Playa Carrillo by day...
...and by sunset. 
Me and me novio, Jorge Eduardo
Me and me novio, Jorge Eduardo
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Links to Zipline Videos
Here are some links to videos of ziplining. It doesn't capture the sheer awesomeness of it, but it is a taste.
Monteverde/Santa Elena etc.
I think this p.o.s. is finally working again, so here's what has been going down in Costa Rica. I'm still really enjoying my time with the women at Amureci. I'm always doing something and the women are patient with me and are helping me with my "Spanish." The other day a kindergarten class came in to learn about recycling and made paper with Martha. They also had a female psychologist come one afternoon to talk to a group of women about self-esteem.
We went horseback riding for our field trip last week. It was really fun, but I made the mistake of asking for a slow horse. Everyone else was cantering and mine was looking for snacks. We rode through a bunch of sugar cane fields and crossed over the river twice. It started pouring, but it was still fun. We had an hour or so to play ping pong, pool, and get coffee while the other half of the group went.
Thursday, the day after horseback riding, we went to an indoor soccer field (the kind with tire bits in the turf) and played soccer with the kids from the orphanage and the staff. It was one of my favorite days here. I could probably do it every day. I convinced Fanny to let us do it again before I leave, and I think she's letting us go on next Tuesday. We'll have the huge group here by now, but that will be okay.
Friday was bittersweet because we had to say goodbye to a bunch of people, most notably Laura. She is still here with her family traveling around, but our paths won't cross again until the States. She was a lot of fun and had a ton of energy, and she's definitely missed. She's not dead, although I just made it sound like it. We left Friday afternoon for Monteverde, the cloud forest reserve. The ride up the mountain was long and windy and bumpy, but there was a lightening storm that was great to watch roll in. We got some dinner after checking in to Pension Colibri, a cute hostel/B&B-like place (minus the second B) and went to Bar Amigos to mingle with fellow tourists and Ticos.
The next morning we got up to get transportation to our zipline canopy tour and hanging bridges walk only to find the bus had already left. They had given us the start time rather than the pick-up time. They eventually let us change to the 11:00 reservation and we walked around Santa Elena until it was time to catch the bus to Selvatura park.
The ziplining was incredible. There were 18 platforms inbetween the high and long cables. I can't even think of how to describe how it felt to be above the rainforest, seeing the tops of the canopy, the hills and mountains, the mist seaping inbetween the trees. I have video, but it can't quite capture the surrealness of it all. There was also a Tarzan swing that was a rush.
We got some lunch and headed back to town because we had to catch a night hike tour at 5:30. The four of us (Jasmine, Elena, Brittany and me) caught up with the other group (Bina the Britt, Amy, Chelsea) and went on a hike through the rainforest looking for the nocturnal animals and insects of the rainforest. We saw a bunch of crazy bugs and some huge raccoons, but no jaguars like I had hoped. It was bizarre being in the middle of the rainforest at night. Monteverde is the real thing, and it was unreal and humbling in a way being there.
The next day the four of us from Pension Colibri got some breakfast at the Treehouse, a restaurant/hotel that has a real tree growing in it. We went to do the hanging bridges part of our tour. It was relaxing and beautiful. We watched some people ziplining and thought that we couldn't believe we had done that. We took our time taking it all in, and by the time we were done, it was about lunch time, so we headed back to the Treehouse and ate. Max our driver picked us all up and it was back to reality, or what has become our Costa Rican reality.
We went horseback riding for our field trip last week. It was really fun, but I made the mistake of asking for a slow horse. Everyone else was cantering and mine was looking for snacks. We rode through a bunch of sugar cane fields and crossed over the river twice. It started pouring, but it was still fun. We had an hour or so to play ping pong, pool, and get coffee while the other half of the group went.
Thursday, the day after horseback riding, we went to an indoor soccer field (the kind with tire bits in the turf) and played soccer with the kids from the orphanage and the staff. It was one of my favorite days here. I could probably do it every day. I convinced Fanny to let us do it again before I leave, and I think she's letting us go on next Tuesday. We'll have the huge group here by now, but that will be okay.
Friday was bittersweet because we had to say goodbye to a bunch of people, most notably Laura. She is still here with her family traveling around, but our paths won't cross again until the States. She was a lot of fun and had a ton of energy, and she's definitely missed. She's not dead, although I just made it sound like it. We left Friday afternoon for Monteverde, the cloud forest reserve. The ride up the mountain was long and windy and bumpy, but there was a lightening storm that was great to watch roll in. We got some dinner after checking in to Pension Colibri, a cute hostel/B&B-like place (minus the second B) and went to Bar Amigos to mingle with fellow tourists and Ticos.
The next morning we got up to get transportation to our zipline canopy tour and hanging bridges walk only to find the bus had already left. They had given us the start time rather than the pick-up time. They eventually let us change to the 11:00 reservation and we walked around Santa Elena until it was time to catch the bus to Selvatura park.
The ziplining was incredible. There were 18 platforms inbetween the high and long cables. I can't even think of how to describe how it felt to be above the rainforest, seeing the tops of the canopy, the hills and mountains, the mist seaping inbetween the trees. I have video, but it can't quite capture the surrealness of it all. There was also a Tarzan swing that was a rush.
We got some lunch and headed back to town because we had to catch a night hike tour at 5:30. The four of us (Jasmine, Elena, Brittany and me) caught up with the other group (Bina the Britt, Amy, Chelsea) and went on a hike through the rainforest looking for the nocturnal animals and insects of the rainforest. We saw a bunch of crazy bugs and some huge raccoons, but no jaguars like I had hoped. It was bizarre being in the middle of the rainforest at night. Monteverde is the real thing, and it was unreal and humbling in a way being there.
The next day the four of us from Pension Colibri got some breakfast at the Treehouse, a restaurant/hotel that has a real tree growing in it. We went to do the hanging bridges part of our tour. It was relaxing and beautiful. We watched some people ziplining and thought that we couldn't believe we had done that. We took our time taking it all in, and by the time we were done, it was about lunch time, so we headed back to the Treehouse and ate. Max our driver picked us all up and it was back to reality, or what has become our Costa Rican reality.
On the way down the mountain
Mayella and Martha
Martha working with the kinder kids
Elena, Jasmine and Britt preparing to zip across the cloud forest
Britt zips
Bina and me Bar Amigos the second night
In the cloud forest
One of the hanging bridgesMonday, June 18, 2007
Tamarindo
Friday we left for Tamarindo from Cuidad Quesada with Max, our driver. There were ten of us for this trip. We lucked out and got a van with a DVD player so it made the five hour trip go by a little faster. We watched Anchorman and The Family Stone. We got to Tamarindo about eight and we checked into our hotel, the Vista Villas and Elena and Jasmine checked into their hotel, the Villa Macondo. The Monkey Bar, a really popular bar, was actually a part of our hotel so we got some pizza and drinks and hung out. It got pretty crowded and there was much music, much dancing, and much fun. It was really convenient to have our hotel right there. The rooms even had air conditioning and their own bathrooms, which was so clutch.
We got up the next day and had breakfast and hit the beach. Playa Tamarindo was a really pretty beach with a huge shore. Some girls rented some surfboards and we tossed the frisbee until about one o'clock, when we had to go on our sunset catamaran cruise. It was pretty awesome. We sailed for about an hour and enjoyed music and an open bar, then we got to swim, snorkel, sea kayak, jump off of the boat, whatever we wanted. When we got back on to head back we had chicken, chips, salsa, cookies, and again, more open bar. The sun began to set as we headed back. It was gorgeous. Everyone agreed it was a great afternoon, which was good because I was the one who got everyone to go in the first place! We got dinner at Joe's, the restaurant at Witch's Rock. The food and drinks were excellent. It was a lower key night because we had a pretty exhausting day.
Sunday we walked around and shopped some after Phuong, Britt, Laura and I got breakfast at a beachfront restaurant until it was time to eat lunch. We ate at Joe's one last time, and headed back to Cuidad Quesada at about two o'clock. Another great weekend came to a close. I already can't wait for the next one!
The sunset part of the sunset catamaran cruise
Surfboard at Playa Tamarindo
Britt and me at Joe's
Phuong, Laura, and Morgan
The new girls and me at the Monkey Bar
Getting ready to surf
Playa Tamarindo
Morgan, Gen, me and Laura on the boat
Gen jumping off the boat into the PacificThursday, June 14, 2007
Amureci and Arenal Nat. Park
Due to lack of a schedule at Puente Casa, I moved placements Wednesday. I'm sad to leave the kids, but I'm glad that I am working at a place where I feel helpful. I am now working at Amureci, an women's empowerment organization that began in 2001. It was started by and is run by several Tico women with the aims of improving the environment and the lives of those in it. They make and sell eco-friendly crafts including gorgeous handmade papers and frames and jewelry. They also support local artists by selling their work to both local customers and stores around La Fortuna and San Carlos. Amureci currently staffs five women, Mayra, Milly, Martha, Mayella, and Giselle. Each woman works in the mornings two days per week and all five work in the afternoon, which allows for them to run their families as well as their cooperative business. None of the five speaks English, so with the daily one-on-one exclusively Spanish conversation, I think my language skills will improve. I did bring cookies the first day, because I figured that baked goods serve as a universal language. I've met Giselle, Milly and Mayra so far and all three are wonderful and a treat to talk to. I have helped clean the store and work area, learned how to make necklaces and earrings, and tomorrow, Martha is teaching me how to make paper out of natural fibers and banana leaf.
Today we went to the Arenal National Park. We had a perfect day for watching the volcano erupt. It was clear and sunny. It was about an hour hike around the base of the volcano. We trekked over piles of the ash and old lava from the most recent eruption in 1992. It's one of the world's top five most active volcanoes, erupting multiple times per day.
This weekend: Tamarindo and surfing. It's going to be tight.
Here are some pictures of the national park, Amureci, and the Puente Casa girls' soccer team.
Today we went to the Arenal National Park. We had a perfect day for watching the volcano erupt. It was clear and sunny. It was about an hour hike around the base of the volcano. We trekked over piles of the ash and old lava from the most recent eruption in 1992. It's one of the world's top five most active volcanoes, erupting multiple times per day.
This weekend: Tamarindo and surfing. It's going to be tight.
Here are some pictures of the national park, Amureci, and the Puente Casa girls' soccer team.
Britt and Laura in front of the Lake Arenal
Our driver, Ronald, taking in the Volcano's majesty
As you know by now, this is Volcano Arenal.
And so is this, but with people in front of it. I think I have more pictures of this volcano than my parents have of my entire childhood.
Arenal and the black stuff in the foreground is old lava. As we hiked, we could hear Arenal grumble.
Ronald and me, chillin' on lava
Yours truly and everyone's favorite active volcano
Puente Casa girls after their 4-1 loss to Green Forest, a local private school
Amureci
Monday, June 11, 2007
Puerto Viejo
This one is going to be long! You might want to go to the bathroom and get a snack now if you need to.
Well, Friday was supposed to be trash day, but I got there that morning only to have Channel tell me that we weren’t doing trash day because of weather. So Ruth told me to teach her sixth graders, who I haven’t taught in awhile and only once. With no advanced notice, the lesson was not well executed and I felt pretty bad about that. There was a break in between and the kids started to clean up the school, so I helped two boys pick up trash right in front of the school. I don’t know if that was considered the pick up or not. I don’t think it was because Sandra said something about 100 meters or something. Who knows. Then, Ruth asked me to teach her first graders. It went better than with the 6th grade, because we played a game of tic-tac-toe where I split them into two teams and before they could put their “x” or “o” on the board they had to answer a question that reviewed their colors and numbers they learned with the fortune tellers. They seemed to like it for the most part and they also remembered a lot.
I came home to eat and get ready to leave for Puerto Viejo. First, I had to say goodbye to Anna and Katie, which was really sad, because they were probably my two favorite girls here. We left around two on the van and didn’t get there until after eight. We checked into our hotel, Casa Verde, and went to a late dinner at an open-air restaurant down the street. There was live music so it seemed fun. We got drinks and appetizers, which was good because four of us didn’t get our food until after ten. Ridiculous. That’s Tico Time for you.
The next morning, Jamie and Alex and I (who were roommates this trip), went to a small café nearby called Bread and Chocolate, two of my favorite things. It was quaint and the food was delicious. Everything was so fresh from the fruit drinks to the homemade bread that used to make my French toast. We shopped around and walked on the black-ssand beach while the other girls came and ate their breakfasts at B&C. When they finished, five of us got a cab to Punta Uva, a quiet white-sand beach about fifteen minutes away that Katie and Anna recommended. It was a nice beach – the water felt great and there was a cute hut of a restaurant/bar where we got drinks and lunch later. I came back around two and walked around the town a little bit, then headed back to the hotel to shower and get ready for dinner.
We went to Loco Natural, a Caribbean food restaurant recommended by Tom, the American owner of B&C. It was a nice atmosphere, and I think people enjoyed their various jerked meats. We went back to the hotel for a bit and then headed out, but not before I made a complete fool of myself in front of two Ticos from Cuidad Quesada who were staying at Casa Verde. I think Brittany made plans to meet up with them in front of a grocery store today, but I am not sure. Some of us went to Johnny's Place, a bar/club/sketch palace on the beach that had a mix of tourists and Ticos.
The next morning, Jamie, Alex and I went to B&C one last time. I had the French toasties again because they are a delight. We then hung out by the pool until check out time. The ride home was an hour shorter and there were a bunch of new volunteers in the house when we got back, which was really weird but fun. There's a woman from London, a family from Charleston, a girl from Japan. The house is a lot more lively and am looking forward to getting to know some of the new volunteers.
And now, pictures.
Well, Friday was supposed to be trash day, but I got there that morning only to have Channel tell me that we weren’t doing trash day because of weather. So Ruth told me to teach her sixth graders, who I haven’t taught in awhile and only once. With no advanced notice, the lesson was not well executed and I felt pretty bad about that. There was a break in between and the kids started to clean up the school, so I helped two boys pick up trash right in front of the school. I don’t know if that was considered the pick up or not. I don’t think it was because Sandra said something about 100 meters or something. Who knows. Then, Ruth asked me to teach her first graders. It went better than with the 6th grade, because we played a game of tic-tac-toe where I split them into two teams and before they could put their “x” or “o” on the board they had to answer a question that reviewed their colors and numbers they learned with the fortune tellers. They seemed to like it for the most part and they also remembered a lot.
I came home to eat and get ready to leave for Puerto Viejo. First, I had to say goodbye to Anna and Katie, which was really sad, because they were probably my two favorite girls here. We left around two on the van and didn’t get there until after eight. We checked into our hotel, Casa Verde, and went to a late dinner at an open-air restaurant down the street. There was live music so it seemed fun. We got drinks and appetizers, which was good because four of us didn’t get our food until after ten. Ridiculous. That’s Tico Time for you.
The next morning, Jamie and Alex and I (who were roommates this trip), went to a small café nearby called Bread and Chocolate, two of my favorite things. It was quaint and the food was delicious. Everything was so fresh from the fruit drinks to the homemade bread that used to make my French toast. We shopped around and walked on the black-ssand beach while the other girls came and ate their breakfasts at B&C. When they finished, five of us got a cab to Punta Uva, a quiet white-sand beach about fifteen minutes away that Katie and Anna recommended. It was a nice beach – the water felt great and there was a cute hut of a restaurant/bar where we got drinks and lunch later. I came back around two and walked around the town a little bit, then headed back to the hotel to shower and get ready for dinner.
We went to Loco Natural, a Caribbean food restaurant recommended by Tom, the American owner of B&C. It was a nice atmosphere, and I think people enjoyed their various jerked meats. We went back to the hotel for a bit and then headed out, but not before I made a complete fool of myself in front of two Ticos from Cuidad Quesada who were staying at Casa Verde. I think Brittany made plans to meet up with them in front of a grocery store today, but I am not sure. Some of us went to Johnny's Place, a bar/club/sketch palace on the beach that had a mix of tourists and Ticos.
The next morning, Jamie, Alex and I went to B&C one last time. I had the French toasties again because they are a delight. We then hung out by the pool until check out time. The ride home was an hour shorter and there were a bunch of new volunteers in the house when we got back, which was really weird but fun. There's a woman from London, a family from Charleston, a girl from Japan. The house is a lot more lively and am looking forward to getting to know some of the new volunteers.
And now, pictures.
Laura at the bar at Punta Uva
Punta Uva
Alex, swinging outside our hotel room
Laura, me, and Britt at the restaurant the first night
The bar/restaurant at Punta Uva
Jamie, Alex, me, Elena and Laura at dinner
Punta Uva
at Punta Uva
The hotel pool
Jamie, Alex and me at Loco Natural
The path that led to our rooms at Casa Verde
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