My Environmental Awareness and Sustainable Development class along with a couple other classes (the same group as last weekend) traveled to Ostional this weekend to learn about the sea turtles and the sustainable project the community has.
We left at 6 am Saturday morning for the 6 hour trek to the Pacific coast. This is the furthest north I have been on the coast in the province of Guanacaste. This little community is far away from any development and kind of lives its own bubble outside of society. There are around 700 or 800 people in the town and little tourism. The beach is beautiful but not in the same way as the other beaches with white sand. The currents in the ocean are really strong and I have never seen bigger waves.
So. Ostional is a town of people that are essentially squatters on government owned land and have been there for over 100 years. The political side to the town and project is very complicated. They are located on one of the very few nesting beaches in the world for sea turtles and the Oliver Ridley sea turtle in particular. Sea turtles of all species are endangered in the world for several reasons. One issue facing the turtles is illegal poaching and egg extraction. For many, this is an indigenous practice and the only source of protein. These practices are illegal throughout Costa Rica...except for in Ostional.
Ostional has created a program with the University of Costa Rica and other organizations that is a sustainable project. This means that it incorporates the environment, the people, and the economy. There is a strict system of egg extraction in Ostional that allows the people to make revenue, have an income, and support social programs. Some say the program has been a success, especially in the social part. Others would argue that the science hasn't been reviewed. It is true, however, that the amount of eggs they take is minimal in comparison to the number of eggs that are laid on their beaches. Furthermore, it is true that many eggs will not hatch anyway because female turtles dig up other nests in order to lay their own or the eggs are crushed underneath the weight of too many eggs. Ostional believes that the Oliver Ridley or Lora population has increased since they began their project.
So upon arrival, we were served lunch in an outdoor kitchen and pavilion right on the beach. Next to this was our lodging. We stayed in bunks in a building owned by the association that runs the program in Ostional. We talked with the biologist of the program and the leader of the socioeconomic part. We walked on the beach for awhile and had a relaxing day. Luckily, about two hours after we got there a lone turtle came to shore to lay her eggs. We watched the entire process of her trek up the beach and finding a spot. Then she digs a hole, lays up to 200 eggs, covers it, packs it, camouflages it, and walks back to the ocean. It was so cool to watch. Later we had dinner and went to a tiny local bar. We talked with some of the other people staying in the same place. They were ticos visiting family nearby.
We woke up at 4:30 am in the morning to head to the beach and see the turtles. This week was an arribada which means arrival. This species of turtle is known for these massive arribadas on certain beaches where thousands come at once over the course of a week and the majority is during the night hours. We saw hundreds and it was clear from the paths in the sand that we had even missed the majority. It was pretty cool to just be hanging out amongst a ton of turtles. We scared away dogs and birds and cheered on the turtles. I saw two get too stressed out and turn around without laying their eggs. This happens sometimes. It is strange to think that basically everywhere on the beach, you are walking over turtle eggs. There are that many.
After a while of watching them and when most had returned to the water we walked back down the beach and watched some of the community members at work. They were extracting eggs from another part of the beach. They have a very strict system that works well. They eggs are put in special bags with special receipts and sold to other parts of the country. Illegal selling and reusing the special Ostional bags still happens, of course.
We went on a tour of the community and saw their research facility, tour guide office, schools, and other things. Afterward, we had to interview community members about the program and their knowledge on the turtles for class. This was an interesting experience. We all had different results and some strange encounters. Some of the people likes Ostional before the program and regulations were in place and the think the numbers are going down and some think just the opposite.
We had a little bit of free time to get some sun on the beach and watch the surfers before it was time to eat lunch and return to San José. The drive back took way longer than expected due to two traffic jams. The mood wasn't very happy on that bus ride.
We learned more about Ostional from a different perspective in class on Monday. A speaker came to talk to us about his NGO and projects. His name is Randall and he is one of the leading conservationists in Costa Rica. His NGO, PRETOMA, was the first marine NGO in Costa Rica. He is extremely accomplished and a fun guy. He and his organization work toward saving the turtles and sharks and entire marine ecosystems. He was very familiar with Ostional and was involved with it years ago. His opinion of the project has changed somewhat overtime and isn't sure that Ostional should be a model for other towns and programs. These past few days have been filled with so much information but it was all very interesting and inspiring. It has all, also, been a reminder to remain a critical thinker. Ostional seemed to make a lot of sense until we discussed in class and with Randall and saw some other view points that weren't apparent during our visit.
The first half of the day on Monday was dedicated to coffee. :)
Jenn, Taylor and I went to Café Britt in Heredia for their coffee tour. They don't have their own plantations but they purchase from many dependent grows. Many of them are sustainable and/or organic. In Heredia, they roast and package the coffee. They was a lot of fun. They taught us the history, showed coffee and cocoa plants, and explained the growth and harvesting process. They showed us the roasters and taught us about different types, how to brew it, etc. They guides were a lot of fun and put on skits to make it more entertaining. The best part? Free samples. In their gift shop we tried different roasts and tons of chocolates. When we were satisfied with our time there, we headed back downtown and caught another bus to the east side of the city. We went to Lincoln Plaza for the sole purpose of going to Starbucks. Yes, Starbucks in Costa Rica. Prime example of gringa problems. It, obviously, was exactly the same but delicious as always.
Today is Tuesday and I have one paper, one presentation, and one class ahead of me before being done with my program here. Then its just 4 days until I board the plane to head back to the states. There is an immense about of pressure this week on what to do and when to do it and who to do things with and getting gifts and packing and making sure we did everything we wanted to in Costa Rica. I feel a lot of this and am caught in the same old struggle of doing this versus money. And time. There are a lot of awkwardly timed events this week that make it hard to maximize time but I think it will be a good last week no matter what. It is going to have to be.
Turtle eggs and coffee beans,
Taylor
PS. It won't let me upload photos for some reason. So they will come soon.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Clase de Español ✔
Last week was the fourth week of classes and my final week of spanish class. That means one more week and that's it. It was a tiring week but ended well.
The first few days of the week were spent freaking out about all the work I had to do and falling asleep when I wasn't supposed to. Both classes on Monday with lots of work. I had a presentation in my elective. A quiz on Tuesday in Spanish. I tried to write my huge research paper all day Tuesday but...you know how that goes. I went to dance that night to give myself a break. And so it continued with stressing, working, and not finishing it all. Wednesday we had our final exam in Spanish which went well. Then I had to go to the store to buy food for my final presentation the next day in Spanish and of course spend the rest of the day working on papers for my elective. Thursday morning class started later so I made pico de gallo with my mamatica before class.
Our final day of spanish class was a lot of fun. We all presented about the food we made and how to make it and the we ate it all, of course. We listened to music and talked and ate way too much. We had everything from french toast to platanos maduros to bloody mary's. Those weren't supposed to happen but one student did it anyway.
I am very happy with my spanish class in the end. My teacher was so much fun and such a wonderful woman. I learned a lot of new vocabulary and phrases and reviewed grammar. It was a great class. It felt so strange that it was ending. This was the first big moment of my time in Costa Rica coming to an end.
Oh! I forgot to mention that my difficulties in concentrating on my work on Wednesday were enhanced by an email offering me the internship position I applied for!! I got it! I am very excited about this and really nervous but I am now a General Sustainability Intern with the Office of Sustainability at BGSU for this year. =]
Anyway, with spanish over and my work for my elective finished, the weekend began. Friday was another Costa Rican holiday. It was a Catholic holiday about the virgin. It is called La Romeria. Thousands of people make a pilgrimage to a church in Cartago on or before this day. The story is about this little black statue that was found a long time ago that looked like the virgin. I'm not entirely sure. I didn't get it all. The previous weekend, we saw people starting their walk all the way from Puntarenas. I joined Jenny and her roommate, Olivia, and their mamatica and friends on the walk Thursday night. From San José we walked 24 km to Cartago. We began at 5 or 6 and got there several hours later. I didn't even pay attention to the time. We stopped a few times to let the older ladies catch up and to hang out in a park and to grab snacks. I enjoyed the walk. It was like a fair the whole way. There were tents set up and people giving away free shirts or food or drinks and people selling things. There was a lot of music. Other parts were really quiet and dark. The hike is up the mountains so it takes a while and is really exhausting. I think I enjoyed the walk the most even though it got really hard at times. It was amazing how many people there were. We were literally packed on the street at times. Some people even walk barefoot.
When we made it to Cartago, the city was decorated for the festivities that would continue the next few days. The streets were oddly less crowded as we got into the city. I'm not sure why. Finally, we saw the church. It was beautiful with the lights at night. It was very grand and more than I expected. At this point, it was hard to even walk because there were so many people. Going inside the church, was out of the question. People set up camp all over the street, the park in front of the church, and the sidewalks. I almost stepped on so many people. I think they were waiting for the special mass in the morning. Not long after, we got a bus home.
I was hoping for an interesting cultural experience and it certainly was. It is amazing that so many people do this pilgrimage and that some walk for an entire week to get there. If I were Catholic I would probably appreciate it more and find it more interesting. I liked seeing the church but I was ready to go home once we got to the city. I liked the walk though. That was an adventure.
Friday, the day was spent relaxing, shopping in the artisan market, and having lunch with friends. It was a good day to recuperate from such a crazy week.
Siempre un estudiante,
Taylor
The first few days of the week were spent freaking out about all the work I had to do and falling asleep when I wasn't supposed to. Both classes on Monday with lots of work. I had a presentation in my elective. A quiz on Tuesday in Spanish. I tried to write my huge research paper all day Tuesday but...you know how that goes. I went to dance that night to give myself a break. And so it continued with stressing, working, and not finishing it all. Wednesday we had our final exam in Spanish which went well. Then I had to go to the store to buy food for my final presentation the next day in Spanish and of course spend the rest of the day working on papers for my elective. Thursday morning class started later so I made pico de gallo with my mamatica before class.
Our final day of spanish class was a lot of fun. We all presented about the food we made and how to make it and the we ate it all, of course. We listened to music and talked and ate way too much. We had everything from french toast to platanos maduros to bloody mary's. Those weren't supposed to happen but one student did it anyway.
I am very happy with my spanish class in the end. My teacher was so much fun and such a wonderful woman. I learned a lot of new vocabulary and phrases and reviewed grammar. It was a great class. It felt so strange that it was ending. This was the first big moment of my time in Costa Rica coming to an end.
Profe and I :)
And a photobomb by Paul
Oh! I forgot to mention that my difficulties in concentrating on my work on Wednesday were enhanced by an email offering me the internship position I applied for!! I got it! I am very excited about this and really nervous but I am now a General Sustainability Intern with the Office of Sustainability at BGSU for this year. =]
Anyway, with spanish over and my work for my elective finished, the weekend began. Friday was another Costa Rican holiday. It was a Catholic holiday about the virgin. It is called La Romeria. Thousands of people make a pilgrimage to a church in Cartago on or before this day. The story is about this little black statue that was found a long time ago that looked like the virgin. I'm not entirely sure. I didn't get it all. The previous weekend, we saw people starting their walk all the way from Puntarenas. I joined Jenny and her roommate, Olivia, and their mamatica and friends on the walk Thursday night. From San José we walked 24 km to Cartago. We began at 5 or 6 and got there several hours later. I didn't even pay attention to the time. We stopped a few times to let the older ladies catch up and to hang out in a park and to grab snacks. I enjoyed the walk. It was like a fair the whole way. There were tents set up and people giving away free shirts or food or drinks and people selling things. There was a lot of music. Other parts were really quiet and dark. The hike is up the mountains so it takes a while and is really exhausting. I think I enjoyed the walk the most even though it got really hard at times. It was amazing how many people there were. We were literally packed on the street at times. Some people even walk barefoot.
When we made it to Cartago, the city was decorated for the festivities that would continue the next few days. The streets were oddly less crowded as we got into the city. I'm not sure why. Finally, we saw the church. It was beautiful with the lights at night. It was very grand and more than I expected. At this point, it was hard to even walk because there were so many people. Going inside the church, was out of the question. People set up camp all over the street, the park in front of the church, and the sidewalks. I almost stepped on so many people. I think they were waiting for the special mass in the morning. Not long after, we got a bus home.
I was hoping for an interesting cultural experience and it certainly was. It is amazing that so many people do this pilgrimage and that some walk for an entire week to get there. If I were Catholic I would probably appreciate it more and find it more interesting. I liked seeing the church but I was ready to go home once we got to the city. I liked the walk though. That was an adventure.
Thousands of people.
The church
Friday, the day was spent relaxing, shopping in the artisan market, and having lunch with friends. It was a good day to recuperate from such a crazy week.
Siempre un estudiante,
Taylor
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Reserva Biológica Dúrika
On Saturday and Sunday this past weekend, I went on a field trip for my Environmental Awareness and Sustainable Development class to Dúrika. This community is is Puntarenas, on the pacific side of the Talamanca mountain range. So it is in southwest Costa Rica. It is a small community that is fully self-sustaining. It was created about 50 years ago by professionals and scientists. The community is a foundation, so there is no personal profit. All funds go to helping the entire community operate and to fund research. The reserve protects a large amount of land in the mountains and works to reforest. There are about 20 to 30 permanent residents in the community and many others that work from afar. Many people visit for various amounts of time to just check it out or receive treatments. Basically, its an amazing place.
So, my class met at 6 am to get on the bus and head to Dúrika on Saturday morning. My class of 6 and our teacher, plus two other really small classes of 2 or 3 each and their teachers joined us. From the little parts I saw of the drive, it was beautiful. I have never gone this direction in the country but I slept most of the way. When we stopped for breakfast, we were in Cerro de la Muerte (Mountain of Death). This area is the highest point of the main highway and is in the Talamancas. It is often very cloudy, hence its name. Anyway, we stopped here to eat and were all very startled by the temperature. It was cold. For real, cold. I have not felt that temperature....in a very long time. I didn't think that was legal in Costa Rica. I don't know if I can even gauge that correctly anymore but I would guess the 40s and icky gloomy mist. But, we survived and on we went.
When we thought we were getting close, we found that we were getting off the bus and leaving it. We were switching to some other trucks because our bus couldn't physically go in the mountains. So we took our stuff and jumped in the back of "cargo taxis." These were literally little off-road trucks with wooden beds on the back, some covered, some not. So we chose an uncovered one so we could see and we headed up. It was an adventure for sure. We slid all over the place in the truck and tried not to get bruises from banging into the sides and bouncing everywhere. It was so rough terrain. We went up and down steep hills, through mud and ditches, over huge rocks, and through creeks. The view was beautiful, of course. We could see the mountains on either side of us. It was interesting to see the contrast between the Talamancas in the east and the foothills of the Talamancas to the west. Much of the east side has been deforested for cattle since the 1960s and the other side, not so much. Both beautiful, still. At times it felt like Jurassic park going through some crazy jungle and other parts were less forested and more scrubby. After 7.5ish miles, we made it to the top.
Dúrika is a small, cute little community. It is beautiful with flowers and gardens everywhere and rustic buildings. The people are so sweet and genuine. We were greeted and taken to the restaurant for lunch but had to wait for another group to leave so we headed to the health clinic. They have a fully eqipped health clinic with many rooms for doctors appointments, dentist, therapy, etc. They do spa treatments and lots of things. We went into the laboratory. Here, they make their own soaps. They now make about 16 different kinds. All natural, of course. They all smelled so amazing and had various purposes. There was a rack full of glass jars containing dried plants and herbs from the rainforest. Some of the purposes were explained to us. Our guide (I forget his name) told us we all looked pretty good "not too skinny, not too fat." It was funny. He asked us if anyone had any issues or ailments. One of my classmates said he had a cough so he told us about one plant that he would have made for us in a tea for dinner that would boost our immune systems. We also saw plants in the process of drying to later be stored in jars or made into soap. It was so cool.
They told us that many visitors stay 3 days to two weeks or longer and while they are there they have an amazing experience. They can see the doctor and be full analyzed and then detoxed. And after the detox is finished, the fully replenish the nutrients to build you back up again, and then they teach you their ways. They do a lot of yoga and of course are super fit from all of the work they do. This place is basically right up my alley.
Oh, and they are all vegetarians. Lunch is the biggest meal of the day there, which is customary in Costa Rica. We had tamarindo juice to drink and started with a fresh salad. They grow all of their own food from their gardens. I think there are very few things that they may purchase elsewhere, if any. They do raise goats for their dairy and "happy" chickens for their eggs. After the salad, we had a delicious yucca soup. The main course was rice, a garlicky yucca salad kind of thing, and veggies in a tomato sauce. After that, we had chocolate mousse for dessert. Even the chocolate was local (there is a lot of chocolate in Costa Rica).
After lunch, we headed out on a hike to see their hydroelectric power plant. Christina led us on our hike and taught us a lot about the community. The hike was slippery and steep down the mountain to the river and back up, but a lot of fun. On the way, we stopped at their banana plantation. They have a small plantation with three different species of bananas. A little further down, we stopped part of their coffee plantation. Costa Rica is known for their coffee due to the great quality. Costa Rica has rich soils and optimum climate for coffee production. High-altitude coffee is said to have to best quality which is also easy in Costa Rica. Dúrika doesn't produce enough to sell, sadly. They just finished the 2011-2012 harvest when we got there so we drank the 2012-2013 harvest. Christina used to work for Café Britt (one of the largest and best coffee producers in Costa Rica) outside of San José so she knows a lot about coffee.
We were slipping and sliding all over the place but we finally made it. Christina took us in groups into the building that houses the hydroelectric equipment. We could see some of the pipeline along the way and she said (I think) that there are 99 pipes from the river that feed water through the turbine and up to the community. The turbine spins 60 times per second and produces all of their energy. They did this entire project without any government assistance after the government wanted them to do it a different way. So far, it has been a great success. They also told us that the water was probably the purest we would drink in Costa Rica. It is naturally purified and the first time it sees light is when it leaves the tap.
We hung out for a while at the bottom and checked out the waterfalls. I went in the pools a little but didn't swim. It was cold but felt nice. On our way back up, we went a different route and saw the winter garden.
When we made it back up, sweaty and tired, we were shown to our cabins. It literally felt like we were at summer camp but I didn't mind that. The four girls in my class and I chose the "romantic" cabin. They call it this because it is the only one without electricity so we used candles. It was pretty cute. We settled in and washed up before dinner. I took a quick shower in the super cold water with the soap they gave us and went to dinner in pajamas. We all did. It was acceptable.
At dinner, we got to try some of the wonderful organic coffee. It was delicious. P.S. Milk in coffee is bad because coffee is acidic and milk is basic and they don't mix. They separate in your stomach and can cause problems so black or just a little bit of sugar (or agave) is best. (I win!) I think non-dairy creamers don't necessarily apply to this but in Costa Rica, most people use milk. They also prepared the "magic" tea for us all. It tasted similar to green tea. We had another soup but I'm not entirely sure what it was. And the main dish was a veggie/soy protein lasagna. And I think rice. And they have a phenomenal bread that is kind of orange-ish and sweet. I don't know what it is made of but it was heavenly. During dinner we signed up for various chores in the morning. The people who live and work there, including the people who cooked and served us, do not take a salary. It is just their life and what they want to do as a part of the community. So visitors come and are assimilated into the community and do chores too. I could choose between goat milking, reforestation, and gardening. I chose gardening. And we went back to our cabins and were in bed before 7. We knew we should sleep early since we had to get up so early and I think we fell asleep before 9. We of course freak ourselves out and had girl moments before we finally settled down. I slept fine I think but some of the other girls struggled and were paranoid about bugs all night. They also shot off some shots that scared us. We though it could be to scare away pumas since they have those but it turned out to be for possums. lame.
We woke up bright and early at 5 am and got ready for chores. It was a beautiful morning. Edwardo, another community member, lead us in gardening. They have a huge garden along the edge of the hillside. So it is split up into various parts. They also have a greenhouse. First, my classmate, Anna, and I were to pick lettuce. Then we picked parsley. Some other students also picked rhubarb, onions, and radishes. Then we weeded and cleaned up some of the rows. It was fun to have our hands dirty and I loved seeing all of the fresh produce, knowing that that is what they eat everyday. It was funny because Edwardo would tell us about different plants and then break off a piece and just eat it. So we would eat random stalks or leaves or fruits. He climbed a few trees that were over the edge of the cliff to get some papayas and guayabas.
We packed our things and loaded them into the back of the cargo taxis again but this time instead of riding down, we would hike down. Christina and Edwardo lead us down the mountain on a different trail than the road we came up. Again, it was gorgeous. We learned about the fires that they often have to combat in the summers. Because of the deforestation, the savannah land becomes dry in the summer and the indigenous people below burn various things. These fires then climb up and they have to stop them before they reach the community. It was really hot and sunny for a lot of it once we were out of some of the clouds. It was mostly downward and tricky at times. It was fun but taxing on the body. We came upon two beautiful horses. They looked like they were wild but they were owned by some of the indigenous people. The same was true of the cows we saw, who snorted at us. These horses were so cute. They were really curious about us so they walked right up and joined the back of our line for a little bit.
The hike took about 3 hours total. We made it down and walked through the indigenous town and found a trail through the forest to have lunch at the river. They had packed us lunch and gave each of us two sandwiches and brought salad. They were hefty sandwiches too. I only ate one. It was beans and onions and mustard or something. We walked for a little while longer and then our bus found us. We all got on and went to their office in the main town, Buenos Aires. We cleaned up again and headed back to San José.
Dúrika is a very unique place and I wish we could have been there longer. I certainly want to go there again and some point and spend more time. I learned a lot and am definitely sore from the hiking. Being there in the clean, crisp air, with pure water, and fresh food felt great.
!Pura Vida!
Taylor
http://www.durika.org/in_inicio.html
So, my class met at 6 am to get on the bus and head to Dúrika on Saturday morning. My class of 6 and our teacher, plus two other really small classes of 2 or 3 each and their teachers joined us. From the little parts I saw of the drive, it was beautiful. I have never gone this direction in the country but I slept most of the way. When we stopped for breakfast, we were in Cerro de la Muerte (Mountain of Death). This area is the highest point of the main highway and is in the Talamancas. It is often very cloudy, hence its name. Anyway, we stopped here to eat and were all very startled by the temperature. It was cold. For real, cold. I have not felt that temperature....in a very long time. I didn't think that was legal in Costa Rica. I don't know if I can even gauge that correctly anymore but I would guess the 40s and icky gloomy mist. But, we survived and on we went.
When we thought we were getting close, we found that we were getting off the bus and leaving it. We were switching to some other trucks because our bus couldn't physically go in the mountains. So we took our stuff and jumped in the back of "cargo taxis." These were literally little off-road trucks with wooden beds on the back, some covered, some not. So we chose an uncovered one so we could see and we headed up. It was an adventure for sure. We slid all over the place in the truck and tried not to get bruises from banging into the sides and bouncing everywhere. It was so rough terrain. We went up and down steep hills, through mud and ditches, over huge rocks, and through creeks. The view was beautiful, of course. We could see the mountains on either side of us. It was interesting to see the contrast between the Talamancas in the east and the foothills of the Talamancas to the west. Much of the east side has been deforested for cattle since the 1960s and the other side, not so much. Both beautiful, still. At times it felt like Jurassic park going through some crazy jungle and other parts were less forested and more scrubby. After 7.5ish miles, we made it to the top.
Happy campers in the back of the truck.
Trying to hold on and not fly everywhere.
The view.
This was nothing compared to some of the terrain.
Dúrika is a small, cute little community. It is beautiful with flowers and gardens everywhere and rustic buildings. The people are so sweet and genuine. We were greeted and taken to the restaurant for lunch but had to wait for another group to leave so we headed to the health clinic. They have a fully eqipped health clinic with many rooms for doctors appointments, dentist, therapy, etc. They do spa treatments and lots of things. We went into the laboratory. Here, they make their own soaps. They now make about 16 different kinds. All natural, of course. They all smelled so amazing and had various purposes. There was a rack full of glass jars containing dried plants and herbs from the rainforest. Some of the purposes were explained to us. Our guide (I forget his name) told us we all looked pretty good "not too skinny, not too fat." It was funny. He asked us if anyone had any issues or ailments. One of my classmates said he had a cough so he told us about one plant that he would have made for us in a tea for dinner that would boost our immune systems. We also saw plants in the process of drying to later be stored in jars or made into soap. It was so cool.
They told us that many visitors stay 3 days to two weeks or longer and while they are there they have an amazing experience. They can see the doctor and be full analyzed and then detoxed. And after the detox is finished, the fully replenish the nutrients to build you back up again, and then they teach you their ways. They do a lot of yoga and of course are super fit from all of the work they do. This place is basically right up my alley.
In the lab.
Over looking the Talamancas
Oh, and they are all vegetarians. Lunch is the biggest meal of the day there, which is customary in Costa Rica. We had tamarindo juice to drink and started with a fresh salad. They grow all of their own food from their gardens. I think there are very few things that they may purchase elsewhere, if any. They do raise goats for their dairy and "happy" chickens for their eggs. After the salad, we had a delicious yucca soup. The main course was rice, a garlicky yucca salad kind of thing, and veggies in a tomato sauce. After that, we had chocolate mousse for dessert. Even the chocolate was local (there is a lot of chocolate in Costa Rica).
After lunch, we headed out on a hike to see their hydroelectric power plant. Christina led us on our hike and taught us a lot about the community. The hike was slippery and steep down the mountain to the river and back up, but a lot of fun. On the way, we stopped at their banana plantation. They have a small plantation with three different species of bananas. A little further down, we stopped part of their coffee plantation. Costa Rica is known for their coffee due to the great quality. Costa Rica has rich soils and optimum climate for coffee production. High-altitude coffee is said to have to best quality which is also easy in Costa Rica. Dúrika doesn't produce enough to sell, sadly. They just finished the 2011-2012 harvest when we got there so we drank the 2012-2013 harvest. Christina used to work for Café Britt (one of the largest and best coffee producers in Costa Rica) outside of San José so she knows a lot about coffee.
Banana plantation
Coffee!
Lots of coffee!
We were slipping and sliding all over the place but we finally made it. Christina took us in groups into the building that houses the hydroelectric equipment. We could see some of the pipeline along the way and she said (I think) that there are 99 pipes from the river that feed water through the turbine and up to the community. The turbine spins 60 times per second and produces all of their energy. They did this entire project without any government assistance after the government wanted them to do it a different way. So far, it has been a great success. They also told us that the water was probably the purest we would drink in Costa Rica. It is naturally purified and the first time it sees light is when it leaves the tap.
We hung out for a while at the bottom and checked out the waterfalls. I went in the pools a little but didn't swim. It was cold but felt nice. On our way back up, we went a different route and saw the winter garden.
Waterfalls
We hung out in the water here.
When we made it back up, sweaty and tired, we were shown to our cabins. It literally felt like we were at summer camp but I didn't mind that. The four girls in my class and I chose the "romantic" cabin. They call it this because it is the only one without electricity so we used candles. It was pretty cute. We settled in and washed up before dinner. I took a quick shower in the super cold water with the soap they gave us and went to dinner in pajamas. We all did. It was acceptable.
At dinner, we got to try some of the wonderful organic coffee. It was delicious. P.S. Milk in coffee is bad because coffee is acidic and milk is basic and they don't mix. They separate in your stomach and can cause problems so black or just a little bit of sugar (or agave) is best. (I win!) I think non-dairy creamers don't necessarily apply to this but in Costa Rica, most people use milk. They also prepared the "magic" tea for us all. It tasted similar to green tea. We had another soup but I'm not entirely sure what it was. And the main dish was a veggie/soy protein lasagna. And I think rice. And they have a phenomenal bread that is kind of orange-ish and sweet. I don't know what it is made of but it was heavenly. During dinner we signed up for various chores in the morning. The people who live and work there, including the people who cooked and served us, do not take a salary. It is just their life and what they want to do as a part of the community. So visitors come and are assimilated into the community and do chores too. I could choose between goat milking, reforestation, and gardening. I chose gardening. And we went back to our cabins and were in bed before 7. We knew we should sleep early since we had to get up so early and I think we fell asleep before 9. We of course freak ourselves out and had girl moments before we finally settled down. I slept fine I think but some of the other girls struggled and were paranoid about bugs all night. They also shot off some shots that scared us. We though it could be to scare away pumas since they have those but it turned out to be for possums. lame.
We woke up bright and early at 5 am and got ready for chores. It was a beautiful morning. Edwardo, another community member, lead us in gardening. They have a huge garden along the edge of the hillside. So it is split up into various parts. They also have a greenhouse. First, my classmate, Anna, and I were to pick lettuce. Then we picked parsley. Some other students also picked rhubarb, onions, and radishes. Then we weeded and cleaned up some of the rows. It was fun to have our hands dirty and I loved seeing all of the fresh produce, knowing that that is what they eat everyday. It was funny because Edwardo would tell us about different plants and then break off a piece and just eat it. So we would eat random stalks or leaves or fruits. He climbed a few trees that were over the edge of the cliff to get some papayas and guayabas.
Buenos Dias, Dúrika
The cabin.
Part of the gardens
Parsley!
We packed our things and loaded them into the back of the cargo taxis again but this time instead of riding down, we would hike down. Christina and Edwardo lead us down the mountain on a different trail than the road we came up. Again, it was gorgeous. We learned about the fires that they often have to combat in the summers. Because of the deforestation, the savannah land becomes dry in the summer and the indigenous people below burn various things. These fires then climb up and they have to stop them before they reach the community. It was really hot and sunny for a lot of it once we were out of some of the clouds. It was mostly downward and tricky at times. It was fun but taxing on the body. We came upon two beautiful horses. They looked like they were wild but they were owned by some of the indigenous people. The same was true of the cows we saw, who snorted at us. These horses were so cute. They were really curious about us so they walked right up and joined the back of our line for a little bit.
The hike took about 3 hours total. We made it down and walked through the indigenous town and found a trail through the forest to have lunch at the river. They had packed us lunch and gave each of us two sandwiches and brought salad. They were hefty sandwiches too. I only ate one. It was beans and onions and mustard or something. We walked for a little while longer and then our bus found us. We all got on and went to their office in the main town, Buenos Aires. We cleaned up again and headed back to San José.
Dúrika is a very unique place and I wish we could have been there longer. I certainly want to go there again and some point and spend more time. I learned a lot and am definitely sore from the hiking. Being there in the clean, crisp air, with pure water, and fresh food felt great.
!Pura Vida!
Taylor
http://www.durika.org/in_inicio.html
Monday, July 29, 2013
Studying, Waterfalls, and Goodbyes
This week has come with the slow realization that it is already the third week of my second half and the end is quickly approaching. However, that feels completely surreal at the same time. Friends are leaving this weekend and our directors have begun talking about the what to do to get ready to leave for us.
In reality, the third week has still more homework and projects, things to buy, and places to go.
On Monday, Nia and I went to Mall San Pedro after class for a couple things and some groceries. Later in my elective, I gave my first presentation for that class. I suppose it went well. On Tuesday, I had my individual conference with my spanish teacher to go over my grades. So far I have an A. I got low A's on my quiz and midterm and full credit on my presentation. She is happy with my work and participation. I'm satisfied with that.
Later we had an ISA meeting and dance class. It was once again a very fun and sweaty class. She went over a lot of dances this time when it is usually two or three. It was pretty exciting. She has talked to me a few times and recognized that I know how to dance but she forgets sometimes. Last week she asked me if I was a tica in a joking manner because I could move so well. She's a hoot. I enjoyed the compliment though.
Wednesday, we had another quiz in spanish. I was frustrated afterward because I knew a silly mistake I made on one section but already turned it in. I hate when that happens. After class I came home to get ready for my phone interview. I applied for the General Sustainability Internship position at BG through the Office of Sustainability. It is a paid internship for this year. I would be doing a range of different things and working on various projects. While trying to prepare a little for the interview, I kept thinking in spanish and got so nervous that I would start speaking in spanish to Dr. Nick and he would have no idea what was going on. Luckily, I didn't slip up at all. It was a quick interview since it was an international call but I think it was decent. We will see next week if I get it or not.
Later in my elective, we learned about the field trip we will be going on this weekend to Durika. It is a fully sustainable community. And Amanda, the first teacher we had, returned to give us a presentation on organic agriculture. Afterward, Jenny and I went out for a little bit with some of our new tico friends because Thursday was a Costa Rican holiday. No classes!
Thursday, I got to have a lazy morning and relax for a bit. Jenny and I went with our tico friends to a waterfall an hour or so away called Los Chorros. It took us a bit to find it once we got out there, but we made it. We parked at the top and had to hike down to the river. The parking attendant looked like a human version of Rafiki. He was an interesting fellow. The hike and the falls were beautiful. It was kind of mystical looking there. It was not a well developed park but it still had an entrance fee and had some picnic areas. We went over the hanging bridge and went to one side of the falls. We hiked through the water and got as close as we could to the falls without going into the pool. This side wasn't safe enough to go in. We soaked from the mist. The wind was much stronger than I expected. Then we went to the other side and had to cross through the river to put our stuff up on the hill. That was an adventure but we survived. It really wasn't that hard. We went in the pool under the waterfall for a little bit. It was cold but it felt good. We didn't really know what to do with ourselves after a little bit though so we got out and hiked up and changed. By this time, we were starving. We found a little spot on the way back for lunch. I ordered a typical casado but a vegetarian version, obviously. Their substitute, was scrambled eggs and a big hunk of cheese. That was a surprise. I have never had a restaurant serve that as their veggie casado. Oh well.
That night, my goal was to get lots of work done on my research paper and presentation for class in the morning. I'm never as successful as I hope to be. Friday, I had to return to class when it felt like it was already the weekend. But it was a fun class. We did individual presentations. For mine, I talked about when my dad and I went to Mile High and I went on stage with Train. When we finished our presentations, we went on a little field trip to this lady's house. All of the professors are good friends with her. Her name is Rosa. She has an organic jewelry business. It is so cool. She has been doing this since 2000 and started with oranges. She uses several kind of fruit to create necklaces, rings, bracelets, and more. She uses the shell, seeds, peels, and pieces of banana. She has developed all of these things after tons of experimenting. She even uses natural pigments from other fruits and veggies. She sells her things at farmers markets and at a few shops at different touristy areas in Costa Rica and out of her house. I purchased a few things including a new bracelet for myself made of slices of banana dyed different colors strung together.
https://www.facebook.com/decrochetarte?fref=ts
I had a nice lunch with some of my friends that would be leaving on Saturday and some staying. It was great to spend some more time with them. We had lunch and then Pops, the famous ice cream chain here. I ran some other errands with them and finally came home to do my work. Later that night, I went to a little bar to see some of them again and say goodbye. We had piña coladas and hung out for a little while. It was sad to say goodbye but luckily, Libby lives in Ohio so I know I will see her. and The others I hope to see on a reunion or something. I was exhausted so I went home to pack for my field trip.
<3
Taylor
In reality, the third week has still more homework and projects, things to buy, and places to go.
On Monday, Nia and I went to Mall San Pedro after class for a couple things and some groceries. Later in my elective, I gave my first presentation for that class. I suppose it went well. On Tuesday, I had my individual conference with my spanish teacher to go over my grades. So far I have an A. I got low A's on my quiz and midterm and full credit on my presentation. She is happy with my work and participation. I'm satisfied with that.
Later we had an ISA meeting and dance class. It was once again a very fun and sweaty class. She went over a lot of dances this time when it is usually two or three. It was pretty exciting. She has talked to me a few times and recognized that I know how to dance but she forgets sometimes. Last week she asked me if I was a tica in a joking manner because I could move so well. She's a hoot. I enjoyed the compliment though.
Wednesday, we had another quiz in spanish. I was frustrated afterward because I knew a silly mistake I made on one section but already turned it in. I hate when that happens. After class I came home to get ready for my phone interview. I applied for the General Sustainability Internship position at BG through the Office of Sustainability. It is a paid internship for this year. I would be doing a range of different things and working on various projects. While trying to prepare a little for the interview, I kept thinking in spanish and got so nervous that I would start speaking in spanish to Dr. Nick and he would have no idea what was going on. Luckily, I didn't slip up at all. It was a quick interview since it was an international call but I think it was decent. We will see next week if I get it or not.
Later in my elective, we learned about the field trip we will be going on this weekend to Durika. It is a fully sustainable community. And Amanda, the first teacher we had, returned to give us a presentation on organic agriculture. Afterward, Jenny and I went out for a little bit with some of our new tico friends because Thursday was a Costa Rican holiday. No classes!
Thursday, I got to have a lazy morning and relax for a bit. Jenny and I went with our tico friends to a waterfall an hour or so away called Los Chorros. It took us a bit to find it once we got out there, but we made it. We parked at the top and had to hike down to the river. The parking attendant looked like a human version of Rafiki. He was an interesting fellow. The hike and the falls were beautiful. It was kind of mystical looking there. It was not a well developed park but it still had an entrance fee and had some picnic areas. We went over the hanging bridge and went to one side of the falls. We hiked through the water and got as close as we could to the falls without going into the pool. This side wasn't safe enough to go in. We soaked from the mist. The wind was much stronger than I expected. Then we went to the other side and had to cross through the river to put our stuff up on the hill. That was an adventure but we survived. It really wasn't that hard. We went in the pool under the waterfall for a little bit. It was cold but it felt good. We didn't really know what to do with ourselves after a little bit though so we got out and hiked up and changed. By this time, we were starving. We found a little spot on the way back for lunch. I ordered a typical casado but a vegetarian version, obviously. Their substitute, was scrambled eggs and a big hunk of cheese. That was a surprise. I have never had a restaurant serve that as their veggie casado. Oh well.
Los Chorros Waterfall
Jenny and I climbing on the other side.
Looking across from the hill on one side to the connecting creek.
https://www.facebook.com/decrochetarte?fref=ts
I had a nice lunch with some of my friends that would be leaving on Saturday and some staying. It was great to spend some more time with them. We had lunch and then Pops, the famous ice cream chain here. I ran some other errands with them and finally came home to do my work. Later that night, I went to a little bar to see some of them again and say goodbye. We had piña coladas and hung out for a little while. It was sad to say goodbye but luckily, Libby lives in Ohio so I know I will see her. and The others I hope to see on a reunion or something. I was exhausted so I went home to pack for my field trip.
<3
Taylor
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Second week stress and Tamarindo
Last week was filled with lots of homework and stress but fun too. Classes have been intense. On Monday, we finally had our first class with our actual teacher for my environmental class. It was a relief to finally go over the syllabus and the logistics of the class. She's nice. I like her. The class has a ton of work. Lots of papers. She told us that our final paper would be due the following wednesday. I nearly had a heart attack. She wanted them done before out field trips began so we would have time to prepare the presentation part. Luckily, we have extended that a week. So far, I have really enjoyed everything we are learning.
Spanish went well last week with a quiz, presentation and midterm all in one week. I survived them all. The presentation was a struggle though because my partner wasn't the best. Fortunately, we are graded individually. It felt so weird to already be taking a midterm. Our teacher is so silly and so much fun though. A lot of time was spent watching videos and singing that week. On Friday we learned all the words and how to sing "Fotografia" by Juanes. We got two bonus points on our midterm if we stood up, danced and sang it as long as we were really into it. Earlier in the week she told us that Juanes and another latin star, Chayanne, were her crushes. Naturally, I listen to them all the time now and watched the movie Dance with Me one night because Chayanne is in it. I aspire for my life to become a latin dancer movie. A girl can dream.
On Tuesday, Costa Rica and the US played each other in the Gold Cup tournament. From what I understand, the Gold Cup is just for the Americas...like a smaller scale world cup. Veritas hosted an event to watch the game live on the big screen in the auditorium. So we went but I mostly just wanted to see my friends that I don't get to see much anymore. We got our faces painted and didn't know who to cheer for. I was wearing my Costa Rica jersey and had Costa Rica flags on both sides of my face but when the US scored we obviously cheered quite loud. And the US won! It was fun.
Another random observation....Cheese pizza nearly doesn't exists here. If you want only cheese...its actually veggie pizza which means gross mushrooms or margerhita. Every time I have had free pizza, I think I see cheese pizza only to find out that there is a layer of meat under the cheese. No me gusta.
After the game we went to dance class. This class was so much fun. A lot of people came and we laughed the entire time. I admire the courage of some people who just go for it and have fun without really knowing how to dance. It's so great when people are capable of that.
On Thursday I began some research for my final paper and frantically tried to find articles that I could print to try to read over the weekend so that I didn't completely lose that time. On Friday, I printed some out after I took my midterm and packed for the weekend.
We went to Tamarindo for the weekend on another excursion with ISA. Tamarindo is a beach on the Pacific side. It is mainly a big tourist town but is a really beautiful place. We stayed at another amazing 5-star resort, Hotel Diaria. Jenny and I roomed together in a first floor room with a patio and an ocean view. It was beautiful. We quickly changed and headed to dinner at the hotel. During dinner there was a show of typical Costa Rican dances. They were good but not that entertaining to us since we have seen a similar performance before. After, there was a random, impromptu gospel choir show. A gospel choir from Boston had been touring Costa Rica for the week and decided to take advantage of the captive audience and perform for us. They were phenomenal. The director had an amazing voice and was so charismatic. He played a keyboard along with the choir. They performed several songs and I got goosebumps so many times. Sometimes they interacted with us and we sang along. My friend, Taylor, is a music ed major and a singer so she was ecstatic. It was just such a random but awesome experience. It was a blessing. They were so powerful and at such ease at the same time. They were radiant with God's love and that was apparent to anyone. We talked with some of them afterward and since we were right in front of them, they were all appreciative of our attention. For the rest of the night, we checked out the beach and relaxed.
In the morning we went swimming in one of the pools after breakfast. After reminiscing on all of the tricks and games we used to play in the pool as kids, we got out and laid in the sun. I was so excited to lay on the beach in the sun. It felt great. We attempted to do some work and studying but of course weren't as productive as hoped. I went in the water for a bit. It was warm and the current was strong. The water was filled with people learning to surf and some skilled surfers. They made me nervous to be close to them at times but it was fun to cheer them on. For lunch, Jenny and I ate some of our stolen treats from breakfast on our little patio.
Later in the afternoon, I had my first real massage on the beach. The hotel had a really great deal on massages so I got a 30 minute full body massage. It was quite nice. We were in the grass, under the palm trees with a view of the ocean. I felt great afterward.
We got cleaned up for dinner and watched the sunset on the beach. A storm had been moving in and it had already rained a little but there was a break in the rain just in time for the sunset. We played a little in the water and in the tide pools. It started raining again when we set out to find a place to eat. Jenny and I ended up getting a margerhita pizza to go and ate it on our patio. It was adorable and fun. We watched the storm and the lightening turn the sky purple. Also, in Costa Rica, one can purchase nearly any alcohol in individual bottles or cans including rum and coke in a can. So we tried one during dinner. I guess it tasted as expected but it was just cool.
After dinner, we just relaxed. We weren't particularly interested in going out like a lot of the other students. I took a walk on the beach and enjoyed the solitude. I finally saw stars. I have seen stars here very few times. It is usually too overcast to see them and in the city there is too much light. It enjoyed some reflection time and marveled at the vastness of the ocean.
On Sunday morning, we enjoyed another yummy breakfast buffet and relaxed for a bit before heading to yoga. I organized a private yoga lesson at a local studio for my friends and I who had some interest in yoga. It ended up being 6 of us; Jenny, Jenn, Taylor, Emily and Nia (my housemates), and I. We went to Ser Om Shanti Yoga Studio. It was very nice and a great atmosphere. Our teacher, Mariel, was beautiful. She is argentinian and did a great job of running the class in english. She was very nice and patient and adapted the class to fit our various levels. The majority of our group had little to no experience with yoga. Parts of the class surprised me since she knew we had beginners but I think she wanted to show us the range of possibilities in yoga. We did several strength and balance poses that were tricky and fun. It all felt great. Everyone was really happy with the experience afterward. I was definitely a little sore the next day.
We left the resort and headed back to San Jose shortly after. It was a beautiful weekend. It was quiet and simple. I enjoyed relaxing and our comfortable room. It was nice to swim in a pool as well as the ocean. Getting and massage and doing yoga were wonderful. I felt truly blessed to have such a nice weekend. I was very sad to leave. I wanted more sun and more time in the water.
sunshine and sandy toes,
Taylor
Spanish went well last week with a quiz, presentation and midterm all in one week. I survived them all. The presentation was a struggle though because my partner wasn't the best. Fortunately, we are graded individually. It felt so weird to already be taking a midterm. Our teacher is so silly and so much fun though. A lot of time was spent watching videos and singing that week. On Friday we learned all the words and how to sing "Fotografia" by Juanes. We got two bonus points on our midterm if we stood up, danced and sang it as long as we were really into it. Earlier in the week she told us that Juanes and another latin star, Chayanne, were her crushes. Naturally, I listen to them all the time now and watched the movie Dance with Me one night because Chayanne is in it. I aspire for my life to become a latin dancer movie. A girl can dream.
On Tuesday, Costa Rica and the US played each other in the Gold Cup tournament. From what I understand, the Gold Cup is just for the Americas...like a smaller scale world cup. Veritas hosted an event to watch the game live on the big screen in the auditorium. So we went but I mostly just wanted to see my friends that I don't get to see much anymore. We got our faces painted and didn't know who to cheer for. I was wearing my Costa Rica jersey and had Costa Rica flags on both sides of my face but when the US scored we obviously cheered quite loud. And the US won! It was fun.
Another random observation....Cheese pizza nearly doesn't exists here. If you want only cheese...its actually veggie pizza which means gross mushrooms or margerhita. Every time I have had free pizza, I think I see cheese pizza only to find out that there is a layer of meat under the cheese. No me gusta.
Libby, me, and Jenny before the CR vs USA game
After the game we went to dance class. This class was so much fun. A lot of people came and we laughed the entire time. I admire the courage of some people who just go for it and have fun without really knowing how to dance. It's so great when people are capable of that.
On Thursday I began some research for my final paper and frantically tried to find articles that I could print to try to read over the weekend so that I didn't completely lose that time. On Friday, I printed some out after I took my midterm and packed for the weekend.
We went to Tamarindo for the weekend on another excursion with ISA. Tamarindo is a beach on the Pacific side. It is mainly a big tourist town but is a really beautiful place. We stayed at another amazing 5-star resort, Hotel Diaria. Jenny and I roomed together in a first floor room with a patio and an ocean view. It was beautiful. We quickly changed and headed to dinner at the hotel. During dinner there was a show of typical Costa Rican dances. They were good but not that entertaining to us since we have seen a similar performance before. After, there was a random, impromptu gospel choir show. A gospel choir from Boston had been touring Costa Rica for the week and decided to take advantage of the captive audience and perform for us. They were phenomenal. The director had an amazing voice and was so charismatic. He played a keyboard along with the choir. They performed several songs and I got goosebumps so many times. Sometimes they interacted with us and we sang along. My friend, Taylor, is a music ed major and a singer so she was ecstatic. It was just such a random but awesome experience. It was a blessing. They were so powerful and at such ease at the same time. They were radiant with God's love and that was apparent to anyone. We talked with some of them afterward and since we were right in front of them, they were all appreciative of our attention. For the rest of the night, we checked out the beach and relaxed.
The view from our room
In the morning we went swimming in one of the pools after breakfast. After reminiscing on all of the tricks and games we used to play in the pool as kids, we got out and laid in the sun. I was so excited to lay on the beach in the sun. It felt great. We attempted to do some work and studying but of course weren't as productive as hoped. I went in the water for a bit. It was warm and the current was strong. The water was filled with people learning to surf and some skilled surfers. They made me nervous to be close to them at times but it was fun to cheer them on. For lunch, Jenny and I ate some of our stolen treats from breakfast on our little patio.
Jenny and I in the pool
Later in the afternoon, I had my first real massage on the beach. The hotel had a really great deal on massages so I got a 30 minute full body massage. It was quite nice. We were in the grass, under the palm trees with a view of the ocean. I felt great afterward.
We got cleaned up for dinner and watched the sunset on the beach. A storm had been moving in and it had already rained a little but there was a break in the rain just in time for the sunset. We played a little in the water and in the tide pools. It started raining again when we set out to find a place to eat. Jenny and I ended up getting a margerhita pizza to go and ate it on our patio. It was adorable and fun. We watched the storm and the lightening turn the sky purple. Also, in Costa Rica, one can purchase nearly any alcohol in individual bottles or cans including rum and coke in a can. So we tried one during dinner. I guess it tasted as expected but it was just cool.
Jenny, me, Taylor
After dinner, we just relaxed. We weren't particularly interested in going out like a lot of the other students. I took a walk on the beach and enjoyed the solitude. I finally saw stars. I have seen stars here very few times. It is usually too overcast to see them and in the city there is too much light. It enjoyed some reflection time and marveled at the vastness of the ocean.
On Sunday morning, we enjoyed another yummy breakfast buffet and relaxed for a bit before heading to yoga. I organized a private yoga lesson at a local studio for my friends and I who had some interest in yoga. It ended up being 6 of us; Jenny, Jenn, Taylor, Emily and Nia (my housemates), and I. We went to Ser Om Shanti Yoga Studio. It was very nice and a great atmosphere. Our teacher, Mariel, was beautiful. She is argentinian and did a great job of running the class in english. She was very nice and patient and adapted the class to fit our various levels. The majority of our group had little to no experience with yoga. Parts of the class surprised me since she knew we had beginners but I think she wanted to show us the range of possibilities in yoga. We did several strength and balance poses that were tricky and fun. It all felt great. Everyone was really happy with the experience afterward. I was definitely a little sore the next day.
Mariel and I doing a partner pose
During the final relaxation at the end of the class
We left the resort and headed back to San Jose shortly after. It was a beautiful weekend. It was quiet and simple. I enjoyed relaxing and our comfortable room. It was nice to swim in a pool as well as the ocean. Getting and massage and doing yoga were wonderful. I felt truly blessed to have such a nice weekend. I was very sad to leave. I wanted more sun and more time in the water.
sunshine and sandy toes,
Taylor
Monday, July 22, 2013
Late Photos
Now for the photos to add some life to my last post.
The view from our room's balcony at Magic Mountain Hotel in Arenal
Volcán Arenal
Exploring Costa Rican flora
Baby Croc
Two more crocs
This one was huge
Little lizard
The view half way up on our horseback ride
My girl Morella and I
From the top point of the ride
La Fortuna Waterfall
The stairs on the way back up. 400 total.
Taylor, Jenny, Taylor, Jenn in the pool at Los Lagos Hotel
During the ride
Lunch time in La Fortuna
Photobooth shots at the Veritas Party
A couple friends and our ISA and ELAP coordinators
Pura Vida,
Taylor
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