My entries are very delayed but I have a life, ya know? And by that I mean I write papers all day and study.
We left for Volcan Poas from Heredia at about 9:30 am and it took us about 2 hours to get there. By the time we arrived at the park and started to walk toward the volcano, it was about noon and it was already raining. It was so foggy that I couldn't see the people walking 10 feet in front of us. After reading quite a bit about other travelers' experiences at Volcan Poas, it seemed like common knowledge that you should arrive at the volcano as early as possible to beat the clouds so I'm not quite sure why our school scheduled the trip so late. And they definitely knew because on our way up, one of the teachers said "yeah, last time we went up we couldn't see anything"... oh okay. So we get to the lookout and it's so foggy that we can't see anything. We all sort of stand there awkwardly, wondering what we should do. As we stood around pouting, the could started to clear and we could see parts the crater but still not very clearly. We decided to take a 15 minute hike up to the lagoon. The walk was pleasant and the forest surrounding the volcano is absolutely beautiful. When we got to the top of the volcano, the clouds had magically cleared and we could see everything perfectly! The lagoon was absolutely beautiful; the clear water that led into the lush forest against the bright blue sky. Wonderful. On the way back, we had lunch in a little restaurant set in the mountains, with a spectacular view from the porch. I was happy as a clam because I got to see gorgeous sights and then I got to eat a gigantic steak followed by tres leches cake. I cannot quite explain to you how delicious tres leches cake is. It's so moist that it is actually sitting in liquid so it's sort of a cross between cake and pudding with a light frosting. To. Die. For. No really, I'd like it to be the last thing I eat before I die. I will be attempting to make it when I come home (stay tuned for my cooking blog... oy vey) but it will probably just taste like sugary mush.
In general, Volcan Poas was a great day trip, there's not really a ton to do up there so I can't see making a bigger trip out of it. I wanted to go to the La Paz Waterfall Gardens, which we passed on the way up to the volcano but our teachers were telling us that park is still there but the waterfalls were pretty much destroyed in an earthquake that happened a couple years ago. We were really lucky that the weather cleared so I would not recommend waiting that long. From the review I have read and from observing the clouds as we drove up, I would say it would be best to try to arrive at the volcano by 8 or 9. Because it's the rainy season here, it's pretty much a guarantee that it will be cloudy and probably rain like crazy starting any time after noon.
Unfortunately, I won't be doing any traveling for the next couple weeks because I have to study for a horrific test and I am broke. But I have some local adventures to share, so don't fret!
viernes, 24 de junio de 2011
viernes, 17 de junio de 2011
Jungle Jane Takes Monteverde
I just got back from Monteverde today. It was by far the best trip I have been on so far due to our superb planning and the natural beauty of the the area.
We arrived on Wednesday evening after about a four hour bus ride. The bus ride was shorter than the five hourse we had expected and this was with a half hour delay at the beginning, various stops to pick people up and drop them off, and some trouble with our bus driver not being able to drive stick on hills (Monteverde is a mountain so this was a little problematic). When we got off the bus, we went right to our hostel, which we had booked ahead of time. It was called Sleeper's Sleep Cheaper. It was basically a couple of hallway of rooms in a couple's house that they rent out to backpackers for $8 per night. The rooms and the bathroom were clean. There was only one bathroom but it didn't make much of a difference because it was a smaller hostel than the one's we had stayed in on previous trips. The price also included free Wi-Fi, tour booking, and a full breakfast (fruit, cereal, coffee, toast, and eggs). I would say that this was one of the best hostels we have stayed in with Pagalu being the other contender. Pagalu was nicer but did not include breakfast and was $2 more expensive.
The next morning we went zip-lining through the canopies and walked through a path with hanging bridges. We decided to do the tour through Selvatura because it got the best reviews, it had a large student discount, and they provided free transportation to and from your hostel. I had an absolutely wonderful time. The tour guides were knowledgeable, nice, and funny. The zip-line portion contained 13 platforms and a Tarzan swing at the end. The Tarzan swing is a must do. It only takes a couple minutes and you get a real rush from the free fall. The only way they could improve the experience is to find a slightly more pleasant way to stop you from swinging. A man basically grabs one of your legs and yanks you to a stop. I thought might hip might be dislocated for a minute or two. Besides the brief pain, I have nothing but good things to say about the zip-lining. It was very professional, safe, and well-organized. The hanging bridges hike took approximately 45 minutes including time to stop, take pictures, and look around. The views are beautiful and it's great to be able to walk right through the treetops. All in all, I thought it was well worth the $50.
After our Selvatura tour, we had lunch (and dinner later, actually) at a restaurant called The Tree House. It was reasonably prices with fresh and tasty food. We tend to find one restaurant that we really like and stick with it for the weekend.
At night we went on a horseback riding excursion through the mountains through Las Brisas Finca Agroecoturistica for $35. A bus picked us up from the hostel and we rode about 20 minutes to the farm. We took a nighttime ride for about an hour and half. It was definitely more adventurous than I thought it would be. There are rough trails but they are still very rocky, steep, and through the trees. We didn't see much wildlife but it was a peaceful and enjoyable ride, despite the rain (I actually thought the rain added to the atmosphere). The owner of the farm and his son lead the tour and pointed out sugar cane, organic coffee, bananas, beans, and other products that they grow right on the farm. After the horseback riding, they brought us organic coffee made from the beans that they grow, delicious homemade hot chocolate, and homemade breads made with sugar from their cane fields. Then the owner showed us where they grind the coffee, how to make juice out of sugar cane by grinding it, and tasted homemade moonshine. It was a really interesting tour that is different than the zip-lining and mountain tours that most people do when they visit Monteverde.
It was a great trip and our main success was making all the plans and reservations ahead of time. Trips are a lot more enjoyable and safe if you have a game plan. I loved every second of Monteverde and it is definitely going on my list of places to revisit. I had never been zip-lining or horseback riding before the trip. I'm a regular outdoorsy explorer these days. Watch out world! Ok, so they were both guided tours but I'm working on it. Hence the title... traveler in training :)
We arrived on Wednesday evening after about a four hour bus ride. The bus ride was shorter than the five hourse we had expected and this was with a half hour delay at the beginning, various stops to pick people up and drop them off, and some trouble with our bus driver not being able to drive stick on hills (Monteverde is a mountain so this was a little problematic). When we got off the bus, we went right to our hostel, which we had booked ahead of time. It was called Sleeper's Sleep Cheaper. It was basically a couple of hallway of rooms in a couple's house that they rent out to backpackers for $8 per night. The rooms and the bathroom were clean. There was only one bathroom but it didn't make much of a difference because it was a smaller hostel than the one's we had stayed in on previous trips. The price also included free Wi-Fi, tour booking, and a full breakfast (fruit, cereal, coffee, toast, and eggs). I would say that this was one of the best hostels we have stayed in with Pagalu being the other contender. Pagalu was nicer but did not include breakfast and was $2 more expensive.
The next morning we went zip-lining through the canopies and walked through a path with hanging bridges. We decided to do the tour through Selvatura because it got the best reviews, it had a large student discount, and they provided free transportation to and from your hostel. I had an absolutely wonderful time. The tour guides were knowledgeable, nice, and funny. The zip-line portion contained 13 platforms and a Tarzan swing at the end. The Tarzan swing is a must do. It only takes a couple minutes and you get a real rush from the free fall. The only way they could improve the experience is to find a slightly more pleasant way to stop you from swinging. A man basically grabs one of your legs and yanks you to a stop. I thought might hip might be dislocated for a minute or two. Besides the brief pain, I have nothing but good things to say about the zip-lining. It was very professional, safe, and well-organized. The hanging bridges hike took approximately 45 minutes including time to stop, take pictures, and look around. The views are beautiful and it's great to be able to walk right through the treetops. All in all, I thought it was well worth the $50.
After our Selvatura tour, we had lunch (and dinner later, actually) at a restaurant called The Tree House. It was reasonably prices with fresh and tasty food. We tend to find one restaurant that we really like and stick with it for the weekend.
At night we went on a horseback riding excursion through the mountains through Las Brisas Finca Agroecoturistica for $35. A bus picked us up from the hostel and we rode about 20 minutes to the farm. We took a nighttime ride for about an hour and half. It was definitely more adventurous than I thought it would be. There are rough trails but they are still very rocky, steep, and through the trees. We didn't see much wildlife but it was a peaceful and enjoyable ride, despite the rain (I actually thought the rain added to the atmosphere). The owner of the farm and his son lead the tour and pointed out sugar cane, organic coffee, bananas, beans, and other products that they grow right on the farm. After the horseback riding, they brought us organic coffee made from the beans that they grow, delicious homemade hot chocolate, and homemade breads made with sugar from their cane fields. Then the owner showed us where they grind the coffee, how to make juice out of sugar cane by grinding it, and tasted homemade moonshine. It was a really interesting tour that is different than the zip-lining and mountain tours that most people do when they visit Monteverde.
It was a great trip and our main success was making all the plans and reservations ahead of time. Trips are a lot more enjoyable and safe if you have a game plan. I loved every second of Monteverde and it is definitely going on my list of places to revisit. I had never been zip-lining or horseback riding before the trip. I'm a regular outdoorsy explorer these days. Watch out world! Ok, so they were both guided tours but I'm working on it. Hence the title... traveler in training :)
sábado, 11 de junio de 2011
Puerto Viejo
Last weekend we went to Puerto Viejo, a beach town on the Caribbean side.
We arrived in Puerto Viejo at about 6:30 pm and it was already dark. We found Pagalu, the hostel that we had heard great things about, but it was full. At that point, we were starving and didn't want to be wandering around in the dark so we went to find any open hostel. The first one we went to seemed okay, though I can't remember the name. They were rent bikes out front, there were six beds per room, and it was close to everything. As we were getting settled, we decided to take a look in the bathroom to assess the situation. When we stepped in, there was a GIGANTIC CRAB in the shower, which promptly scurried down into the drain. The boys were willing to stay but I grabbed my belongings and demanded that we leave. I do NOT mess with wild life. Especially if I'm naked.
To the next hostel. We found one that was connected to a restaurant called El Dorado. The restaurant looked really nice and it was only 10 dollars per night. So we figured, why not? Long story short, it was not a good idea. They did not ask for copies of our passports. If a hostel doesn't ask for some sort of identification, I would advise not staying there. Also, it was located behind the restaurant near the dumpster, where we saw a cat eating a whole dead fish. Just gross. It's probably not a good idea to stay somewhere that the entrance is totally hidden. We were the only people staying in the hostel part of the restaurant, which we thought was pretty nice at first because we would have some privacy. Then we realized that if no one else is staying there, it might be a little sketchy and definitely not as safe as it could be. As for the cleanliness, the place smelled like a bag of rotting bodies covered in dog poop. The solution that the workers came up with was to come in periodically and spray air freshener in the general area of the stink. It did not help. And there were no towels. Long story short, it ended up being a pretty bad decision. Lesson learned: Make arrangements before you traveling and have backup hostels to stay in just in case the one you planned on staying in is full. And don't stay in shady hostels, they made a movie called Hostel for a reason, so be careful.
The next night we ended up staying at Pagalu, which felt like paradise compared to El Dorado. Warm showers with clean towels. A cute little chill spot with Wi-Fi. Free coffee and tea. It had a gate at the front with a lock so no one could get in unless they had a key. It just had a nice and safe feel so we were very happy. The girls and I decided to having a relaxing evening so we had dinner at a restaurant called Chile Rojo, a really cute and delicious place owned by a man from England. We pretty much ate all of our meals there during the trip because the staff was friendly, the food was relatively reasonably priced and delicious, and it was very clean.
As for the beaches, I thought the ones at Manuel Antonio were far nicer, much safer, and a shorter bus ride away. The ones in Puerto Viejo were still nice but they were quite a walk from the main strip of hotels and restaurants. Because they were on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, I think we were expecting to be blown away by the bright blue water and white sand but it wasn't quite like that. Also, they general feel of Puerto Viejo is not like the rest of Costa Rica that I have experienced so far, presumably because there is a large expat population and many people come from other parts of the Caribbean to work and live in Puerto Viejo.
The one thing that we did that I absolutely loved with the Jaguar Reserve, where injured or abandoned animals are rescued, nursed back to health, and released back into the wild if they regain their health and strength. We rented bikes ($5 for the whole day) and rode about two miles to the reserve. There we got to see three- and two-toed sloths, frogs, owls, a jaguar, and snakes and play with monkeys. I would say that it was well worth the $14 entrance fee.
My general impression of Puerto Viejo is that we may have had a better time if we had planned more efficiently but I still would rather spend a weekend in Manuel Antonio. However, it is definitely worth a trip to see a totally different part of Costa Rica and go to the Jaguar Reserve.
We arrived in Puerto Viejo at about 6:30 pm and it was already dark. We found Pagalu, the hostel that we had heard great things about, but it was full. At that point, we were starving and didn't want to be wandering around in the dark so we went to find any open hostel. The first one we went to seemed okay, though I can't remember the name. They were rent bikes out front, there were six beds per room, and it was close to everything. As we were getting settled, we decided to take a look in the bathroom to assess the situation. When we stepped in, there was a GIGANTIC CRAB in the shower, which promptly scurried down into the drain. The boys were willing to stay but I grabbed my belongings and demanded that we leave. I do NOT mess with wild life. Especially if I'm naked.
To the next hostel. We found one that was connected to a restaurant called El Dorado. The restaurant looked really nice and it was only 10 dollars per night. So we figured, why not? Long story short, it was not a good idea. They did not ask for copies of our passports. If a hostel doesn't ask for some sort of identification, I would advise not staying there. Also, it was located behind the restaurant near the dumpster, where we saw a cat eating a whole dead fish. Just gross. It's probably not a good idea to stay somewhere that the entrance is totally hidden. We were the only people staying in the hostel part of the restaurant, which we thought was pretty nice at first because we would have some privacy. Then we realized that if no one else is staying there, it might be a little sketchy and definitely not as safe as it could be. As for the cleanliness, the place smelled like a bag of rotting bodies covered in dog poop. The solution that the workers came up with was to come in periodically and spray air freshener in the general area of the stink. It did not help. And there were no towels. Long story short, it ended up being a pretty bad decision. Lesson learned: Make arrangements before you traveling and have backup hostels to stay in just in case the one you planned on staying in is full. And don't stay in shady hostels, they made a movie called Hostel for a reason, so be careful.
The next night we ended up staying at Pagalu, which felt like paradise compared to El Dorado. Warm showers with clean towels. A cute little chill spot with Wi-Fi. Free coffee and tea. It had a gate at the front with a lock so no one could get in unless they had a key. It just had a nice and safe feel so we were very happy. The girls and I decided to having a relaxing evening so we had dinner at a restaurant called Chile Rojo, a really cute and delicious place owned by a man from England. We pretty much ate all of our meals there during the trip because the staff was friendly, the food was relatively reasonably priced and delicious, and it was very clean.
As for the beaches, I thought the ones at Manuel Antonio were far nicer, much safer, and a shorter bus ride away. The ones in Puerto Viejo were still nice but they were quite a walk from the main strip of hotels and restaurants. Because they were on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, I think we were expecting to be blown away by the bright blue water and white sand but it wasn't quite like that. Also, they general feel of Puerto Viejo is not like the rest of Costa Rica that I have experienced so far, presumably because there is a large expat population and many people come from other parts of the Caribbean to work and live in Puerto Viejo.
The one thing that we did that I absolutely loved with the Jaguar Reserve, where injured or abandoned animals are rescued, nursed back to health, and released back into the wild if they regain their health and strength. We rented bikes ($5 for the whole day) and rode about two miles to the reserve. There we got to see three- and two-toed sloths, frogs, owls, a jaguar, and snakes and play with monkeys. I would say that it was well worth the $14 entrance fee.
My general impression of Puerto Viejo is that we may have had a better time if we had planned more efficiently but I still would rather spend a weekend in Manuel Antonio. However, it is definitely worth a trip to see a totally different part of Costa Rica and go to the Jaguar Reserve.
miércoles, 1 de junio de 2011
The Wonderful World of Walmart
The other two girls in the program and I went to Walmart yesterday. It's pretty much just like the ones in the United States, but it has like a buffet to eat lunch at and a gigantic bakery. Obviously I bee-lined for the bakery. We all decided to get a piece of cake and share. The other two girls had chocolate cake and tiramisu, which were good. I had cheesecake. Worst decision ever. It had the consistency of an eraser. I am not kidding. It's has to be in the top five worst things I have ever tasted. I mean, I only took one bite out of it and threw the rest away and I am pretty much the human equivalent of a garbage disposal so that's saying something. So to all of you travelers out there, do not order cheesecake at Walmart in Costa Rica. That sounds pretty obvious now that I'm actually writing it. It's called New York cheesecake for a reason.
As we were enjoying the two edible cakes, a guy comes up to us and starts chatting us up. He opens the conversation with the fact that he's from Long Island. Great. I try to avoid Long Island guidos in the US and can't get away from them. And now they find me in Costa Rica? I'm not sure what kind of karma is coming back around to me but, for the love of God, I'm sorry for whatever I did to deserve this. Anyway, he was possibly the most forward man I have ever met. He was looking threw our baskets and commenting on everything we were buying and giving pushy suggestions on why we should put back our chocolate and buy a different flavor. Funny, I didn't remember asking his opinion. Then he proceeded to tell us that we would be meeting him to watch the NBA playoffs and have a couple beers at a bar at the local mall. Yes, I said "tell". He phrased things only as commands rather than making polite requests. He proceeded to have us write our email addresses in a flowered notebook so he could contact us later. Even in the email that was sent about 30 seconds after he arrived back at his house he used only commands concerning where we needed to be and at what time. I guess his pointy suede shoes, pale yellow button down that had one too many buttons open massive amounts of chest hair, and his overly groomed yet still gigantic brows gave him a false sense of confidence. Lesson learned: Asshole American guys are still assholes when they travel to Costa Rica. But they have even more confidence which puts them in the red zone for douchebaggery.
I proceeded to do some shopping for the basics like shampoo and conditioner, which are actually reasonably priced and they have quality brands like Garnier Fructis and Pantene ProV. Makeup, on the other hand, is absurdly expensive. Mascara and foundation were about $25. So bring enough for your entire stay. Then we stocked up on chocolate and other junk food items, which is also reasonably priced as long as you are okay with buying local rather than splurging for American brands.
After the cashier had rung out all of my items, I realized that I forgot on my money. Typical. And that's the end of my Walmart adventures.
I'm off to Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean side of the beach tomorrow. Hasta pronto!
As we were enjoying the two edible cakes, a guy comes up to us and starts chatting us up. He opens the conversation with the fact that he's from Long Island. Great. I try to avoid Long Island guidos in the US and can't get away from them. And now they find me in Costa Rica? I'm not sure what kind of karma is coming back around to me but, for the love of God, I'm sorry for whatever I did to deserve this. Anyway, he was possibly the most forward man I have ever met. He was looking threw our baskets and commenting on everything we were buying and giving pushy suggestions on why we should put back our chocolate and buy a different flavor. Funny, I didn't remember asking his opinion. Then he proceeded to tell us that we would be meeting him to watch the NBA playoffs and have a couple beers at a bar at the local mall. Yes, I said "tell". He phrased things only as commands rather than making polite requests. He proceeded to have us write our email addresses in a flowered notebook so he could contact us later. Even in the email that was sent about 30 seconds after he arrived back at his house he used only commands concerning where we needed to be and at what time. I guess his pointy suede shoes, pale yellow button down that had one too many buttons open massive amounts of chest hair, and his overly groomed yet still gigantic brows gave him a false sense of confidence. Lesson learned: Asshole American guys are still assholes when they travel to Costa Rica. But they have even more confidence which puts them in the red zone for douchebaggery.
I proceeded to do some shopping for the basics like shampoo and conditioner, which are actually reasonably priced and they have quality brands like Garnier Fructis and Pantene ProV. Makeup, on the other hand, is absurdly expensive. Mascara and foundation were about $25. So bring enough for your entire stay. Then we stocked up on chocolate and other junk food items, which is also reasonably priced as long as you are okay with buying local rather than splurging for American brands.
After the cashier had rung out all of my items, I realized that I forgot on my money. Typical. And that's the end of my Walmart adventures.
I'm off to Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean side of the beach tomorrow. Hasta pronto!
martes, 31 de mayo de 2011
Manuel Antonio - The Land of Nature and Lost Belongings
This past weekend, my classmates and I decided to travel to Manuel Antonio to do a little exploring of nature and lounge on the beach. I've decided to structure this entry around pieces of advice, or "consejos", for other travelers or for my future self if I ever make it back here.
Consejo #1: Leave early in the day
We took a bus from Heredia to San Jose at about 4:30. We arrived in San Jose at about 5:30. We were definitely unaccustomed to the big city and promptly lost our way. We were trying to find the ticket booth to buy our tickets for the 6:30 bus. We ran into a taxi driver who told us that there were no more buses to Manuel Antonio (LIE) and that we would have to take a taxi (LIE), for which he would give us a "deal" (LIE) and charge us $100 per person. He was a liar. Needless to say, we escaped that situation as quickly as possible. Granted, we look like touristy Americans but we are college educated and know when someone is trying to screw us. After about 15 minutes of aimless wandering around, we decided that we needed to ask for help. Gracias a Dios, we found this angel of a woman who took us to where we needed to go. She went completely out of her way to help us get on the bus. Without her we would have probably not found the bus and we would have been stuck in downtown San Jose after dark. Not good. I have to remember to pay it forward because that woman is a saint and possible saved our gringo lives. As for the advice, leave early so you don't get stuck in San Jose after dark and so that you can buy your ticket ahead of time. We did not have tickets but, luckily, there was space on the bus.
Consejo #2: Plan ahead or make friends on the bus
When we finally got settled on the bus, we met a couple from Kansas. They told us that this was going to be their fifth trip to Manuel Antonio. Naturally, we asked them for advice about where to stay, what to do, where to go, or any other helpful hints for navigating the park. They told us about a hostel that would cost $10 per night and was clean and told us how to get from the bus stop (in Quepos, a town 10 minutes outside of Manuel Antonio) to the hostel (also in Quepos) and from the hostel to the beach. At that moment we realized that we would have never made it to the national park in Manuel Antonio without them. All we had was our travel guide book, which is meant for people with more money than we have so none of the options were in our price range. Yet again, thank God for friendly and helpful people. For our next trip, I will definitely try to do some research about hostels in the area before we go. As for the hostels, don't expect a luxury hotel. This one was basically a big room with 7 sets of bunk beds. But it had a tv with tons of DVDs, Wi-Fi, and a pretty sweet chill spot with hammocks (which I will have on my wrap around porch of my house when I finally become a real person with big girl things), tables, chairs, a kitchen to cook food, and place to order food. It is called Vista Serena, if you want to plan on going.
Side note on the hostel: I slept with all of my things so they wouldn't get stolen. This included a plastic bag full of gummy candy. When I woke up, my bag was torn open. I'm assuming that means there was an animal in my bed. But that's okay because nothing bit me and my gummy candy didn't get eaten. WIN.
Consejo #3: Take a guided tour from park rangers
Pretty simple. When walking through the park, there are plenty of plants and animals to see. However, being pushy and impatient Americans, we probably would have trekked through the park without looking around in order to get to the beach as quickly as possible. And by "probably", I mean I definitely would have. By taking a guided tour, we were able to learn about the unique plants in the area and spot animals that we would have missed. The ranger was able to call monkeys to come very close to us, point out sloths hidden in the trees, and show us frogs and poisonous caterpillars that blended in with the leaves. As long as you make sure that the tour is guided by an employee of the park, it is definitely worth the money. This being said, you should definitely act hesitant about going because by being genuinely unsure, they brought the price down from 10 thousand colones (their form of currency) to 7 thousand colones ($20 and $14 respectively). But whatever, I'd pay any amount of money to see monkeys being all adorable in the sunshine.
Consejo #4: You are not too cool for sunscreen or bug spray
Maybe this is common sense. Maybe I'm just an idiot. But I was thinking, "well, if I can sit in a tanning bed every day, I'm totally fine on the beach without sunscreen". False. I was, and still am, quite burnt and currently peeling. Not cute. You will regret that sunburn the next day when you still have to carry your backpack everywhere. As for bug spray, use a lot of it. I sort of just sprayed around myself in no particular spot. I think that's because you don't realize how terrible bug bites are until you get one. Actually, scratch that. Until you get 22 from your knees down. So now I'm sunburned and I look like I have chickenpox.
Consejo #5: Don't put your things down
My friend left her clutch on a bench at the bus stop and didn't realize it until we got back to the hostel. By the time we went back to the bus stop, it was gone. Along with the $60 dollars, cellphone, passport copy, license, and debit card inside of it. Though some nice people helped us out before, not everyone is a Good Samaritan. Shocking.
Consejo #6: Be mindful of the wildlife
People kept telling us that the monkeys would try to steal our food, which I was actually kind of excited about because I thought it would be super cute and I could see a monkey up close. No monkeys came to the beach. Disgusting raccoons did though. The girls in my group and I were floating in the ocean, ya know, living the good life when the guy swimming next to us said "um, a raccoon just stole all of your food". We thought he was kidding so we didn't really move. He was not kidding. But whatever, so they stole some pretzels, who cares? It turns out that I care. My clutch with my debit card, money, and camera was inside of the bag that they stole. I was on the brink of a full on bitch fit when I found my clutch about 10 yards away. Thank you, glorious dirty raccoons, for discarding anything that you could not eat. Also, a guy in our group got stunk by a jellyfish. Nothing serious, just some welts. Watch out for those.
Consejo #7: Ladies, wear a sturdy bathing suit top
The waves are really strong, which makes them really fun to swim and sit in because they drag you into the ocean while pushing you out toward the shore. It's an awesome feeling. Not so awesome when I stood up and a girl in my group screamed because my boobs were out. It was my own fault because I tied my top into a tube top to avoid tan lines. Not smart.
Consejo #8: Watch out for rocks
In relation to the strong waves, watch out for where they drag you. I was having a grand ole time until I got dragged over some rocks like Parmesan over a cheese grater. Now my arm has a disgusting gash/scab. Did I mention that I am also red as a lobster with smallpox? God, I'm attractive.
Consejo #9: Buy food at a grocery store rather than eating in restaurant
It's going to be overpriced anyway but a grocery store is less overpriced than a restaurant. And in touristy places, the restaurants are REALLY overpriced.
Consejo #10: Have fun!
Yeah, I'm corny. Whatever. Actually, I just wanted to have 10 pieces of advice because 9 is a stupid number.
General info: The beaches are beautiful. Not like an all-inclusive resort where the beaches are bright white and the water is aqua blue but beautiful in a natural way. The beaches have pretty average colored sand but it's so soft. And the water is really warm. There aren't a ton of people and it's very quiet and relaxing. There are trees that create natural shade for the gringos that are concerned with skin cancer. It's a very simple paradise without all the crowded beaches of typical vacation spots. Lay in the sand and take it all in.
That's all I've got for Manuel Antonio. Go there. Pictures to come later if my internet works.
Consejo #1: Leave early in the day
We took a bus from Heredia to San Jose at about 4:30. We arrived in San Jose at about 5:30. We were definitely unaccustomed to the big city and promptly lost our way. We were trying to find the ticket booth to buy our tickets for the 6:30 bus. We ran into a taxi driver who told us that there were no more buses to Manuel Antonio (LIE) and that we would have to take a taxi (LIE), for which he would give us a "deal" (LIE) and charge us $100 per person. He was a liar. Needless to say, we escaped that situation as quickly as possible. Granted, we look like touristy Americans but we are college educated and know when someone is trying to screw us. After about 15 minutes of aimless wandering around, we decided that we needed to ask for help. Gracias a Dios, we found this angel of a woman who took us to where we needed to go. She went completely out of her way to help us get on the bus. Without her we would have probably not found the bus and we would have been stuck in downtown San Jose after dark. Not good. I have to remember to pay it forward because that woman is a saint and possible saved our gringo lives. As for the advice, leave early so you don't get stuck in San Jose after dark and so that you can buy your ticket ahead of time. We did not have tickets but, luckily, there was space on the bus.
Consejo #2: Plan ahead or make friends on the bus
When we finally got settled on the bus, we met a couple from Kansas. They told us that this was going to be their fifth trip to Manuel Antonio. Naturally, we asked them for advice about where to stay, what to do, where to go, or any other helpful hints for navigating the park. They told us about a hostel that would cost $10 per night and was clean and told us how to get from the bus stop (in Quepos, a town 10 minutes outside of Manuel Antonio) to the hostel (also in Quepos) and from the hostel to the beach. At that moment we realized that we would have never made it to the national park in Manuel Antonio without them. All we had was our travel guide book, which is meant for people with more money than we have so none of the options were in our price range. Yet again, thank God for friendly and helpful people. For our next trip, I will definitely try to do some research about hostels in the area before we go. As for the hostels, don't expect a luxury hotel. This one was basically a big room with 7 sets of bunk beds. But it had a tv with tons of DVDs, Wi-Fi, and a pretty sweet chill spot with hammocks (which I will have on my wrap around porch of my house when I finally become a real person with big girl things), tables, chairs, a kitchen to cook food, and place to order food. It is called Vista Serena, if you want to plan on going.
Side note on the hostel: I slept with all of my things so they wouldn't get stolen. This included a plastic bag full of gummy candy. When I woke up, my bag was torn open. I'm assuming that means there was an animal in my bed. But that's okay because nothing bit me and my gummy candy didn't get eaten. WIN.
Consejo #3: Take a guided tour from park rangers
Pretty simple. When walking through the park, there are plenty of plants and animals to see. However, being pushy and impatient Americans, we probably would have trekked through the park without looking around in order to get to the beach as quickly as possible. And by "probably", I mean I definitely would have. By taking a guided tour, we were able to learn about the unique plants in the area and spot animals that we would have missed. The ranger was able to call monkeys to come very close to us, point out sloths hidden in the trees, and show us frogs and poisonous caterpillars that blended in with the leaves. As long as you make sure that the tour is guided by an employee of the park, it is definitely worth the money. This being said, you should definitely act hesitant about going because by being genuinely unsure, they brought the price down from 10 thousand colones (their form of currency) to 7 thousand colones ($20 and $14 respectively). But whatever, I'd pay any amount of money to see monkeys being all adorable in the sunshine.
Consejo #4: You are not too cool for sunscreen or bug spray
Maybe this is common sense. Maybe I'm just an idiot. But I was thinking, "well, if I can sit in a tanning bed every day, I'm totally fine on the beach without sunscreen". False. I was, and still am, quite burnt and currently peeling. Not cute. You will regret that sunburn the next day when you still have to carry your backpack everywhere. As for bug spray, use a lot of it. I sort of just sprayed around myself in no particular spot. I think that's because you don't realize how terrible bug bites are until you get one. Actually, scratch that. Until you get 22 from your knees down. So now I'm sunburned and I look like I have chickenpox.
Consejo #5: Don't put your things down
My friend left her clutch on a bench at the bus stop and didn't realize it until we got back to the hostel. By the time we went back to the bus stop, it was gone. Along with the $60 dollars, cellphone, passport copy, license, and debit card inside of it. Though some nice people helped us out before, not everyone is a Good Samaritan. Shocking.
Consejo #6: Be mindful of the wildlife
People kept telling us that the monkeys would try to steal our food, which I was actually kind of excited about because I thought it would be super cute and I could see a monkey up close. No monkeys came to the beach. Disgusting raccoons did though. The girls in my group and I were floating in the ocean, ya know, living the good life when the guy swimming next to us said "um, a raccoon just stole all of your food". We thought he was kidding so we didn't really move. He was not kidding. But whatever, so they stole some pretzels, who cares? It turns out that I care. My clutch with my debit card, money, and camera was inside of the bag that they stole. I was on the brink of a full on bitch fit when I found my clutch about 10 yards away. Thank you, glorious dirty raccoons, for discarding anything that you could not eat. Also, a guy in our group got stunk by a jellyfish. Nothing serious, just some welts. Watch out for those.
Consejo #7: Ladies, wear a sturdy bathing suit top
The waves are really strong, which makes them really fun to swim and sit in because they drag you into the ocean while pushing you out toward the shore. It's an awesome feeling. Not so awesome when I stood up and a girl in my group screamed because my boobs were out. It was my own fault because I tied my top into a tube top to avoid tan lines. Not smart.
Consejo #8: Watch out for rocks
In relation to the strong waves, watch out for where they drag you. I was having a grand ole time until I got dragged over some rocks like Parmesan over a cheese grater. Now my arm has a disgusting gash/scab. Did I mention that I am also red as a lobster with smallpox? God, I'm attractive.
Consejo #9: Buy food at a grocery store rather than eating in restaurant
It's going to be overpriced anyway but a grocery store is less overpriced than a restaurant. And in touristy places, the restaurants are REALLY overpriced.
Consejo #10: Have fun!
Yeah, I'm corny. Whatever. Actually, I just wanted to have 10 pieces of advice because 9 is a stupid number.
General info: The beaches are beautiful. Not like an all-inclusive resort where the beaches are bright white and the water is aqua blue but beautiful in a natural way. The beaches have pretty average colored sand but it's so soft. And the water is really warm. There aren't a ton of people and it's very quiet and relaxing. There are trees that create natural shade for the gringos that are concerned with skin cancer. It's a very simple paradise without all the crowded beaches of typical vacation spots. Lay in the sand and take it all in.
That's all I've got for Manuel Antonio. Go there. Pictures to come later if my internet works.
jueves, 26 de mayo de 2011
First Week in Heredia
I'm a little late on writing but I am technologically illiterate so it took me a while to figure this out. And bare with me on my lack of organization or creativity. This is mostly meant to be a virtual scrapbook so I don't forget all of my experiences here.
I arrived in Heredia, Costa Rica on Saturday May 21st. As I got off of the plane feeling terrified of this experience and exhausted from approximately 15 hours of travel, I met my host family for the next 6 weeks. My host mother was waiting with a sign with my name on it and a bouquet of flowers. I was able to hold some very minimal conversation concerning my trip, the weather, and my family at home. My brain was just tired due to a travel overload.
The first thing I noticed was that there are barely any rules when driving. Turn signals are not used consistently. There are few speed limit signs, which I cannot decide means that there are no speed limits or that they are not put up because they would not be followed anyway. Though the ride home made me a little nervous, I arrived safely and more quickly than I would have in the United States.
Upon arriving at the house, my house mother showed me to my room which is connected to the house but not really part of the house. I have to go out into the garden to get to my door, which has it's own lock. It is a very simple but comfortable room with a bed, dresser, desk, closet, and my own bathroom. I am more than happy with the accommodations. My house mother promptly took me into the kitchen and began making me try every fruit in the house. I certainly wasn't going to argue with that.
Then she showed me around the house. Everything is pretty much the same as in the United States. The only two differences in appearance are: the entire house is gated and the doors are always open. The gates enclose the garage,walkway, and front door in order to protect against crime. The doors are almost always open during the day because it is always warm out. This is nice because it eliminates the need for air conditioning or fans. However, it does let some bugs in, which does not seem to bother anyone because there are plug-in mosquito repellents and they just shoo all other larger bugs out the door.
On Sunday, my host father showed me around Heredia. We walked around Mercedes Norte, where the house is located, and we also walked to the Universidad Nacional, where I would be taking classes for the next six weeks. On our walk I learned two things: there are no address as in the United States and pedestrians do not have the right of way. For addresses, Costa Ricans do not have house numbers nor do they use street names. They give directions based on landmarks and distance. For example, If I need to take a taxi home, I have to say that my landmark is the cemetery and then tell the taxi driver how many meters in each direction I am. This is quite confusing for me because I am not familiar with the area or the common landmarks. As for pedestrians, saying that they don't have the right of way is an understatement. My host father saved my life at least 5 times on the 15 minute walk to the University. Pedestrians dart across the street wherever they can in order to avoid traffic. Cars do not stop or even slow down if someone is in the street. My host father explained it best when he simply said "Costa Rican drivers are crazy. Be careful because they will kill you." That is not a joke or an exaggeration. Pedestrians trying to cross the street in Costa Rica can be compared to the video game Frogger. I am getting a better but I have still had some instances where I was too cautious and missed an opportunity to cross and others where I was overzealous and almost got hit.
The two things that have been the biggest adjustments have been: the meals and the bathroom situation. The meals are much different than in the United States, both in content and in timing. I am used to eating two meals per day; lunch and dinner. Here, I feel like I eat four meals per day. When I wake up, I eat a gigantic breakfast. A typical breakfast consists of a plate of fruit, some type of bread with butter, jam, and cream cheese, eggs, and gallo pinto. Gallo pinto is an absolutely delicious mixture of rice, beans, onions, and other spices. This is served and mixed with the eggs. This sounds a little odd but, luckily, I am in love with food and would eat or at least try anything. I have to say that this is a tradition that I think should be brought back to the United States. I honestly feel more energetic and ready to do physical activity or go to school after a big breakfast. It probably doesn't hurt that I drink about 3 cups of the delicious Costa Rican coffee, which I now drink black by the way! I learned to like it strong, just like my liquor ;). Lunch is the biggest meal of the day in Costa Rica. It generally consists of rice and beans and a meat of some sort. There's no set menu, but it is always large in order to provide enough energy for the rest of the day. Then, at three, there is a coffee and snack "siesta". Usually the coffee is served with some type of bread, whether it is just bread and butter or some sort of pastry with fruit or meat inside. Dinner is the smallest meal of the day. It usually consists of rice and beans (yes, again) and a small amount of meat and a salad. The foods are similar to that of lunch but the portions are much smaller. I think this meal set up is more logical than in the United States. It makes sense to eat most of your calories during the day when you are active rather than at night when you are getting ready to relax. Also, it's great that the food is fresh and healthy. I love waking up every day to a fresh bowl of fruit (though I could do without papaya, it sort of tastes like carrot baby food to me but I continue eating it a) because I am a pig and refuse to waste food and b) because I'm hoping it is an acquired taste). However, my family doesn't really abide strictly by these regulations. My host father is constantly bringing me food. Two nights ago it was some sort of dulce de leche fudge and last night it was a Costa Rican taco, which was a massive amount of pulled pork, cabbage in some sort of vinegar sauce, and tomatoes between some tortilla chips (love it, obviously). Ok, I think I've talked about food enough... for now.
That's all I have time for right now. The other four people on the trip and I are off to Manuel Antonio, a beach and National Park on the West Coast, until Saturday. Hasta luego!
I arrived in Heredia, Costa Rica on Saturday May 21st. As I got off of the plane feeling terrified of this experience and exhausted from approximately 15 hours of travel, I met my host family for the next 6 weeks. My host mother was waiting with a sign with my name on it and a bouquet of flowers. I was able to hold some very minimal conversation concerning my trip, the weather, and my family at home. My brain was just tired due to a travel overload.
The first thing I noticed was that there are barely any rules when driving. Turn signals are not used consistently. There are few speed limit signs, which I cannot decide means that there are no speed limits or that they are not put up because they would not be followed anyway. Though the ride home made me a little nervous, I arrived safely and more quickly than I would have in the United States.
Upon arriving at the house, my house mother showed me to my room which is connected to the house but not really part of the house. I have to go out into the garden to get to my door, which has it's own lock. It is a very simple but comfortable room with a bed, dresser, desk, closet, and my own bathroom. I am more than happy with the accommodations. My house mother promptly took me into the kitchen and began making me try every fruit in the house. I certainly wasn't going to argue with that.
Then she showed me around the house. Everything is pretty much the same as in the United States. The only two differences in appearance are: the entire house is gated and the doors are always open. The gates enclose the garage,walkway, and front door in order to protect against crime. The doors are almost always open during the day because it is always warm out. This is nice because it eliminates the need for air conditioning or fans. However, it does let some bugs in, which does not seem to bother anyone because there are plug-in mosquito repellents and they just shoo all other larger bugs out the door.
On Sunday, my host father showed me around Heredia. We walked around Mercedes Norte, where the house is located, and we also walked to the Universidad Nacional, where I would be taking classes for the next six weeks. On our walk I learned two things: there are no address as in the United States and pedestrians do not have the right of way. For addresses, Costa Ricans do not have house numbers nor do they use street names. They give directions based on landmarks and distance. For example, If I need to take a taxi home, I have to say that my landmark is the cemetery and then tell the taxi driver how many meters in each direction I am. This is quite confusing for me because I am not familiar with the area or the common landmarks. As for pedestrians, saying that they don't have the right of way is an understatement. My host father saved my life at least 5 times on the 15 minute walk to the University. Pedestrians dart across the street wherever they can in order to avoid traffic. Cars do not stop or even slow down if someone is in the street. My host father explained it best when he simply said "Costa Rican drivers are crazy. Be careful because they will kill you." That is not a joke or an exaggeration. Pedestrians trying to cross the street in Costa Rica can be compared to the video game Frogger. I am getting a better but I have still had some instances where I was too cautious and missed an opportunity to cross and others where I was overzealous and almost got hit.
The two things that have been the biggest adjustments have been: the meals and the bathroom situation. The meals are much different than in the United States, both in content and in timing. I am used to eating two meals per day; lunch and dinner. Here, I feel like I eat four meals per day. When I wake up, I eat a gigantic breakfast. A typical breakfast consists of a plate of fruit, some type of bread with butter, jam, and cream cheese, eggs, and gallo pinto. Gallo pinto is an absolutely delicious mixture of rice, beans, onions, and other spices. This is served and mixed with the eggs. This sounds a little odd but, luckily, I am in love with food and would eat or at least try anything. I have to say that this is a tradition that I think should be brought back to the United States. I honestly feel more energetic and ready to do physical activity or go to school after a big breakfast. It probably doesn't hurt that I drink about 3 cups of the delicious Costa Rican coffee, which I now drink black by the way! I learned to like it strong, just like my liquor ;). Lunch is the biggest meal of the day in Costa Rica. It generally consists of rice and beans and a meat of some sort. There's no set menu, but it is always large in order to provide enough energy for the rest of the day. Then, at three, there is a coffee and snack "siesta". Usually the coffee is served with some type of bread, whether it is just bread and butter or some sort of pastry with fruit or meat inside. Dinner is the smallest meal of the day. It usually consists of rice and beans (yes, again) and a small amount of meat and a salad. The foods are similar to that of lunch but the portions are much smaller. I think this meal set up is more logical than in the United States. It makes sense to eat most of your calories during the day when you are active rather than at night when you are getting ready to relax. Also, it's great that the food is fresh and healthy. I love waking up every day to a fresh bowl of fruit (though I could do without papaya, it sort of tastes like carrot baby food to me but I continue eating it a) because I am a pig and refuse to waste food and b) because I'm hoping it is an acquired taste). However, my family doesn't really abide strictly by these regulations. My host father is constantly bringing me food. Two nights ago it was some sort of dulce de leche fudge and last night it was a Costa Rican taco, which was a massive amount of pulled pork, cabbage in some sort of vinegar sauce, and tomatoes between some tortilla chips (love it, obviously). Ok, I think I've talked about food enough... for now.
That's all I have time for right now. The other four people on the trip and I are off to Manuel Antonio, a beach and National Park on the West Coast, until Saturday. Hasta luego!
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