Coolest Places

Coolest Places
I was very fortunate to be able to go on a vacation recently. Although I love traveling to new places, I decided to go somewhere I had been before, Costa Rica. A good friend of mine’s father has retired down there and last year they invited me down for a visit. Of course I didn’t hesitate! Her step mom booked me some gigs while I was there and I made some connections and friends that proved to be very genuine.
So this year I decided to go back. I did some asking around and got in touch with some of the same people I had played with the year prior. One of the places “El Castillo,” (this adorable bar/restaurant) was really interested in booking a few shows. I knew from last year that they also had two rooms upstairs that they would rent out to vacationers. A few emails later, I had arranged a “stay for play” (yes I invented that phrase and I will claim it!). So for playing two Friday nights, I was able to get a two week stay for free. How frickin’ lucky is that?
Not only did I get to stay there, I got to bring a friend along too! One of my closest friends, Mandy, had never been out of the country. I knew we would be compatible traveling buddies so I kidnapped her and stuffed her in my suitcase ;)
The trip, in its entirety, was perhaps one of the most unexplainable experiences I have yet to have. We did so much and saw so many people I would literally need a power point presentation to accurately create any kind of a story. Sailing, surfing, snorkeling, swimming, shopping, yoga, pilates, we saw bull riding, did bumper cars, played music, got pretty loaded a couple nights, got to know amazing people, got to know myself a bit better too.