We're back!

We flew into Seattle last night, slept for a few hours and came into Spokane this morning at eight.  This trip was one of the best experiences that I have had the opportunity to participate in and I feel confident in saying that every group member could say that.  Thanks to every participant for making it happen and to Michael, Linda, Jim and Shelli for being such supportive and efficient chaperons.  I can also add that the Freeman students represented the school well by being polite, following instructions and maintaining positive attitudes during strenuous traveling conditions.

I downloaded every picture from my camera here https://picasaweb.google.com/117249516420839821131/CostaRicaPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCMaasey45pSpeg&feat=directlink

Questions for students:

1. My favorite part of the trip was...

2. My least favorite part of the trip was...

3. My favorite Spanish phrase that I learned was...

4.  Comments

I told them to answer the questions in complete sentences.

Here are their answers below:

Christian

1. The early morning "jog" and swimming, and soccer in the rain (epic).

2. The smell of my dank clothing was my least favorite.

3. "Pura Vida" was the best Spanish phrase.

4. Oh yeah!

Chey

1. Tarzan swing, beautiful beach, epic morning "jog" barefoot.

2.  Nothing (or nasty saltwater in my face).

3. "Pura Vida" I also learned that they say "ciao" for goodbye.

4. This trip was pretty much amazing and Bartlett is a stunner.

Ben

1. Epic waterfall sesh, epic monkey sesh, epic beach sesh.

2. Thug hotel in Monteverde

3. "Gallinas de los arboles" (referring to Iguanas).

4. This trip was so phresh bro.

Brooke

1. Tarzan swing

2. Bugs

3. Donde!

Josh

1. Diego/all of them (waterfall)

2. Crappy hotel

3. Team Jon (Juan)

Claire

1. Rafting

2. Bugs/no hot water

3. Paquitito/Bartlitito

Sam

1. Zip-lining, beach, Ben's comments, playing cards.  Everything!

2. Sand everywhere!

3. Grengos (Is that spelt right?) nope-gringos

4.  I wouldn't change anything!  This trip was amazing and I will remember it forever!

Haley

1. Seeing how different Costa Rica is. Favorite part was the beach.

2. My least favorite part was seeing a scorpion in the room.

3. Puedo tener

4. I'm so glad I go to go on this trip! Great experience!

Talia

1. Everything-zip-lining.

2. Flying :/

3. "Puedo tener.." "Tomas..." "Tienes..."

4. I am so glad I went!  I loved using my Spanish it was a great experience!

Katie

1.Zip-lining

2. Traveling (bus)

3. No se

4. Awesome trip! My sister and mom want to go on it.  Do it again!

Last day in Costa Rica rafting on the Sarapiqui river

Today we ate at seven and left the hotel around 7:45 headed to the Sarapiqui river. The bus ride took us two hours.  When we arrived we changed, picked up a helmet, life jackets and rafting instructions. It was a great time and the rapids were big enough to make some of the groups scream, but not big enough to cause any emotional meltdowns.  Everyone made it through the trip without falling out of the rafts, except for Claire, who was pulled out of the raft by another guide. The guides were playing jokes, splashing other boats, and entertaining the group the entire way down.  We ate lunch next to the guide shack and headed back to San Jose.  Most of the group dispersed and went shopping around town this afternoon.  Tomorrow we head out of the hotel at 9:30, say goodbye to Diego and Costa Rica, and head back to Seattle for the evening. 

The group receiving instruction on how to raft.

Our guide, Juan, and a few boats behind us.

We stopped halfway to eat some fresh pineapple and watermelon.

Travel Day to Sarchi and San Jose

Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to Punta Leona this morning, but not before Josh and Christian spearheaded an early morning run.  The plan was to meet at 6:15 by the Avatar tree (an enormous tree that is pictured down below, over 400 years of age!).  The run ended up being Chey, Brooke, Sam, Christian, Josh and myself.  This was one of the only mornings that has been clear and as you can see we were able to get another hour of beach time. Monkeys came and stole food again this morning during breakfast along with another creature we hadn't seen yet, a Coati.  Coatis look like a raccoon opossum mix and weren't afraid to challenge some of our group this morning before being chased off the deck.

We left Punta Leona at 9:00 am and headed to shop at Sarchi, which is famous for its wood carvings and handicrafts. We arrived in San Jose at 3:00.  The hotel here is decent, but doesn't hold a candle to Punta Leona.  Diego took us on a tour of San Jose where we could see the market and walked through the Metropolitan Cathedral.  Tomorrow we hit the Sarapiqui for rafting and prepare for our trip home tomorrow night.

It was just Brooke, Josh, Christian and I until Chey and Sam came running onto the beach after us.  

Another pair of Scarlet Macaw at poolside before anyone was out and about.

Watching an artist at work in the back of a shop in Sarchi

Sitting in front of the cathedral Grecia. This cathedral is made completely out of metal  The original pieces were sent to the town, but sat for 12 years because the pieces didn't look right.  An Italian architect came and built it and later mentioned that the pieces were designed to build a ship.

The group in the Metropolitan Cathedral

The group outside Diego's recommended Churro stand.

Sam and Haley seem satisfied with their purchase along with the Ben, Josh and Zeke

Beach Day at Manuel Antonio

While we were eating breakfast this morning in an outdoor restaurant buffet something caught my eye.  Monkeys. White-faced Capuchin monkeys had come to pillage the restaurant.  They would fly down from the roof, steal the sugar packets on the table, glide back to the top of the roof, rip the packet open and pour the sugar into their mouths.  This was our first incident with these monkeys. 

We traveled an hour and fifteen minutes to Manuel Antonio to hike around the park a bit before spending almost the entire day at the beach.  Once again, around lunch time, a troop of monkeys attacked.  Looking for food and absent minded tourists, the monkeys took everything they could find that they could eat. We were in the water when they first arrived, at first we heard screams and then there were people starting to gather, a couple monkey screeches and a man running after a stolen juice box and the race was on. 

The water was incredible at Manuel Antonio and the entire group enjoyed seeing the monkeys, and multiple sloths during the day. We came back to the hotel where the students played volleyball and rested for the afternoon before eating another top-notch dinner served in the open air restaurant across from our rooms.  

These were the thieves that came to our table-side this morning.

This is the first sloth that we saw this morning.

Another sloth at the beach.

Coincidently, Ben was a victim of one of the monkeys.  His lunch bag was stolen from his side, fortunately Ben had already eaten it.  The monkey searched the bag for food and after finding that the bag was just trash he got upset and threw the contents of the bag all over.

This monkey was born while were at the beach today.

The wait

The approach

The ride

The recovery

Don't worry, just a Boa

Travel day from Monteverde to Punta Leona

Today was a travel day from the mountains and cloud forests of Monteverde to the beaches and warm ocean water of the Pacific.  The group was ready to leave the cloud forest mostly due to the accommodations that we stayed in in the mountains. You will hear all about the Monteverde hotel, the bugs, random scorpions, strange smells and wild dogs fighting on the grounds at 4 am.  However, the food was great there, and the setting was picturesque. 

After leaving from  Santa Elena, we hit the Trans-American highway and headed south. The highway was a breath of fresh air compared to the insanely steep mountain roads and switchbacks that we endured in the Talaran mountain range. 

The first stop was a reschedule tour. Instead of going to Carara national park to hike, Diego suggested a boat ride on the Torcales River.  We saw tens of different types of birds, a few lizards, and about seven or eight crocodiles. These tour boats travel the river and feed the crocodiles. Everyone on the boat was impressed by the size of the crocodiles and the daring guide that leaves the boat and gets within inches of the crocodiles. 

After the river tour we drove about twenty minutes to Punta Leona Resort. The hotel website did not lead on that this is one of the most beautiful places to vacation.  The beaches on the premises are remarkable, the grounds are clean, well-kept, the food is great and the water is around 80 degrees.  We arrived at two o'clock, ate and everyone headed to the beach. The pictures below show what an impressive location we are at for the next two nights.  **Here is Shelli's website again: http://my.eftours.com/shellih/costa-rica-a-touch-of-the-tropics I made an error the first time I posted it.

These crocs are obviously fed daily by the tour guides, but still...

Here we are stopped in a Mangrove forest.

If you look in the distance you can see the ocean breaking onto the mouth of the river.

Tashi poses in front of one of the regulars.

An iguana watches our group as we leave the boat.

We heard that Playa Blanca is a twenty minute walk from the hotel, but after talking to one of the employees after everyone else had left, Tashi, Katie, Talia, Linda and I were driven there in this shuttle. Ha! 

Katie, Tashi and Talia posing between the two beaches.
(sorry for the dark pic)

The shuttle driver stopped again to point out a couple of Scarlet Macaw

All of us on Playa Blanca after being in the water for a couple hours before dinner.

Initially, I was concerned that this was a monkey, which are known for stealing beachgoers' belongings and other items, but it's just a raccoon.  This guy has no fear of anyone on the beach and got feisty when a young boy approached him.  Another raccoon was walking INSIDE the outdoor cafeteria tonight and had to be persuaded to leave several times during dinner.