Looking back over the last few years, I've definitely had some Christmas adventures.

One year, can't remember which, I few to Florrrida with my friend Kathy for a poolside Christmas in Cape Coral. In 2017 I did a Nomador pet-sitting gig in the sweet village of Barbentane in Provence, outside of Avignon with my friend Barbara Post. And last year I was in Krakow, again with Barbara, where we visited the horrors of Auschwitz and ate lard while drinking Polish vodka.

This year, in the spirit of keeping options open and being flexible, I'm taking a tour of the northwest of Costa Rica with another teacher at ALIARSE, Patti. We're scoping out these heavenly retirement havens we've read so much about. CR apparently attracts Europeans and North Americans of all ages to experience the Pura Vida and escape the reality of cold weather and crazy politics.

Starting and ending in San Jose, we're spending 5 nights (including Christmas) in the central valley and highlands where the temperatures are cooler and coffee plantations reign. Then we head to 5 nights (including New Years) along the Pacific coast where we spend some time with some other colleagues. Back home with a few days to prepare for the new year in school