Preparation

http://www.therealcostarica.com

I've been reading voraciously for the better part of two afternoons now, and I have answers to questions I never thought of....

As I type this, I'm sitting not in lovely, verdant Costa Rica, but in Iraq. Does Iraq count as international travel?
Granted, I am seeing most of country and I'm sleeping in a lot of tents, but I'll pass on blogging this place, thanks.

During great personal drama and Iraq-enduced existential crisis a couple of months ago, I googled "yoga retreats" and came up with:

http://www.panaceacr.com/

Quaint, friendly, homey. Gorgeous scenery. Staff so nice, you think they're acting. Tons of great outdoorsy stuff to do in relaxing Tamarindo instead of syrupy holiday commercialism? Sign me up, papi. Neither Katie - my best friend, cohort, adopted sister - nor I have ever been to Central America, and neither one of us speak a lick of Spanish, so what could go wrong??

Stop giggling, seriously. Nothing's gonna go wrong!
(That we can't handle.)

Indeed, sun salutations, canopy tours, and horseback riding in paradise seem like exactly what I need to dissolve the crust that's developed on my soul this year. On bad days I wonder if I lost myself in the heat and the dust here, but planning this trip makes me giddy again.

One great thing I've taken from Iraq, oddly enough, is salsa dancing. Nothing makes me happier than being flung around a dance floor; my face always hurts the next day from smiling. It's the hightlight of my week, so I really hope that I can find a good salsa club to shake my fanny in San Jose.

Anybody know any?