Came back from Costa Rica, three days ago, and to our surprise the airline had new regulations while flying. According to the flight attendant, the rules apply to all of the airlines while entering the U.S.

-  No iPhones, Blackberrys, etc for the duration of the flights.

- You can’t stand up for the last hour of an international flight. You are not even allowed to go to the bathroom.

-Nothing should be on your lap, or/and hands for the last hour of the flight either.

-You are not allowed to talk or interact with first class passengers and vice versa.

The Arenal Volcano is clear.  You can see the smoke coming out of the crater, and the tourists in town taking pictures, as well as the locals like me.
Christmas in the tropics is different, at least that’s what I think.  People look happier, there’s lots of hugging involved, jokes, loud conversations, people laughing, and the ambiance is just a happy one. My family and I ended up having a barbecue in the open patio, the sky was covered with starts, there was a cool breeze, and the smell of meat on the grill made it to the neighbor‘s houses, who later on stopped by to have a bite with us.
The time to open the presents arrived. I think my sisters and I were as excited as our two little niece and nephew about opening their presents. We headed to the little Christmas tree, in my Mom’s living room, which had a few presents under it. It made me think of my childhood, and the JUST one present that my sisters and I used to get or even share for Christmas, but we knew that gift was so precious, and we will make it last forever. Hard times, but definitely unforgettable ones for us.
Back to the 2009 Christmas at my Mom’s, the two little ones started opening presents, their faces all happy, and Allison the oldest one, was so excited that she actually cried and said “makes me so happy to open all these presents” I couldn’t hold myself, and I cried as well…

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas time with your families and friends, and that the new year that is about to come, fill your lives with many blessings and lots of more memorable family times, which at the end is the most important thing in anybody’s life.

Here I am in the warm Costa Rican weather! Working — yes, it is all about work, but still a very nice opportunity I have to do it from here, reachable at any time for my clients who are getting their bags ready to come down here as well. And for those who are still trying to plan their vacation to this tropical country… my country.
Staying here in the Central Valley for the next 4 nights, while I make it down to my mom’s in the Arenal area.  It is funny the way the U.S restaurants and hotel chains like this one are better in foreign countries. I have to say it is actually quite pleasant to stay here (at the Holiday Inn by the International Airport), breakfast was good, service is very nice and the rooms are actually very clean and smell good!  Perhaps, a hotel option I could consider for the in and out of the country nights for people travelling on a budget with late flights into San Jose or early flights out. Oh … and I forgot to mention that local phone calls, international phone calls, internet and shuttle to the airport are services included in the rate.
More from me later…