Muchas Gracias!
First of all, we would like to say a massive thank you to Lynsey, Sarah and Clare, our trip leaders, not only for planning our trip to Costa Rica to the tiniest detail, but also for making it so incredibly memorable. We could not have dreamed of 3 better leaders.
Of course we are really grateful to Helen Bogantes (Costa Rica's international adviser) and her sister Adri for making us feel so welcome and especially for showing us around San Jose.
Thank you to Adri Gonzalez for looking after us so well in Costa Rica, as well as for helping us plan our trip way in advance of us arriving. We hope you had as much fun as we did!
All of the staff at Pacuare Nature Reserve were amazing, and we are particularly grateful to Ida, Miguel and Mario for involving us so much with the important and fascinating work they carry out.
Leonardo (international scouting adviser in Costa Rica and executive director at Vida association) was also an invaluable help in the planning of our stay in Monteverde - muchas gracias!
We must also thank Carlos and Sergio for keeping us in check in Monteverde and at the Santa Elena reserve. we should probably apologise to Sergio for turning his little mini bus into the "party bus" (the same goes for anyone who had the misfortune to travel with us over the past two weeks!) we hope your ears stop ringing eventually!
Obviously, we are incredibly grateful to NWE Region, and, of course, to Girlguiding UK, for allowing us this amazing opportunity. Thanks also to Jen Herbert (Region International Adviser) and Judith Byrne (our home contact).
Finally, thank you to all of you who are reading this blog, especially those who have followed our journey from the very beginning.
After all the cold showers, damp clothes, thunderstorms, beautiful landscapes, rice an beans, amazing wildlife and a whole hunk of fun with fabulous people, we really feel that we have had the full Costa Rican experience. It could not have been more enjoyable.
A final 'adios'
Team Costa Rica 2014 xxx
Team Costa Rica 2014
team Costa Rica!!!!
Monday 11 August 2014
Day 13- Running (for) water
9th August 2014. following our perhaps 'premature' blogging yesterday at the hostel, there was a CHANGE OF PLAN! just as our mouse had hit the publish button, Carlos swept into the room in the manner of a man bearing great news. there had been a last minute hostel change! the mood of the room changed instantly; a dejected and somewhat smelly atmosphere was replaced with feverish anticipation. we arose from our armchaired stupors and rushed to get our bags with such haste that we were loaded onto the party bus in less time that it took for our kindles to go on standby
Sergio, the driver, soon ensured that we had arrived safely at the new hostel closer to the airport and boasting, get this, RUNNING WATER! each of us soon rejuvenated by a shower, we fell into cosy beds for our final night in costa Rica , bags packed and alarms set to a record-early start of 2.45am!
team costa Rica xxx
9th August 2014. following our perhaps 'premature' blogging yesterday at the hostel, there was a CHANGE OF PLAN! just as our mouse had hit the publish button, Carlos swept into the room in the manner of a man bearing great news. there had been a last minute hostel change! the mood of the room changed instantly; a dejected and somewhat smelly atmosphere was replaced with feverish anticipation. we arose from our armchaired stupors and rushed to get our bags with such haste that we were loaded onto the party bus in less time that it took for our kindles to go on standby
Sergio, the driver, soon ensured that we had arrived safely at the new hostel closer to the airport and boasting, get this, RUNNING WATER! each of us soon rejuvenated by a shower, we fell into cosy beds for our final night in costa Rica , bags packed and alarms set to a record-early start of 2.45am!
team costa Rica xxx
Saturday 9 August 2014
Day 13 - The party bus
9th August 2014
A nice late start for us today. Ha ha ha, just kidding. Having just breakfasted and packed, we were on the party bus by 8am, en route to San Jose. We made our final trip around Monteverde and the surrounding mountains, revealing some spectacular views.
After several hours of bus raving/snoozing, we pulled in at San Jose's biggest mall (huge and very shiny - a lot like the Trafford Centre). Already strained seams on our rucksacks meant that we did not buy a lot, although we did enjoy a tasty lunch with the group.
We arrived at our final hostel to discover that this area of San Jose has no water... It's almost more Pacuare than Pacuare itself! Apologies in advance to our parents, who will pick us up at the airport to find us slightly smelly (we wont have showered for at least 48 hours - sorry!).
We will be heading off for dinner soon, so see you all soon. This won't be our last blog post; we will be doing our best with airport wifi.
Adios,
Team Costa Rica xxx
A nice late start for us today. Ha ha ha, just kidding. Having just breakfasted and packed, we were on the party bus by 8am, en route to San Jose. We made our final trip around Monteverde and the surrounding mountains, revealing some spectacular views.
After several hours of bus raving/snoozing, we pulled in at San Jose's biggest mall (huge and very shiny - a lot like the Trafford Centre). Already strained seams on our rucksacks meant that we did not buy a lot, although we did enjoy a tasty lunch with the group.
We arrived at our final hostel to discover that this area of San Jose has no water... It's almost more Pacuare than Pacuare itself! Apologies in advance to our parents, who will pick us up at the airport to find us slightly smelly (we wont have showered for at least 48 hours - sorry!).
We will be heading off for dinner soon, so see you all soon. This won't be our last blog post; we will be doing our best with airport wifi.
Adios,
Team Costa Rica xxx
Photographs from day 12.
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| Who needs their caffeine?! |
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| What's your perfect coffee? |
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| The Stylist and her Client |
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| Caffeine scale |
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| Friendship knot |
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| The Famous Costa Rican Breakfast |
Day 12 - Caffeine kicks
8th August 2014
It was a rushed start for room 14 (Amy, Hope, Beci and Becca) this morning as they pressed the off button rather than the snooze on their alarm. Fortunately, Carlos, being the gentleman that he is, gave us a slightly later start of 8am (yes, that is actually a lye in for us).
After breakfast, we did a tour of one of the other trails around the reserve. This one went down into the valley where the ecosystem is surprisingly different from that of the cloud forest. We bid farewell to the stunning Santa Elena Reserve and set off to enjoy our afternoon!
In the afternoon, we were lucky enough to visit a local coffee plantation - Don Juan. Here we had a coffee, cocoa and sugarcane tour given by a tour guide named Junior. Like every single other tour guide we have had in Costa Rica, Junior was extremely enthusiastic to the point where you'd be forgiven for thinking he was slightly crazy. After we were shown around the coffee plantation, we had a cocoa workshop. We were given the chance to make our own 'chocolate' from shredded cocoa beans, vanilla essence, pepper, cinnamon, sugar and, for those who were brave enough, chilli sauce. Then, in addition to our marvellous creations (no, not the Cadbury's ones), Junior offered us a variety of chocolate to sample which, of course, we would never be rude enough to turn down. As if we weren't already buzzing off our sugar hit, Junior showed us how to press sugarcane to make virgin mojitos with the addition of lime juice (hellooo diabetes).
Even the torrential downpour didn't bring us down from our newly increased high as we caught a cow ride back to the gift shop. To our delight, there was FREE coffee (of several different roasts)!
On the way back to the hotel, we were all shaking from a caffeine and sugar overload. The buzz didn't wear off as we all changed into our gladrags in preparation for our night out! Seeing as our hotel didn't supply us with shower caps, some improvisation was needed when it came to Becca. Using a striped shopping bag, Beci fashioned a 'hair cover' which we are sure will soon catch on (so that all of you can be as cool as Becca). In the meantime, please stay tuned for photos of our trendsetter in action.
Sticking with the theme of the trip, we went to a restaurant which proudly advertised itself as one of the "Top 10 most bizarre restaurants in the world". It was called 'The Treehouse' due to the huge ancient fig tree growing through the centre. The food was delicious and company as interesting as always. We enjoyed some live music at the restaurant before returning to our hotel in the party bus (we decided against the dance night in the end).
It's safe to say that we have all loved today and we'll be really sad to leave Monte Verde.
¡Hasta lunes!
Team Costa Coffee xxx
It was a rushed start for room 14 (Amy, Hope, Beci and Becca) this morning as they pressed the off button rather than the snooze on their alarm. Fortunately, Carlos, being the gentleman that he is, gave us a slightly later start of 8am (yes, that is actually a lye in for us).
After breakfast, we did a tour of one of the other trails around the reserve. This one went down into the valley where the ecosystem is surprisingly different from that of the cloud forest. We bid farewell to the stunning Santa Elena Reserve and set off to enjoy our afternoon!
In the afternoon, we were lucky enough to visit a local coffee plantation - Don Juan. Here we had a coffee, cocoa and sugarcane tour given by a tour guide named Junior. Like every single other tour guide we have had in Costa Rica, Junior was extremely enthusiastic to the point where you'd be forgiven for thinking he was slightly crazy. After we were shown around the coffee plantation, we had a cocoa workshop. We were given the chance to make our own 'chocolate' from shredded cocoa beans, vanilla essence, pepper, cinnamon, sugar and, for those who were brave enough, chilli sauce. Then, in addition to our marvellous creations (no, not the Cadbury's ones), Junior offered us a variety of chocolate to sample which, of course, we would never be rude enough to turn down. As if we weren't already buzzing off our sugar hit, Junior showed us how to press sugarcane to make virgin mojitos with the addition of lime juice (hellooo diabetes).
Even the torrential downpour didn't bring us down from our newly increased high as we caught a cow ride back to the gift shop. To our delight, there was FREE coffee (of several different roasts)!
On the way back to the hotel, we were all shaking from a caffeine and sugar overload. The buzz didn't wear off as we all changed into our gladrags in preparation for our night out! Seeing as our hotel didn't supply us with shower caps, some improvisation was needed when it came to Becca. Using a striped shopping bag, Beci fashioned a 'hair cover' which we are sure will soon catch on (so that all of you can be as cool as Becca). In the meantime, please stay tuned for photos of our trendsetter in action.
Sticking with the theme of the trip, we went to a restaurant which proudly advertised itself as one of the "Top 10 most bizarre restaurants in the world". It was called 'The Treehouse' due to the huge ancient fig tree growing through the centre. The food was delicious and company as interesting as always. We enjoyed some live music at the restaurant before returning to our hotel in the party bus (we decided against the dance night in the end).
It's safe to say that we have all loved today and we'll be really sad to leave Monte Verde.
¡Hasta lunes!
Team Costa Coffee xxx
Day 11 - Ninjas
7th August 2014
Today we continued our work from Tuesday, relaying the gravel path at the Reserva Santa Elena.
Walking past cleared gutters and uncluttered paths as we carried our gravel sacks really made us realise that our work was actually making a difference at the Reserve. All profits made go back into the local community (including the schools) so it was really rewarding to know that we were helping.
Our hard work in the morning meant that we finished the path early so, after a quick stop off at the hotel, we wandered into town under the (at long last) blazing sun. There, we experienced the most delicious saturated-fatty goodness in the form of Costa Rican ice cream and milkshakes. Having successfully clogged our coronary arteries, we trekked back up the MONSTER hill and began to get ready for the evening's activities.
In preparation for tonight's BBQ with a local scout group, Beci, Megan and Amy opened a hair salon specialising in plaiting. Fully French braided, we left for the 'quick' walk to the Head Scout of Monte Verde's house ('quick', we soon realised, meant scaling two hills and crossing three rivers using dodgy looking plank bridges. Not to worry, however, because it meant we built up good appetites for the upcoming BBQ).
Upon reaching Eduardo's (the Head Scout's) house, we were treated to a presentation of Costa Rican flora and fauna, met the Scouts, and even held Eduardo's captured scorpion. Even the most apprehensive amongst us had to agree with Eduardo that holding the scorpion was, in fact, not half as bad as we thought it would be. Eduardo was delighted!
After a delicious tea of homemade salsa and guacamole, as well as the much awaited BBQ meats, the Monte Verde Scouts decided to show us a game. The game lends its name to the title of today's blog because it turned out to be so much fun! It was a game of co-ordination and quick reactions so, naturally, most of us ended up on the floor! Nevertheless, we are all excited to take it home with us to our units.
Next, we undertook an extensive badge swapping session; all of us will be returning home with at least one new Costa Rican Scout badge. Photos and campfire-toasted marshmallows were then much enjoyed before our hike back to the bus.
Our beds were comfier than ever after another long but fun day.
Hasta luego,
Team Costa Rica xxx
P.S. Have a 'like' of the Monte Verde Scout's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Guias-y-Scouts-de-Monteverde-Grupo-310/115225095209925?fref=ts
Today we continued our work from Tuesday, relaying the gravel path at the Reserva Santa Elena.
Walking past cleared gutters and uncluttered paths as we carried our gravel sacks really made us realise that our work was actually making a difference at the Reserve. All profits made go back into the local community (including the schools) so it was really rewarding to know that we were helping.
Our hard work in the morning meant that we finished the path early so, after a quick stop off at the hotel, we wandered into town under the (at long last) blazing sun. There, we experienced the most delicious saturated-fatty goodness in the form of Costa Rican ice cream and milkshakes. Having successfully clogged our coronary arteries, we trekked back up the MONSTER hill and began to get ready for the evening's activities.
In preparation for tonight's BBQ with a local scout group, Beci, Megan and Amy opened a hair salon specialising in plaiting. Fully French braided, we left for the 'quick' walk to the Head Scout of Monte Verde's house ('quick', we soon realised, meant scaling two hills and crossing three rivers using dodgy looking plank bridges. Not to worry, however, because it meant we built up good appetites for the upcoming BBQ).
Upon reaching Eduardo's (the Head Scout's) house, we were treated to a presentation of Costa Rican flora and fauna, met the Scouts, and even held Eduardo's captured scorpion. Even the most apprehensive amongst us had to agree with Eduardo that holding the scorpion was, in fact, not half as bad as we thought it would be. Eduardo was delighted!
After a delicious tea of homemade salsa and guacamole, as well as the much awaited BBQ meats, the Monte Verde Scouts decided to show us a game. The game lends its name to the title of today's blog because it turned out to be so much fun! It was a game of co-ordination and quick reactions so, naturally, most of us ended up on the floor! Nevertheless, we are all excited to take it home with us to our units.
Next, we undertook an extensive badge swapping session; all of us will be returning home with at least one new Costa Rican Scout badge. Photos and campfire-toasted marshmallows were then much enjoyed before our hike back to the bus.
Our beds were comfier than ever after another long but fun day.
Hasta luego,
Team Costa Rica xxx
P.S. Have a 'like' of the Monte Verde Scout's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Guias-y-Scouts-de-Monteverde-Grupo-310/115225095209925?fref=ts
Friday 8 August 2014
Day 10 - The Big Hairy Balls
6th August 2014
We were up at 6am again, but we were all pleased to find pancakes for breakfast on the table at Santa Elena! Pancakes always seem to find us when we're most in need.
Today's work was to maintain the paths and drains around one of the paths in the rainforest. This involved raking leaves off the paths and then shovelling the leaves and twigs from the drains at either side. We worked constantly from 8:30am to 11:30, by which time we were more than grateful to see lunch. After lunch and a bit of blogging, we headed off to the Sky Walk in the canopy.
It was then that we met Steven, our guide, who turned out to be a bit of a character. After informing us that he was pregnant with a child called "Wind", we set off (slightly apprehensively) to the hanging bridges.
We crossed 5 bridges in total, each a different height and length. The views were spectacular, and it was really surreal seeing the cloud forest from above the tree tops. Of course, we got some cracking photos.
After the bridges, we left Steven the Mad behind (after discovering that, bizarrely, he was actually scared of heights) and headed off to the reptile house. There, we saw frogs, turtles and both venomous and non-venomous snakes, all of which are native to Costa Rica.
We arrived back at the hotel so exhausted from the day's activities that a lot of us had a quick nap. After a Costa Rican dinner (you guessed it, rice and beans!), we got to go on a night walk. Jonny showed us a tarantula and snake, as well as constantly reminding us to keep our eyes peeled for "Big Hairy Balls". Eventually, we did come across a "Big Hairy Ball" (he meant a sloth, dirty minded people) but unfortunately it was a bit too high up in the trees to really be distinguishable.
On our return through the rainforest, we volunteered Sarah to bring up the rear (where the risk of being picked off by a jaguar was at its highest ).
Fortunately, we all got back to the minibus in one piece, although admittedly comatose from exhaustion.
Ciao for now (yes, they do say that here),
A very sleepy Team Costa Rica xxx
We were up at 6am again, but we were all pleased to find pancakes for breakfast on the table at Santa Elena! Pancakes always seem to find us when we're most in need.
Today's work was to maintain the paths and drains around one of the paths in the rainforest. This involved raking leaves off the paths and then shovelling the leaves and twigs from the drains at either side. We worked constantly from 8:30am to 11:30, by which time we were more than grateful to see lunch. After lunch and a bit of blogging, we headed off to the Sky Walk in the canopy.
It was then that we met Steven, our guide, who turned out to be a bit of a character. After informing us that he was pregnant with a child called "Wind", we set off (slightly apprehensively) to the hanging bridges.
We crossed 5 bridges in total, each a different height and length. The views were spectacular, and it was really surreal seeing the cloud forest from above the tree tops. Of course, we got some cracking photos.
After the bridges, we left Steven the Mad behind (after discovering that, bizarrely, he was actually scared of heights) and headed off to the reptile house. There, we saw frogs, turtles and both venomous and non-venomous snakes, all of which are native to Costa Rica.
We arrived back at the hotel so exhausted from the day's activities that a lot of us had a quick nap. After a Costa Rican dinner (you guessed it, rice and beans!), we got to go on a night walk. Jonny showed us a tarantula and snake, as well as constantly reminding us to keep our eyes peeled for "Big Hairy Balls". Eventually, we did come across a "Big Hairy Ball" (he meant a sloth, dirty minded people) but unfortunately it was a bit too high up in the trees to really be distinguishable.
On our return through the rainforest, we volunteered Sarah to bring up the rear (where the risk of being picked off by a jaguar was at its highest ).
Fortunately, we all got back to the minibus in one piece, although admittedly comatose from exhaustion.
Ciao for now (yes, they do say that here),
A very sleepy Team Costa Rica xxx
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