My husband & I arrived in Costa Rica on December 7th for an authentic Costa Rican experience. We chose to stay in the Southern Region of the country at the Hacienda AltaGracia resort, which is nestled atop the lush mountains of Pérez Zeledón.

Steven & I greatly appreciate Derrick of TenDot, http://www.tendottravel.com, for creating this unforgettable experience for us!!!

Our first adventure began when we set off on a Cessna plane from San Jose airport to the landing strip at AltaGracia!!! We enjoyed the beautiful clouds and rainbows!!! The landing wasn’t too bad either, although my husband begs to differ 😝

We were greeted with warmth and hospitality that set the tone for our stay. When we arrived in our casita, another touch of hospitality awaited us.

We enjoyed the Cedral Coffee tour with our guide, Yendry. Besides learning the history of coffee making from start to finish, at the end of the tour we sampled coffee along with the treat of shortbread cookies flavored with tangerine juice. Those cookies took me back in time with a flood of beautiful childhood memories created by my Grandmother.

On the morning of Sunday, December 9th, my 53rd Birthday, I decided to begin my day with my love of walking. My senses were stimulated with the aroma of the flowers, sounds of birds singing and stunning views which surrounded me. I was so anxious and excited to see the sunrise, my foot got caught and I took a tumble. Nothing like tripping and falling down, but I kept my sense of humor (and didn’t drop my sunglasses or phone!)

And in the spirit of adventure and trying something new for my birthday, Steven & I decided to try the yoga class and we LOVED it!!!

Next up for Birthday adventures, was the Santa Maria horseback ride with a Costa Rican lunch by the river. Yentry was our awesome guide once again!

We returned with yet another treat!!! Birthday flowers, fresh watermelon & pineapple and Toad water 😍

After an afternoon by the pool, coffee, mock tails, and a delicious dinner at Ambar, we returned to THIS surprise from our wonderful kids & son in law!!! And I went to bed with another day sober. 53 is going to be an amazing year ❤️

But wait…. that’s not it!!! The following day, December 10th, Steven & I celebrated our 30th Wedding Anniversary 🎉🎉🎉. We hiked the Namu Waterfalls, enjoyed the best massages ever at AltaGracia spa, and the fine staff surprised us with flowers, chocolate covered strawberries in this romantic setting.

Our Wedding Anniversary would conclude with a private dinner nestled at the highest point of the resort with a breathtaking view. The sky was clear, the stars were out, we reminisced, danced, and enjoyed a delicious meal.

This trip has been filled with new adventures, experiencing the culture of Costa Rica, and continuing to live out my dreams with the man I love. Steven, thank you for blessing me with 30 wonderful years and all that you do for me and our growing family. We are truly blessed. I love you and look forward to making many more memories with you in the years to come.

Imagine with all your mind ~ Believe with all your heart ~ Achieve with all your might

Life with Lisa 💕