http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Central America Caribbean , Costa Rica en-us Sat, 26 Jul 2008 07:22:21 BST Sat, 26 Jul 2008 07:22:21 BST NOTE MORE PICTURES TO FOLLOWMontezumaThe drive to Innzrsquos long time dreams swimming in the waterfalls that is turns out to be an experience in itself itrsquos a 7 hour trip and we need to get the car across a channel on a ferry we show up and get hassled by a local who promises to get us on the next ferry which incidentally only takes 25 cars on putting our trust in him we end http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Guanacaste/blog-303772.html We have been welcomed into the home of Juan and Gerarda Ramirez. Juan looks after us in our cabinas and Gerarda cooks all the meals. Their english is very poor but then that is ok as our spanish is even worse. It is a wonderful conversation of charades sounds and brief pauses to look up the word in our dictionary. In the beginning it took longer but now our spanish is improving we are able to spe http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/Alajuela/blog-303727.html I haven't had much time to write at my blog because I have been working with the group to finish our research and put together our project. After the group returned from Arenal we started putting together a focus group for the women in the area to learn about their perceptions of the local farmers' market. I am so glad that we got to choose the farmers' market as the focus of our research. Loca http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Puntarenas/Monteverde/blog-303666.html Manuel Antonio is the smallest national park but the most famous in Costa Rica for its abundance of wildlife unspoiled beaches and crocodileshellipbut more about that later. Driving across Costa Rica to get there was thankfully not too bad a journey as the road was actually paved for most of the way You would not believe what a small miracle that actually is. Checking into our hotel obviously http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Puntarenas/Manuel-Antonio/blog-302959.html Well it's the 21st of July 2008. I'm still here in 3rd. world country Costa Rica this place is really getting to me. The people here have no class whatsoever and as far as work.......every job I've had has been a scam. I've been in an online pharmacy working where nobody ever got the drugs they orderedthat's really big here in Costa Rica employed in a sportsbook......americans love to bet on http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Heredia/blog-302874.html Hola everybodyWell a big finish to a tiring week Friday we went to Hooters for dinner with the crew it was very American but cheaper than going to one in the States so we went...and we had a blast see all the pics and videos We have done some shopping and exploring in the city but i found it is not a lot cheaper than Brisbane which is a shame so i will wait until Vietnam and see the prices ov http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/Alajuela/blog-302468.html Hi everyone it's Liesel here. Your comments have been such fun to read thank youWe have definitely lulled into tropical time the days all blurring into each other helped along by the soft steady rhythm of the ocean. We spent 3 weeks in Costa Rica a beautiful country known for its lush green vegetation and cloud forests ecotourism volcanoes and beaches. The local greeting 'Pura Vida' http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Limon/Puerto-Viejo-de-Talamanca/blog-301558.html Hi everyone David here actually writing from Hotel Brio in a tiny village called Gigante on the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua. As expected time is flying and we're having a lot of fun but as a result we're a little behind on our updates. It is currently raining outside a blessing as the last couple of days have been seriously hot and humid and Liesel and I are taking advantage to update our b http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Puntarenas/Monteverde/blog-301518.html Today we met up with our friend Neala to go to Playa Cocles. It is a town south of Puerto Viejo where there is a couple who run a wild animal rescue. They are originally biologists that worked at zoos but felt like working with the animals in the wild. So they came here. Anyway they had a baby howler monkey a baby opossum a baby margay a 2 yearold sloth a Jesus Christ lizard various sna http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Limon/Puerto-Viejo-de-Talamanca/blog-301473.html Well boys and girls we made it What a first week it was. We still have not recovered from the flight yet but i think it is getting better waking at 3 in the am hours feeling conpletely refreshed and trying like hell to get back to sleep to fit in to the time here. Anyhow we arrived on saturday night and met our hosts the nicest people i think i have ever met so patient as we did not speak any or http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/blog-301061.html Monday evening we went to a little restaurant in Puerto Viejo and had the best food we have had since being in Cost Rica. We walked back to our cabinas Puerto Viejo just raving about it. We were staying at the most rustic cabinas ever. Lots of partying and drugs I knew that we would not stay more than just that one night. Anyway soon after we were settled in our room started feeling really http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Limon/Puerto-Viejo-de-Talamanca/blog-300771.html Hot hot hot Volcano http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/Arenal/blog-300329.html Back to the Carribean http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Limon/blog-300322.html Meeting Steve Roo in Costa Rica http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/blog-300321.html Hey iedereeenEindelijk tijd om mail te beantwoorden en een bericht te plaatsen First of all ik ben goed aangekomen Afgelopen donderdag was het dan zover... 13.20 vliegen via Miami naar San Jose. De paar dagen ervoor was ik redelijk relaxt alleen af en toe gespannen bij moeilijke vragen ''waar slaap je dan hoe bedoel je je hebt nog geen kamer ik wens je heel veel sterkte daar let o http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Guanacaste/Tamarindo/blog-299811.html Arriving in Costa Rica always feels like returning home. My 11th time was not much different. I arrived late from Honduras and Jorge picked me up. After a crazy night of drinking I headed to Montezuma. Spent two weeks here in Montezuma just hanging out and sleeping reading and of course a little bit of partying. I got to hang out with Sasha and Molly. We had a great time visiting Santa Theresa http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Puntarenas/Montezuma/blog-299747.html This weekend is our three day weekend and we don't have to report back to class until Tuesday morning. Ten of us got a tour company to get us a reservation in Arenal which is north on the map but it is impossible to drive that way because of the Tilaran Mountain Range. So we took a van through some small hills for 1 12 hours then a boat across Lake Arenal for one hour and then a half hour van http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/Arenal/blog-299635.html Goodbye to PanamaWe left Bocas del Toro in Panama by a fast water taxi sitting beside a local man carrying a rather terrified looking chicken then reached the Panama Costa Rica border by an even faster and scarier land taxi. The border is crossed via a old worn bridge which takes you to the Costa Rican town of Sixaola where the formalities were fast and efficient. Neither of the border towns http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/blog-299423.html After the first day or so in Monteverde everyone settled in and quickly got used to the totally different environment of the cloud forest region. We literally were above the clouds during most days you could see them down below the mountain and in the afternoon they would creep up the side of the mountain cross over the road in front of CPI and make everything foggy. Sometimes it woul http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Puntarenas/Monteverde/blog-299417.html We have had some amazing adventures since my last entry. Friday night we were able to see the turtle lay hers eggs. It was a fantastic experience. The turtle was huge around 4 feet long and 3 feet wide. She spent around 45 minutes digging her hole and then she lays her eggs in this hole. The guide said that each turtle lays around 100 to 125 eggs. The eggs are kind of soft and pliable and o http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Limon/Cahuita/blog-299323.html Hello to AllThis week our main focus has been to learn about Anthropological Measurements things like height weight and calculating Body Mass Index BMI as well as blood glucose and blood pressure skin fold measurements for detecting body fat etc. We had lots of lectures and practice sessions Monday through Wednesday. This was all preparation for holding a local Health Fair where we wou http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Puntarenas/Monteverde/blog-299217.html I cant believe I'm nearly moving on already It feels like I've been here for weeksin a good waybut then again it's flown by. I spent yesterday flying through the canopies in the forest. It was an real adrenaline rush and I loved every minute and the scenery made it that much more exhilerating. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures just imagine me in a rather unattractive helmet wearing a http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/San-Jose/San-Jose/blog-298964.html H E L L O E V E R Y O N E I am about to begin Life's Journey After completing my Bachelors degree at a Canadian University From there i went on to teaching at a Middle School in Bermuda Nevertheless i am saying all this to say that I have always been interested in traveling. I've had a few friends who have visited Costa Rica and has fallen head over heals for the place. I am looking to t http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/San-Jose/San-Jose/blog-298924.html We are still in Tortuguero. Our turtle tour was a bust only got to see the turtle leaving the beach after eggs were laid. So the guide is taking us again tonight since she messed the tour up last night. That is okay we have another day in paradise. Anyway the internet here is very slow. Will upload photos again when we get to our next destination. I have added a few other photos to yeste http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Limon/Tortuguero-National-Park/blog-298567.html I got through my two weeks at school and graduated today Those were the schools words not mine. I was told by my teacher that each student who finishes gets a certificate and collects it in front of all the other students and gets a round of applause. I told him that if this was really going to happen that at 3pm when class was over I'd be on the bus home So thankfully very kindly he gave me http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/San-Jose/San-Jose/blog-298203.html Pacuare LodgeWe wake early the next morning to prepare ourselves for our organized 2 night tour at Pacuare Lodge an eco friendly hotel located within a national park and on native land along the Pacuare River. The lodge has no electricity what are we doing but is a luxury hotel from which we will participate in 18km of white water rafting yes you read right hellip. 18km thatrsquos a http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/blog-298202.html