Day 10: Dolphin Tour, Sea Kayaking, and Snorkeling

From the start today has been a busy day. We woke up around 6:30 am, headed to breakfast at 7, and then left for our dolphin tour. When we arrived, we got on a smaller boat that carried us to a bigger boat where we would departure for the tour. It was very hot and we were bouncing on humongous pacific waves. Although the rough ride left some feeling sea sick, it was an experience we will not forget. I sat on the upper deck with Mrs.Hayes, Gregory Lloyd, and Jake Levinson. The view was spectacular. We saw turtles mating, a manta ray, and dolphins jumping. After the tour ended, we had an amazing meal on the beach provided by the hotel. 

Once we all finished, we began our kayak ride to Chora, a little island off of the beach. It was about 15 minutes to kayak to the island. When we arrived, we got our snorkel gear on and headed into the water. Although the water was not very clear, you could see tons of fish. The most interesting thing I saw was a large Gold Faced puffer fish the guide found for us. I held the fish, and it was like one of those squishy balls you find in stores. It was awesome. Once we finished snorkeling, we ate some pineapple and headed back. We now are packing our suitcases to head home tomorrow. I'm sad to leave but the memories made here are ones I'll never forget. Thank you mom and dad for giving me the opportunity to come here. See you tomorrow evening. Pura Vida!

-Anna Longacher

Day 9: School Visit and Turtle Watch in Samara

On our second to last day in Costa Rica we had a busy day. We started the morning with a jog or walk on the beach. Afterwards we got ready for a full day with the kids. We first went to the school and participated in an activity learning about values. During the activity the kids wrote us letters and we should be receiving them in the next 5 weeks which we are all really excited about. After the activity was over we headed to the beach to have a picnic. When we were finished with our delicious sandwiches we headed back to the community center to play with the kids again. We played many games and had a great time, but then it was the hard part we had to say goodbye. Next, we headed in to town to do a little shopping and we finished the day with a relaxing walk on the beach back to the hotel. The last thing on our agenda was dinner and then a turtle observation. Although we did not get to see that many turtles we did see one turtle returning to the ocean and got to touch it. We returned that night late and tired. We all took fast showers and went to bed excited to see what our last day in Costa Rica would bring. 

- Carleigh Saunders

Day 8: From Monteverde to Samara Beach

Hello! Today we traveled from the mountains of Monteverde to Samara beach on the Pacific coast. We left very early and ended up having to take a detour due to traffic. It was a bit frustrating, but proved to be a very scenic trip. After we got settled in our hotel and ate lunch, we met up with the directors of CREAR, a non-profit organization that provides education and arts activities for local children. We got to meet some of the children at their after school program. We played a game and made friendship bracelets. We will see them again tomorrow! After playing with the kids, we walked to the beach and swam in the ocean. We all enjoyed watching Jake and Greg pretending to be island castaways. It was a great day! Pura Vida!
-Cate Woodward

Day 7: Canopy Tour, Suspended Bridge Walk, and Night Hike

Hello! So far on our trip, every activity has been thrilling. Today's activity was no exception. We started with zip lining and it was so much fun. We had done zip lining before, but on this zip line we were able to go in pairs for a couple of them, which I really enjoyed. My partner was Cate and we zipped over the cloud forest canopy of Monteverde.  One of the zip line runs was 1km in length...nearly 3/4 of a mile! Then after zip lining we got to take a nice nature walk over suspended bridges. After lunch we headed back to the hotel to get ready for a night hike.  Led by our guide, Jorge, we explored the rainforest after dark.  We saw many insects, a raccoon, a wild turkey, a tarantula, a wolf spider, and baby bird called a blue crested mutt mutt in it's nest.  Probably the most exciting part of the night was seeing a sloth with it's baby clinging to a telephone wire on our way home.  This was the closest we've been to a sloth yet and very exciting.  Tomorrow we head to the Pacific coast to a town called Samara.  It will be a long trip, but we are all looking forward to some sun and sand.

-Madison Smith

Feliz Dia de Los Padres de Costa Rica

Happy Father's Day To the worlds best dad! I love you and I miss you and I'm thinking about you today! 

_-cath

Although you probably won't see this because I don't think you know about this blog, happy Father's Day daddy! I love and miss you. Have a wonderful day! 

-------Anna 

Hi Dad! I love you very much. HAPPY FATHERS DAY and have a great day of golf most likely..:)

-Maddie Smith

Hola dad, Happy Fathers Day! I love you and have a wonderful day! Love you and miss you so much! Can't wait to see the best dad on Thursday! 

Love, Carleigh 

Happy Father's Day Diddy! Also happy birthday! Have a great day and I miss you.

Love, Wes

Happy Fathers Day!! Thank you for always being there for me even when it wasn't needed. Go play a round of golf with your friends. I miss you and love you! -----Jake-----

Happy Father's Day Dad. I hope you have a lot of fun in Florida. I love you very very much. Do something fun for your Father's Day while I'm gone. -Gregory Lloyd. 

Happy Father's Day dad!! I miss you so much and I can't wait to see you Thursday! I'm learning so much here and I can't wait to teach you all of it when you go. Tell everyone I said hi and have a wonderful day! 

Love Madison Levine 

Rhi and Ryan, hope you are having a good start to your summer. Today we go for a long zipline and suspended bridge tour. Costa Rica is such a beautiful country. You guys would love all of the plants and wildlife. Hugs, love and kisses. Love Dad.

Happy Father's Day Chuck! Thanks for being dad and "mom" while I'm gone.  Hope Nathan treats you well today. I miss you! Love you! Amanda

Day 6: Monteverde Sugar Cane, Coffee, and Chocolate Tour

Greetings friends and family. Today was mostly a travel day as we went from the town of La Fortuna to Monteverde. We traveled by boat across a river then took a bus ride to Monteverde. The scenery was beautiful, very mountainous with green hillside pastures and many horses and cows.  We all experienced a "Costa Rican massage" as we traveled along the bumpy mountain roads. Once in Monteverde we took a sugarcane, chocolate and coffee tour on a farm that has been around for many generations.  We learned how coffee is grown and harvested as well as tasted cacao in it's raw bean form. We saw sugar cane being processed on a water run "trapiche" (sugar mill) and made fudge from some of the sugarcane. We also had the opportunity to get some great views of a two toed sloth in the trees on the plantation.  After the tour we came back to our hotel and enjoyed a nice dinner and that was our day and we are looking forward to continuing to explore Monteverde tomorrow. 

- Gregory Lloyd