Happy New Year!
Posted on Jan 4th, 2011 by Allison (Costa Rica, Photography, Travel)

OK, I’m a little late – but hey, I’m in Costa Rica 🙂

Day 2… New Year’s Eve. We spent most the day at home relaxing. Except for Jen who cooked more authentic Costa Rican food for me to try. Here she is bringing me a plate of patacones – which are fried green plantains.

We dipped them in a black bean puree with Lizano sauce mixed in. Lizano is a staple condiment here – and I’m going to have to pick up a bottle to take home. Quite delicious.

We took some photos, read some books and blogs, meditated, listened to music, worked on Emily’s mermaid curtain craft.

My hair is a lions main needing to be tamed… the flat iron I brought is pretty much pointless though in this climate.

But do you like my new glasses?

Isn’t Brandon handsome?

I’m really liking his new beard.

We headed to town for a potential dinner out, but most everything was closed for the holiday.

The town was sure bustling, though. Looked like they had something big planned in the town center (park).

But we don’t really like crowds, so headed back home to enjoy the evening.

After a delicious burrito dinner, we gathered around on the floor to play our first game of Rory’s Story Cubes.

What a riot! I recommend this game for anyone who enjoys fun and creative play. Basic idea is you roll dice with pictures on them and make up stories based on what you roll. We were laughing ourselves silly, and only stopped because it was time for a movie… much to Marie’s chagrin, we opted for The Incredible Mr. Limpet. (She wanted to watch Robots)

Marie went to bed, but Emily wanted to stay up to watch the fireworks and ring in the new year with us. And ring it in we did. From the veranda, we have a panoramic view of a huge valley. It encompasses several cities – the largest of which is San Jose.

At midnight it began – and was an amazing spectacle. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many fireworks at one time in my entire life. Even though we were far away from the action, we were awed at the sheer number of sparkling explosions which lasted for a good 30+ minutes.

I shot some video and have edited it down to a little over a minute for you. Please note that this video is only of the San Jose portion (and only part of San Jose) – I didn’t have a wide enough angled lens to capture the entire valley. Enjoy!

How did you ring in the new year?

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Comments

Anne Heartsong on January 5th, 2011 at 8:51 am

What an adventure you are having! And you look beautiful and relaxed and warm! Family is darling!!


Margie Aliprandi on January 5th, 2011 at 8:59 am

Wow Allison!! There is so much here I hardly know where to start. Brandon, Jen and sweet meditating Emily look like they are “living their bliss”. The food looks so clean and healthy. You look like you belong there. Your HAIR looks great, yes love the glasses!
The fireworks video clip takes the prize. MORE MORE MORE.


Ashley Rae on January 5th, 2011 at 10:03 am

Jen’s dress is beautiful!
The food looks delicious- I can’t wait to try some of it!
Emily looks so peaceful. 🙂
Love, love, love the glasses! (And your hair looks cute!!)
Love, love, love Brandon’s beard.
And I can’t wait to play that silly game, either- it sounds like such a riot.
That video of the fireworks is fantastic! How cool that you were able to be there that nice to see all of them. And thanks for videotaping it. VERY cool.


Ashley Rae on January 5th, 2011 at 10:04 am

“be there that NIGHT” not “be there that NICE.” That doesn’t make any sense. Silly me.


Brandon on January 5th, 2011 at 10:34 am

That firework show was incredible!! I’ve never seen or heard anything like it in my life!

And the dice game was really fun. I’m still laughing about the girl who was scared of the low-life losers dropping from parachutes, and the ant in a distant land who could speak Chinese, but who’s town was destroyed by lightning because of the wizard examining the book of special powers with a magnifying glass.

It’s so fun having you here!


Jennifer Pearce on January 5th, 2011 at 11:24 am

I do love those glasses, and yes, Brandon is stunningly hansdome. 🙂

That game you gave us is so much fun, especially when you and Brandon are involved. I love the random and funny twists and turns in the plot.

That firework show was unreal. It looked like colored popcorn and diamonds were popping and sparkling all over the entire valley. I couldn’t hardly believe my eyes! Amazing.


Uncle John on January 5th, 2011 at 1:49 pm

Looks like you are having a wonderful visit — I envy your good fortune 🙂

The Incredible Mr. Limpet is a favorite of mine and fortunately Bev likes it too….


Michelle on January 5th, 2011 at 4:51 pm

I am loving your frequent updates!! The fireworks were beautiful along with the soundtrack lol. Your glasses and hair look very cute. You are obv having a blast….I’m jealous of your adventures and live in chef!


Michelle on January 5th, 2011 at 4:52 pm

P.s. I love don knotts, now you need to watch “The Ghost and Mr Chicken”


paul on January 6th, 2011 at 8:57 am

I stayed up til 9:30.


Aunt Kathy on January 8th, 2011 at 2:52 pm

Allison you look great. Brandon looks hot with that beard and Jen and the girls are as beautiful as ever. I’m glad you are having a good time. My family left a couple of days ago and are now back in the UK. Gloria and I had a sumo wrestling contest on New Year’s Eve. We even have the photo’s to prove it. Love to all. xxxx


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