FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM FEBRUARY 27, 2020 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 53
Victoria’s
DIARY
Victoria
SCHNEPSYUNIS
vschneps@gmail.com
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We sat through a 5 ½
hour JetBlue direct
fl ight from JFK and
a 45-minute drive from the airport,
but we fi nally arrived at
Th e Westin Reserva Conchall
in Costa Rica for a family vacation.
Costa Rica, sometimes
referred to as the “Switzerland”
of Central America, is a peaceful
place under the “protection”
of the United States with a secure
economy based on the export
of coff ee, sugar, pineapples and
now a growing tourism industry.
I had never been to the friendly
country known for its birds,
fl owers, rainforests, adventure,
beaches, sloths, monkeys and
wildlife. Th e country’s ecotourism
is rapidly growing, as its
hotels are working to be self sustaining.
Th e Westin is a sprawling,
all-inclusive resort with multiple
large pools and beaches. Th e
resort off ers food service 24/7
and in fi ve restaurants with different
cuisines — and the drinks
are included! It impressed me
that even the bar in my spacious
suite overlooking the
ocean, through thick shrubs, was
included and restocked every
morning.
Being a group of eight
people, our rooms were
all in one building, making
it convenient to spend
tons of time together. My
goal is to build a bond
with each of the children
to each other and me!
Working long hours is the
nature of my business and
my passion, but vacations give
me precious time together with
my family that recharges and
reinvigorates me.
Costa Rica: A place of pure, cloudless
blue skies and crystal sparkling waters
Our rooms were
located steps from
the pool and beach
(there is a jitney that
brings people to the
beach) where we
spent many hours. Th e
beach had a little “shopping
mart” selling beach
tops, locally made jewelry
and craft items. Th ere were
also women off ering $20 per
hour massages beachside. Th e
hotel off ered beach chairs and
lounges, making the soft sand
and gentle waves of the Pacifi c
Ocean an easy retreat from the
world.
Since I had four of my grandchildren
and their mothers with
me, we made plans to go horseback
riding, zip lining, and to
travel two hours to visit the
stunning rainforest and then the
sulfur baths.
I would have been content
just to be at the pool fl oating the
time away and listening to the
waves crashing into the beach.
But I was overruled and, as a
team player, I went along with
the plan to explore Costa Rica
Blake shows offff his
catch of the day!
outside our gated
community.
We all celebrated
Jonah’s 11th birthday
by going fi shing
and snorkeling.
Samantha, my tour planner,
hired a guide, Marizio, who
arranged to take us on a boat
to the Catalina Islands in the
Pacifi c. We saw three whales as
we prepared to jump into the
ocean to snorkel. Now, I can offi -
cially say I swam with whales,
adding to my prior experience
snorkeling in the Galapagos
Islands swimming with sharks!
Jonah’s special day ended with
dinner back at the Westin at the
Argentinian steak house, where
he was serenaded with kitchen
equipment making music and
the staff singing happy birthday
in Spanish and English. Th e staff
made it great fun.
When we arrived at the rainforest,
it never occurred to us it
was going to rain! We were totally
unprepared, having no raincoats
or umbrellas. But Marizio
brought us colorful, plastic rain
capes and we were off to hike
through the trails to see birds,
sloths, monkeys and frogs. We
visited another site where we
found sloths hanging from the
trees and tiny frogs hidden in
the leaves.
Lunch was at an
authentic Costa
Rican restaurant,
which
offered delicious
selections
of rice
and beans, salad,
pork, steak, chicken
and fried fi sh.
And, as a bonus, contiguous
to the restaurant,
we saw a phenomenal
screened-in butterfl y garden
inhabited by dozens of plants
and beautiful blue and orange
butterfl ies. What a surprise!
To complete the packed
adventurous day, we visited volcanic
sulphuric hot springs and
sauna. Th e kids swathed themselves
in mud while I dipped in
the waters and spent some time
submerged in the stone sauna,
which is built directly into a
cliff . It was a truly unique day
and, needless to say, I slept well
that night.
As a spoiled foodie New
Yorker — we do have the fi nest
restaurants in the world — I was
impressed that the all-inclusive
resort restaurant off ered multiple
choices of dining, from a
huge sumptuous buff et open for
all three meals, to Asian Fusion,
Italian, an Argentinian steakhouse
and a stunning indoor/
outdoor restaurant serving an
international menu. Each setting
is uniquely designed and we
were all delighted with the service
from the friendly and professional
wait staff .
Costa Rica has attracted more
tourists now that people are
reluctant to travel to troubled
Mexico.
So head there and you, too,
will fall in love with the friendly
people, great beaches, beautiful
resorts and remarkable sites.
Grabbing a bite of
delicious watermelon
out on the water.
Addy having a blast
on the zipline.
The beach sits on the Pacififi c Ocean.
The grandkids
with our
guide in the
rainforest.
Addy and Morgan
riding horses.
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