Despite being brief, our time in Costa Rica did provide us with a few important reminders of things we like to do back home which have been sorely lacking from our trip:

During our time in La Fortuna, between the overpriced tours and miscellaneous adventures to nearby volcanoes and waterfalls, we managed to find some time to cook ourselves a few meals in our hostel's shared kitchen. A favorite activity of ours back home, we had not realized how much we missed cooking together until we were doing it again. After doing what we could with the few spices which had been left behind by other travelers, we were both almost giddy as we enjoyed the complex flavors and simple pleasures of our own home cooking. Needless to say, kitchen facilities have moved to the top of the list of what we now look for in a hotel.

A highlight of our time in San Jose was attending the opening reception for a new painting exhibit at the contemporary art and design museum. Megan stumbled into an invitation through a conversation with one of the organizers, and we were both thrilled to go. The exhibit was fabulous, and we both really enjoyed spending an evening surrounded by San Jose's creative elite. It was a pleasant reminder that, despite our dirty backpacks and weathered shoes, the art shows, gallery openings, and performances we so enjoy in our "real" lives are not necessarily things we need to go without.