228 Days Trapped in Paradise - (Viva Purpose - Live with Intention to Experience the Life You Desire.) by Nikki Page (Paperback)

About the Book

#1 International Best Seller: Trapped in paradise, it sounds like a dream come true, or is it? It only took a minute as Costa Rica closed its land, sea, and air borders.

Book Synopsis

#1 International Best Seller:

Trapped in paradise, it sounds like a dream come true, or is it? It only took a minute as Costa Rica closed its land, sea, and air borders. 24 days, that was all it was going to be!

It had been over 19 months since I had set foot on home soil because of lockdown in Costa Rica. I held fewer possessions than I did when we moved outside of the U.S., and that was only a couple of suitcases. However, in my backpack was a broken computer holding my diary.

Aware that lockdown in Central America was way different than what my friends and family had experienced in the United States, it was interesting to see people's responses as I told parts of our journey.

Now here is the twist. Maybe it was just because the sales lady at Victoria's Secret was so intrigued, she offered to buy me a cup of coffee if I would tell her the rest of the story. Or maybe it was because lockdown in Costa Rica was just so different. This had even become more apparent after my return stateside.

I don't know exactly what it was, but at that very moment, I decided 110% I was going to publish my writings. Walking out of the store, I went down the street and bought a new computer so I could finish this book.

One thing is for sure, I stepped way out of my comfort zone when I unlocked this one. With the pandemic and travel being hot topics, a side of government control, and social media censorship, these words were never meant to see the light of day. But what can I say, this travel author will never look at international travel the same after experiencing, "228 Days Trapped in Paradise".

Go click Read Now or Buy Now to begin your journey.

Review Quotes

My husband and I live in Guanacaste, Costa Rica where the weather is always warm, the sun is almost always out and the tropical beaches are beautiful. It's a wonderful place to live. I recommend it! But it's not without the challenges of learning to navigate a different culture and language. As empty nesters and "advanced in years" it's been a fun challenge and adventure to try something new and different. We were prepared for learning a new language, eating new foods, not being able to purchase certain items we were used to, and even driving on roads we wouldn't dream of in the states. But nothing prepared us for March 2020, the start of the global pandemic.

I remember reading the news that borders would be closed. At the time, we didn't know for how long, what it all meant or when we might be able to get back to see our loved ones. I remember when we made the decision to move to Costa Rica. Our families were not all supportive; it's far away! How will you get back if we need you? I remember telling our family; Costa Rica is just a plane flight away, even easier than flying across the US! We certainly didn't anticipate a global pandemic that would lockdown people and countries for months!

One thing I've realized about living in another country is how hard it is to communicate to the people I love the reality of my day-to-day living. The questions they ask are often quite humorous. They think we essentially live outdoors on the beach sitting in a hammock every day. Though I might be outside and at the beach daily, our house has all the comforts of home - air conditioning, an oven to cook a big turkey, TVs and it's even a smart home complete with high-speed internet and security cameras. I've often thought I should journal my experiences so they could see what it's really like. Then the pandemic hit, and as I shared my experience with friends in other parts of the world, I wished I had been even more diligent about capturing my thoughts, feelings, and experience.

Thanks to my friends and fellow expats - Steve and Nikki Page, I didn't need to write one! They did it for me! 228 Days Trapped in Costa Rica is an excellent read that accurately and poignantly reveals the day-to-day realities of navigating a pandemic in a developing country. With humor and emotion, they give you a glimpse into the real fear, anxiety, complexity, and even beauty they experienced during their pandemic lockdown.

Only history will judge the decisions and actions of government regulations and decisions, but this book will forever paint the unfolding events as they happened; capturing their raw emotions and perspectives. As you read it, it may remind you of your own experience during this uncertain time and hopefully give you an opportunity to reflect on what you learned during your own 228 days.

-- Mindy Stoms ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

United States Expat and Costa Rica Resident