After a pretty confusing year, filled with a lot of movement and many adventures, I decided to try something different. I was actually looking for a yoga retreat when my friend suggested I look into a school in Costa Rica that combines Spanish, yoga, photography and surf. As I can’t swim, I’m taking everything but surf.
There are lots of things that suck about travel, but one thing I find really hard is constantly saying goodbye to people and constantly packing and unpacking my bags. I’ve had travel stints where I’ve crossed a few countries within a day and had barely a moment to unpack or to just relax. So the idea of a learning vacation really appealed to me, as I could use my brain a little, make some friends from a different crowd to the standard backpacker crowd and of course learn Spanish, practice photography and deepen my yoga practice.
I’m just over a week in and I’ve been having an awesome time. I’ve made some friends I know I’ll cherish for a very long time. I’ve been struggling through my Spanish lessons and feel like I’m making some progress. I’ve learned a few things that will help me with yoga from here on out. But most of all, I’ve had a chance to take a deep breath and process the year that’s been. All the good and the bad that’s happened.
Slowly, but surely, I’m etching out what I want from next year. While nothing is set in stone, I know without a doubt that 2015 is going to be the best year of my life, and I can’t wait.
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Do you have any travel plans for next year? I’d love to hear them!
So far I am visiting Grenada, South Spain for 3-4 days next month, with a trip to Amsterdam and Zwolle end of Jan/beginning of Feb to spent some time exploring and meet up with some online gaming friends. I’m also planning a short trip to Iceland in March to see the Northern Lights and jump in some thermal pools, and then off to another Greek island (as yet unknown) for another bat study week. Plus a trip to Snowdonia National Park to climb Snowdon and another Scotland road trip in autumn this year.
After never going abroad up until now, I’ve caught the adventure travel bug and I’m so excited! 😀
P.S If you come to London next year, let me know – it would be nice to meet you (I’ll buy coffee) and if you fancy seeing something a little different, stay with me here in Kent for a night or two (Tangled?) and I’ll show you around some local places 🙂
Wow that sounds like an AWESOME year for you! I really want to go to Iceland too, so I’ll be checking your blog out for pics and tips.
Yes please, I would love to come hang! I am semi thinking about living in London so I hope to revisit this year. Thanks so much for the offer 🙂
What are the Spanish lessons in Costa Rica like? Are they intensive or do you just do them as and when as you’re doing photography and yoga too? I am planning to do 4 weeks worth of Spanish lessons in Guatemala next year. Will be doing a homestay too, so don’t think I will be talking all that much English at all! But i’m hoping it will improve my Spanish dramatically.
Hey Claire, the classes were good but about 3 hours of learning a day. Unfortunately I think I went at a weird time and I didn’t end up with a “cohesive” structure to my studies which kind of bothered me. I’m now doing classes on Skype which is working well so far as I can work at my level. Where in Guatemala/when? I’m planning to move there in a few weeks. Thanks for dropping by 🙂