Blogs from Alajuela, Alajuela, Costa Rica, Central America Caribbean
On our last day, we made the drive down from Monteverde. This time, it wasn't nearly as bad. The unpaved section seemed much shorter and we were much more comfortable, having driven on dirt roads all week. Despite the night's rain, the roads were not muddy in the least - quite dry in fact. However, the drive felt much longer, because I think we all wanted to get back to Hotel La Rosa de America and jump in the pool. We got back to Barrio San Jose de Alajuela around noon. The first order of business was finding lunch. Just down the road, we found Las Delicias del Maiz. It looked a bit like a tourist attraction, in the same way that Bugaboo Creek might to a non-American, but was wholely a family destination for Costa ... read more
Leaving Costa Rica
Last day in Costa Rica and how to sum it all up? I had a perfect paragraph composed on the bus but now that I am actually writing, I can’t remember how I summed up ten weeks in a few sentences. It probably listed a few of the highlights like white-water rafting and the Chocolate Tour this weekend, maybe mentioned the amazing experience we all had at the Colegio Santa Teresa for four weeks, where the staff and the students were so good to us and it was very hard to leave. We’ll never forget Ana, our host mother and her son Kenneth, especially after this evening when Ana invited her whole family (four sisters and a great many nieces and nephews) to her house to meet us and wish us well on our travels. Her ... read more
My flight doesn't leave until just under two hours! The taxi dropped me off here about an hour and a half ago. Way earlier than I needed to. So I've walked a bunch, shopped a little and ate a typical Costa Rican breakfast at Burger King! Basically that means it includes beans and rice. For lunch yesterday Barb took me out to Fiestas de las Pupusas. I had never had a Pupusa before...I did like it. It's a typical El Salvadorean dish that's has a soft outer corn shell and it's stuffed with beans, cheese, and or pork. It's quite thin so there isn't much filling. The outer shell is thicker that corn tortillas. I also had my favorite, guanabana juice. So I've been up for some 6+ hours and haven't even flown anywhere. A nap ... read more
For the record, this is the first entry of our trip, but we will go back and fill in what we have done so far. Current status - living with our host family in Alajuela, attending Colegio Santa Teresa, a private school (K-12) where the boys are taking classes in Spanish and English (and wearing smart uniforms) and Dianne ad Chris are volunteering doing whatever is needed. Chris is at home for the third day in a row after a stomach upset and so has been unable to deliver his presentation on airplanes that he has been preparing for the last couple of weeks. Oh well. Rory has also missed three days of school and has gone to the doctor, who thinks he has strep throat as well as an upset stomach that had him worshipping ... read more
Colegio Santa Teresa
Four weeks at a private school just outside Alajuela. Boys attended classes, some in English, some in Spanish, made some great friends and played soccer. Chris helped in the High School English classes, Dianne helped in the Elementary school and preschool, teaching first grade and helping evaluate the teachers. All this time (including previous two weeks while at ICLC), we were staying with a wonderful host mother and her son in Alajuela. She cooked and cleaned our clothes and made us feel so welcome in her home - genuine Tico hospitality. ... read more
Parque InBio
Park dedicated to preserving biodiversity. Spiders, snakes, scorpions, sloths, caiman, iguanas. Very interesting and well presented. Good tour, decent restaurant.... read more
February 10th 2011
I met my friends first friends from Atenas, Kat & Layne, at Cafe El Balcon (The Balcony Cafe) in Atenas. It's a popular place for Gringos, run by a woman named Melanie who seems to know and remember everyone. She has an accent but I'm not sure's a Tica...speaks both English & Spanish very well. I ordered their Tico breakfast with Gallo Pico (beans & rice), Huevos (eggs), Queso Frito (fried cheese), Platanos Fritos (fried plantains> and Jugo Naranja (orange juice). Coffee was included but alas I am not a coffee drinker...almost seems criminal in Costa Rica! The food was delicious and the three of us were busy talking about my recent travels in CR as well as their experiences. It was a big breakfast but I ate it all!!!! I came home right afterwards and ... read more
Fruit Class at ICLC
Boys taking Spanish classes with Gloria and several local boys who want to improve their English. Chris taking beginning Spanish with Xinia and Audry. Dianne helping around the school. ... read more
Finaly after delays and 26 hours travelling , we made it to costa rica! Stinking of mosqueto repellant and greasy from factor 50, we are ready to travel to tierra hermosas center. LOVING IT Note to self : costa rica did not require 2 fleases and thermaal socks ! ... read more
One Bad Wire
I was talking with the new caretaker here, the one Gary and Loren hired, and he seemed like a nice guy, jabbering away at the speed of luz. Was he telling me he was going to leave in two weeks? Why's that? Something about two weeks. I was very tired what with the small electrical fire in my car on Saturday, and that causing me to miss my annual car inspection thereby being at risk for a $200 traffic ticket right now, then all day Sunday with the mechanic working double overtime, him telling me I could get the inspection no problem when the national inspection station opens on Monday, the next day, as long as I go very early, and they open at 6 am., and they'll let me in on a standby list. He ... read more
