Nandayure/Guanacaste/ COSTA RICA
“Everyone on earth has a treasure that awaits him. We, people’s hearts, seldom say much about those treasures, because people no longer want to go in search of them. We speak of them only to children. Later, we simply let life proceed, in its own direction, toward its own fate.” Paulo Coelho – The Alchemist
Years ago while I was visiting with expat friends and their on-vacation friends in Costa Rica, someone asked, “Did you ever dream when you were growing up that you’d live somewhere like this?”
Turning back time: Costa Rica – After the Competition
My mind peddled backwards, and within seconds I recalled a wanderlust dream from grammar school. I smiled wistfully and answered, “When I was in 5th grade, I wanted to live in Argentina and raise quarter horses.”
Sitting at the table, I could still visualize the page of our geography book that illustrated the pastoral beauty of Argentina’s Pampas. I admired the contrast between their grass-covered flatlands and the rolling landscape that led to a backdrop of snow-covered mountains. I envied the gauchos that worked in such breathtaking beauty. An equestrian at a young age, I stared dreamy-eyed at those images and pictured myself living in that setting. That dream stayed with me for years, and like most people, I grew “responsible” and the dream slowly faded until it was totally forgotten. Almost forty years later, a random question restored that memory.
Oops.. This is Nicaragua – we haven’t made it to Argentina yet!
While in Costa Rica, I often crossed the border into Nicaragua and enjoyed its unique beauty. Thanks to 99-dollar airfares on Taca Airlines, I also visited other countries in Central America before my first exploratory visit to South America. Ecuador definitely caught my attention!
Quinoa fields near Cayambe Ecuador (Photo by Marie Groff)
Early Morning – Hacienda Guachala – E
Ingapirca
(Chimbo through binoculars) Will this classic icon lose its classic life-giving crown of snow?
Chimborazo Ecuador…
Lovely Cuenca
Santa Teresa Ecuador
My road has nudged me closer to Argentina; although Argentina no longer serves as a beacon to my wanderlust eyes, I owe it to my dream to one day swing aboard one of those ponies and explore that unique slice of our world. I suspect that a posse of volunteers might want to ride along. Shall we start planning this trip?
Thanks, Robyn at Daily Post, for addressing, “What you thought you were going to be when you grew up.” Z
Zeebra Designs & Destinations 
I always saw myself as an artist. Always that or…
…Perry Mason’s new secretary because Della Street had to quit.
xoxoR
ha! you are so funny! and to think that you might have been a movie star!
you definitely are in your element with those lovely watercolors!
I wanted to be Perry Mason!
Win-Win!
We should be having coffee.
You talk.
I’ll take everything you say down in….scribble-like-shorthand.
That’s what Della did….
ha ha! i had coffee with friends in quito today… wish you could hve been with us – hey, you could’ve taken shorthand of our conversations!!!!
Ha! That would be a fun challenge – using observation skills and wisdom to solve mysteries others could not….
Beautiful post! I love your words said “I grew “responsible” and the dream slowly faded until it was totally forgotten”, very nice.
thank you! it’s interesting how my life has pushed me closer to the other end of the americas… as they say, it’s not necessarily the destination, but the journey that’s important.
That is so right! have heard about it and I love that words too. Thank you.
Lovely post, Lisa. In fifth grade you had more wisdom and gumption than a lot. Just look what you have done since you “grew up”. But this has possibilities. The dream isn’t over, yet. ( Horse Journey’s with Lisa.See Ecuador on saddle.From coast to mountains. Adventure vacations for those who don’t want to grow up.) 🙂 🙂 Sign me up.
ha! my niece karen and i have talked about a ride from hacienda to hacienda along ecuador’s andes… by all means, i’ll make a folder and start earmarking possible haciendas.
thanks, amiga, for the nudge! hey, and we can practice sketching during our rest stops!
I think you come as close to living the dream as most anyone I know. Congratulations!
thanks! i feel quite lucky to have experienced so many ‘micro cultures’ in central america and now in ecuador. it comes at a bit of a loss of not seeing my family nd loved ones bck home s much as i’d like, but my circle of dear friends gets larger and larger. i am blessed.
You’ll be there. Probably sooner than you think. But I’d humbly suggest Patagonia rather than the Pampas. 🙂
Hey! Yes, the images you posted of Patagonia are stunning, and my friend Sarah loved Patagonia as well. Sigh, there’s so much to see on this lovely planet, especially the areas that man has not desecrated.
Livin’ the dream. 😍👍
Ha! One day at a time! Thanks, amiga. (how’s the weather there?)
C-O-L-D!!! Suppose to snow in the morning. It’s actually ugly, but it could be worse. I’m good with it til it’s over, then COME ON SUN! 😉 ❤️
brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! we’re only a few weeks away from the equinox.. hard to believe from your latitude and longitude! stay warm amiga!
Trying, z. Trying. ❤️
I just love your posts! Color and laughter. It’s like taking a mini-vacation when your posts arrive on the computer. Keep ’em coming!
Hugh, you are so kind to say that; thank you so much. With the cold weather you’ve been having, you probably need a mini vacation!
It is great that you got so much of what you wished for. I also wished for much the same, but I never got further south than Mexico. Thanks for your great photos of what I would have loved to see in person.
Thanks, Don! Mexico has lots to offer, and if you were there in the ‘earlier’ years, it was surely a great experience.
If we could turn back the hands of time – while keeping our wisdom – we might have tweaked our studies and our itineraries. I am glad that you’re seeing a bit more of Latin America thru the images! Thanks again… Lisa/z
Oh I was there in the early years, thank goodness. And I have a great guide when I do go to Mexico. My wife of 50 some years was born in Mexico City. If it wasn’t that we want to be close to our kids and grand kids, we would probably be retired in one of the colonial cities. But my love for Mexico only increases my desire to go further south.
Such an amazing story, Lisa. I also loved Ecuador and Costa Rica. They were so different from anywhere I’d been before. I think it’s wonderful that you’ve been able to pursue your childhood dreams, and you’re obviously not done yet. Looking forward to the next exciting episode. 🙂 xx
thanks.. bob (piran cafe) is in quito ( post out in a few minutes) and he was talking about bolivia, and i thought, ‘bolivia! yes! people keep telling me that i’m going to love bolivia!’
ah, there’s so much to see of this beautiful world. a
Oh yes, Bolivia is really wonderful too. We did Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador on our first round the world trip. It was really awesome. 😃
grrrrrrrrrrrr. your comment did not show up in the drop-down menu on the upper right..
which was your favorite country? i’m sure that all three had unique strengths and weaknesses…
I think Peru is the one which I enjoyed the most, as Machu Picchu had been on my Bucket List for such a long time. 🙂
yes, i thought that machu picchu would be pretty hard to ignore! thanks for the feedback!
Great dreams, great realities, Z!
si.. i’m lucky to have spent so much time in beautiful countries – but they are all beautiful! for me the best parts are the remote ones that cling to authenticity…
Thanks for sharing your dream and your wonderful reality. Your wanderlust has served you well. Thanks Amiga. BTG
What were your dreams/ did you want to do when you were young?
Z, my first dream was to be a major league baseball player. Then, when I got to high school, I realized that there were better players than me. Yet, the friendships and memories I have made through sports have lasted a lifetime. My three best friends growing up and I can get together and talk for hours. So, I guess that fellowship is the greatest gift I have from the pursuit of my dream. Thanks for asking, BTG
I don’t remember if I told you that my son Charles majored in turf management and interned at Fenway; one of his dreams was to be part of a world-series team or witness a new record being made, and shazam, he seemed to be their good-luck charm.. He grew weary of that life and now has his own business rebuilding or repairing fields for high schools, parks and universities. He loves his work.
http://gostatesmen.com/news/2013/7/22/BB_0722133106.aspx?path=softball
I wish I did what you did and decided to explore. I often think of living in another place and even another time. Growing up with horses myself, I took many rides that in my mind were going to distant lands. In Costa Rica, I rode horses in the Cloud Forest too. Great times and could have easily made a life there. I did not find Nicaragua quite as friendly as you though. Beautiful country, the people less so. Too many scary characters.
Did you ride from Monteverde down to Arenal? I made that trip once with some Canadians – great trip and lots of laughs…
you must be wistful for tropical weather right now! your niagra images are stunning, but oh so brrrrrrr cold there!
I, like everyone, had fantastic dreams when I was young. I dreamed of being a hero, saving people, arresting criminals, raising happy children, and living by the beach in a warm climate when I got old.
Life has been exceedingly kind to me! I really have little left on the “bucket list” than to watch our grandchildren laugh and grow and love life as much as we do. God is good!
Looks like God has smiled on your wishes; Yes, Life has been and continues to be good to both of you!
Lovely Cuenca reminds me a lot of Sevilla in Spain. Funny how Ecuadorian Cuenca does not look a single bit like its Spanish counterpart!
Ah, she is a lady all of her own, and she likes to adorn herself with flowers and strong light and shadow. I really enjoy visiting Cuenca…
You remind me of this quote: “I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” Henry David Thoreau, Walden: Or, Life in the Woods
ah.. thoreau, my soulmate! i embrace so many of his poetic writings.
thank you for sharing that one, and it definitely compliments this post!
how’s the weather over there?
I knew it!!!! Hugs across the blogger miles.
As to the weather in Vancouver – Sunshine for the next few days. Heading out on an adventure. Living every moment. I attended two celebrations of life last week. It was a reminder that, in the end, all that is remembered: the love that we gave and received. The memories that we leave behind must sustain and encourage those who follow after us. So let’s make those memories amazing! I love following your blog.
someone on a tour last month said to me, ‘it’s not what someone says or does that people remember, but how they make them feel…’ for some reason, my ‘testimonials’ to the group affected them in a strong way. you have that effect as well, my dear friend!
Hugs coming your way…
I am so glad you included photos – it seems to capture the story and exactly what it needed. Thank you!
thanks; i was traveling and couldn’t access some of the equestrian images, but if you approve, that makes me happy! thanks! z
How beautiful Lisa! Take care 🙂
thanks, amiga.. i also had an ‘easy bake’ oven and loved making those petite little cakes – especially a spice cake! what did you dream of doing when you were young?
A rock star of course! 😉 my cousins and I used to sing at family reunions, hahaha!
with your killer smile, you would have been a superstar!
Wonderful collection of photographs! I especially love the one of Chimbo through binocs! As a kid I was always dreaming of being a boy. Other than that, I don’t remember. It seems I was always off on a boyish adventure.
I answered this, but now it’s not showing up.. I was blessed to grow up in the Huckleberry Finn atmosphere, and I often caught my horse and rode to favorite spots. Many times I’d ride to a serene place in the woods or along a pond, get off my horse and sit for hours. I still crave those quiet immersions of solitude… though I also love the full-throttle experiences as well. I’m glad for my early education in Nature which prepped me for life in Latin America.
That was lovely of you to share your dreams Lisa and so pleased to hear that many of them came true and you are an inspiration how you live your life and take us along on your journeys. With dreams to follow life is always an adventure and if stumbling blocks occasionally crop up then just go with the flow, go around or over them with a happy heart relishing opportunities as they arise.
Ah, Life gives us challenges, and I enjoy (most times) the opportunity to attempt to clear those hurdles with as much grace as possible. You and Jack certainly embrace each moment of life.. I look forward to reading about your newest adventure… Hope the seas and weather are being kind.
Love this Lisa!
what did you dream of when you were growing up? Of being an explorer?
Yes!!!
ha.. i’ve enjoyed your bolivia series and apologize for few comments of encouragement. life has been a bit too demanding lately, but i look forward to when i ‘x’ off the obligations and return to my quiet and more-focused life!
how is your father, and how are those precious children? no need to answer any time soon, but i’m always thinking of you, dear strong woman…
No worries Lisa! I know you are there in spirit! I have a hard time keeping up myself and always feel bad when my inbox gets too many posts to read. It is hard as life is busy. My dad is doing fabulous and still remains healthy. We just saw my parents in AZ for my kids spring break. Time seems to never stop going so fast. I can’t believe how busy it has been. Hope you get back to real life soon.
Beautiful dreams gave way to a beautiful life. As a child, I wanted to cut my hair short like a boy’s and run away to Wyoming and become a ranch hand. As I grew older, I wanted to drive a motorcycle from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego.
Well, neither happened, but I did live in Montana and I do have wanderlust. Sign me up for your trip.
ha! i think you’ve had a pretty great life, and you’ve experienced a lot. will reserve a spot for that trip!
Life seems to have a funny way of making people forget not only their dreams, but even how to dream. I truly need to make stopping by Zeebra’s ( Casa Loca! ) a must. Miss you much.
Thanks amiga! am on my way home and have just reached pedernales.. jama is less than 2 hours vi bus, and for now, that’s my wish – to get home sweet home and watch those birds on the river!
hope all’s ok in your world
z
Buen viaje mi querida Lisa/z. Bienvenidos ala Casa Loca!
muchas gracias.. i am now home sweet home!
👍😃 Rest and enjoy, dearest. Write about your latest exploits/adventures soon? Miss you.
In my youth I always wished to have a cat, now, more than 65 years later I have…
i loved this, and i’m glad there’s a sweet cat there to add to your lovely home setting. so sorry my internet doesn’t allow me to enjoy the music any more, but that gives me something to loook forward to whenever that problem is resolved!