Akindele poses as he's about to start the second to last zipline.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Pictures!
Nicolette, Ms. Carcaterra & Jaquez leaving the hostel in San Jose on our first morning... 
The view of the volcano from the reception desk (and most of our rooms) at the Hotel Kokoro Arenal... you felt like you wanted to constantly pinch yourself because it didn't seem real. And below that, lunch on our first day in the town of Arenal. The kids are really into the food, which is a lot of "casados" ("married" plates of rice, beans, meat, salad and plantains) and fresh fruit juice.
And then, from our canopy tour... riding up the Sky Tram to get up above the canopy to get started! Some were definitely nervous, but classmates were impressively supportive and we all got through it and loved it in the end. The third picture is Mr. Cobb's group at the top, right before we started our practice ziplines.
First video!
We've arrived in Sarapiqui after driving through lots of pineapple fields and are having two hours of free time at the hotel before dinner. Several kids are heading out on a short hike with Mane, one of our guides, to hopefully see some caymans (small crocodiles). Most of the others are in the pool with Mr. Teague (swimming for the third time today after the waterfall and our pool at our last hotel) right off the balcony where I'm writing from. I'm trying out this video as a test run-- Paularah coming across one of the long ziplining cables we did yesterday during our canopy tour! If it works, I'll get more up here soon! I'm passing your comments along to kids as you post them, so keep 'em coming!
Day 2
The internet went down at our hotel, so we haven't been able to blog! But the kids just realized we have WiFi at the pizzeria where we just finished lunch in La Fortuna. We don't have much time, but here are some highlights according to Kelvin, Jovan, Joemi, Paularah & Alenson:
*We all made it through the zipline!! In Kelvin's words when he had just finished his first cable on the canopy tour, "That was exhilerating!"At first, some kids (and teachers) were really nervous, but in the end we agree it was one of the most exciting adventure experiences we've ever had. First we put on harnesses and helmets. We went up on a Sky Tram VERY high-- it seemed like we were on eye level with the top of the Volcano Arenal. Then we learned the ropes and did a practice short line. After that, we pretty much flew through the air like Tarzan and Jane in the forest, above the treetops. It was crazy. Get ready for the videos and pictures!
*Hot Springs-- last night we went at night to some very relaxing hot springs. They were naturally warm from the magma that forms the volcano.
*Eliza the Snake-- we went to a Serpentarium where we met and got to hold tons of different kinds of snakes, including an enormous Boa named Eliza that took eight people to carry. We have lots of pictures to prove it.
*Seeing the lava run down the side of the volcano at night-- spotlighted by thunder behind the volcano
*Arenal Waterfalls this morning-- we took a cool dip in the river at the bottom of what was (for most of us) the highest waterfall we'd ever seen after a hike down into the forest.
Now we are off to get some ice cream, and then we are leaving for another two hour bus ride to our next desination, Sarapiqui. We've just found out that our service project will include making a biodigester for a local farm-- it will be able to turn the horse and cow waste into gas that the family will then use for cooking and lights. Pretty cool. More as soon as we can-- fingers crossed for internet fast enough to upload pictures in Sarapiqui!
*We all made it through the zipline!! In Kelvin's words when he had just finished his first cable on the canopy tour, "That was exhilerating!"At first, some kids (and teachers) were really nervous, but in the end we agree it was one of the most exciting adventure experiences we've ever had. First we put on harnesses and helmets. We went up on a Sky Tram VERY high-- it seemed like we were on eye level with the top of the Volcano Arenal. Then we learned the ropes and did a practice short line. After that, we pretty much flew through the air like Tarzan and Jane in the forest, above the treetops. It was crazy. Get ready for the videos and pictures!
*Hot Springs-- last night we went at night to some very relaxing hot springs. They were naturally warm from the magma that forms the volcano.
*Eliza the Snake-- we went to a Serpentarium where we met and got to hold tons of different kinds of snakes, including an enormous Boa named Eliza that took eight people to carry. We have lots of pictures to prove it.
*Seeing the lava run down the side of the volcano at night-- spotlighted by thunder behind the volcano
*Arenal Waterfalls this morning-- we took a cool dip in the river at the bottom of what was (for most of us) the highest waterfall we'd ever seen after a hike down into the forest.
Now we are off to get some ice cream, and then we are leaving for another two hour bus ride to our next desination, Sarapiqui. We've just found out that our service project will include making a biodigester for a local farm-- it will be able to turn the horse and cow waste into gas that the family will then use for cooking and lights. Pretty cool. More as soon as we can-- fingers crossed for internet fast enough to upload pictures in Sarapiqui!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Pura Vida!!
Sorry to be out of touch for so long, but I am extremely happy to report that we are safe and sound and enjoying a GORGEOUS first full day in Costa Rica.
Our flight was a bit delayed, but otherwise uneventful. As soon as we landed, we were met by Maren and Mane, our awesome tour guides from Student Journeys. They had pizza waiting for us, and we took a quick bus ride... on the chartered, very air conditioned and therefore happy bus that we'll be in all week as we travel through the country... to the hostel we stayed in last night. We ate, had an introduction to the country and a quick explanation of the rules of the trip and the basic itinerary. Then we got to sleep.
We woke up and realized for the first time what an amazing view of the city of San Jose we had from our bright, airy hostel. The hostel keepers made us a breakfast of Gallo Pinto, the traditional Tico breakfast of rice, beans and eggs, and tons of fresh cut watermelon, bananas and pineapple. We had a little down time playing ball outside the hostel and then got on the road. We've just arrived at the Hotel Kokoro, and I can't wait to get some pictures up because the view is just breathtaking. The Volcano Arenal rises straight up from our frontyard basically, with just gorgeous flowers and greenery between us and the volcano. Tummies full from a hearty lunch of arroz con pollo and other typical dishes at an open air restaurant in town, we have a half hour to get ready for the rest of our afternoon and evening... the zipline canopy tour first, then a trip to the Serpentarium and the hot springs before hopefully seeing some lava come out of the active volcano!!
The kids are all in fantastic spirits and we're really proud of everything they've done so far! Pura Vida!
Our flight was a bit delayed, but otherwise uneventful. As soon as we landed, we were met by Maren and Mane, our awesome tour guides from Student Journeys. They had pizza waiting for us, and we took a quick bus ride... on the chartered, very air conditioned and therefore happy bus that we'll be in all week as we travel through the country... to the hostel we stayed in last night. We ate, had an introduction to the country and a quick explanation of the rules of the trip and the basic itinerary. Then we got to sleep.
We woke up and realized for the first time what an amazing view of the city of San Jose we had from our bright, airy hostel. The hostel keepers made us a breakfast of Gallo Pinto, the traditional Tico breakfast of rice, beans and eggs, and tons of fresh cut watermelon, bananas and pineapple. We had a little down time playing ball outside the hostel and then got on the road. We've just arrived at the Hotel Kokoro, and I can't wait to get some pictures up because the view is just breathtaking. The Volcano Arenal rises straight up from our frontyard basically, with just gorgeous flowers and greenery between us and the volcano. Tummies full from a hearty lunch of arroz con pollo and other typical dishes at an open air restaurant in town, we have a half hour to get ready for the rest of our afternoon and evening... the zipline canopy tour first, then a trip to the Serpentarium and the hot springs before hopefully seeing some lava come out of the active volcano!!
The kids are all in fantastic spirits and we're really proud of everything they've done so far! Pura Vida!
Friday, June 5, 2009
Best Row on the Plane
Daysha won the seat lottery - right between Mr. Miller and Ms. Leaird in Row 23. Next time you hear from us we will be in Costa Rica!
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