear husband.

Let me start with the fact that I am a very cautious person and I’m also afraid of heights.  Two steps on a step ladder and I start to get all nervous.  So how’s about I go flying through the jungle on some death trap?  Yeah, how’s about no.

I posted on my personal facebook page that I was certain Nate was trying to end my life and make it look like an accident.  My dear friends kindly informed me that I can’t go to Costa Rica and not zip line.  What did I gather from this?  That my friends wanted me dead too. 

Somehow Nate convinced me I would survive.  Also the brochure that included a kid in a wheelchair zip lining helped seal the deal.

We took a 15 minute bus ride to the zip lining place of death (The Congo Trail Canopy Tour).  The guides get you set up in your gear…a helmet, stinky gloves and a harness apparatus that gives you a giant wedgie.

(Please ignore the look of fear in my eyes.  The fear was from dying and being groped by a Costa Rican man.)

Helmets on and we’re ready to go…

Wait.  Are we?

I change my mind.  Oh, too late now? Fine.  Whatever.

Holy crap. I really change my mind now.  Nate assures me I’ll be fine.  I made him promise me that he’d show this picture to his next wife.

I made it to the first death release point.  I was really close to chickening out.  The guide hooked me up and set me free.  **Be sure to notice my huge biceps.**

And you know what?  It was a ton of fun.  I loved it.  The tour had 11 lines.  That first leap was awful but then it turned into complete awesomeness.

After the first few lines, I decided that maybe Nate just wanted to have fun in Costa Rica.  I kept a close eye on him though…and made him take a bunch of touristy pictures with me.

More proof that we did, in fact, go zip lining.  I really was having fun.  I was just concentrating on not running into a tree.

The views throughout the tour were gorgeous. The mist of water along the upward trail was awesome too.  All parks should have those.

If you get the chance to zip line, you must do it. This is coming from a he-giant chicken girl.  I will go again in a heart beat.  If I can survive it, you totally can!

Have you been zip lining?  Any desire to go or are you a big chicken?  Bock bock.

Pura Vida

Hola, blog amigos!  I am back from Costa Rica.  Unfortunately.  Work is going to be insanely difficult today.  I will keep repeating to myself, “Grown-ups have jobs. Grown-ups go to work.”

Nate and I loved Costa Rica. We both recommend it as a travel destination. This week is “Costa Rica Week” on the blog where we’ll share all of our favorites with you.  Let the torture begin!

We stayed at the Riu Guanacaste.  The resort is located in a rural area of the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica.  It is the perfect location for a relaxing, secluded getaway!

The remote location does make it harder to explore more of Costa Rica.  Many of the excursions were 8-12 hour+ trips.  We did go on two excursions near the hotel. The rest of our time was spent as lazy beach bums.  Muy bueno.

We would start our day off by sleeping in and then heading to breakfast.  We would then go for a nice run on the beach.

Nate’s form is weak.

Okay, the running thing is a lie.  We would take a nice, slow stroll along the beach.  Slow because Costa Rica is HOT.  Must have something to do with that whole being near the equator thing.  I loved the warmth…when near a nice cool body of water…and fruity drink…which is how we spent the remainder of our day. 

The beach near the hotel is beautiful.  The sand is black sand.  Pretty but feet scorching. Nate and I are nature people so we liked that the beach was surrounded by mountains.  Costa Rica is transitioning from the dry season to the wet season.  It only rained one evening while we were there.

Let’s let the pictures do the talking. I’m slowly working my way back into this blogging thing.  I forgot how to write complete sentences.  Not that I was awesome at that a week ago. Focus.  Insert pretty photos.

I impressed Nate with my Spanish speaking skills.  He’s pretty sure I’m almost fluent.  Like this sign at the end of the resort, it says “Beware of Crocodiles”.  I saved his life on this one.  He was totally ungrateful for my translating skills.

He was also impressed with my newly acquired modeling skills.  The things he missed during tax season.  (And yes, I am incapable of taking a normal picture.)

Nate’s modeling is weak.  The “What the fudge?” expression was so 2011.  So is that dirty, cut-off race shirt.  Just saying.

The sunsets at the resort were also pretty impressive…the shots we could get before we were carried off by mosquitoes.

The rest of the week I’ll share with you our thoughts on the resort, photos from zip lining, and photos from our jungle river cruise.  There are photos of me and wild monkeys!  And not just this monkey…

Is it too early to go back?