My husband and I along with two of our friends spent an incredible week at Villa Temenos in Dominical, Costa Rica. The oasis that Dean and Paul have created on this gorgeous hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean is simply beyond words. The grounds are lush and tropical, the home is so unique and designed to take full advantage of the amazing scenery. With our own private palapas, we were able to enjoy the company of our friends, but we still had all the privacy we desired. Each morning we woke to symphony of birds and enjoyed our Costa Rican coffee from the top deck off of our bedroom, watching the toucans, tanagers and butterflies flutter past. We spent our days exploring the beautiful, uncrowded beaches, watching the surfers and wandering through the little village at Playa Dominical. After a lunch at an open-air cafe, we came home to refresh ourselves in the pool before taking a siesta on the sofas in the bale. In the evenings we took a bottle of wine down to the beach to watch the sunset, then off to dinner at one of the local restaurants. It was the definition of relaxation. We had a few adventures, including an ATV trip with Carl's up a mountainside to see the tallest waterfall in Central America. Carl was a wonderful tour guide and we spent six hours on the ATV's exploring the area, including a gorgeous view of the whale's tale. A hike through the park at Manuel Antonia was breathtaking, with monkeys, sloths and macaw sightings. Don't miss the sea windows at tthe beach just south of Domincal!! Dinner at the Jolly Roger was a treat, with a marvelous view and yummy chicken wings. But, our favorite food was the local fare, including breakfast at Tortilla Flats with huevos rancheros with beans and rice, or the delicious banana bread and fruit salad. Henry, the groundskeeper, was so helpful (once we installed the Spanish translator app onto our phones!), kept the pool and grounds immaculate and even spotted a family of monkeys that he pointed out to us in the trees above the house. The people of Costa Rica are friendly and helpful. We knew very little Spanish, but had no trouble communicating. Shopping at the local markets and bakeries was also an adventure. However, the best part of the trip was returning to our little piece of heaven at night, litstening to the waves and the waterfall off the pool. It was our best vacation ever and we can't wait to go back. Our only complaint is that one week wasn't nearly long enough!!! Thanks guys!