Travelling is way to expand your boundaries, to do and try the things you would not normally do in your everyday, routine life. Travel seems to heighten your senses, peak your interest in the stories of others, and make you more aware of your surroundings. It perks up your taste buds and seems to make you even more sensitive to all the beauty that is around you. At least, it did all that for me on a recent to trip to Costa Rica. I had the wonderful opportunity to really soak in my surroundings and live out bliss for a week.
One of my first stops was the restaurant Remembranzas, which has the tag line, “A place to remember and savor,” and that pretty much says it all! When you enter this restaurant, your eyes are delighted as they try to take in the artwork, the colors, and the antiques. It is as though you have entered a museum/artist/gallery-restaurant feast for the eyes! You look up at the roof and it has the cloth coffee bags, which coffee beans used to be sold in, draped across the ceiling. They have live entertainment and, mmm, let’s not forget about the food …The steak seasoned to perfection, no A-1 sauce needed, and my mini baked potato and salad brings a smile to my stomach.
I still have warm memories of the coffee served there, too. The coffee presentation was like a whole little show—it is made in a device called Chorreador de café, a small wood frame with a hole at the top where a cloth filter is placed and fine ground coffee and boiling water is poured into the filter. It is so simple, but simply makes the coffee taste even better—it is like the original mini coffee pot! The friendly owner of the Remembranzas is also such a joy and has an interesting history himself. Even though I could communicate with him very little (I should have practiced my Spanish after I graduated college!), he was so genuinely in love with his restaurant and making his customers happy. You could tell he was following his life’s bliss! Purpose and passion needs no translation.
Now that my senses were awakened at Remembranzas, they were further sparked traveling to the Arenal Manoa Hotel, about two and a half hours from San Jose and worth every hour, minute, and second it took to get there! I arrived there way past sunset so when I woke up in the morning to pull the curtains back, I nearly fell over to witness the mouth-dropping view of the Arenel Volcano! The awe-inspiring detail about this hotel is all the rooms facing the volcano and everywhere you look is the lushness of God’s creation.
You are able to go right on your very own front porch, sit in your very own wooden rocking chair with your very own freshly brewed cup of Café Britt, and just soak up your very own personal and majestic views. You do not even need words—all you must do is look and absorb. The beauty is so astounding the hotel has set up a breakfast buffet outside, right there in the open and you can continue just taking it all in. This place, in my mind, does not even have a certain demographic that it is perfect for. If you just appreciate beauty and need to get out of your own head to something greater than yourself, this is the place for you.
Even though I thought my bliss was complete, there was more in store for me at The Springs Resort and Spa. Part of this resort and spa is still under construction; however, I was able to have a tour of this property and I can only say once it is all complete, my heart or my eyes may not be able to take in all the grandeur! Once again, I was able to have an up-close view of the Arenel Volcano and everywhere I looked, paradise was unleashed! The Springs Resort and Spa Web site says it “promises to overwhelm you in every aspect of quality, service, and design.” I can say first-hand it delivers on the promise! If you have the opportunity but are short on time (and funds), just get a day pass the Natural Hot and Cold Springs. As you sink into the springs and gaze out on the beauty, promise yourself to be fully present in the moment … do not think about all the people you have to share this with and how you have to take a ton of pictures to remember all the details. Just be still and enjoy the moment you so richly desire.
