Parker Goes to Costa Rica

Click the play button. Then click on the "white box" in the bottom right corner of the video player for a full screen view.

Costa Rica - The Experience

I packed my luggage stuffing endless amounts of “what if” items in corners of my puke green-had-since-I-was-in-college-first-real-travel bag hoping to make the airline weight limit. I felt unprepared determining I hadn’t read enough reviews of places to eat and things to do. Twenty-five days of research just didn’t seem enough to prepare me for visiting a country as small as West Virginia but with options the size of America. I placed a tiny silver cross around my neck and prayed for two things – a safe flight and a good time. Being the family travel planner the weight of success or failure of this trip rested heavily on my mind and in my luggage that was 11 pounds too many.

From message boards to travel guides and picture blogs I had formed premeditated memories of what Costa Rica would be like – outdoor excursions, beautiful beaches and enough rice, beans and chicken to probably leave me salivating for McDonald’s once back in the U.S. I anticipated what you get from most vacations – a well relaxed much needed escape that would be summarized by countless self-took photos.

I took away much more.

“I didn’t come back from a vacation. I came back from an experience”. This was the line I instinctively told friends upon my return. Atypical from our previous travel stories that always start with descriptions of white sandy beaches, I first talked about the people of Costa Rica – each of their names cross-mapped to places we drove, the food we ate, the adventures we survived! I shared stories of Wilson Rojas – our driver, guide, and now friend. Three-hour transfers turned to seven-hour adventures with Wilson stopping along the way so that we could eat local cuisine, stroll beautiful parks, and pray at breathtaking churches. I spoke of the taxi drivers we encountered who were all so eager to learn our names and point things out that we may have missed along our way. I told of the locals who embraced us at their Discotech, one gentleman grabbing my hand leading me in learning the Salsa I so desperately was trying to master. I shared the story of the stranger who helped me use a calling card that repeatedly refused to work. When I impatiently decided I had had enough, he had more time to spare. These moments made us pause and reflect on the kindness and patience we rarely see exchanged in our motherland.

And don’t get me wrong – we took away more than just memories of the locals that warmly welcomed us. We embraced the adventure of Costa Rica. We white water rafted down the Rio Balsa and hiked a dormant volcano (Cerro Chato) that brought me to tears a quarter way up! We walked a trail to an amazing waterfall (La Fortuna) and jet-skied in 10 foot ocean swells. My shyness towards risks was shed.

We left Costa Rica with much more than sun-kissed tans and sleeveless Imperial souvenir shirts. We left Costa Rica embodying the philosophy of its people – “Pura Vida” – to live a pure life that is full, a life content with what you have.

*To watch a video I made about our trip to Costa Rica click HERE
*If considering a trip to Costa Rica read my reviews HERE and HERE!

What Happens In Vegas...as told by Nicole

Everyone has heard the craziness that is Las Vegas...and I was lucky enough to experience Sin City for its self for four days this summer! I think that Vegas should have its own dictionary because 'FUN' doesn't do the city any justice. And while I feel I had a GREAT time, here are a few DOs and DONTs i have from my trip, so you know all you need to know when planning yours!!

DO...
STAY OFF THE STRIP IF YOUR BUDGET'S TIGHT!
Tight on the budget? Then stay at the Hilton Las Vegas. Not is it only the largest Hilton in the WORLD, but its just one block off the strip which will save you tons of money! Also, it has one of the largest casinos in Las Vegas with a great Happy Hour out by the pool (2-for-1 drinks!) and an awesome buffet!!

If you don't care about all the glitz and glam, there are also other choices like Motel 8 where you can stay, though I would try hard to avoid that just because you won't truly get the Vegas experience!

FILL YOUR DAYS WITH...
Las Vegas is amazing because there is soooo much to do just on the strip, so you don't have to worry about spending tons of money on gambling alone. No matter the price range, if you love shopping Vegas has it all! From Barneys to Forever 21, you can find it. And, of course, it being Vegas, the malls are definitely not your average shopping haven: Live fashion shows featuring top clothing lines like Betsy Johnson await you as you shop!

And I hate to state the obvious: GAMBLING! That's what most people do to fill up their days down in Vegas--just make sure not to combine shopping AND gambling together (unless you're winning $$$ of course). Oh and of course enjoy your various Happy Hours and food galore!

GO TO *BLANK* AT NIGHT...
Oh, what is there to say about the nightlife in Vegas? Well it's true what they say: The city NEVER sleeps! And I know, because I stayed up until almost dawn a night or two LOL. Fill your nights with gambling, shows, walking the strip, eating (and the like), bar and club hopping, etc,etc,etc!! I would definitely recommend going to a Cirque show! The tickets are on the pricey side but trust me, it's soooo worth it! I went to Cirque's show Zumanity and it was mesmerizing, hilarious, and emotional all at the same time! Also, if you're going with your girlfriends (or in my case my mother and cousin) check out a male entertainment show like "Thunder From Down Under" (but like they say, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas...pictures are not facebook material unless you want to be known as "that girl").

Also, the weather is ALWAYS warm so if you go in January don't worry about it getting cool at night! The weather will still be nice (hot, but still nice!)

DON'T...
STAY FOR MORE THAN 3-4 DAYS
I had the pleasure of staying in Vegas for four nights and while it was fun, it was definitely overwhelming and took me a while to get used to real life once I got back to D.C. It's called Sin City for a reason and all of the glitz and glam and nightlife and the circus feel the city has to it can also become a bit much if you're not into that scene (or if you over stay). So just make sure that you are up for the craziness if and WHEN you do go.

TRY TO LOOK CUTE DAY & NIGHT
If you think it's hot in your muggy, polluted city, I can say that where you live has NOTHING on Vegas. The strip is basically in the middle of the desert (that yes, you can see all around you). Because of this, if you expect to be walking around all day outside, be sure to leave the heels and pants at home ladies. Not only will you be uncomfortable after the first hour, but the pants will make you feel like you are suffocating during the day. Keep to light colored, thin clothing.

STAY COOPED UP IN YOUR HOTEL ROOM
Hey, if you wanted to catch up on "Law and Order: SVU" reruns, you could have stayed home to do that. Yes, it's great to relax and you did pay for the room, but if you don't feel like leaving your hotel one day, make sure to at least get out and go to a show that your hotel has to offer or sit in the lobby or the restaurants/bars/buffets that your hotel has so at least you are taking in all that you can while you are in the big city! Granted, I did stay in my hotel room my very last day, but like I said before, I already had three great days in the city and a fourth proved too much for me! LOL

PULL A BRITNEY SPEARS!
And I don't mean shaving your head (although, please don't do that either) but I mean getting married just because! And trust me, the city definitely promotes an impromptu wedding: There is a chapel in almost every hotel. Tacky-yes. Awesome-no.

Written by "Talk of The Town" co-host Nicole

Wishing Every Day Were Derby Day

The Kentucky Derby – it is more then big hats, lavish sundresses, twenty horses, endless bets and mint juleps galore. It is the one event in the United States where your salary, profession, and social status mean the least because regardless of who you are or where you’re from everyone relates to the joys of a little booze, warm weather, and an opportunity to win big! Couple that with friendly southern hospitality and strangers eagerness to know one another and you have a modern day Woodstock event.

And so this past weekend my mother and I traveled for our second trip to the great Derby and once again it did not disappoint. Here are a few highlights:

Where else do people fancy big hats with feathers and lace in all shades and colors? And I can’t forget to mention my most favorite one – the horse-head hat that made almost every local Kentucky news channel (please take a look)!

The Derby of course has most dress up in their Sunday’s best but these two guys had a different idea about style and attention getting:

What about meeting the winning Jockey who rode Big Brown in the 2008 Kentucky Derby? Yep, that is me and Jockey Kent Desormeaux.



To add to my collection of famous meetings I could not pass up the opportunity to meet Jockey Edgar Prado, who rode the winning and late Barbaro.

You can’t help but notice nor forget the people you meet at the Derby that help to make your experience so memorable. Here is Apple and I – her and her boyfriend (who was quite a bit older I must add) sat in our box on race day. She wore a beautiful, and of course, big hat, that was cocked sideways and pinned on her head. But her dress was the eye stopper, hat or no hat. It was bright satin green and gathered in front – it screamed antique, Great Gatsby wear. Unfortunately for Apple with every move, applause, or quick step to the bathroom the dress ripped, ripped, and ripped some more! By the end of the day she was simply wearing material hanging on by literal threads kept together with a few close-pins!

And where else to meet the interesting faces that makeup the Derby crowd? The hotel bar of course! So as I sit between my mother and a handsome pilot who has solicited her counseling services free of charge, I beg the bartender (who we’ll call “G”) to lighten the mood with more appropriate conversation that can be understood while under the influence of alcohol. What I heard I almost did not believe as “G” pulls up his right arm sleeve and shows me several bandages wrapped around his bicep pointing to where his almost ex-wife shot him two weeks prior! Yes, you read that correctly. Dressed in garbage bags and perched outside the ally of his window she waited to get an opportunity to call him a bastard and cock her pistol (she is pissed that he has moved on and she hasn’t). “G” was hit and began to run. He said, “Just like in the movies, after a few steps I fell” while she continued to shoot. With the shots running loud neighbors phoned the police and his almost ex-wife now sits behind bars charged with attempted murder! For sure, an unforgettable story.

And for my mother's sake I must add a picture of my feet. Yes, my feet! The day before the Derby is called the Kentucky Oaks - and oh how I had such a cute outfit with adorable shoes that once rained on, caused my feet some serious pain! So I went "MacGyver" and created an invention that allowed me to at least walk the rest of the day throughout the track (I must admit my mom was quite embarrassed - but I wasn't!).

The flat lands, green grass, warm welcome, offbeat encounters and memorable personal stories are all small touches that make a huge event and a short weekend filled with memories of a lifetime.

If only every day were a Derby day…