Pura Vida

We went to Costa Rica!

Sunset from our porch where we stayed in Monte Verde — looking over the bay and peninsula toward the Pacific Ocean.

In real-time, we’re almost settled in at the Canal Cottage for another season. But we took a detour on the way from our Oregon home, spending a couple of weeks in the land of Pura Vida.

Pura Vida, the country’s motto, translates literally as ‘pure life’ but in Costa Rica it means even more. People say it often as a greeting or, I think, just a quick way to say ‘things are good here!’ In our (too brief) experience that’s very true.

Bill on our hike in the Monte Verde Cloud Forest

The travel- planner of the family (above) did his usual magic arranging this long-time travel bucket list destination in a way that totally lived up to our expectations.

yellow-throated toucan

Bill does all the planning — I take the pictures. Except not even that sometimes. Our birding guide in Monte Verde took this through his spotting scope after I looked through in complete delight!

Cinnamon Becard

Lots more pictures to share in future posts, which I sincerely hope will be very soon, now that I’ve almost figured out again how to do this blogging thing.

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Thanks to the hosts of the sharing opportunities where I’ll share this post for the first time in a while. It’s good to be back.

THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY;  SATURDAY CRITTERS;

We appreciate all visitors and commenters! Thank you.

24 responses to “Pura Vida”

  1. Anonymous

    How wonderful you visited Costa Rica. Thoroughly enjoyed all your photos! This is a place I have always wanted to go to. Such amazing flowers and wildlife! Thank you Sallie! It is a joy to have you back in blogland.

  2. Hello. It has been a bit since you came by Marmelade Gypsy but I am finally getting caught up! What a wonderful trip this had to be. Those birds are just amazing, aren’t they? That one tree with the moss and roots — very powerful! Welcome back to blogging.

  3. Costa Rica is amazing. We went a few years ago and I’d go again in a heartbeat.

  4. Wow you two are so adventurous exploring other countries at this time in your life. My nephew, David is a bird photographer and he visited Costa Rica last year. He took some wonderful wildlife photos and he uses them to make beautiful calendars. Unfortunately, he got very sick there and he was impressed with the medical help that he got. He had to be medivaced back to Australia when he was well enough. He drank too much electrolyte stuff and sent his heart into overdrive. It has taken him a long time to recover.

  5. Wow, Costa Rica looks amazing! That Monte Verde sunset is beautiful, and those birds are incredible. Love the “Pura Vida” vibes!
    Great to have you back, Sallie!

  6. Mae Sander

    Good to hear that you saved your blog posts from the past.

  7. Anonymous

    welcome back to blogland. Enjoy Cosa Rica. You might need to do something about letting people know where to click to write a comment. Have a great week! and thankyou for visiting my blog the other day. Jill @ lifeimagesbyjill.blogspot.com

  8. Lisa Isaacs

    The new blog looks good. Well done to your son!
    I am glad you were about to make the trip to Costa Rica. The sunset from your porch looks stunning, the birds too.

  9. Anonymous

    I need to visit Costa Rica, for it’s rich birdlife. It looks amazing there.

  10. yogiabb

    You (and the guide) got some great photos.
    Nice to have a trip planner in the family. That’s not me in this family.

  11. Lovely photos of Costa Rica ~

    an artist reflects

  12. Hello Sallie,
    A couple of weeks in Costa Rica sounds wonderful. The birding there is awesome. Love the toucan and the cute songbird? Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend.

  13. Happy to see you up and running again on your new site. Loved reading this. Pura Vida!

  14. Mae Sander

    Yes, Costa Rica is a marvelous place to see birds and other wonders. I’ve loved my visits there and enjoyed your photo reminders of what I’ve seen.

  15. I hear once you get bitten by the Pura Vida bug, you will get the urge to keep coming back for more.

    Worth a Thousand Words

  16. itsallaboutpurple

    hi sally!!! i was so happy to see you today!! that first picture is spectacular…as are the rest. beautiful birds, captured beautifully. i enjoyed see your hubby, with that amazing tree…it’s nice to have a planner in the family!! pura vida!!

  17. Wonderful pictures! Pura Vida!

  18. jimbarlas

    Beautiful sky.

  19. Michelle Keltner

    So good to find you here! CR looks wonderful and no doubt you enjoyed it. Thank you for linking up and I look forward to hearing more about your adventures!

  20. great sunset but I really like the last photo

  21. This looks like a wonderful adventure. What an amazing view you have! I’ve always wanted to go to Costa Rica.

  22. geminipvb

    Costa Rica is a beautiful and exotic country! Glad you were able to enjoy some time there and now are in Florida for the winter. Happy and healthy 2026!

  23. Anonymous

    I love the photos from this short trip. If you go back, take more!

  24. Lisa

    Beautiful pictures!

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