Costa Rica: Viva la Pura Vida

Best For:  Natural Beauty, Ecotourism, Outdoor Activities, Relaxation, Family Friendly

Best Time to Visit:  December through April 

Waterfall in La Fortuna

I don't really do nature.  I look at it.  I appreciate it.  Then I go to a café, do some window shopping, or hit up a museum, and if the nature is still in my field of vision while I'm enjoying the cultural sites, I'll appreciate it some more.  So, a couple of years ago when my mom and I decided to skip out on Christmas, I was a bit skeptical about heading to the tropics.  But Costa Rica isn't your dime a dozen Caribbean spot.  The nature is so vibrant, the pace so relaxed, and the people so lovely, it even made me slow down and enjoy the pura vida (pure life), as the locals call it.  By the end of my week here I was scoping out spots for a retirement home.    

Natural Beauty:  Containing up to 6% of the worlds’ plants and animal species in an area roughly the size of West Virginia, Costa Rica has been called the most bio-diverse country on earth.  Varying landscapes offer travelers a visual smorgasbord of black sand beaches, lush rainforests, lava-spewing volcanoes, misty cloud forests, and grand waterfalls.  One of the great joys of a trip to Costa Rica is seeing exotic animals in their natural habitat.  It’s not unusual to spot monkeys hanging in trees or sea turtles inching along the beach.  Bird watchers may even get a glimpse of the rare resplendent quetzal.  Some of the most scenic inland parks include Monteverde and Arenal, while Manuel Antonio and Corcovada are coastal treats. 

   

Monteverde Cloud Forest

Ecotourism:  Costa Rica wrote the book on ecotourism.  With over 25% of its land protected by conservation areas and national parks, the country has led the way in wildlife preservation.  Here, conservation goes even beyond land protection – ecotourism is also in the details.  Hotel key cards prevent guests from leaving their lights on unnecessarily, products are made from eco-friendly materials, and trash bins offer multiple recycling options. 

Outdoor Activities:  Costa Rica is an adventure-lover’s playground.  Hikers, bikers, and rafters can take advantage of the countless trails and white water in the rainforests and parks.  Thrill seekers will not want to miss zip lining above forest canopies – Monteverde is best.  Water worshippers can enjoy scuba, swimming, snorkeling, or surfing on either of the country’s two coasts.

Guanacaste Beaches

Relaxation:  After trekking through the rainforest or battling the ocean waves, visitors will need some time to unwind and enjoy the pura vida.  Those visiting volcanic areas, such as Arenal (pictured right), can take a soak in one of the many hot springs, naturally heated by underground volcanic rock.  Sun worshippers can choose from remote beaches, such as those on the Caribbean and South Pacific Coasts, or more developed spots, like the Guanacaste or Manuel Antonio areas.

Family Friendly:  If you feel like you’ve missed out on international travel since starting a family, consider taking your kids to Costa Rica.  Children of all ages will love its attractions and will especially appreciate not being dragged to boring museums.  Many of the parks offer family-oriented activities such as butterfly gardens and hanging bridge tours.  And who doesn’t love the beach?

Alsace, France: Where the Cuckoo Clock Meets the Croissant

Best For:  Culture, Culinary Scene, Charm, Natural Beauty, Off the Beaten Path
Best Time to Visit:  April through October 

Bergheim, France

You know that stereotype about French people being... well... snooty?  Alsatians squash it.  A couple of years ago, my friends and I got stuck on Alsace's Route du Vin (Wine Road), with no bikes, no car, and absolutely no hope of catching the last train back to Switzerland.  Not too concerned about our plight, we walked along the road, high on the amazing wine we had been tasting and the views of the vineyards under the setting sun.  We began to notice an incredible phenomenon.  The Alsatians in nearly every car that passed us honked, smiled, and.... waved.  And not just a casual acknowledging wave... A jolly, hearty, clown-like wave.  We had expected this kind of hospitality from the restaurant and vineyard owners but not from the random people on the side of the road.  The spirit of the Alsatian people remind me of how I would sum up this region: delightful.

Streets of Strasbourg

Culture:  This region maintains strong ties with its German heritage while remaining proudly French in character.  Having changed hands between the two countries several times, Alsace offers travelers a unique blend of cultures.  Castle ruins line the ridges of the Vosges Mountains, evidence of the region's extensive history as an area of geographical importance.  Cultural tourists will also want to visit Strasbourg's stately, gothic Cathedrale Notre Dame and Colmar's world-class museums 
  

Culinary Scene:  Many people visit Alsace solely for its delicious cuisine - and with good reason, as it's home to 27 Michelin star restaurants.  The Route du Vin spans over 100 miles and is dotted with 67 wine villages.  Winemakers happily open the doors of their winstubs (wine cellars) to tourists who come to sample the white varietals grown in the area.  Alsace's bi-cultural history is especially evident in its food, as many traditional French dishes are served with a German twist.  Coq au vin comes with a side of spaetzel, and duck confit is dished up with sauerkraut.  Regional specialties include tarte flambe and Baeckeoffe.  The Route du Vin celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, making 2013 an excellent time to visit and savor Alsace's culinary delights.

Colmar canals

Charm:  Alsace's villes fleuries (flower towns) are bursting with charm.  Characterized by half-timbered houses and flower boxes on every window, these near perfectly-preserved medieval villages will make visitors feel as if they've stumbled into a real-life fairy tale.  Explore the nooks and crannies of the towns' cobblestone streets, or park yourself at a cafe and watch village life pass by.  You'll especially love Riquewihr's old town walls and Kaysersberg's castle views.

Natural Beauty:  Nature enthusiasts will be entranced by Alsace's rolling vineyards, set against the backdrop of the Vosges Mountains.  Vineyard walks and hillside hikes are great ways to get immersed in the scenery.  The Sentier Viticole des Perles du Vignoble is one of the area's most scenic vineyard trails.

Off the Beaten Path:  Alsace is one of France's best-kept secrets.  Though you will find other tourists here, the majority of them will not be American.  Conversations will involve exaggerated hand signals and piecing together bits of the French (or German) that you learned in high school.  Bring a car, a bike, or a good pair of walking shoes - many of the sites you'll want to see in this region are not accessible by train.

Many people can see the highlights of Alsace in about three days.  Here are some suggestions for adding on to your trip:

Vineyards along the Route du Vin

Nearby destinations that are similar to Alsace include Luxembourg and Germany's Romantic Road.  You can get to either destination in under 3 hours.


Want to add a little hustle and bustle to your trip?  Try nearby Paris, which has French culture, cuisine, and charm, but also offers great shopping and nightlife.  

Östra Station, Copenhagen

Two weeks ago
Két hete












And by the way, these are the top 3 things that make it possible for me to live one of my dreams and travel - they can help you as well to live as you would like to, have a look:

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Vrangö

A wonderful walk on the most remote island of Gothenburg Southern Archipelago where the ferry goes to and which is inhabited: Vrångö, as part of this trip.

No way I could live in such a remote, cold and small place where probably nothing ever happens and your life is pretty much dependent upon whether or not you can reach the town when you need or want something, but the beauty of it definitely captured me and I could understand what the people living there must like there.

Enjoy the very special atmosphere of this stunning place!









































Next time we go to the beach, okay?

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Gothenburg Southern Archipelago - 2

A terrific part of Sweden; had a short trip with a friend at these islands a few weeks ago. Come with us - if only through these pictures!
Svédország egyik eszméletlenül jó helye; néhány hete jártam ezeken a szigeteken egyik barátommal. Gyere velünk - ha csak a képeken keresztül is! 

(I am not sure of the exact map locations of the photos, but it's all around there; if you know the area, you are welcome to suggest corrections)
(Nem vagyok benne biztos, hogy pontosan jelöltem meg a fotókat a térképen, de valahol ott vannak; ha valaki ismeri a környéket, szívesen fogadok javaslatokat, ha hiba van)





















This might be another island and not what is shown on the map if you click on the photo - I forgot which one was it... But it is for sure 3 beautiful Hungarian girls on the rock, who just got off the ferry:
Ez lehet, hogy egy másik sziget, és nem az, amit a térképen látsz, ha a képre kattintasz - elfelejtettem, melyik volt az... De az tuti, hogy a sziklán három szépséges magyar lány van, akik épp most szálltak ke a kompból:















Part 1 was here
Itt volt az első rész

In the next post we take a walk on the most remote island where this ferry goes to.
A következő bejegyzésben a legtávolabbi szigeten sétálunk, ameddig elmegy a komp. 

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