Tourism – Page 5 – Happier Than A Billionaire

MOJITOS AT SUNSET

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:33-04:00 March 14th, 2012|Categories: Tourism|Tags: mojitos, sunset|

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: Mojito with an ocean view—$3

It’s fun living in a place where everyone is happy and looking to have a good time. I love when I overhear tourists discuss their vacation plans over dinner.

“How about an ATV tour?” I hear them say. “Or a zip-line adventure, that sounds awesome!” Eventually, the conversations always seem to drift to, “Could you imagine living here, selling it all and living under the palm trees?”

I can’t help but giggle when I hear this. Because I did imagine it…and I did precisely that. Or I could be giggling because I’m drinking a frozen Mojito that glows like an emerald in the sun. It’s so pretty I want to wear it as a necklace.

I watch the tourists walk down to the water for a better view of the lavender sunset. The sky lights up in vibrant pastels and it reminds me of the colored chalk we used as kids to draw on the sidewalk.

Maybe they will decide to stay. A lavender sunset is pretty persuasive.

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I’M A CHEAP DATE

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:33-04:00 March 2nd, 2012|Categories: food, Tourism|Tags: beaches, pipa frio|

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: Lunch on the sand—$2

There are a lot of mom & pop businesses in Costa Rica. It’s one of the things I love about living here and I especially notice their hard work on the beaches.

A man walks past us yelling, “Pipa frio…pipa frio aqui.” We wave him over and he unloads his large Igloo cooler off his shoulder. He opens it up and takes out two cold coconuts. With one strike of his machete, he chops off the top and sticks a straw in. They cost one dollar each.

Rob and I dine on the refreshing milk and scrape the curd off the sides with our straw. It’s the most refreshing treat you can have while sitting in the hot sun. It’s sweet and the curd has a consistency of coconut cream pie. Gilligan’s Island comes to mind as I’m finishing it.

Soon an old woman walks up selling little bags of cashews for a dollar. We each buy one and enjoy the rest of our day watching children build sand castles and couples hold hands in the water.

Sometimes it can be challenging living here, especially when I go to the store longing for Half and Half to find it costs $5 a carton. But then I have a day like this and I feel good that I contributed to the local economy.

Hey…I wonder if coconut milk tastes good in coffee?

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WILL SMITH IN COSTA RICA

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:33-04:00 February 8th, 2012|Categories: Tourism|Tags: m night shyalaman, will smith|

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: 5.6 ounce Can of Light Tuna- $1.90

Will Smith and M Night Shyamalan are in Costa Rica filming After Earth. I hope they are reading my book. Maybe there is a slight chance since it is the number 1 book in Costa Rica and Central America. I’ve created an imaginary scene of us hanging around the pool, and I dream the conversation would go something like this:

“Is it true your husband maced himself in the eye and accidentally fired his gun into your water pipes? Uh… you better get some sunscreen girl, I think your skin is on fire,” Will says.

“Nadine, you truly captured the thrill of moving to a foreign country and your story is just what a famous director like myself is looking for. Plus, you’re so attractive, I have to have you playing yourself,” M Night says. We all get so excited we jump in the pool and play Marco Polo.

I’m not sure if this conversation will ever happen, but I am happy they are filming their movie here. You can’t get a better location and the people are the friendliest in the world. Hmm….maybe I’ll stop by and see if they could use a hand—I’ve read they need snake wranglers. I guess you got to start somewhere.

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THE GIFT OF HAPPINESS

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:34-04:00 January 31st, 2012|Categories: Tourism|Tags: contest, costa rica tourism|

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: Happy Hour on the Beach- $2/drink

There is only four days left for Costa Rica Tourism Board’s contest Costa Rica’s Million Dollar Gift of Happiness . Upon viewing the video, I could not help but notice the similarities between the name of this ad and that of my book, Happier Than A Billionaire. I was excited to think that my story could have had some influence. However, it is obvious that the connection between Costa Rica and happiness has existed long before my book ever did. (more…)

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DON’T LOOK DOWN

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:34-04:00 January 30th, 2012|Categories: Tourism|Tags: adventure tour, rappelling, Rincon de la Vieja National Park, zip line|

Cost Rica Cost Of Living Update: Adventure Tour at Rincon de la Vieja Park—$85/person

Last week I decided to go with a couple friends to explore Rincon de la Vieja National Park. It’s been on my bucket list since moving to Guanacaste, a place with unspoiled beauty and an abundance of wildlife. The drive alone was exciting with bumpy dirt roads one would expect to see in Costa Rica. I’ve said it before and it rings true each time I explore; the best places in Costa Rica are at the end of a dirt road. And sometimes that road will jostle every joint and tendon in your body. It was true for this one, so I knew there was something fabulous at the end. (more…)

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MOJITOS AT SUNSET

I’M A CHEAP DATE

WILL SMITH IN COSTA RICA

THE GIFT OF HAPPINESS

DON’T LOOK DOWN

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