Do What You Love...Right Now.

Yesterday we put extra layers on and went for a walk on the beach. My first time seeing an open sea was when I was eight years old and my parents and I went to Sevastopol. I remember my dad pointing towards what seemed to be just a darker patch of sky in the distance and telling me that it's the sea. I was almost afraid to approach because it seemed that the sea would spill over washing us away. 

From that moment I was in love with "it,'' all of it! The salt, wind, sand, a bit of danger, a lot of adventure and a shimmering horizon that promises...well, anything even an eight year old can dream up. There on the horizon everything is possible! Romantic isn't it!? 

Speaking of the far away horizons... The other day a mysterious packet arrived all the way from Costa Rica. Sofia sent me a garland made of colorful leather patches, a bit of Costa Rican colors to decorate Netherlands with. I was beyond excited and it was immediately decided that the "colors" are coming with us to make their first international appearance at the beach! 

{ "Costa Rican colors" flying high on a North Sea beach...Made by cueropapel&tijera. }

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The idea was to bring a bit of Costa Rica to our North Sea beach. A symbol of international friendship and a reminder that we really are closer to each other then we think, all part of a big global village. As I was trying to snap a picture of the garland being thrown here and there by the strong wind I noticed something. There, dotting the water were surfers. Yes surfers! This is Northern Europe... in the middle of WINTER! But there they were on their boards! 

It's not the first time we've see them, they're always out there. But with Costa Rica on my mind I said to Vito, why don't these crazies just move to Costa Rica if they love surfing so much. Vito said: "Why should they? They seem pretty happy surfing right here." And there it was, the Aha! moment (again). That's true! Why should they move somewhere else!? They're doing what they love right here at HOME!!! 

I'm guilty of this as anyone else, not doing certain things that I love because I get caught in the "If this, then, that" statements. If I lived in the warm Costa Rica, then I would take up surfing. If I lived on a Caribbean island, then I would run on the beach every day. If I win the lottery, then I will quit my job to sail on my pimping yacht around the world...

• • •

{If I lived in the time of Ben-Hur, then I would ride an epic chariot...
No "if this, then that" statement is stopping these guys! }

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Do you do this too? In our defense, it's natural to do this. We go on vacation we try new sports, new foods, we get inspired, and we come home sad that we can't partake of these experiences anymore. Ohh, if I was...then I would... Let's ask ourselves what's really stopping us? Is it REALLY impossible to do what we want? What is your "if this, then that" statement that is holding you back from doing what you love right now???

• • •

Jump start your week and flip the statement! "If I really want to...then I WILL make it happen!"
 

• • •     LESSONS LEARNED   • • •

If you really want to surf, then grab your board.
The waves are closer than you think.

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Take Us To Lunch : Living Pura Vida in San José with Cueropapel&tijera

We are continuing our adventures in Costa Rica with Sofia Protti founder and designer at cueropapel&tijera who is taking us on a tour of her regular lunch spot in San José. This place happens to be El Mercado Central where you can find little sodas (eateries) and all kinds of colorful wares. A place you can really soak in some atmosphere, let's go?!!

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I went to El Mercado yesterday! It was nice to visit this time having in mind what things would be interesting to see and to know for other people. I enjoy food so much that El Mercado is like a party to me. Herbs, seafood, vegetables, lots of fruits, the smell of plantain leaves that are so usual at this time of the year to cook "tamales" our traditional Christmas meal... uh! It is wonderful!

I never get bored here, as there is always something new! A different kind of "chili" or a new fruit, or simply a little spot that has been there for years, that you haven't noticed before. As usual, what I did yesterday was to have Fresco de frutas, a frozen fruit juice made of chopped fruits (banana and papaya mostly) and syrup. This is so classic, and delicious. So after the walk you have to do to get to El Mercado, where you need to start your journey is Fresco de Frutas.

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After that, I wander around the market to see the handicrafts. You can find the traditonal market bags made out of "cabuya" (a natural fiber produced here), small leather bags, post cards, baskets, and "hamacas." The coffee shops are all over too.

My favorite picks are the "cabuya" bags because of their colors, the thread, and their long lasting quality. Every housewife in Costa Rica should have one, as all our grandmas did. It is so meaningful to me. Not only for the colors and shape, but for the memories I have going to the market with my grandma. Her bag was aged and had so much personality that I found it unique and special and also because of all the good stuff we put in it. 

Leather handicrafts are also my favorites. I get so much inspiration here as I am always trying to reinterpret the traditional styles into my own modern version of it. 

• • •

Then I finally go back to Soda San Martin. The place where I get my fresco de frutas and my soup. This place was stablished in 1953, and it is well known for the typical local food. Their specialty is the Olla de Carne, a meat soup with a lot of vegetables, but today I was craving the Seafood soup!

Tell us a bit about your country and your work...

What I love the most about my home place is our style. We are easy going, friendly, full of opportunities, education, and progressing forward is a chance that everyone has. 

One thing I would like to see improved is our ambition (in a good sense). Costa Rica is such a good place to live that we easily get into a "comfort zone" that makes us lose our competitiveness. We lack ambition and a sense of empowerment, which I admire in other countries. I studied Industrial Design at the University, but leather has been a part of my life since I was a little girl. My grandpa who was a leather craftsman supported our family by creating leather bookbinding and other crafts.  I loved being at his workshop playing or "working" with little pieces of leather during my free time. I decided to switch from my design career to my grandpa's passion. 

When he got sick, I realized that the only thing I could do to keep him "alive" was to do what he loved.

I did not start the business thinking it was going to be my grandpa´s business forever, and by the time I felt strong and clear about what I wanted to do, I decided to take the best of his work and make my own version of it. So that´s how I founded CueroPapel&Tijera* in 2008. (*leather paper & scissors) 

Costa Rica's essence is easy to infuse into my products. For inspiration, I visit local spots for coffee, talk to people, and I take lots of pictures of every flower I find, the sky, greens in the views, rain, and everything that resembles our country. So I AM Costa Rica and translating this feeling to my designs is something I do through texture, color, and simplicity. A very Costa Rican saying, Pura Vida, means an agreement of life to me! We say "Pura Vida" intead of saying "hi" or "ok." "Pura Vida," is our phrase for everything. We even say it in place of "thanks!"  

So, this is exactly who we are: "Pure Life."

(Follow Sofia on Instagram (@sofiaprotti) to see more of this pure and colorful Costa Rican life.)

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What is one thing you recommend to do in Costa Rica to experience this Pura Vida?

My recommendation would be to see a sunset with a cup of coffee. Trust me our coffee is the best. The air is so perfect and the light is gold. Birds sing and you can have tamales with coffee, which is pretty close to glory I guess.
 

SOFIA'S FAVORITES FOR SAN JOSE:

Lunch spot: 
Soda San Martin in El Mercado Central 

Coffee:
Sofia's daily favorite coffee "1820." The name refers to the year Costa Rica started exporting coffee beans. Coffee production used to be the country's main economic activity (it is now tourism), and still remains the biggest export. 

Sharing always goes both ways, giving and taking. Thank you Alla and Mu-Hsien for taking the time and showing interest in my small unique homeland, Costa Rica. I hope others can also join this giving and taking experience, from which I have already learned so much.

Always welcome to Pura Vida land!
- - -
Sofia 
OTSP Neighbor Profile : Cuero Papel & Tijera  

Thank you global neighbor Sofia for taking us to lunch and sharing your Pura Vida way of thinking and working... I think we are definitely inspired to pay closer attention to nature's kaleidoscope and be open to the inspiration it sends our way!  (Photos: via Sofia) ~ Sofia helps us infuse our life with vibrant colors and simple and pure Costa Rican sensibility through her modern yet rich in history artisan leather bags and accessories. 

 { Alla's Picks }

 { Mu-Hsien's Picks }

• • •     LESSONS LEARNED #44    • • •

Inspiration is all around us, 
you just have to look through a fresh pair of eyes to see it.

 Get everyday adventure ideas @LiveLikeYoureTraveling

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IDEA135 : Infuse Your Days with Costa Rican Colors!

@reremorales #dippedinturquoise #getarunningstart #treasureisjustaroundthebend

Learn to see hidden treasures!

{Beach in Manuel Antonio.} 

The very same one pirates used to lounge on... and apparently a huge amount of treasure that escaped Captain Morgan's grasp is still hidden somewhere in the hills of Manuel Antonio. 

Welcome to OTSP Glimpse.

OTSP Glimpse is a visual hop to discover a piece of the world, to peek into someone else's window, to see what life is like as seen by our global neighbors. We are fascinated by the way people present their world. And by sharing with each other we will be inspired to see our own lives in a new light, to try doing something differently or to simply think in a new way.  Remember, the most beautiful glimpses you might see may be someone's everyday, and what is a regular occurrence for you, may be very exotic to another global neighbor. By sharing we might just discover that what's around us is indeed glimpse worthy!

This first glimpse of the year takes us to Costa Rica. There is something about starting a new year submerged in an atmosphere very different from our own. It reminds us to think differently and notice new possibilities. What is one new thing you'd like to try or learn this year?

• • •

@patlyn10 #intothegreen #reachingforsun #neverstopgrowing

Try ONE new thing each month.

{Hiking near Vulcan Irazu.}

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@proyetoasis  #betheredqueen #bebold #bevibrant #beheard

Infuse your days with COLOR!

{Alpinia purpurata, or Jungle Queen in Arenal.}

Bright colors have a therapeutic effect on our minds. They almost trigger us to wake up! When outside is a never ending pallet of grays, it might feel safe to cocoon yourself in the safety of black sweaters, but to splash a bit of bright color around you may very well be the prescription to awaken from the winter slumber.

What color makes you smile?

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@samcrevelin #lavenderhorizon #getawayboat #discoveriesawait 

Plan tiny escapes.

Is your 'proverbial' getaway boat ready!? Mine is just there on Tamarindo Beach.  I have to always remind myself that everyday routine has been created by me and only me, and to depart from it all it takes is doing something differently and acknowledging that you're not stuck in it. And if needed: plan that getaway, it could be as simple as a longer lunch break at a brand new location, or planning a weekend trip to a new city...

• • •

@maria_eva #goldensunset #ordinaryisextraordinary

Be passionate and you will be rewarded in gold.

{Sun setting on Tamarindo Beach.}

Just like the fable of a king who turned all he touched into gold, we can do it too. There is a difference between just getting something done, or putting real effort into it. We can turn things around us into gold, and ordinary moments into golden memories by being passionate.

• • •     LESSONS LEARNED    • • •

You alone are in charge of coloring your day.

{ Keep in touch via Bloglovin, Feedly or Facebook }

 

IDEA113: See the Best *Sights* in Costa Rica

When traveling the best sights are not the ones you find in a guide book but the insights you discover about yourself and your travel companion.    

Canyoneering Tour in Arenal, Costa Rica

Mu-Hsien may look delicate, but I saw nothing delicate about her while she fearlessly scaled down a 120 foot waterfall.  My cautious suggestion the day before that we should perhaps skip this unnecessary endangerment of our lives was met with "I'm booking it for us tomorrow morning."  

• • • 

 Baldi Hot Springs in Arenal, Costa Rica

She never likes to be the center of attention, but in Costa Rica she totally left Volcano Arenal fuming in the background as she proceeded to steal the show by acting like a lounging "Bali Princess".  

• • • 

Olga's Cafe in Tamarindo, Costa Rica

Alla is rarely calm! Except strangely enough, when in stressful situations such as finding us a hotel room in a fully booked town during Christmas...or when she's eating. Like a wild animal, she must not be disturbed. Especially during our *wow-this-must-be-what-real-fruit-tastes-like* morning ritual.  

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Guanacaste coast, Costa Rica

While on a rough ride through the Guanacaste coast Mu-Hsien took artsy snaps of beautiful flora and fauna, while Alla excitedly pointed out large private villas in the distance.

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ATV Adventure in Tamarindo, Costa Rica

At least we both agree that there are few sights that eclipse the magnificence of a radiant sunset overlooking golden rolling hills, undiscovered beaches and a friendship beyond borders.

What's the most surprising thing you've ever discovered about a travel companion? Have you ever acted out of character while traveling?

Love it? Share it! - We are dedicated to sharing stories that spark ideas and are meaningful to you. The best way to let us know is by posting a comment, like below or pin it on Pinterest! ~ For More ways Live Like You're Traveling follow us on Feedly, Bloglovin, Pinterest, or Facebook. 

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Do What You Love...Right Now.

about 11 years ago