2014 dawned just over a week ago.  In UK a series of Atlantic low pressure zones brought gales and torrential rain, especially in the West of the country.  Many rivers were flooded including the Thames.  All this is by way of saying that it must be time to head somewhere warmer if not drier.  After considering the delights of Southeast Asia, attention swung in the opposite direction and Central America became to object of much internet research and brochure reading.  Finally, a decision was been made - Costa Rica here we come.

I should say that all this decision making was going on in November and December and by Christmas we had booked flights and made a few hotel reservations. The final details, including in-country transportation, were finally fixed just after New Year.  Despite all advice, everything to do with this trip has been researched, arranged and booked by ourselves.  We have through flight bookings to Costa Rica and unless 'Force Majeure' comes into play we trust the airline concerned will get us from UK to Costa Rica and back again!

With less than six weeks to go, planning has slowed almost to a halt as flights, hotels and transport have now all been booked.  We've checked our ESTAs with US Homeland Security, they are still valid and now the only thing to think about it what clothes and gear (cameras, binoculars etc) we will need to take and to make sure that we take them from our house in France back to UK when we go.

Now is the time to reread the guide books and study the maps!