after much trial and error

and lacking strong spatial skills

i shifted to a 3-d jigasw puzzle approach

and was finally able

to fit everything

for my two-week trip

to a country

with twelve micro-climates

into a carry-on bag

that met the weight and size limits

however

i was not able to fit one more thing

as this sad q-tip having to be left behind would illustrate.

—

“on a long journey even a straw weighs heavy. “

– spanish proverb

Costa Rica’s 12 micro climates vary from the exotic volcanoes to the cool cloud forests, from the dense jungle to the tropical dry forests and golden beaches to the secluded waterfalls and rivers.