I can´t believe this is my last blog post of the semester. It´s hard to describe how much I have learned throughout my travels these past four months. I started out the year traveling in Nicaragua with Hannah. I quickly learned how nice the people in Central America are, and also how little I actually need to survive for three weeks. After traveling, I was excited to meet the other students on my program. Looking back at the first day, it´s funny how wrong first impressions can be sometimes. But in all the right ways. We started the program off strong by going on a three-week field trip--my favorite memories from this trip was watching the sunset and hiking through primary forest at Corcovado. After that trip was when we first met Monteverde and moved into our home for the next month. The month was full of lectures, exams, and hikes, and was quickly followed by our second field trip. From that trip, I will always miss our after-dinner conservations at Eladio´s and the late-night swimming in Panama. We then had our homestays, which may have been my favorite part of the whole semester. My days were full of catching butterflies, playing with children, and eating my tica mom´s homemade bread. How amazing. After that, we headed back to the station for a couple weeks to finish up our projects and give presentations. As a finale, we all hiked to Volcano Arenal and stayed in a resort that had hot springs. Our last night in San Jose was fun yet sad. People started leaving very early the next morning, and most had left by noon the next day.
Costa Rica has been ever so good to me. The people I have met here I know I will remember forever and hopefully see sometime soon again. This place has so much to offer, and I have yet to see it all. Thanks for reading my blog, even though I was bad at keeping up with it. I hope to share my adventures with you all in person sometime soon.
Have a great day.
Hasta luego.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
The Rainy Season
It has begun. Rain, rain, rain everyday. It used to only be in the afternoon, but now it is wet all day. This is unfortunate for most of our research projects as butterflies and ants, for example, are only out in the sun. It has really made me glad that I chose to come in the dry season (without even thinking about it, really). Although, I have to admit, the storms are pretty cool when you can see them coming from across the mountains.
We are in our last week of homestays. I can't believe time has flown by so fast. I have thoroughly enjoyed staying with a Costa Rican family and will miss my packed lunches and story swapping. The bread my mom makes is amazing. The other day she taught me how to make empanadas full of this sweetened squash type stuff. I think I may have developed an addiction to coffee in the morning--good Costa Rican coffee, that is.
As things quickly wind down here, everyone is trying to take advantage of our last few weeks in this beautiful country. Some of my plans include visiting the area's waterfalls and going out to eat with friends.
Here is a picture of a butterfly I have caught a lot, Morpho.
We are in our last week of homestays. I can't believe time has flown by so fast. I have thoroughly enjoyed staying with a Costa Rican family and will miss my packed lunches and story swapping. The bread my mom makes is amazing. The other day she taught me how to make empanadas full of this sweetened squash type stuff. I think I may have developed an addiction to coffee in the morning--good Costa Rican coffee, that is.
As things quickly wind down here, everyone is trying to take advantage of our last few weeks in this beautiful country. Some of my plans include visiting the area's waterfalls and going out to eat with friends.
Here is a picture of a butterfly I have caught a lot, Morpho.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
The Simple Life
Wow, so much to tell. Where to begin...
First of all, my words can only do so much. Please check out my friend Jason's blog at http://jckopp.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-03-12T22%3A47%3A00-06%3A00&max-results=2. His pictures are amazing and do a fantastic job of summing up the trip so far.
Well, we returned from our second field trip a couple of weeks ago. That field trip started with a 10 mile hike from the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserved to Peñas Blancas, or as we call it, Eladio's. The hike was rough with a heavy pack on our backs but still beautiful. A cool swimming hole and lunch marked the halfway point. By the time we reached Eladio's, I think I had fallen at least a dozen times and made at least a few river crossings.
The trip was worth it. Eladio's is a small cabin tucked into the side of hill with a gorgeous view of the surrounding forest. Eladio owns it and has been hosting students groups for years. The living quarters were tight and we were without electricity. Each day we explored the forest and swam in the river. One day was Fungus Diversity day, so we spent the day collecting as much fungi as possible--my favorite was the fungus that attacks and grows out of insects (as seen in Planet Earth). After dinner each night, we hung out on the porch talking and laughing. Staying at Eladio's has been my favorite three days on this entire trip.
From Eladio's, it was another long hike to Poco Sol. The hike was again tough but beautiful. Arriving at the Bio station at Poco Sol was breathtaking. We first saw the glass-like lake, in which we were tempted to immediately jump, packs and all. If you looked above the lake, you could see the station hiding behind the trees. This station was luxurious, especially compared to what we had experienced. There were only a few people to each bathroom, the floors were wooden, and view from the hammock was phenomenal.
After Poco Sol, we headed a little farther east to reach Tirimbina. There, we stayed at a slightly less luxurious bio station, but comfy nonetheless. At Tirimbina, I took many nighthikes--night is the time to find the frogs and snakes. My favorite was the Red-Eyed Tree Frog, which is on almost every Costa Rican postcard. We spent one of the days touring a "sustainable" logging company and an "organic" pineapple plantation. Although the day was slightly depressing, we ended it well by sipping delicious piña coladas from pineapples. Yum.
Our next stop was La Selva, a famous biological station where much research has been conducted. This was probably the most populated place we have been, but it was still nice to have internet and laundry access.
We had finally reached the Caribbean Ocean when we arrived at Parismina. We stayed on a canal lined with crocodiles. Needless to say, we did little swimming. We did a lot of cruising the canals birdwatching. My favorite activity, however, was watching a Leatherback turtle lay eggs. The first night we went searching for the turtles, we failed after walking the beach from 9pm-1am. The following night, however, was a success! When we arrived at the beach at midnight, a HUGE Leatherback turtle had just arrived to the beach and begun the egg-laying process. This was an experience of a lifetime. Once the turtle started the process, she went into a trance until she covers up the hole an hour later. Although the turtle laid over 100 eggs, only a couple will survive to reproductive maturity—the dangers for baby turtles are immense.
Next stop was Bocas del Toro,—an island off the Caribbean coast of Panama. We had arrived to paradise. The white-sanded beaches were lined with palm trees. The water was warm and crystal-clear. We girls had our own huge house to ourselves. This was my first exposure to sorority-type living, and I really enjoyed it, although I don’t know if I could do it much longer than a week. At Bocas del Toro, we snorkeled, snorkeled, and snorkeled as part of Marine Diversity weekend. This was my ideal weekend. We saw all kinds of tropical fish, coral, anemones, and much more. Each day on our way back from snorkeling we were lucky enough to see dolphins! One night was devoted to our talent show. I have never laughed so hard. Some of the acts included a rap about everyone in the program, guitar solos, and skits. After the show, our professors surprised us with live music by a local band, so we spent the night dancing to reggae.
Panama was the last stop on our trip. It was hard for us all to believe that our last field trip was over. Next on our plates were our independent research project proposals—mine is looking at the difference of butterfly diversity among sun-grown coffee, shade-grown coffee, and the forest. After turning in our proposals, we headed off to our homestays where we are now.
The day I met my family, I was very nervous, but it only took a couple of days for me to become comfortable. I live with an older couple on a farm in Cañitas, which is about an hour walk away from Monteverde. The area is gorgeous. The view is of the surrounding hills and the Gulf of Nicoya off in the distance. My farm has coffee, banana, chickens, cows, avocado, berries, vegetables, flowers, and much more. Each morning I eat eggs from my chickens and coffee from my farm—about as local as I have ever eaten. I have my own room with a big bed. My parents are super nice and right next door is a friend from the program. This past weekend we went to a local festival where there was much dancing and horses.
So far I love my homestay. It certainly is a cultural experience, and I think my Spanish is greatly improving. My favorite part of it all is probably the beautiful farm on which I conduct my research. The other day, the farm hand showed me an open pasture with a huge tree, from it hanging a swing. He then told me to try the swing and held my butterfly net for me. It was the best, most happy swing of my life. It made me realize how much I have truly enjoyed my time in Costa Rica.
First of all, my words can only do so much. Please check out my friend Jason's blog at http://jckopp.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-03-12T22%3A47%3A00-06%3A00&max-results=2. His pictures are amazing and do a fantastic job of summing up the trip so far.
Well, we returned from our second field trip a couple of weeks ago. That field trip started with a 10 mile hike from the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserved to Peñas Blancas, or as we call it, Eladio's. The hike was rough with a heavy pack on our backs but still beautiful. A cool swimming hole and lunch marked the halfway point. By the time we reached Eladio's, I think I had fallen at least a dozen times and made at least a few river crossings.
The trip was worth it. Eladio's is a small cabin tucked into the side of hill with a gorgeous view of the surrounding forest. Eladio owns it and has been hosting students groups for years. The living quarters were tight and we were without electricity. Each day we explored the forest and swam in the river. One day was Fungus Diversity day, so we spent the day collecting as much fungi as possible--my favorite was the fungus that attacks and grows out of insects (as seen in Planet Earth). After dinner each night, we hung out on the porch talking and laughing. Staying at Eladio's has been my favorite three days on this entire trip.
From Eladio's, it was another long hike to Poco Sol. The hike was again tough but beautiful. Arriving at the Bio station at Poco Sol was breathtaking. We first saw the glass-like lake, in which we were tempted to immediately jump, packs and all. If you looked above the lake, you could see the station hiding behind the trees. This station was luxurious, especially compared to what we had experienced. There were only a few people to each bathroom, the floors were wooden, and view from the hammock was phenomenal.
After Poco Sol, we headed a little farther east to reach Tirimbina. There, we stayed at a slightly less luxurious bio station, but comfy nonetheless. At Tirimbina, I took many nighthikes--night is the time to find the frogs and snakes. My favorite was the Red-Eyed Tree Frog, which is on almost every Costa Rican postcard. We spent one of the days touring a "sustainable" logging company and an "organic" pineapple plantation. Although the day was slightly depressing, we ended it well by sipping delicious piña coladas from pineapples. Yum.
Our next stop was La Selva, a famous biological station where much research has been conducted. This was probably the most populated place we have been, but it was still nice to have internet and laundry access.
We had finally reached the Caribbean Ocean when we arrived at Parismina. We stayed on a canal lined with crocodiles. Needless to say, we did little swimming. We did a lot of cruising the canals birdwatching. My favorite activity, however, was watching a Leatherback turtle lay eggs. The first night we went searching for the turtles, we failed after walking the beach from 9pm-1am. The following night, however, was a success! When we arrived at the beach at midnight, a HUGE Leatherback turtle had just arrived to the beach and begun the egg-laying process. This was an experience of a lifetime. Once the turtle started the process, she went into a trance until she covers up the hole an hour later. Although the turtle laid over 100 eggs, only a couple will survive to reproductive maturity—the dangers for baby turtles are immense.
Next stop was Bocas del Toro,—an island off the Caribbean coast of Panama. We had arrived to paradise. The white-sanded beaches were lined with palm trees. The water was warm and crystal-clear. We girls had our own huge house to ourselves. This was my first exposure to sorority-type living, and I really enjoyed it, although I don’t know if I could do it much longer than a week. At Bocas del Toro, we snorkeled, snorkeled, and snorkeled as part of Marine Diversity weekend. This was my ideal weekend. We saw all kinds of tropical fish, coral, anemones, and much more. Each day on our way back from snorkeling we were lucky enough to see dolphins! One night was devoted to our talent show. I have never laughed so hard. Some of the acts included a rap about everyone in the program, guitar solos, and skits. After the show, our professors surprised us with live music by a local band, so we spent the night dancing to reggae.
Panama was the last stop on our trip. It was hard for us all to believe that our last field trip was over. Next on our plates were our independent research project proposals—mine is looking at the difference of butterfly diversity among sun-grown coffee, shade-grown coffee, and the forest. After turning in our proposals, we headed off to our homestays where we are now.
The day I met my family, I was very nervous, but it only took a couple of days for me to become comfortable. I live with an older couple on a farm in Cañitas, which is about an hour walk away from Monteverde. The area is gorgeous. The view is of the surrounding hills and the Gulf of Nicoya off in the distance. My farm has coffee, banana, chickens, cows, avocado, berries, vegetables, flowers, and much more. Each morning I eat eggs from my chickens and coffee from my farm—about as local as I have ever eaten. I have my own room with a big bed. My parents are super nice and right next door is a friend from the program. This past weekend we went to a local festival where there was much dancing and horses.
So far I love my homestay. It certainly is a cultural experience, and I think my Spanish is greatly improving. My favorite part of it all is probably the beautiful farm on which I conduct my research. The other day, the farm hand showed me an open pasture with a huge tree, from it hanging a swing. He then told me to try the swing and held my butterfly net for me. It was the best, most happy swing of my life. It made me realize how much I have truly enjoyed my time in Costa Rica.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Sunday we went zip lining in Monteverde. It was amazing! They started off giving us directions on how to brake and what to do if you get stuck on the line--I ended up not having to do either of those things. There were 11 lines as part of the course with a Tarzan Swing halfway through. The Tarzan Swing involved jumping off a platform that was 60 feet off the ground and swinging from a rope attached to a tree. Everyone from our group was brave enough to do it--woo hoo! My favorite part of zip lining was starting in the forest and going through a huge break in the forest that was covered in clouds. I never thought a cloud could be so...wet.
Today we toured a couple of local farms--one larger one and a small, local one. It was interesting to compare the different operations and their impacts on the environment. We also toured the Monteverde Cheese Factory--I don't think I have ever had that many dairy products in one day. Delicioso.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Here are some pictures from my travels...The monkey is eating some left over mango from our lunch. The waterfall and sunset are both some the prettiest I have seen. We visited an orchid garden and saw the most intricate orchids.
Last week we took salsa lessons, and I wasn't too bad. We only learned a few steps, but that was enough for a couple of hours. I then got a chance to practice the moves this past weekend when we went to the concert of my professor (even through he plays in a band that does rock covers...)
We also started Spanish classes this past weekend. Three times a week, we have classes for three and a half hours. I have already learned so much, especially because we are 4 students to one teacher. Yesterday, our teacher treated us to some ice cream after a hard class of reflexive verbs.
Today was a field experiment day. We took data on hummingbirds all morning and then analyzed the data and presented our findings this evening. I'm learning a lot, especially about the flora and fauna of Costa Rica.
Can't wait for zip lining this weekend!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Monteverde, finally
Ah, where to begin. The last couple of weeks were spent traveling around western Costa Rica and camping on the beach in Corcovado National Park and in a dry forest at Santa Rosa National Park.
Corcovado- Located in the Osa Penninsula, Corcovado protects one of the last of the country’s last remaining old growth rain forests. There, we were camped on a fairly secluded beach at the edge of the forest. We hiked through an old growth forest which is exactly what you would picture if you thought of a rain forest--high canopy trees that allow little escape for sun to the understory. It was gorgeous. Seeing those tall trees makes you appreciate the age of these forests and how irreplaceable they are. The destination of our hike was another gorgeous beach where we filled up our water bottles from a waterfall that dropped into the ocean. The following day we went snorkeling at a nearby island where I saw a reef shark! Some others also saw a sea turtle. In our free time in Corcovado, we spent a lot of time at a nearby waterfall and swimming hole. In total, we stayed in Corcovado for about six days. Every part of it was amazing except for the fact that it rained a couple of the nights, and, of course, there is no such thing as a completely waterproof tent…
On our way north to Santa Rosa, we made a few stops to learn about various plant and animal species. One of my favorites was when we stopped at a pineapple plantation to learn all about the pineapple plant. The lesson wasn’t completed until we stopped at a roadside stand and had some fresh pineapple. Many of our lessons include eating and drinking whatever plant product we are learning about. The other day we were learning about a palm that is used to make wine, so we were given a cup of some very sweet palm wine.
Anyways, on our way to Santa Rosa we stopped at a hotel for the night which we cherished after sleeping on the ground for the last week. The comfort didn’t last long as the next morning we did a hike and arrived in Santa Rosa that night. Santa Rosa and Corcovado are two very different places. Santa Rosa is much drier and more of a deciduous forest. Upon arriving, I was nervous what we would do without having the ocean, but I quickly grew very fond of the place. The cooks were amazing—I don’t think I have eaten as well as I did last week. It was good that we had all of that energy because we did many long and strenuous hikes. One of the best was a 16 mile hike to the ocean which included a view of the sunset from a lookout. It was one of the most colorful sunsets I have seen. At Santa Rosa, we also got a chance to learn about some Costa Rican history and visited a battle site where an American once tried to take over the country. Our last day at Santa Rosa was spent hiking near a volcano to yet another gorgeous waterfall. We then took the bus to the beach where we saw one of the last Pacific sunsets for a while.
We have seen very little of Monteverde, but I know already that I will love it. We are housed in the Biological Station complete with a classroom, kitchen, and computer lab. I have three roommates with which I share a bathroom. (I am so excited to take a shower immediately after posting this…) Tomorrow we have Spanish class in the afternoon and have the morning free to do what we choose—most likely mine will involve studying for the lab practical we have this Saturday. I can’t wait to get to know Monteverde better.
I wish I could tell you everything I have done in more detail, but each amazing memory blends in with the next. Costa Rica has already proven to be an enchanting place. I hope you are all well. Have a great week.
Corcovado- Located in the Osa Penninsula, Corcovado protects one of the last of the country’s last remaining old growth rain forests. There, we were camped on a fairly secluded beach at the edge of the forest. We hiked through an old growth forest which is exactly what you would picture if you thought of a rain forest--high canopy trees that allow little escape for sun to the understory. It was gorgeous. Seeing those tall trees makes you appreciate the age of these forests and how irreplaceable they are. The destination of our hike was another gorgeous beach where we filled up our water bottles from a waterfall that dropped into the ocean. The following day we went snorkeling at a nearby island where I saw a reef shark! Some others also saw a sea turtle. In our free time in Corcovado, we spent a lot of time at a nearby waterfall and swimming hole. In total, we stayed in Corcovado for about six days. Every part of it was amazing except for the fact that it rained a couple of the nights, and, of course, there is no such thing as a completely waterproof tent…
On our way north to Santa Rosa, we made a few stops to learn about various plant and animal species. One of my favorites was when we stopped at a pineapple plantation to learn all about the pineapple plant. The lesson wasn’t completed until we stopped at a roadside stand and had some fresh pineapple. Many of our lessons include eating and drinking whatever plant product we are learning about. The other day we were learning about a palm that is used to make wine, so we were given a cup of some very sweet palm wine.
Anyways, on our way to Santa Rosa we stopped at a hotel for the night which we cherished after sleeping on the ground for the last week. The comfort didn’t last long as the next morning we did a hike and arrived in Santa Rosa that night. Santa Rosa and Corcovado are two very different places. Santa Rosa is much drier and more of a deciduous forest. Upon arriving, I was nervous what we would do without having the ocean, but I quickly grew very fond of the place. The cooks were amazing—I don’t think I have eaten as well as I did last week. It was good that we had all of that energy because we did many long and strenuous hikes. One of the best was a 16 mile hike to the ocean which included a view of the sunset from a lookout. It was one of the most colorful sunsets I have seen. At Santa Rosa, we also got a chance to learn about some Costa Rican history and visited a battle site where an American once tried to take over the country. Our last day at Santa Rosa was spent hiking near a volcano to yet another gorgeous waterfall. We then took the bus to the beach where we saw one of the last Pacific sunsets for a while.
We have seen very little of Monteverde, but I know already that I will love it. We are housed in the Biological Station complete with a classroom, kitchen, and computer lab. I have three roommates with which I share a bathroom. (I am so excited to take a shower immediately after posting this…) Tomorrow we have Spanish class in the afternoon and have the morning free to do what we choose—most likely mine will involve studying for the lab practical we have this Saturday. I can’t wait to get to know Monteverde better.
I wish I could tell you everything I have done in more detail, but each amazing memory blends in with the next. Costa Rica has already proven to be an enchanting place. I hope you are all well. Have a great week.
Monday, February 15, 2010
So little time!
I am now sitting in an internet cafe in Liberia and have little time to tell you of my adventures! Some of the highlights have been taking a ten mile hike through an old growth rainforest, seeing sloths and monkeys, snorkeling with sharks, and learning more than I ever have about tropical flora and fauna.
I can´t wait to give a full update, but I am afraid I must run to the store before returning to our bus. Tonight we are heading to the Northwestern Pacific coast where we will be camping for another week.
Talk to you in Monteverde!
I can´t wait to give a full update, but I am afraid I must run to the store before returning to our bus. Tonight we are heading to the Northwestern Pacific coast where we will be camping for another week.
Talk to you in Monteverde!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Pictures
A dome in one of San Jose many parks.
The view from the bell tower of an old cathedral church in Granada, Nicaragua. The water in the background is Lake Nicaragua.
Volcano Concepcion, Isla Ometepe, Lake Nicaragua
Playa Montezuma, Montezuma, Costa Rica
Montezuma Falls
A slightly domesticated peccary going through our lunch leftovers at Isla Tortuga.
The view from the bell tower of an old cathedral church in Granada, Nicaragua. The water in the background is Lake Nicaragua.
Volcano Concepcion, Isla Ometepe, Lake Nicaragua
Playa Montezuma, Montezuma, Costa Rica
Montezuma Falls
A slightly domesticated peccary going through our lunch leftovers at Isla Tortuga.
No Such Thing As a Full Bus
Our last few days at Montezuma were action-packed. Hannah and I hiked to Montezuma Falls and swam in the deep pond at the bottom of the falls. We were nervous as we watched kids scale the rocks to jump into the water far, far below—we only got as the base of the fall to feel the water pound on our backs. The next day we walked a mile down the beach to Playa Grande where there was an art festival. Local artists had taken trash found on the beach and creating some really neat sculptures to promote awareness of environmental conservation. There was also some live jazz music which we listened to while sipping on a coconut and eating the most delicious mango ice cream. We then went snorkeling on Tortuga Island off the coast of Montezuma. The island was beautiful although slightly touristy. We saw many tropical fish and played with the sea stars.
From Montezuma we traveled by bus, ferry, then more bus to reach Quepos. For a lot of the bus ride we were standing up, because the drivers pack everyone in like sardines. There really is no such thing as a full bus in Costa Rica. The more passengers there are, the more money they get. Fortunately, a couple gave us their seats when they left. After arriving in Quepos, we found our hostel where we met up with Laura, a friend from Oberlin. We then swam in the not-so-cold pool to refresh ourselves before heading for dinner which was Imperials and fish tacos. (The national beers are Imperial and Pilsen. I have yet to try Pilsen, but thoroughly enjoy Imperial.)
The next day, yesterday, I had a long, long bus ride to the capital of San Jose. On the bus, I sat next to a 12-year-old boy—I have never received so much attention for my blonde hair and blue eyes. It is amazing how much kids want to talk to you and here about your life. At times it was difficult to understand what he was saying and I’m sure he didn’t quite get what I was saying, but I knew we enjoyed each other’s company because he bought me some gum before leaving.
That afternoon I explored San Jose, bought some shampoo, and ate lunch (which I don’t think necessarily agreed with my stomach). This morning I had breakfast with a few people from my program and they seem really nice. Everyone else (about 30 people) should arrive by this afternoon which is when our orientation officially starts. Overall, I’m excited to meet everyone and start classes. I’m happy I chose to come early and travel for a few weeks. I saw some beautiful places, met some amazing people, and had many memorable experiences. The only thing I really miss is a nice, comfortable bed. It seems like those are so hard to find here, which could be because I have been hostel hopping since I arrived. Although I love the atmosphere of a hostel, my fear of bed bugs sometimes kicks in and I have trouble sleeping—the fear, of course, is all my imagination. I hope...
The next couple of weeks my program will be traveling around Costa Rica to the many national parks to witness the extensive biodiversity this country has to offer. My goals are to see a sloth and a tapir. It was recommended that we read a book about Costa Rican rain forests before we start the program, from which I learned many, many interesting facts. For example, sloths have algae growing in their fur (yes, they are that slow) which gives them a green tint. Also, they make their home in the treetops and only come down to poop once every couple of weeks. It is hypothesized that they bury their fecal matter at the root of their home tree to provide it with more nutrients. So cool.
From Montezuma we traveled by bus, ferry, then more bus to reach Quepos. For a lot of the bus ride we were standing up, because the drivers pack everyone in like sardines. There really is no such thing as a full bus in Costa Rica. The more passengers there are, the more money they get. Fortunately, a couple gave us their seats when they left. After arriving in Quepos, we found our hostel where we met up with Laura, a friend from Oberlin. We then swam in the not-so-cold pool to refresh ourselves before heading for dinner which was Imperials and fish tacos. (The national beers are Imperial and Pilsen. I have yet to try Pilsen, but thoroughly enjoy Imperial.)
The next day, yesterday, I had a long, long bus ride to the capital of San Jose. On the bus, I sat next to a 12-year-old boy—I have never received so much attention for my blonde hair and blue eyes. It is amazing how much kids want to talk to you and here about your life. At times it was difficult to understand what he was saying and I’m sure he didn’t quite get what I was saying, but I knew we enjoyed each other’s company because he bought me some gum before leaving.
That afternoon I explored San Jose, bought some shampoo, and ate lunch (which I don’t think necessarily agreed with my stomach). This morning I had breakfast with a few people from my program and they seem really nice. Everyone else (about 30 people) should arrive by this afternoon which is when our orientation officially starts. Overall, I’m excited to meet everyone and start classes. I’m happy I chose to come early and travel for a few weeks. I saw some beautiful places, met some amazing people, and had many memorable experiences. The only thing I really miss is a nice, comfortable bed. It seems like those are so hard to find here, which could be because I have been hostel hopping since I arrived. Although I love the atmosphere of a hostel, my fear of bed bugs sometimes kicks in and I have trouble sleeping—the fear, of course, is all my imagination. I hope...
The next couple of weeks my program will be traveling around Costa Rica to the many national parks to witness the extensive biodiversity this country has to offer. My goals are to see a sloth and a tapir. It was recommended that we read a book about Costa Rican rain forests before we start the program, from which I learned many, many interesting facts. For example, sloths have algae growing in their fur (yes, they are that slow) which gives them a green tint. Also, they make their home in the treetops and only come down to poop once every couple of weeks. It is hypothesized that they bury their fecal matter at the root of their home tree to provide it with more nutrients. So cool.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Montezuma
Now these are the picture perfect beaches you dream of visiting after seeing them on a postcard. The trip was long and slightly more expensive than ideal, but we finally arrived in Montezuma, Costa Rica a couple of days ago. Located on the Nicoya Peninsula it has some of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. The first night we stayed in a cabana that was in the jungle, on the side of the hill. The owner said to not leave our things on the porch outside during the night, because the monkeys have been known to steal. We were worried one would pop through the hole in our screen!
The first day here we took a long walk along the beach to find a white sand beach that looked like it went on forever. We also discovered a black and red beach. At the red beach, we climbed the freshwater waterfall and relaxed in refreshing pool. Since being here, we have had the most delicious (and expensive) food. I recently had banana pancakes and an organic mango lassi smoothie. Fortunately, the hostel Hannah and I recently moved to has a kitchen so we can save some money and cook our own meals. The owner of this hostel has put us in charge of the place while she is gone for the day, and we were moved into the honeymoon suite free of charge.
While here, we plan on hiking another waterfall and possibly going snorkeling off the coast of the nearest island.
Well, I'm off to the beach!
The first day here we took a long walk along the beach to find a white sand beach that looked like it went on forever. We also discovered a black and red beach. At the red beach, we climbed the freshwater waterfall and relaxed in refreshing pool. Since being here, we have had the most delicious (and expensive) food. I recently had banana pancakes and an organic mango lassi smoothie. Fortunately, the hostel Hannah and I recently moved to has a kitchen so we can save some money and cook our own meals. The owner of this hostel has put us in charge of the place while she is gone for the day, and we were moved into the honeymoon suite free of charge.
While here, we plan on hiking another waterfall and possibly going snorkeling off the coast of the nearest island.
Well, I'm off to the beach!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Mud, Goodbyes, and Cantaloupes
Well, I made it up Volcano Maderas, which is about 1400 meters high. About 45 minutes into the hike I was sure there was no way I was going to make it, but did not turn around because I was assured that the first two kilometers were the most difficult. It turns out the whole hike, more like climb, proved to be just as difficult as the beginning. Overall the hike took about 8 hours and consisted of rocks, mud, branches, stubbed toes, many stops, and more mud; at times I was on all fours. At the very top we could see little because of the cloud cover, but we then descended to the lagoon which was amazing. It was surrounded by trees and covered with mist. It was mystical as the clouds moved in and out to allow for small glimpses of the entire crater lake. The descent was more difficult than the ascent and by the end I was running to reach our hostel. My calves and thighs are still as sore as ever, and I have yet to clean off all the mud, but overall it was a memorable experience.
The following day, we said goodbye to Cyndi who had been studying in Nicaragua last semester and therefore served as our trusty tour guide. It was sad to see her go, and Hannah and I have been only a little clueless without her. We are learning. After splitting up, Michael, Hannah, Amanda, and I headed to San Juan del Sur where we caught a bus up to Playa Maderas, a gorgeous beach on the Nicaraguan Pacific coast. Upon arriving, we were unsure about fitting into the surfer scene, but we eventually found a hostel on the more secluded part of the beach. We swam in the ocean while watching a beautiful Pacific sunset and ate probably the best dinner since arriving in Nicaragua.
After being awoken by loud howler monkeys, we spent most of the day enjoying the sand, sun, and sea and then headed back to San Juan del Sur . We quickly made ourselves at home at Hostel Esperanza and then went off to explore the small town of San Juan. I bought three whole cantaloupes for 20 cords (about $1) and shared them with Amanda and Hannah as we watched another beautiful sunset.
Very early this morning we bid farewell to Amanda as she headed back up north to Matagalpa. Hannah and I are now slightly more lost, seeing as Amanda is fluent in Spanish. Again, we are learning.
I then went to pick up Hannah's and my laundry from a lady a few blocks away. It is nice to have some clean clothes, and she did a better job folding my t-shirts than I ever have. On the way back to the hostel, I picked up some croissants, which we ate with our last cantaloupe for breakfast. The rest of today has been spent exploring the town. We were touring a hotel much nicer than our hostel and were tempted to jump in the refreshing pool, but only dipped our feet in until we felt like the paying guests noticed our presence. So far living on a budget has been easy--Hannah and I ate lunch for 35 cents today. Bargain. Tonight we may have to splurge for dinner (around $4).
Tomorrow we head back to Costa Rica where everything is slightly more expensive but just as beautiful. Nicaragua has treated us very very well, and we hope to return soon again.
Sending you all some sun.
The following day, we said goodbye to Cyndi who had been studying in Nicaragua last semester and therefore served as our trusty tour guide. It was sad to see her go, and Hannah and I have been only a little clueless without her. We are learning. After splitting up, Michael, Hannah, Amanda, and I headed to San Juan del Sur where we caught a bus up to Playa Maderas, a gorgeous beach on the Nicaraguan Pacific coast. Upon arriving, we were unsure about fitting into the surfer scene, but we eventually found a hostel on the more secluded part of the beach. We swam in the ocean while watching a beautiful Pacific sunset and ate probably the best dinner since arriving in Nicaragua.
After being awoken by loud howler monkeys, we spent most of the day enjoying the sand, sun, and sea and then headed back to San Juan del Sur . We quickly made ourselves at home at Hostel Esperanza and then went off to explore the small town of San Juan. I bought three whole cantaloupes for 20 cords (about $1) and shared them with Amanda and Hannah as we watched another beautiful sunset.
Very early this morning we bid farewell to Amanda as she headed back up north to Matagalpa. Hannah and I are now slightly more lost, seeing as Amanda is fluent in Spanish. Again, we are learning.
I then went to pick up Hannah's and my laundry from a lady a few blocks away. It is nice to have some clean clothes, and she did a better job folding my t-shirts than I ever have. On the way back to the hostel, I picked up some croissants, which we ate with our last cantaloupe for breakfast. The rest of today has been spent exploring the town. We were touring a hotel much nicer than our hostel and were tempted to jump in the refreshing pool, but only dipped our feet in until we felt like the paying guests noticed our presence. So far living on a budget has been easy--Hannah and I ate lunch for 35 cents today. Bargain. Tonight we may have to splurge for dinner (around $4).
Tomorrow we head back to Costa Rica where everything is slightly more expensive but just as beautiful. Nicaragua has treated us very very well, and we hope to return soon again.
Sending you all some sun.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Granada y Ometepe
I only have a few minutes to share as I am paying 1 cordaba a minute for my internet...A couple of days ago we toured Granada which is a beautiful colonial city. The architecture and colors of the buildings were something I had never seen--the city was full of history. While there, we went to see Avatar in which I immediately fell in love. After Granada we arrived in Ometepe where I am now. Ometepe is a volcanic island in the middle of Lake Nicaragua. So far we have eaten delicious seafood and spent a lot of time in hammocks and playing cards. Tomorrow we are climbing a volcano with a guide, of course...I´m excited because towards the top we will be above the clouds (I´m also hoping it will be cooler up there). We got a real taste of the tropics today after witnessing monkeys playing in the trees and a parrot flying overhead. One valuable lesson I have learned is to not order spaghetti, unless you prefer ketchup to marinara sauce. Whoops. More later.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Managua
After a 12 hour bus ride Hannah and I finally arrived in Managua where our friend Cyndi picked us up. We caught a cab to our hostel, Managua Backpackers, and then got some not so great Mexican food. We then met up with our friends Amanda and Michael who are both traveling Nicaragua and went to a bar where we heard a feminist music artist, Vaca Loca, play. Today we toured the market where children kept giving us palm frond artwork, and I would have bought a couple hammocks if I had the room...To cool us down, we drank cacoa out of bags and talked about going swimming but ended up taking naps in hammocks. Tomorrow we are headed off to Granada, one of Nicaragua´s oldest cities. I have learning some Nicaraguan Spanish, which is much different than that of Mexico. I can´t wait to see what this beautiful country has to offer.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
San Jose
Well, I made it! Late last night Hannah and I arrived at our hotel in San Jose and were welcomed with a free drink. We spent the night planning our next few weeks of traveling. Today we walked around San Jose touring the many parques throughout the city. We managed to get more food than we could eat for only three dollars and had the best juices--Cas and Tamarindo. Everywhere we looked we saw people, beautiful plants and trees, interesting architecture, and more people. We also learned drivers are not so aware of pedestrians...Tonight we are staying in a hostel complete with a swimming pool riding bull. Our stay in San Jose is short as we are leaving for Managua, Nicaragua tomorrow at 6am. After the 8 hour bus ride we will meet friends from school who have been studying in Nicaragua.
So far we have met many nice people and look forward to our adventures ahead.
So far we have met many nice people and look forward to our adventures ahead.
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