Tacos,Tequila and Tan Lines
Let’s Taco bout it.
You can’t go wrong with a taco, or so I thought. We found the most amazing beach front cafe and I ordered some of the fish variety. I inhaled them (a really bad habit of mine), I’m not even sure that they touched the sides and I must have said to Steve at least 5 times how unbelievably good they tasted. We went back to our hotel to relax and had an early night, after all, it was my birthday in the morning and so we had a day of fun and merriment planned. About 2am in the morning the stomach cramps started and well, I probably don’t need to go into detail and it might be best that you don’t use your imagination, but I can assure you that what happened for the next 12 hours was not pretty. I couldn’t even manage a birthday banana (oi, you, stop being filthy! The breakfast kind). I spent the morning feeling sorry for myself whilst Steve sunned himself by the pool. Luckily for me (and for Steve as he was done with me feeling sorry for myself) by the afternoon I started to feel a bit more human and so was able to leave the confines of our room and met with some friends at a local spot which does a weekly family fun event. I am so pleased that I made it out of the hotel to go to this as it was really special. I didn’t feel great or on form, but at least I made it out, at the time I felt like I’d been cheated of my special day, but now I realize how lucky I was with many others unable to see anyone face to face due to the Corona virus social distancing and quarantine which has now well and truly kicked in.
This was also the night that Steve caved in, he was noticeably stressed and his eye was swollen, choosing a Corona beer to help him to relax. I had a virgin mojito, which was nice and refreshing and felt like a birthday treat.
“Can I interest you in a shot of tequila?”
To which I want to reply to our waiter ‘No, I’m not sure if you noticed, but I haven’t had an alcoholic drink all evening, so not sure why I would choose to chase my desert with a tequila now.’ Instead I just giggle and say no…thank you’. This REALLY annoyed me. There have been a few times where I have really struggled this holiday, I felt like the odd one out surrounded by people quaffing expensive wines and drinking cold beers and I have had a few moments of feeling like a holiday party pooper. I then stopped and reminded myself of what I have gained by not having that daytime or night time drink. This is really important and helps you to refocus on what is important. For starters, I have been up every day at the crack of dawn, with the birds singing their merry song and embracing every hour that the day has to offer. The days have felt long and endless and I have been out in the early morning sun and been able to retreat in the midday burn, giving my skin a much needed break and a an opportunity to explore.
I realise that back at home, I do not need to explain myself any more, everyone I know and care about knows that this is the lifestyle that I have chosen and they respect that, a week night meal when you are not on holiday doesn’t generally lead to alcohol pushing either. Here though I feel like I have to constantly explain myself and that can be really hard work. I guess it reminds me of what it was like at the beginning. They have no alcohol free beer here either which makes life a little bit more difficult, I’ve got used to this being my alcohol free ‘go too that I feel a bit lost without it. We often were given a drinks list with no alcohol free drinks detailed, we were then made to feel very awkward when we asked for other alternatives. This has an effect on the evening, whether you like it or not, you have to choose to not let it bother you or it will bother you. We opted for a lemonade and mint when we weren’t sure what to order, this became the new ‘go to’ and everywhere did this. A lot of places did Kombucha too, so this is definitely something that the trade are seeing as their alcohol free alternative on the bar, there were quite a few locally brewed options which was nice too, in the way that I would get a kick out of trying the local beer, I can now do this with Kombucha!
Tan lines, whilst these will fade *before anyone else gets to see them might I add* the memories will last a lifetime.
I feel blessed to have got away when we did and to be returning just before the boarders close. I can think of worse places to be stuck of course, but being trapped there until June so far away from friends and family would not have been ideal. Of course on the downside the holiday conversation was dominated by Corona Virus and you couldn’t help but spend a disproportionate amount of the day flicking through social media for updates in between lubing up our hands with sanitizer. On the plus side, experiences which may have been crowded usually, felt very private and exclusive. Some highlights from our trip.
SantaTeresa - Nosara - Tamarindo - Arenal
“¡Pura Vida!
The people of Costa Rica know the importance of a simple and pure life.
Costa Ricans (Ticos) use this term to say hello, to say goodbye, to say everything’s great, to say everything’s cool...
Which it will be.
Love & Light x”