Thank you Costa Rica---It's Been a Trip to Remember

 We've had a fantastic time here in Costa Rica!  We are just packing up and getting ready to head to the airport! It's a beautiful day here and while we're sad to say goodbye to this gorgeous country with kind people, we are excited to see our families and friends!

See you Stateside soon!

Back to San Jose!

We left our wonderful beachside villa and headed back toward San Jose!

Along the way we stopped to do some souvenir shopping.  One of the places was a artisan coop, where they also make the ox carts that Costa Rica is so well known for.  These carts are different form other Latin American carts because they are beautifully hand painted!  We were able to see them being cut, assembled and painted. 

Once we reached our hotel in San Jose, students have two options:  they could walk around San Jose with a chaperone or they could attend the cultural evening that they signed up for prior to departure.  Both groups had a fun evening.  Those who went to the cultural night, experienced a view like no other of San Jose and cultural dancing overlooking the city.

Goodbye Monteverde, Hello Carara!

Due to technology issues we were unable to post yesterday.

In a nutshell, this is what we saw and experienced:

·      We left the cloud forest for the beach;

·      Stopped and saw a river full of American Crocodiles---the largest number of American Crocodiles in all of Central America;

·      Toured a forest at sea level;

·      Arrived at our new hotel:  SWANKY!!!  A hotel right on a black sand beach (black sand is from volcanic activity);

·      Swam;

·      Swam;

·      Swam;

·      Went to Manuel Antonio National Park where we saw Howler Monkeys, Squirrel Monkeys and a two toed and three toed sloth;

·      Spent the day swimming and exploring the most gorgeous white sand beach;

·      Had a fantastic evening back at the hotel.

Tomorrow we are returning to San Jose.  We will stop for souvenir shopping.  We can’t believe our trip is almost over!