First of all I want to thank those of you who took the time to read my blog. However, even if it was only Cobey and my mom I think I´ll enjoy having this blog to personally look back on and remember the details of my trip that tend to fade with time. I know that it may have gotten exhausting reading such LONG blogs... and I understand if you skipped some because I tend to struggle reading things like that where people exhaust the details of their lives... so I apologize for being one of those people.
ANYWAYS moving on... I am just going to wrap up this trip... on my last day... just half a day from getting on the plane and flying back home.... with some final thoughts on what this trip has been to me. I´ve never done this sort of thing on my own and although I spent 4 college years a solid 8 hours from home, it is somewhat different being SO FAR from home and in an entirely different culture for such an extended period of time. It was pretty tough mentally after the initial novelty of being in costa rica wore off and realizing we had 3 MONTHS here, 89 days and nights... i wish i could puncuate this blog better unfortunately the question mark, exclamation mark, parenthesis, quotations, and other such puncuations we take for granted do not work on this key board so bare with me and you´ll have to imagine what puncuation I would use in a given situation. ANYWAYS... so we were pretty nervous about the length of time.. thank goodness Romelia came to our rescue and it was a place we found that not only was what we had hope for and more from the turtle volunteering aspect, but also amazing in its natural beauty and began to truly feel like home. Who knew a place with no electricity, warm running water, or walls could feel like home.
I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to do this experience, that I jumped on the opportunity, and that I stuck through to the end. I think it changed me in so many ways: my maturity, independence, work ethic, and just outlook on life in general. I know now how many things in my life I dont depend on like my phone, my ipod, and any other material item as well as refrigeration apparently haha. However, I also realized what I DO depend on: and thats my home, my family, and people around me that are just a joy to be around. I had the time of my life in central america but I am SO excited to go home now. I´m looking forward to being able to flush my toilet paper, drink FREE and CLEAN tapwater, pick my own music, drive my own car, have a home cooked meal without rice and beans in it, have more than 5 outfits to choose from, not have to wear bug repellent and sunscreen, and i´m sure a million other things that just havent popped in my head yet. However I will miss a few things such as gallo pinto in the morning, the amazing coffee, Federicos tours, spades with my good buddies at Romelia, Sano Banano movie nights, getting amazing pastries for 50 cents at Mus Manni, GETTING AWAY with only wearing 5 oufits and grungy headbands all the time, my tan, tico time, laying in hammocks all day, handling turtles eggs like its no big deal, and handwashing my clothes...NOT.... Again im sure there are tons more that will pop in my head later.
WELL I guess that about does it for now. Again... it was an amazing experience. I´d like to give props to cass and i for being together every second for three straight months and not killing each other... although of course we had our differences and disagreements. I think it takes a special dynamic to get along the way we have traveling together. And again... I would REALLy like to thank those of you who were devoted blog readers of mine... cough Cobey and my mom cough... and hopefully others hehe
OH and I almost forgot... I have to give a shout out to the MVP of the trip... 3 dollars and 7 years later and my blue Taz flip flops were still able to make the long, rocky trek back and forth from montezuma 60 + odd times... Hung on by the skin of the heel... literally
So I´ll say a final Peace and PURA VIDA
Hay
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Summary Essay
As many of you may know, I sent my application for Pacific University Optometry while I was here in Costa Rica, just a few weeks ago. I had to write a third essay so I wrote it on my experiences here in Costa Rica. I thought it summed up the trip quite well so I decided to include it in my last blog entry. Well maybe I´ll write one more later wrapping up my experiences with my thoughts on being home again. But here is the third essay I turned in regarding my experience here. PS if you hate it I dont want to know...my future is riding on it haha.
Six months later we found ourselves on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica protecting nests of the endangered turtle species: Lepidochelys olivacea, or Olive Ridley turtle. We arrived in Costa Rica on August 2nd of 2009. We have been here eleven weeks now and are set to return on October 29th. We just finished the volunteer portion of our trip, but we set aside some time to travel and enjoy the scenery of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama as well. Coming up on the ending of our journey, I realize how amazing this experience has been for me. It has had moments of amazing discovery and exhilaration, but has also proved very challenging and trying at times.
In the beginning, it was overwhelming to realize that it would be three months before I returned to the comforts of my home and family. It was a very different environment from home, which had evident culture shock effect. However, I stuck with it and simply had to open my mind to the changes and find the right mentality for the adventure. That is when I started really enjoying myself.
The volunteering we finished was for a nonprofit organization based in Costa Rica called ASVO, or Association of Volunteers. They started a brand new project called Romelia in Montezuma, Costa Rica. Actually, it was on a remote beach which was a thirty minute walk from Montezuma. The land is privately owned and was donated by the daughter of the family who had previously lived on the land. There, we lived in a two story, very open, bungalo type of building. The living quarters had no hot water, and in fact no electricity. We lived by candles at night, slept under mosquito nets, washed our laundry by hand, and ate rice and beans for all three meals. It may sound like rough living, but it did not take long to appreciate the care free nature of waking up to howling Howler Monkeys in the trees, going for a daily swim in the ocean, and frequently utilizing the hammocks hung in the living quarters.
Of course it was not all just lying around. Being a new project, there was a lot of work to be done. They were in the process of building trails through the forest, bridges over the streams and outlets to the ocean, and starting a greenhouse where they would grow their own fruits and vegetables. All of this was in addition to the turtle aspect which was the basis for the project and consumed the majority of our time. The main project was building a hatchery for the turtle nests because without the hatchery it was very difficult to protect the nests from the tide, predators, and nest poachers. To build the hatchery we had to dig out the sand in the designated area and replace it with clean sand, build a large sandbag wall to protect it from the tide, fence the area, and build a hut for volunteers to sit under while watching the hatchery. This was a long, exhausting process which was ony completed after about two months of grueling work. During all this time, our nights were spent on patrols which involved walking the beaches all hours of the night in hopes of finding turtles in the process of nesting on the beach. When we found nests, we relocated them to safer places high on the beach, or in the hatchery once it was finished. During the time I spent volunteering, I was able to get very involved in the process. By the time I left I was capable of finding a nest with only the guide of turtle tracks, digging it up, digging an acceptable artificial nest for relocating the eggs, tagging the mother turtles and taking measurements on their size, as well as measuring and weighing the eggs. It was amazing to feel like such a vital part of an organization giving back to nature, trying to undo the damage done to this species by the human race.
Volunteering was such a rewarding experience on so many levels. I have had the chance to meet other volunteers from all over the world who also want to make an impact in their world. I found people with such interesting outlooks on life, and fascinating stories of where they came from and where they were in their life. I have also had the opportunity to further develop my spanish, speaking with locals when the opportunity presented itself. In the end, this experience may not directly pertain to optometry but it has been really important to my development in this pivotal time in my life and helped me appreciate so many good things in my life.´
`Sitting here in my hostel in San Jose, Costa Rica my journey is coming to an end. I waited to write this final essay until I could share my most recent experiences which should help to clarify the type of person I am and hopefully will help you get to know me on a more personal level.
Six months later we found ourselves on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica protecting nests of the endangered turtle species: Lepidochelys olivacea, or Olive Ridley turtle. We arrived in Costa Rica on August 2nd of 2009. We have been here eleven weeks now and are set to return on October 29th. We just finished the volunteer portion of our trip, but we set aside some time to travel and enjoy the scenery of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama as well. Coming up on the ending of our journey, I realize how amazing this experience has been for me. It has had moments of amazing discovery and exhilaration, but has also proved very challenging and trying at times.
In the beginning, it was overwhelming to realize that it would be three months before I returned to the comforts of my home and family. It was a very different environment from home, which had evident culture shock effect. However, I stuck with it and simply had to open my mind to the changes and find the right mentality for the adventure. That is when I started really enjoying myself.
The volunteering we finished was for a nonprofit organization based in Costa Rica called ASVO, or Association of Volunteers. They started a brand new project called Romelia in Montezuma, Costa Rica. Actually, it was on a remote beach which was a thirty minute walk from Montezuma. The land is privately owned and was donated by the daughter of the family who had previously lived on the land. There, we lived in a two story, very open, bungalo type of building. The living quarters had no hot water, and in fact no electricity. We lived by candles at night, slept under mosquito nets, washed our laundry by hand, and ate rice and beans for all three meals. It may sound like rough living, but it did not take long to appreciate the care free nature of waking up to howling Howler Monkeys in the trees, going for a daily swim in the ocean, and frequently utilizing the hammocks hung in the living quarters.
Of course it was not all just lying around. Being a new project, there was a lot of work to be done. They were in the process of building trails through the forest, bridges over the streams and outlets to the ocean, and starting a greenhouse where they would grow their own fruits and vegetables. All of this was in addition to the turtle aspect which was the basis for the project and consumed the majority of our time. The main project was building a hatchery for the turtle nests because without the hatchery it was very difficult to protect the nests from the tide, predators, and nest poachers. To build the hatchery we had to dig out the sand in the designated area and replace it with clean sand, build a large sandbag wall to protect it from the tide, fence the area, and build a hut for volunteers to sit under while watching the hatchery. This was a long, exhausting process which was ony completed after about two months of grueling work. During all this time, our nights were spent on patrols which involved walking the beaches all hours of the night in hopes of finding turtles in the process of nesting on the beach. When we found nests, we relocated them to safer places high on the beach, or in the hatchery once it was finished. During the time I spent volunteering, I was able to get very involved in the process. By the time I left I was capable of finding a nest with only the guide of turtle tracks, digging it up, digging an acceptable artificial nest for relocating the eggs, tagging the mother turtles and taking measurements on their size, as well as measuring and weighing the eggs. It was amazing to feel like such a vital part of an organization giving back to nature, trying to undo the damage done to this species by the human race.
Volunteering was such a rewarding experience on so many levels. I have had the chance to meet other volunteers from all over the world who also want to make an impact in their world. I found people with such interesting outlooks on life, and fascinating stories of where they came from and where they were in their life. I have also had the opportunity to further develop my spanish, speaking with locals when the opportunity presented itself. In the end, this experience may not directly pertain to optometry but it has been really important to my development in this pivotal time in my life and helped me appreciate so many good things in my life.´
Monday, October 26, 2009
Tierra Verde
So I´m sure you are all hanging on the edge of your seats to find out how Panama has treated us since the last day I posted. It has been amazing. Paradise. We are at a little ¨hotel¨ right on the beach called Tierra Verde. I dont remember if i said already, but a couple of friends of Cassidy´s uncle, Cookie and Ivan, are the owners. It is not on the main island of Bocas, but rather an island with only a few resorts, houses, and restaurants lining the beach on one side of the island. It reminds me a bit of Venice in that the traffic between islands and such is in the water. There are water taxis everywhere to take you between the islands for just a dollar or two. So all the resorts and restaurants along the coast of the islands have docks so you can be dropped off right there by a taxi. Oh and the water is so clear, it really is what you imagine when you think of like tropical paradise.
So our first day we hung out a bit for the morning, then took a taxi ride to the main island, Colon. This is like the center of town where there are shops and markets and such. So, we grabbed a bite to eat at a sandwich/coffee shop. And I tell you I didnt think it was possible to beat tico time, but Panama is on its own schedule. I dont remember if i mentioned, but tico time is what they call the lack of strict time schedule of the costa ricans. They are laid back, 5 o clock means any where between 5 and 5:15. Nothing is on time. Well in Panama they take it to the next level. We waited in the sandwich shop for like 10 or 15 minutes before we were even greeted. When we eat, we wait for like 30 to 45 minutes for our food. The first night, we had an appetizer take 30 minutes and it was just bread with tomatoes and cheese. Crazy. However, back to the point. After lunch, we looked at some shops, got a few things at the market, and headed back to our little island. The rest of the day we pretty much just hung out on the dock and swam in the water, then had some dinner and then hit the sack. The main restaurant on this island is BiBis on the beach. It is really good food, with sandwiches and pastas, but their main thing is seafood. And, if you spend $10 on a meal, then you get an hours free use of a paddleboat or kayaks. So we planned to take full advantage of that.
Yesterday we hung out a little bit in the morning again, had their free fruit and toast for breakfast with some coffee. Then at about 10 we headed over to BiBis to use up our free paddleboat ride. It was pretty hilarious because it was SO SLOW but eventually we got going. We paddled along the edge of the island, half hour in we stopped and I had a swim in the perfect water, and then paddled back. We had lunch at Bibis, then rented snorkel gear for $4 for the day, took a taxi boat to a cove we heard was good on a neighboring island and snorkeled there for about 2 hours. It was really great snorkeling. There were a variety of cool fish and I even saw a small jellyfish which was neat. Then we headed to Bastimentos, another neighboring island where we had seen advertisements for a place called ¨Up the Hill¨. When you get to the island, you take a path that goes up the hill for about 15 minutes and get to a small hut. All of their shop items were set up and sitting out for sale, but no one was in the shop. So we were trying to call out for someone and walking around the shop for like 15 minutes before Cass went further towards their house and got their attention. Apparently this place was an organic chocolate farm, among a few other things. But they prided theirselves on their 100% organic chocolate items, so we each at a brownie and chocolate milk. It was crazy how trusting this people were. Besides leaving their shop unattended initially, they said they were going to go back and chill and they would leave change on the counter in case we wanted to buy anything. Not only could someone steal something in their shop, but the money too. So, it was neat to see people so laid back and trusting. After that little adventure we took a taxi boat back to Tierra Verde where we had plans to watch the Holiday which was on TV. The rest of our night consisted of popcorn, the holiday, then a quick dinner run to Bibis (which of course is never actually quick).
Today, the plan is to go into the main island town, change some colones to dollars, then grab some lunch and catch a bus to starfish beach, where there are supposedly tons of starfish. Then we plan on kayaking at around sunset. So im trying to upload some pics to facebook, hasnt been so successful so far but you can check, its a pretty sweet place.
So our first day we hung out a bit for the morning, then took a taxi ride to the main island, Colon. This is like the center of town where there are shops and markets and such. So, we grabbed a bite to eat at a sandwich/coffee shop. And I tell you I didnt think it was possible to beat tico time, but Panama is on its own schedule. I dont remember if i mentioned, but tico time is what they call the lack of strict time schedule of the costa ricans. They are laid back, 5 o clock means any where between 5 and 5:15. Nothing is on time. Well in Panama they take it to the next level. We waited in the sandwich shop for like 10 or 15 minutes before we were even greeted. When we eat, we wait for like 30 to 45 minutes for our food. The first night, we had an appetizer take 30 minutes and it was just bread with tomatoes and cheese. Crazy. However, back to the point. After lunch, we looked at some shops, got a few things at the market, and headed back to our little island. The rest of the day we pretty much just hung out on the dock and swam in the water, then had some dinner and then hit the sack. The main restaurant on this island is BiBis on the beach. It is really good food, with sandwiches and pastas, but their main thing is seafood. And, if you spend $10 on a meal, then you get an hours free use of a paddleboat or kayaks. So we planned to take full advantage of that.
Yesterday we hung out a little bit in the morning again, had their free fruit and toast for breakfast with some coffee. Then at about 10 we headed over to BiBis to use up our free paddleboat ride. It was pretty hilarious because it was SO SLOW but eventually we got going. We paddled along the edge of the island, half hour in we stopped and I had a swim in the perfect water, and then paddled back. We had lunch at Bibis, then rented snorkel gear for $4 for the day, took a taxi boat to a cove we heard was good on a neighboring island and snorkeled there for about 2 hours. It was really great snorkeling. There were a variety of cool fish and I even saw a small jellyfish which was neat. Then we headed to Bastimentos, another neighboring island where we had seen advertisements for a place called ¨Up the Hill¨. When you get to the island, you take a path that goes up the hill for about 15 minutes and get to a small hut. All of their shop items were set up and sitting out for sale, but no one was in the shop. So we were trying to call out for someone and walking around the shop for like 15 minutes before Cass went further towards their house and got their attention. Apparently this place was an organic chocolate farm, among a few other things. But they prided theirselves on their 100% organic chocolate items, so we each at a brownie and chocolate milk. It was crazy how trusting this people were. Besides leaving their shop unattended initially, they said they were going to go back and chill and they would leave change on the counter in case we wanted to buy anything. Not only could someone steal something in their shop, but the money too. So, it was neat to see people so laid back and trusting. After that little adventure we took a taxi boat back to Tierra Verde where we had plans to watch the Holiday which was on TV. The rest of our night consisted of popcorn, the holiday, then a quick dinner run to Bibis (which of course is never actually quick).
Today, the plan is to go into the main island town, change some colones to dollars, then grab some lunch and catch a bus to starfish beach, where there are supposedly tons of starfish. Then we plan on kayaking at around sunset. So im trying to upload some pics to facebook, hasnt been so successful so far but you can check, its a pretty sweet place.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Surprise! Trip to Panama
So we woke up at 5:15, early Friday morning ready for our trip to Panama to begin! All smooth sailing from here. A short shuttle to the airport, a one hour flight on one of those little planes that connects Costa Rica and Bocas del Toro and at 9:30 we were to be met at the airport by Cookie, a friend of Cassidys uncle and owner of a cute little resort on the beach. We decided to get to the airport plenty early, so took the airport shuttle that left at 5:40 for our 8:30 flight haha. Arrived at Nature Air airport at 6:30 which was an hour before we needed to check in. SO with our free time we hit up their second floor restaurant, got some sweet plantains and a cappacino. A good way to start out the perfect day, right?
At 7:30 we head downstairs to check in for our flight... low and behold the airport checkin guy looks a little confused and starts asking us weird questions like... do you have a printout? and talking to other people. Then he tells us the flight left at 6 NOT 8:30... and the next flight is sunday. Of course we were completely dumbfounded... stood there for a second like thats not possible! Poor Cass was the one who made the arrangements and got the confirmation emails and wrote down the times like fifty times, its hard for me to believe she made that mistake, and even harder for her to believe. To make things worse she is sick, had a temperature the day before so she was not in the right state of mind for this mood.
So we had to wait for the manager to get there which was supposed to be any minute, in the meantime we called Henry who told us a bus would leave for Panama in one hour and he was close enough to pick us up. Luckily a taxi driver let us use 2 of his phones (the first phone cass dropped haha) because neither of us had time on our phonecards. The manager showed up shortly after and we were informed (luckily since theres a no refund policy with no exceptions) that we could be refunded half the money minus a 25 dollar fee, and could still take the return flight. Which was a pretty good deal in my book.
So Henry came and we darted off to a bus stop to Panama. There, our real journey began, 9:00. We took that bus down to the border which took about 5 hours probably... good news is we got to pass the infamous Boca Chica where we spent our first miserable week of our trip haha. At Panama we had to get out at the border of course (this was the beginning of the pouring rain...right when we had to get off) and get our passports checked of course. We were initially under the impression that this bus crossed the border and went straight to Bocas. However, a lady who spoke fluent spanish and english told us we could all split a taxi to the ferry to Bocas for 5 dollars each. We decided thats a good deal because the bus did not go there. There were two shuttle vans which we were supposedly going to Bocas. This lady in our van was freaking out cuz they charged us 5 each and them 10 each, and then a big group of Europeans were charge 7 each. It was chaos waiting for everyone to get everything at the border taken care of so that both vans were full, and of course everyone waiting wanted to take off. So our bags and us got completely soaked going back and forth between vans trying to figure out exactly what was going on from the lady who spoke English, and also because we were told to switch vans, then there wasnt room.
FINALLY we left after about an hour at the border, took off in the pouring rain to Bocas in a completely PACKED van full of loud, crazy people with a driver who was a bit out of control (and just about turned back around because he thought somebody hadnt paid). After an hour van ride when i thought we might be smeared across the road a couple moments, we arrived at the ferry. By ferry, i mean they packed about 35 people on a boat, put the sides of the boat down so we couldnt see and then sped off at what must have been like 50 miles an hour in a can of sardines to the island where are resort was. I have grown to have a fear of boats, and i thought the was going to sink or tip over, it didnt help that you couldnt look outside and see the surroundings. After a LONG 30 minutes, we got off that boat (at this point it is about 4 in the afternoon...but dark and STILL pouring rain).
So we are at the island, and Cassidy asks where tierra verde is, the boat driver says its on the neighboring island, about 50 yards across the water, but we need a dollar fifty each to get there. We spent our last cash taking the taxi and ferry. All we have are costa rican colones which they dont take. So at this point we run around the streets of Bocas looking for the bank so Cassidy can use the ATM, meanwhile its dark and STILL pouring. We finally get there, get back to the boat station and take a boat right to the dock of Tierra Verde where we are finally greeted and at our hotel.
so we went 5 in the morning to 5 at night, when we thought it would be an hour plane ride haha. But it will make us appreciate the place and the plane ride all the more for it. The place we are staying is really cute. We have two beds and a bathroom, TV, airconditioner, free internet, free breakfast, free coffee. Its REALLY cute, right on the water with its own dock. It was an unexpected adventure getting here but i think we will be able to relax now and really enjoy it. PHEW that was a long one...
At 7:30 we head downstairs to check in for our flight... low and behold the airport checkin guy looks a little confused and starts asking us weird questions like... do you have a printout? and talking to other people. Then he tells us the flight left at 6 NOT 8:30... and the next flight is sunday. Of course we were completely dumbfounded... stood there for a second like thats not possible! Poor Cass was the one who made the arrangements and got the confirmation emails and wrote down the times like fifty times, its hard for me to believe she made that mistake, and even harder for her to believe. To make things worse she is sick, had a temperature the day before so she was not in the right state of mind for this mood.
So we had to wait for the manager to get there which was supposed to be any minute, in the meantime we called Henry who told us a bus would leave for Panama in one hour and he was close enough to pick us up. Luckily a taxi driver let us use 2 of his phones (the first phone cass dropped haha) because neither of us had time on our phonecards. The manager showed up shortly after and we were informed (luckily since theres a no refund policy with no exceptions) that we could be refunded half the money minus a 25 dollar fee, and could still take the return flight. Which was a pretty good deal in my book.
So Henry came and we darted off to a bus stop to Panama. There, our real journey began, 9:00. We took that bus down to the border which took about 5 hours probably... good news is we got to pass the infamous Boca Chica where we spent our first miserable week of our trip haha. At Panama we had to get out at the border of course (this was the beginning of the pouring rain...right when we had to get off) and get our passports checked of course. We were initially under the impression that this bus crossed the border and went straight to Bocas. However, a lady who spoke fluent spanish and english told us we could all split a taxi to the ferry to Bocas for 5 dollars each. We decided thats a good deal because the bus did not go there. There were two shuttle vans which we were supposedly going to Bocas. This lady in our van was freaking out cuz they charged us 5 each and them 10 each, and then a big group of Europeans were charge 7 each. It was chaos waiting for everyone to get everything at the border taken care of so that both vans were full, and of course everyone waiting wanted to take off. So our bags and us got completely soaked going back and forth between vans trying to figure out exactly what was going on from the lady who spoke English, and also because we were told to switch vans, then there wasnt room.
FINALLY we left after about an hour at the border, took off in the pouring rain to Bocas in a completely PACKED van full of loud, crazy people with a driver who was a bit out of control (and just about turned back around because he thought somebody hadnt paid). After an hour van ride when i thought we might be smeared across the road a couple moments, we arrived at the ferry. By ferry, i mean they packed about 35 people on a boat, put the sides of the boat down so we couldnt see and then sped off at what must have been like 50 miles an hour in a can of sardines to the island where are resort was. I have grown to have a fear of boats, and i thought the was going to sink or tip over, it didnt help that you couldnt look outside and see the surroundings. After a LONG 30 minutes, we got off that boat (at this point it is about 4 in the afternoon...but dark and STILL pouring rain).
So we are at the island, and Cassidy asks where tierra verde is, the boat driver says its on the neighboring island, about 50 yards across the water, but we need a dollar fifty each to get there. We spent our last cash taking the taxi and ferry. All we have are costa rican colones which they dont take. So at this point we run around the streets of Bocas looking for the bank so Cassidy can use the ATM, meanwhile its dark and STILL pouring. We finally get there, get back to the boat station and take a boat right to the dock of Tierra Verde where we are finally greeted and at our hotel.
so we went 5 in the morning to 5 at night, when we thought it would be an hour plane ride haha. But it will make us appreciate the place and the plane ride all the more for it. The place we are staying is really cute. We have two beds and a bathroom, TV, airconditioner, free internet, free breakfast, free coffee. Its REALLY cute, right on the water with its own dock. It was an unexpected adventure getting here but i think we will be able to relax now and really enjoy it. PHEW that was a long one...
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Federicos
So David made it safe and sound...without his luggage. The airline lost his bag so he made it through the days at Federicos without his main luggage. How unfortunate. But the trip to Federicos was fabulous. He was filled with the same enthusiasm and random trivial information as usual. He lives in Birrisito right above the Valle de Orosi which is a fabulous coffee growing area as well as above Lago Cachi, the second largest lake in Costa Rica. The first day was rather rainy so after Federico made us a fabulous lunch with grub we got at the store in town, we just hung out on his patio that looked out over the valley. we played some cards... David taught us all a card game called Oh Hell... and then had a long hut tub session filled with smoothies and back massages. It was fabulous. That night we watched a stupid mindless comedy... year one. Then hit the sack for a big day lay ahead of us... our tour of valle de orosi.
Originally Volcan Irazu was going to be part of our tour time at federicos. However, he told us with the weather the way it was there would be no visibility, and apparently its less impressive than the other volcanoes we have visited already. First, we hit up a local store that sells organic coffee from the area. Federico has a few coffee plants that provides for this coffee brand...cafe cristina... so its possible we have some of his own beans in our bags. First real tour stop was a lookout point over the valley where we got some good pics. Next stop we went down into the valley to the town of Orosi. We stopped to get pics of the oldest church in use in Costa Rica. Iglesia Colonial. There Federico talked some local kids into letting us join their soccer game. So we had a game with the local kids, quite enjoyable.
We continued our tour to the local hot springs, known only by the locals. We chilled in the natural hot springs for a while. Privelaged enough to witness Federico in his little spandex, and David had to borrow some little shorts from him too haha. After the hot springs we had lunch at a little local restaurant overlooking a river. HUGE portions for fairly cheap. Cass david and i couldn´t finish our portion so we saved part of our HEAPING rice portion for breakfast the next morning. It was quite delicious though.
Next we went to the coffee plantation in the valley. Had some coffee straight from the sock for about one dollar, and had some coffee flan with it...AMAZING. This little restaurant on the coffee plantation was also bordering Lake Cachi, which was so beautiful because it has so much vegetation around in growing in the lake. We walked around it and took some more beautiful pics of the lake and plants and flowers growing around the lake. Then we finished up the tour by walking next to the coffee plantation, then drove home which was by a dam on the lake. In the end we did a huge loop around the valley which started at 830 in the morning and ended at about 3 i think. Oh... i forgot to mention that cass and i started off the day by making our chocolate chip banana pancakes for everyone. It was fabulous.
We just hung out the rest of the night, enjoyed some music and hot tub. This morning we left at about 830. He dropped us off at a bus station in Cartago where we caught a ride back into San Jose. Walked to central market and had some iced coffee and bread from the panaderia. now just chillin at pangea again, uploading our pics. Tomorrow, cass and I catch our shuttle to the airport at 540 in the morning to fly to panama to spend our last week here in central america. Till then...peace
Originally Volcan Irazu was going to be part of our tour time at federicos. However, he told us with the weather the way it was there would be no visibility, and apparently its less impressive than the other volcanoes we have visited already. First, we hit up a local store that sells organic coffee from the area. Federico has a few coffee plants that provides for this coffee brand...cafe cristina... so its possible we have some of his own beans in our bags. First real tour stop was a lookout point over the valley where we got some good pics. Next stop we went down into the valley to the town of Orosi. We stopped to get pics of the oldest church in use in Costa Rica. Iglesia Colonial. There Federico talked some local kids into letting us join their soccer game. So we had a game with the local kids, quite enjoyable.
We continued our tour to the local hot springs, known only by the locals. We chilled in the natural hot springs for a while. Privelaged enough to witness Federico in his little spandex, and David had to borrow some little shorts from him too haha. After the hot springs we had lunch at a little local restaurant overlooking a river. HUGE portions for fairly cheap. Cass david and i couldn´t finish our portion so we saved part of our HEAPING rice portion for breakfast the next morning. It was quite delicious though.
Next we went to the coffee plantation in the valley. Had some coffee straight from the sock for about one dollar, and had some coffee flan with it...AMAZING. This little restaurant on the coffee plantation was also bordering Lake Cachi, which was so beautiful because it has so much vegetation around in growing in the lake. We walked around it and took some more beautiful pics of the lake and plants and flowers growing around the lake. Then we finished up the tour by walking next to the coffee plantation, then drove home which was by a dam on the lake. In the end we did a huge loop around the valley which started at 830 in the morning and ended at about 3 i think. Oh... i forgot to mention that cass and i started off the day by making our chocolate chip banana pancakes for everyone. It was fabulous.
We just hung out the rest of the night, enjoyed some music and hot tub. This morning we left at about 830. He dropped us off at a bus station in Cartago where we caught a ride back into San Jose. Walked to central market and had some iced coffee and bread from the panaderia. now just chillin at pangea again, uploading our pics. Tomorrow, cass and I catch our shuttle to the airport at 540 in the morning to fly to panama to spend our last week here in central america. Till then...peace
Sunday, October 18, 2009
San Jose again... and Poas
Well I guess our last sano banano night was where we left off. The next day we took Part I of our luggage to montezuma ...our big rolling bags... and that was HELL. my arms are STILL sore and my thighs have bruises haha. But Bra had a hostel there for the night so we left them there so of course we would only have our backpacks to bring the morning we were leaving. But cass had 2 backpacks still haha. lots of big souvenirs and such. Anywho... later that day we worked on the garden and relocated the tomato plants to the outside garden patch that we had just fixed up and that was the last work we did in Montezuma. That night we had a huge nerts card game going. 4 pairs of 2 playing and that was a blast. Then we had a bonfire where we roasted hotdogs and smores and banana boats and had a good ole time with everybody. Finally... a last spades game with cass me lenin and lucas.. .a german volunteer who will be there for a year. Lenin loved spades so we played all the time. Then we hit the sack...got up at 4:30 the next morning... yesterday... and headed to the bus stop. We had a long day of traveling and got to san jose around 1 yesterday. we had some errands to run around town then just chilled at pangea and got to bed early.
Today we had a day trip to Volcan Poas. It was fairly cheap, a 1 hour 30 min bus trip one way, about 6 dollars round trip. Normally 10 dollars to get into the national park but only about a dollar and half for us with our ASVO volunteer passes so that was nice. It was really relaxing, had a short trail to the lookout over the volcano crater. At first looked like we wouldn´t have much of a view but it cleared up nicely and we could see quite well. Then a short hike futher to a big like type lagoon. And then we hung out in the souvenir shop and got a banana flavor cappaccino which was amazing. We´ve been told by people that Poas has the best coffee. So we spent an enjoyable 3 hours or so up there and then came back around 4, now just chillin again. Tomorrow my friend David Hewitt will fly into san jose so we´ll meet up with him and the next day all head to federicos for a few days of PURE ENTERTAINMENT i´m sure... Peace...11 days left...
Today we had a day trip to Volcan Poas. It was fairly cheap, a 1 hour 30 min bus trip one way, about 6 dollars round trip. Normally 10 dollars to get into the national park but only about a dollar and half for us with our ASVO volunteer passes so that was nice. It was really relaxing, had a short trail to the lookout over the volcano crater. At first looked like we wouldn´t have much of a view but it cleared up nicely and we could see quite well. Then a short hike futher to a big like type lagoon. And then we hung out in the souvenir shop and got a banana flavor cappaccino which was amazing. We´ve been told by people that Poas has the best coffee. So we spent an enjoyable 3 hours or so up there and then came back around 4, now just chillin again. Tomorrow my friend David Hewitt will fly into san jose so we´ll meet up with him and the next day all head to federicos for a few days of PURE ENTERTAINMENT i´m sure... Peace...11 days left...
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Last Days in Montezuma
Well the week has gone by fast, its been a good one. Blessed with lots of turtles and late nights, but also enjoyable volunteers (once phil left). Only bad thing was the sandbad wall fell down AGAIN! and we had to put it up and add to it for the third time. But we have good workers right now so we did it in a day, pretty quickly.
Yesterday of course we came into town to Chicos Bar for the soccer game and it was a blast. Had a burger and a few drinks and watched the game with Bra and Cass. And by game of course i mean the World Cup Qualifier between Costa Rica and USA (Cass and I thought it pretty ironic and perfect that this game was going on and in our last days in montezuma none the less. Of course all the ticos at the bar were going crazy when they scored and had a few people rubbing it in our face. But we got the last laugh. For those of you who didn't care to watch. Costa Rica scored two goals within like 5 minutes of each other around like the 25 minute mark. We scored with about 20 minutes left in the game... and then on a header off a corner in the 6th minute of stoppage time right before the whistle blew....it was CRAZY. And with that, actually unfortunately, Costa Rica wont be in the world cup. That was the only negative haha whereas we're in for sure i think.
Tonight we're in town for our LAST SANO BANANO night...CRAZy and sad. We requested the Break Up so they are playing that for us tonight and our special table is reserved for us of course. I'm pretty excited for the movie...cant believe its our last one though. Last day here tomorrow then we leave bright and early at the crack of dawn on Saturday for San Jose...
Yesterday of course we came into town to Chicos Bar for the soccer game and it was a blast. Had a burger and a few drinks and watched the game with Bra and Cass. And by game of course i mean the World Cup Qualifier between Costa Rica and USA (Cass and I thought it pretty ironic and perfect that this game was going on and in our last days in montezuma none the less. Of course all the ticos at the bar were going crazy when they scored and had a few people rubbing it in our face. But we got the last laugh. For those of you who didn't care to watch. Costa Rica scored two goals within like 5 minutes of each other around like the 25 minute mark. We scored with about 20 minutes left in the game... and then on a header off a corner in the 6th minute of stoppage time right before the whistle blew....it was CRAZY. And with that, actually unfortunately, Costa Rica wont be in the world cup. That was the only negative haha whereas we're in for sure i think.
Tonight we're in town for our LAST SANO BANANO night...CRAZy and sad. We requested the Break Up so they are playing that for us tonight and our special table is reserved for us of course. I'm pretty excited for the movie...cant believe its our last one though. Last day here tomorrow then we leave bright and early at the crack of dawn on Saturday for San Jose...
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