Blogs from Cartago, Costa Rica, Central America Caribbean - page 16

The trip started auspiciously, despite the night before being thoroughly disturbed by frantic last-minute packing and insomnia. Between them South Eastern and First Capital Connect trains managed to arrive on time and in the places expected, although as a mark of the fully integrated transport system boasted by modern Britain getting to the airport did involve an interminable wait for a connection on London Bridge station which, apart from a few other people plainly bound for Gatwick seemed to be deserted and closed. Cold coke from a machine on a freezing platform substituted for hot coffee in a warm buffet, but eventually I completed the first leg of the journey. Things took a bit of a downturn at Gatwick, however. I’m not a huge fan of airports in any event, but on this occasion it appeared ... read more

Well, it's about 12 hours before the off.... frantic last minute internet opportunity before we disappear into the jungle for 18 days. The venturers arrived last weekend and are a great bunch... mostly Brits with the odd american, dutch, french thrown in. We have 19 host country venturers with us... with money raised in country to support them and three are in our group, two from Nicaragua (much poorer country) and one from here in Turrialba. There isn't much love lost between ticos and nicos so Raleigh here is as much about getting them to interact with each other as us with them and vice versa. All the group are lovely... very different characters but we all seem to be enjoying things so far! The majority are intending to go to uni this september. Edelkys, the ... read more

Thank you to EVERYONE who has made donations to my website.... large and small they have been INVALUABLE. There have been some incredibly generous ones and I am very touched that you have put so much in to support what Raleigh and the projects are trying to achieve. I have tried to give you an idea below of where and to whom your money is going..... I now know a bit more about Raleigh and what we are trying to do here and it is very exciting. First and foremost it is about motivating people... young people in particular.. from all walks of life to work together and stretch themselves further than ever before. Secondly, but just as important, is to make a fundamental difference to the lives, communities and areas of outstanding beauty surrounding us. ... read more

Just arrived last night in the tiny, tiny little town of Cairo, Costa Rica, outside of Siquirres. Cairo is not even a town, I don't think, just one long dirt road with a rafting company's headquarters at the end. I arrived late in the afternoon after a series of long busses from Puerto Viejo, becoming very confused and lied to in Limon, then finally to Siquirres and up to the operations center for Rios Tropicales. I am staying in a cabin with 1 other American, four people from Canada, and one from Chile. We have use of a 1980 Continental station wagon, which is awesome to say the least. Everyone else is already guiding, and I am in the training process to become a raft guide. I should have my training done in one week. Everyday, ... read more

Alright, so I'm not really sure where to begin, the last 3 days have honestly been some of the best of my life. From San Jose, we drove a few hours over to the town of Turrialba, got some groceries, then headed up to our amazing accomodations at the Pochotel, a mountaintop villa with views like I have never seen before! High atop a mountain overlooking several volcanos, this tiny place was just what we were looking for. The restaurant has glass walls with panoramic views of the sorrounding river valleys. We all hung out in a treehouse above the restaurant, hanging out with 55 year old locals that were more than happy to pass us a bottle of Guaro and a spliff in exchange for some english lessons. Let me reiterate once again how overwhelmingly ... read more