Arenal and the hot springs

Saturday and Sunday was awesome, partly because Ben arrived, but also because we got to relax. We had a tv with many channels, and a good working shower. Sunday morning we got up left the hotel at nine and went hopped on the bus and headed toward the waterfall repelling tour. About twenty minutes in, we switched from the bus, and groups of 6 or so got in 4 or 5 different pickup trucks with little cabs in the back with seats. From there we headed up more narrow rocky roads and finally made it to where we would suit up to go repelling. Everyone had harnesses, gloves and helmets. The repelling was thrilling and refreshing. Our largest waterfall we repelled down was 175 feet! We conquered 4 or 5 waterfalls. Next we got lunch from the repelling company and went back to the hotel. Next we most of us jumped on the bus to go to the Arenal volcano national park. And before I forget the volcano is huge and looming, we can see it most of the time, sometimes clouds block it but it is amazing. Some of us walked along the trails and reached the lava fields which were also cool. After returning from the park, we had an early dinner so we could head to the natural hot springs at a resort not too far away. The hot springs were relaxing and there were so many trails leading around the springs that you could spend more time looking for them then spending time in the springs.-And thanks to our quaker education we organized a meeting for worship for about 15 minutes in one of the pools. This morning (monday) we went to a ahnaging bridges tour and then hopped on the bus to travel back to San Jose to our B and B La Dehesa. Goodbye for now

eddie

Rest of week at Santa Elena

Sorry I havent posted anything in a while and I apologize for the bad spelling so forgive me. On Wednesday instead of work we gathered at the school and we began our trek up the mountain towards the quaker school on Monte Verde. The walk was about 40 minutes and all up hill. We were tired at the top but it was well worth it. The school is K--12 and the student population is about 100 +. It reminded me of my old school Plymouth a little. The school was pretty and had some fields behind it, a playground and a basketball court, all set against the jungle. We gathered along with AFS and Robin Nourie, and the amigos de monteverdes, in meeting for worship. The weather was perfect, and the atmosphere was peaceful. Some people stood up and voiced their thoughts. Afterwards we went to the cheese factory, and we took a break and had some milkshakes, and choco-cheese--weird stuff kinda gross in my opinion--but then we walked down the mountain and met for lunch in the central of Santa Elena at a pizza place called Natshas. Then we mwt at school and worked for the rest of the day.

THURSDAY
Today we worked in the morning and at this point we were getting ready to be finished with the work and get ready for the relaxing. We finished varnishing the wooden house classroom on top of the hill, the varnish which stuck to my hands for the rest of the day, and took a step closer, to finishing the steps. Later in the day we went to the Ranario--froggery?--and then i went home quickly to run so i could then meet people at the synthetic indoor soccer field and play some futbol. Davis a student at the colegio picked me up in a red honda motorcycle, and then I went for the ride of my life. It was fun granted but also terrifying, and yes mom I wore a helment. We played 5v5 soccer indoors and it was incredibly fun, someone had brought Jerseys for us to play in and we played until 7 or so. Then a group of us walked to where Davis had a job at a high class restaraunt and I had a mini beef mignons covered in a delicious onion sauce. After all that walking Reiss and I took a taxi, and the taxi dropped reiss off, and then the taxi took me back to my house, and I collapsed into bed-

FRIDAY
Today would be our last work day at Santa Elena, and we only worked for two hours today. We finished up our respective jobs, and when we were getting to go to the reserve to take a tour through the jungle, I was walking along the trail at the colegio (school) and I cam across a group of kids, their teacher, and then hanging upside down from a tree branch at about eye level, was a mother sloth and its baby. Right there in front of me, and so I ran back and grabbed my camera and took plenty of pictures of it. The poor baby though was sick and kept falling off the branch, and the teacher kept putting it back up. It was really cool. Then at the reserve we walked an walked for 2 hours and hardly saw anything, only a couple of birds and another sloth but much farther away. So later I ran again, hanged with my family, played music with my younger bros, and joked with my host dad, and then went to sleep.

SATURDAY
Today we got to sleep late!! To 8 or so. Today would be our last day in Santa Elena, the beautiful little mountain town. Matt T and I took some last pictures with the family at the house and then the whol family piled into the car to meet at school to get ready to go. It was sad, but nice-- we thanked our family many times, and exchanged addresses. It was nice, adn we packed up said goodbye and set of on the road again. It took us four hours to get to Arenal (only about 30 miles or so from Santa Elena yeah do the math) and the bus driver kept slowing down to take pictures! Its his job to drive the bus, if he wants to be a tourist let him hire a bus! anyways, the volcano approached closer and closer and appeared more ominous. You could see the slighest tinge of red at the top and it was cool. Our hotel we are at now is very nice. It has like 5 pools and some jacuzis. We just had dinner out, and I need to go to bed-- ok thanks,

Eddie

Work

Yesterday and today we worked in the school, making steps and such, amd i was very tired afrerwards but I still went out and faced the altitude and hills. My host dad rode his bike allong side me whil I ran and I dropped him up the hills-- I also found out he did karate for 4 years and when we got back he showed Matt Thatchet and i some moves-- He knew the movie karate kid and bruce lee, and van damme-ha! Fantastico-- Today i worked until 10or so, and we had a break. during the nreak we wanted to show the ticos how to play REAL football (football americano)--Reiss threw a hail mary to me and i sprinted rowards the endzone, unfortunately thre was a lot of sand on concrete and i slipped and fell. MOthing bad, only some scrapes on my leg, and a sprained wrist-- whatever-- bu the good thong is, i dont have to work !! HA anywaysim going to visit my fellow working classmates

adios,
eddie

Santa Elena

I have to be short becuase I need to get back to the school. I am in an internet cafe and Santa Elena is very nice. WE worked hard today, making steps out of a hill, cleaning up buildings and making and mantaining trails. The kids are great and funny. My partners birthday was yesterday and it was great and coincidental because I brought presents- They liked them a lot-- ERich (my partner) has two brothers one 4 year old ( so cute) whose name is Stephen and an eleven year old whose name is Moses. Yesterday their father who makes cheese for the quakers, drove us to MOnteverde and we saw humming birds. WE also went to the quaker school and played soccer and basketball... Today with other students at Santa Elena kds from gfs played kids from Santa Elena and we got rocked --They are so fast and good with their feet!! Oh and before I forget, in my hosts back yard there is a rocky hill area of land, and there is a cliff that drops to a road. From the cliff you can see the pacific ocean!! And muchas montanas!! Es magnifico-- ok adios

eddie

Dinner, run, breakfast

WE left you yesterday right before we headed to dinner whih was great! We walked half a mile down the road to a restraunt, and saw some stray dogs on the way, it was sad, and one dog made a jump on Matt Dannenberg but he was ok. Dinner was great, I had maduro con queso which was fried plantains and cheese. and a taco, and a dish called the "tipico" a typical dish of the area which had rice, onions and steak, sweet potatoes (i honesty dont know) and some other sides, then we walked back to the b and b and celebrated Reiss' Matt D' and Emily Soffa' birthday with cake-- People were tired and went to bed.

I had the opportunity along with James, Jen, Maddy, and Kendra to go running in the cool morning. It was beautiful and we could see the mountains of in the distance. Halfway in our run we began up a huge hill but decided to turn back... I along with others could feel the altitude-- Then we had breakfast along eiht everyone else when we got back-- The gallo pinto was excellent, and our host very kind-- and a good cook! GAllo pinto is beans and rice and some onions--bien, We are about to begin our 4 hour bus ride to Santa Elena-- Hasta luego-- Pictures later hopefully,

Eddie signing out

ARRIVAL!

The day had a rough start. Getting to Newark went fine but once there, our friend Sharell had an issue with her passport. But- she'll be joining us on Tuesday.

Our flight was uneventful but fun=] We flew over the beautiful Carribbean and got into Costa Ri ca jsut after 3 p.m. local time. (5 pm philly) The excitement in our group was palpable, and after going through customs, our bus was waiting for us to take us to our B and B. The bus ride gave us a taste of San Jose and the beauty of another country. The rustic charm and colors of Costa Rica wowed us as we pulled up a steep hill overlooking the valley below with vistas of nearby mountains. The weather is balmy and breezy and beautiful. We had some down time to get settled and play cards, and play football, and go running/ walking. On our walk, we were passed by a father and a son, riding bikes, and we were called gringos for the first time! Currently, we are waiting to go out to dinner, and tomorrow we leave San Jose at 8:30 for Santa Elena and our homestays. Hasta manana, pura vida!
Love,
Spanish trip '09

p.s. We love you Bob!