All good things must come to an end...

It's so cold here!...was our exclamation as we stepped outside the Sacramento airport. We arrived Wednesday in Sacramento after a very early morning flight from Costa Rica (1 am!), a long line in customs and going through security again, and another long flight from Houston to Sac. Our last bus ride, the bus from San Jose to the airport, didn't feel like the end of our trip but rather just the next step in our journey.

But we are back now, glad to have some things again and annoyed by other things once again. What a whirlwind adventure we had; three months seemed to go by so fast! While we are glad to be back, there are many things we will miss. The relaxed, slow pace of life down there. People yelling out what they are selling, '¡Sandia, sandia, sandia!'  The bus drivers happily honking "Hi" to each other as they pass on the roads. The extremely tasty mangoes. The central american cows. Gallo pinto (beans and rice dish). Warm sun and warm ocean. The fruits and vegetables. The lower prices of everything. How colorful everything was from the buses to the buildings to how everyone dressed.

With that Pura Vida and Diacachimba! These are the mottoes of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, respectively, meaning 'good life' and 'fantastic day.'

Thanks for reading and we hope you enjoyed our tales and photographs.
With love,
Karen and Chet

Karen, Chet, and Wyatt. Just kidding. The awesome central american cows with their big floppy ears, a flap of waggly neck skin, and a big hump on their back. 

A really cool hibiscus with a frilly pompom at the end of its stamen. 

Karen displaying her new dress in Oaxaca. 

Beautifully bright buildings in Granada.

Gallo pinto and fresh salsa that we made.

Pura vida.