My sweet wife and I enjoy being in Panama on a Tourist Visa.  The country allows visitors to hang out there for stretches of six months at a time.  However, after the 180 days are over, tourists must leave.  As our time was coming to its end under the terms of our stay, we needed to renew our visa by leaving the country for at least 24 hours before returning.

Since Costa Rica is very close to our home, we struck out earlier this week to make the “passport run” across the closeby border.  During our planning for this adventure, we ran across a bed and breakfast located just outside of San Vito, Costa Rica that appeared promising.

Being the largest town around our crossing point where about 27,000 people make their home, San Vito is a fast growing area at an altitude of approximately 4,100 feet.  The mountain vistas looked fabulous online, so we decided to book our overnight stay at the B & B we had learned of there.

CookLiveLearn is decidedly not a travel guide.  I mention our trip and stay at Casa Bontania Bed and Breakfast because I found excellence, exceptional food and an outlook on life there that I just have to share with you.  The place is owned and operated by Kathleen, Pepe and their 2 year old son, Elias.

Kathleen was born in Belgium and has travelled the world learning of its cuisines and cultures first hand.   So connected is she to the realities of humanity that she dreams of feeding her family, guests and local poor from her own gardens and efforts.  Pepe, born in Costa Rica, is a “nature boy’, as she puts it, having led eco tours for 16 years and counting.  “What’s the name of that plant” or “is that bird found elsewhere besides Costa Rica?” are questions I would ask.  Pepe knows the answers.

Amazingly beautiful Ginger blooms found on the grounds

These two innkeepers are so giving of themselves that their lives are full  and those around them blessed.  Yes, their facility is comfortable, breathtaking and loved by everyone that stays there.  And, yes, Kathleen cooks like a 4 Star Chef (she made us a curried chicken with rice that she learned in India that I could eat at every meal and enjoy for several days straight!), while Pepe assists and makes one feel so at home it is like being with family.  They know and practice something that the rest of us might embrace:  Giving of oneself is a key to a bountiful life. You see, giving really is better than receiving.

From now on, I’m pointing everyone to Casa Botania Bed & Breakfast  (breakfast was awesome, too) for the location, activities and lessons toward a full life.  It is not a Four Seasons Hotel.  It is something better:  it is for all seasons and reasons.  Plus, if we are lucky, perhaps Kathleen will share a recipe with us sometime in the future!