Kim Mlinarik, LMHC
Sagle, ID

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Mlinarik's Report of
Trekking Abroad At New Year

December 28, 2012 through January 5, 2013 Kimberly Mlinarik and Eric Fulgenzi guided the first trip for their yet-to-be-named company to Costa Rica. The itinerary included four days in La Tigra and La Fortuna on the eastern slopes of the Cordillera de Tilaran and four days in the beautiful beach paradise of Montezuma.

While in La Tigra the group stayed at an eco-lodge and spent one night with a local family and toured their soon-to-be self-sustaining property. They had two home-cooked meals with the family, and a lesson on how to cook Arroz con Pollo, a traditional Tico dish. They headed to La Fortuna for big-time adventures, including waterfall rappelling and a canopy zipline tour.

New Year's Eve was celebrated with a short ceremony to acknowledge all that the previous year brought, and to call in what is needed in the new year. The group dined at an open-air rooftop restaurant with a clear view of the fireworks display exploding behind the church in the main square.

After enduring a bus-bus-ferry-bus-taxi ride, the group arrived in Montezuma on the Nicoya Peninsula. They were greeted almost immediately by White-Faced Capuchin monkeys eager to exploit the new-comers. Though the monkeys didn't manage to get their fingers on any goods, the group got some incredible photos of those rascals!

Montezuma was jam-packed with tourists, but still maintained its comfortable traveler-friendly vibe. A couple of days on the beach, some more personal reflection, and a gosh-wow sushi dinner at a secluded beachfront resort led up to a final ceremony.

The final ceremony was moving for everyone involved after the insights they had gained throughout the trip. Each traveler gave thanks (in the form of natural items) for that which has served them in their past and they are ready to let go of. The ceremony concluded with wrapping all of the gifts in a gigantic Parabrisas del Pobre leaf, wading out to their knees under the full moon, and setting the package afloat into the ocean.

Kim Mlinarik has worked as a therapist in the private, therapeutic network for many years. She is also an international guide who has led several trekking outings.