BACK FROM VACATION TO FACE A NEW YEAR

Yes, my people, 2009 don knack! As in, 2009 is most definitely here! I am so thankful for the blessing of seeing a new year and pray that we shall all be blessed with a 2009 that is fulfilling and successful in every possible way. Thanks so much for taking the time to participate in Talk To The Easier Crew Week 2. Your comments have proven useful to the readers who sent in their issues for consideration. I also thank you for your kind Christmas and New Year wishes. Hope you had a great Holiday Season.

My family and I had a 2 week vacation in the wonderful nation of Costa Rica. Did I mention that Costa Rica was wonderful? Costa Rica, in my opinion, is a beautiful country full of excellent beaches, incredible mountains (I stayed in a cabin located in a 'cloud forest', 5000 feet above sea level!!!!), great art and jewelry, tasty food (but not enough beef! I'll explain that later) and some of the kindest people in the world!

We traveled all over the country seeing so many parts of Costa Rica, stayed in 5 different hotels and I spent far too much money considering the state of the U.S. economy and the fact that I bothered my husband and you, my Easier family, about hiding money in case banks fail. *shaking my head* Ooh, I should put up pics of some of my purchases. Well, maybe on Friday.

Anyway, my only complaint about Costa Rica has to do with food. First and foremost, Costa rica has some great food! Don't want to confuse anybody. But there was something missing. Okay, many of you know that I live with people who can eat chicken in the morning, afternoon and night. Well, Costa Rica was heaven on earth for my family members. They ate chicken in abundance and with absolute glee. Me, on the otherhand, I was constantly in search of 'carne', the spanish word for beef. Na wa oh! Costa Ricans love themselves some chicken. Chicken must be their national animal or some sort of deity because there are chicken joints EVERYWHERE and even some businesses that have nothing to do with chicken or even food had chicken symbols on their buildings. Ah! At one point, I had a complete beef-deprivation meltdown! After a day at the Manzanillos beach, I forced my husband and children to drive me around for an hour in search of cooked beef! can you imagine that after all that, I still ended up eating chicken?!!!!

lol!

The next day, I met a Lebanese guy who had just opened a chicken (argh!!!)/ shawarma/ hooka joint. Once I saw the shawarma meat, I forced my husband to hit the brakes. The car behind us almost hit us, but thanks be to God on that day I was able to get some beef without causing undue hardship on my husband and kids and also, there was no accident. God is most definitely good.  Anyway, the guy who owned the place turned out to have been born and raised where?????

Lagos!

And, where did he go to school?

University of Ife!

Incredible, a Lebanese/Naija guy in Costa Rica!! His name was Samir and once he learned I was Nigerian, he took some time from the busy restaurant to talk to me a little. Anyway, if any of you will be in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, make sure you swing by Samir's spot and tell him I sent you =) Oh, and if you are in Puerto Viejo, make sure you stay at Tierra De Suenos with the lovely Angie and Brendan. Their cottages are fabulous and I was awakened in the middle of the night by 'howling monkeys'. That was quite an experience. They aren't as cute as you think though. Those things scared the scrap out of me when they started making noise. So much so, that I was up in bed at 3 am creating escape plans for my children, just in case some horrible creature attacked. Ah! it was scary! But, at Tierra de Suenos, I also saw Tucans (a delightfully colorful bird native to Costa Rica), Hummingbirds, and many other creatures that woke me up every morning and shared their beauty with my family and myself. Can you tell that i want to go back? lol!


I came home sunburned! I still cannot believe it. How does a conk (strong/serious) Nigerian babe like me get sunburned? I mean my chest was bright red and days later, the skin started to peel. My husband thinks it is funny and is teasing me for being a fake-Nigerian! *rolls eyes* Na wetin be dat? I thought my skin was tough like sandpaper before, after all I lived in Nigeria and attended school in Yaba, Lagos, being punished with my entire set under the hot Nigerian sun. But, I'm not sure what they put in their sun over there in Costa Rica. Or maybe like everything elese, it is just pure, hence the catch phrase for Costa Rica - la pura vida! (the pure life).

Ah, let me stop before this post gets far too long. Anyway, una sabi seyIi get tori plenty with regard to the kids. As usual they were up to their antics and husband, myself and several Costa Ricans laughed along at the entertainment. So, lets see...I will put up some pics on Friday and get back to regular blog programming next Monday with some of the kids hilarious exploits from Costa Rica. Also, if I am yet to stop by your blog, please forgive me, but I am working hard to swng by and salute una propa! I can't believe how many blogs I vist on a regular basis. Na wa oh!

God bless!!!!!