While there is a lot of talk these days about the benefits of being outside, as you get older there is less attraction to going out in frigid northern climes. So purely for health reasons – no really – hubby and I are taking a few weeks in comfortable Costa Rica. Being outside is no problem here and this warm golden sunset greeted us outside the plane window as we started our decent.
Add a couple of exotic looking birds like this Blue Grey Tanager
…and female Trogan
or this fuzzy camouflaged yellow moth
or exotic unidentified red flower…
and the snow and cold seems a distant memory for a while.
We’re not beach people so we tend to stick to the lush mountains or in this case, just behind our hotel, the active and smoking volcano Turrialba.
Throw in a coffee plantation horse tour with the macho horse wrangler Nelson and what could be better?
We ride past the first coffee roasting factory in the country, Aquiares, proudly sporting its Rainforest Alliance organic seal of approval.
Yes, the outdoors is great for the health, mental and physical, and the message on my tee shirt reflects my confidence!
Womanseyeview's Blog 
Very beautiful photos of nature. Love the scenery!
I love your T-shirt, Carol. 😀 Costa Rica is a great place for outdoor exploring. I’m sure you had a marvellous time.
Hope you have had a wonderful and warm holiday in this lush tropical paradise. The t-shirt makes me laugh out loud!
Wonderful warm post and so lush! It’s fun seeing new places on horseback .. Love that T-shirt 🙂 Super pics that moth looks like a leaf, some camouflage! Have a wonderful time
Isn’t that an amazing moth?! Yes when you’re on horseback you see the world a completely different way. Thanks for dropping by😊
Great to see those wonderful, colourful tropical birds. From your photos it looks an ideal place to recharge your batteries.
It sure is a nice relaxed place to get us ready again to face the rest of the winter. I just love the colourful birds here but most of them move too fast for me to photograph.
Yes, specialist equipment and fancy lenses or for the rest of us potluck. 😊
Lovely to see you back and sharing your great experience. Sounds a fascinating place. Nelsons horse looks as though it could be stroppy. How long are you staying? Loved the t-shirt. How is Romy?
We’re into our final week of a three week stay – really great to get a break from the cold. Nelson’s horse is a hot blooded, high stepping criollo – so stroppy would be his middle name😊. My boy Romy is still enjoying his rehabilitation period – will be great to ride him again in a few months…thanks for asking.
I could see the spirit in Nelson’s horse. Pleased to hear Romy is on the way to recovery
Have a lovely stay in Costa Rica! Our neighbours have escaped to India for five weeks! I love your t-shirt 🙂
India is a lot more exotic but a break anywhere warmer is great! Couldn’t resist the t-shirt when I saw it😉
😀
{sigh} This looks WONDERFUL!! I know it’s redundant to say I hope you have a great time 🙂
Thank you – although I don’t mind our winters it is nice to have a break. Much better riding this way too vs all the layering at home.
I haven’t decided yet whether a break from the cold would make it worse or not. Someday I’ll have to try it and find out 😉
Here the temps keep hitting the 40s (over 100f) although we have the seabreeze to cool things down. Our balcony was covered in ash this morning from a nearby bushfire. All the same, I prefer both of those things to freezing in a Canadian extreme winter. Costa Rica looks an interesting place for you to defrost. Perhaps that flower is from the poinsettia family? Hope you have a great holiday. Love your t-shirt 🙂
Thank you! Funny but I guess it’s what you’re used to but I can’t enjoy anything over around 28C and would prefer the cold – +40 would be hellish😎. I thought the same thing abou the poinsettia family but this is such a mix of about 3 flowers.
Love this post! Looks like you’re having a grand time out in outside! Nelson’s horse is a beauty. The t-shirt made me laugh out loud!
Isn’t he a beauty – he’s a high stepping criollo breed…still pretty close to the first small horses the Spanish invaders introduced. Yes it’s a bit OTT but I love wearing the t-shirt too😉
So happy you are sharing your trip through your blog and I LOVE the tee shirt. I would enjoy wearing this saying but my fear of horses would make it a bit of a farce.
I will keep an eye out for a more appropriate t-shirt for you…maybe ‘Beware! I’ve walked the Bruce Trail which means I’ve scrambled over huge boulders, slid down skree, jumped bottomless crevices and outrun a bear which means YOU will not be a problem!’…I’ll work on it…
Great photos! So colorful!
And love the T-shirt. So glad you can ride!
Thank you Nancy and yes riding without the multiple layers is fabulous!
I am enjoying reading your blog posts. It’s fun to keep up.
I am trying to stay current with my posts. Even though I love Instagram… I can journal more over here. Plus… keeping up with friends over here in blogland is important to me as well. However, several have left… 😦
Thank you😊It is hard sometimes to keep up with blog friends and I have so many interesting ones – like you! I know what you’re saying about those who have left – funny how we get attached through social media – funny but nice.
I agree. It is funny but very nice. I have met two people in real life through my blog. And two people through Instagram. I often think of it as our (virtual) pen pals!
I may add my blog to my Instagram account… I don’t know why I am hesitant… but I am.
Wait a minute… you are on vacation… go and enjoy! Hugs to you!! 🤗
Thanks for sharing; brings back memories.
Enjoy every moment.
Thank you Ceri and we’re doing our best xx.
Enjoy a wonderful break. None of your readers from frigid northern climes will be the slightest bit jealous, I’m sure ……
Thank you Margaret your heartfelt remarks are appreciated 😉
D’you know, I think you might struggle, but I’m sure you’ll persevere. 🙂 🙂
I’ve just tiptoed back across the ice from a friend and neighbour’s house. Roll on next Saturday and the Algarve! Have a lovely time. 🙂
Ice under foot is the worse😱Lucky you/ us to get to escape for a while!
Beautiful photos and a great T-shirt, Carol! The countryside looks lovely!
We are having a relatively mild winter here in western Oregon with no snow in my area, yet. It hit 70 here the other day, but it is back down in the mid 40s again.
Thanks Lavinia – I love the mountains that’s for sure! Our weather has been bitter so glad to hear your winter is a mild one…disconcerting how the weather patterns are out of sinc – the new normal perhaps?
Unusual and erratic weather does seem to be the new normal here. 🙂