Home at last...

Yesterday was fun. It was full of shopping for gifts for those back at home and watching other students get tattoos. It also included packing up our things and ordering pizza and having it delivered to the hotel. 

Outside of the Central Market. This is a great place to buy souvenirs! They have good prices, it's safe, and they will haggle with you. We went early so it wasn't too busy, but it gets packed in there. 

Street vendor selling his art. These are everywhere, but they are so amazing. People take feathers they find on the ground and paint beautiful pictures on them. 

This one is actually just shaped into a toucan, but it is beautiful! 

While we were walking we saw graffiti everywhere. Some of it was quite extraordinary. 

Very unique. 

Once we were all shopped out some people went and got tattoos. I did not get a tattoo, but I held Lindsey's hand while she got her's. 

Her's is my favorite from the trip. It's a leaf cutter ant holding a leaf in the sham of Costa Rica. The tattoo artist did an amazing job. 

Now today: we're finally home!

We had some delays in Dallas, but we made it home alive!

Heading home!

We had fun, but we were all ready to see our loved ones. 

When I finally made it home I was immediately greeted by my mom, dog, and cats. The dog, Furby, greeted by the longest. He wouldn't stop sniffing me and couldn't sit still for very long because he was so excited! 

This whole trip was amazing. It has given me a new appreciation for all the comforts in America along with an urge to travel the world! I always wanted to travel, but now that I actually have, I can hardly wait to do more! 

I highly recommend Costa Rica to anyone looking for a place to travel. It was fun and the people were so nice to us. I absolutely loved it! The only thing I recommend skipping is the biological station in La Selva! It was okay once, but never again! The rest of our trip I would recommend to everyone. It was perfect . 

I hope you enjoyed watching my journey at least a tiny bit! So, once more: 

Pura vida! 

Lost in San José and some other things.

Well today was very interesting! First, we left La Selva and made it to San José, which is amazing. Most of us were very excited to leave La Selva. It was a good experience, but I don't think I would go back there again. 

After we got checked into our hotel in San José we walked three blocks to the mall and ate lunch. The food court was filled with American restaurants. My group decided to eat McDonalds. 

It pretty much tasted the same, but a little less greasy. Which, I'm very okay with. I don't think visiting another country would be complete without trying something American while there. 

Also, a pigeon was walking around the mall. He wasn't afraid of anything. He even touched my leg, which freaked me out. 

At the mall we went into a bookstore. Mainly because I wanted to. No trip for me would be complete without a visit to a bookstore. I found the Stephen King section quickly. 

Stephen King's Desperation in Español! 

Once we were done walking the mall we had time to go relax or explore. Brittany and I opted to relax in the room, because our last night in La Selva wasn't very restful! We had two bats in our room!

Here's Tyler chasing the bats last night. He finally got them out, but it was still hard to sleep in there afterwards. 

We then all went out to dinner. 

Dressed up and ready to go to dinner and have some fun. 

On the way back it was raining, a lot. So we all got taxis. It was our first experience with a taxi in Costa Rica. We handed our driver a card with the hotel name on it. He nodded and started driving. We quickly realized he really didn't know where he was going. Luckily, Brittany and I had gotten into a taxi with two if he guys on the trip. We made it back okay, but it was a little scary for a few minutes. 

Eli trying to explain where the hotel is. 

Eli, Stephen, Brittany, and me smiling like idiots because we made it back to the hotel safe and sound! Glad we had some guys with us instead of being by ourselves! 

It was a very interesting day! One more  full day tomorrow, and then we're on our way home. 

Pura vida! 

More of La Selva.

Today is our last full day at La Selva and then we are back to San Josè! We are all very excited to be back at San Josè as La Selva is too humid for most of us. Yesterday we went on a morning nature hike, a tour of the buildings and labratories they have here, and a night hike.

The bridge into the forest. This bridge is high up and moves a lot! I don't care for it very much, as I do not like heights or bridges. To top things off, spiders like to crawl all over the hand rail, so I had nothing to hold onto. 

The river below the bridge. Sometimes when it rains a lot, the water comes to about a foot below the bridge!

Little lizards everywhere! They're fun to watch walk on their hind legs. 

These pigs are called peckerings. They look pretty cute, but release an awful smell to attract mates. 

Great view of a sloth on our night hike. He was just hanging out for us. 

We saw lots of frogs on our night hike as well as bugs. 

So, another interesting day in Costa Rica down, only a few more to go. 

Pura vida!

Bananas and La Selva

Today we arrived at the biological station in La Selva. This is here for students to learn from and for researchers to come and stay while they conduct research. It is huge and full of lots of different species. It's also a lot different then the places we've been staying at. First thing: it's 5 girls to a room instead of just 2. Second: no air conditioning or even a decent fan. We have a fan, but it might as well not be on. After arriving here we went to a banana plantation. Which was actually lots of fun. 

The bathroom sign at the plantation. 

Lindsey and me at the plantation, Lindsey with her banana hat!

Stephen bagging the bananas. 

Dr. Rinner with a machete! 

Today has been an interesting experience, but most of us are ready to leave the biological station already! Two more days though! 

The banana plantation was lots of fun and our guide kept it interesting. We will see what tomorrow brings our way! 

Pura vida!

Manuel Antonio and monkeys

Today has been such an eventful day already! And it's only 2:00PM! We have seen sloths, monkeys, and the beach! Now we have free time to explore the city and shop. 

This is the Halloween crab, called such because of its coloring. 

Capuchin monkeys everywhere!

They aren't afraid of anything!

The ocean is beautiful. 

While we were at the beach some students were collecting seashells and pieces of coral, but we learned that is not allowed. This is because this beach is in a national park specifically founded for conservation. At public beaches you are allowed to collect these things, but not at national parks. 

So far, today has been amazing. I can't wait to see what the rest of Manuel Antonio has to offer!

Bus day

Today we were on the bus....all day long! We are in Manuel Antonio finally! On the way here we did stop and see a monkey on the side of the road and some crocodiles. 

The howler monkey is the black blob gaming his arms down from the tree. 

We did have some amazing views along the way though. 

Tomorrow we will be at the beach! We are all excited for a nice relaxing day.

Pura vida!

Monteverde

Today we hiked in Monteverde and it was beautifully dry! We did lots of walking and enjoyed a beautiful view from our hotel! I mean beautiful...

On our hike I did something that I normally wouldn't do. I climbed to the very top of a lookout point!

Arenal Volcano from the lookout. 

Brittany and I at the top!

We also went to a coffee plantation tour as well today. It was kind of interesting, but I really don't like coffee. It was fascinating to see how they are being eco friendly. They are using natural products produced by animals to fuel some of their endeavors. They are also working to plant trees in the area. 

Victoria and I at the coffee plantation. 

Today was a great day! It was wonderful being dry today! I am really enjoying my time here, but I also really miss everyone. I hope everyone at home is having a good time with life! 

Pura vida!