Home!

Our BWI flight had landed and we’re happy to be home! Our students received almost constant compliments for being caring, aware travelers and we couldn’t be more proud. Pura vida!

Heading Back

Please excuse this evening’s short-ish post, as this chaperone is happy, but tired! We had a wonderful last day here in Costa Rica, as our students traveled from the beach back to San Jose. Along the way, we stopped in Esparza, for a cultural exchange with students from the town’s elementary school, then Sarchí, for lunch and our last opportunity for souvenirs. For dinner, we made our way to the hills overlooking the Central Valley for a great meal and wonderful dance show. In the bus ride home, emotions were heavy with fond memories and the sadness that comes with a good thing ending. Our students grew immensely this week, and it was a joy to see them reveling in these final celebrations of the trip.

Tomorrow we have a long day of travel, but we look forward to being back with our loved ones!

Trouble Brews

Even in a idilic setting like Costa Rica, the competitive spirit of humankind can brew dissension. Sadly, minor grievances (like which bus left a water bottle behind) and petty differences (like which bus is stinkier) have reached a boiling point. While Bus 3 wisely stayed above the fray and enjoyed their s’mores, Bus 1 and Bus 2 decide to resolve their disputes the only reasonable way available: a rap battle!

We may never know who triumphed in last nights’ battle (most people on my bus agree it was Bus 2), but the sick burns and disses launched back and forth between the buses will echo for ages. Mr. Donaldson was compared to a certain Disney duck and a more-than-reasonable number of references were made to Mr. Rottman smelling bad. In the aftermath, we can only hope our students have learned that peaceful cooperation between the buses is the only path.

Today is our last full day in Costa Rica, and, as you can tell, we’re having fun. See you at the airport tomorrow!

Beach Day!

Today was all about the beach! We woke up in Playa Hermosa and enjoyed breakfast with a show put on by the local surfers. With bellies full, we made our way to the buses and Manuel Antonio National Park. This park is one of only three beaches in Costa Rica our travel partner has deemed safe enough for groups to swim, and our students took full advantage. The beach is also unique for its remarkable rainforest and wildlife, that come right down to the water. Hours later, sweaty and tired, our group made their way back to the buses for a delicious lunch and afternoon by the pool. While there is a slightly pinker hue to our group, most students followed their chaperones’ advice and avoided a bad sunburn. 

Sadly, tomorrow is our last full day in Costa Rica. We will make visits with an artisanal cooperative and elementary school as we make our way to San Jose. 

Monteverde to Playa Hermosa

Today, our travelers traveled from the cold (by Costa Rican standards) mountains to the sunny Pacific beach. On the way, we enjoyed a cruise along the Tárcoles River and a gondola canopy tour. The boat cruise was incredibly action-packed, as we seemed to race from one incredible sighting to the next. The gondola tour was a peaceful ride through the tree canopy, which was exciting for our more plant-focused travelers. 

Tonight and tomorrow we will stay right in the beach at a beautiful hotel with… drumroll please… a pool! As the sun set over the local surfers, our group soaked in the views and time with friends. We ate dinner to the sound of crashing waves and enjoyed some time with friends before lights out. It was a pretty magical day. 

Tomorrow we head to the swim-friendly beaches at Manuel Antonio National Park!