Cataratas en La Paz y el Volcán Poás

Coffee berries wait to ripen at the plantation.

On Saturday, I took a day trip with my program to el Volcán Poás y las Cataratas en La Paz. On the way there, we stopped at a coffee plantation. Our guide told us that Costa Rica competes for quality in the coffee industry, so the government only allows the plantation owners to grow arabica. There were so many gorgeous views of the plantation and the coffee trees were covered in berries! I didn’t buy any of the coffee there, though, because I feel a personal loyalty to my host father, Matías, who owns a coffee farm and a cafe in La Fortuna that provides the coffee I drink every morning.

The crater is there…behind me…I swear they told me it was!

After the plantation, we arrived at the volcano. It was pretty cold for Costa Rica, so I had to wear an extra shirt (my SMC Class of 2015 one) and my raincoat for protection against the cold and the misting rain. After a short hike, we arrived at where the first crater of  Volcán Poás should have been. I say should because there was so much cloud cover and fog that all we saw was a blanket of white. Basically the only indicator that there was actually a volcano there was the smell of sulfur everywhere.

This squirrel climbed on people’s laps and ate food out of their hands!

Some of us were hopeful and journeyed to the second crater. Unfortunately, we were met with the same disappointment: no volcano. However, there was a very friendly squirrel who even jumped up on a woman’s lap. He was very entertaining!

We made our way back to the bus and headed off to La Paz. When we first got there, we went into the aviary, which had macaws, ducks, and other kinds of birds that I need to look up. I even saw an albino squirrel!

Tookie looks at me as if to say sarcastically, “Gee, you’re the first human who’s ever wanted a picture with me.”

The highlight, however, was the toucan exhibit. You could go into the toucan section and workers would literally place a toucan on your arm so you could get a picture! They didn’t even look real. Most people say they got their picture taken with Toucan Sam, but I think my toucan was Tookie from George of the Jungle. He didn’t talk at all though…

After the aviary, we saw a bunch of hummingbirds swarming around nectar feeders!

Hummingbirds of all shapes and sizes whizzed around and slurped from nectar feeders.

 

Though incredibly difficult to photograph, they were quite a beautiful sight to see. And whenever one flew by you, it sounded like a mini-helicopter. Still,  I felt envious of the wildlife photographer with a camera lens that was as long as my arm.

We followed that with a delicious buffet lunch. For some reason, all I kept craving was fruit: pineapple and papaya, pineapple and papaya. But I will admit they had some great ribs! Refreshed and energized, we headed off to the nearby snake exhibit. Anyone who knows me knows that snakes are my major week point, my biggest phobia. I have this thing, though, where whenever I go to a pet store I go to the reptile section, just to prove that I can be in the presence of a  snake, even though we are separated by a panel of glass. So this was kind of the same thing. I saw firsthand the physical differences between coral snakes and king snakes, and I gazed upon the Fer-de-Lance, which apparently is one of the most dangerous snakes in Costa Rica because, aside from having venom with both neurotoxins and hemotoxins, they are not very shy around humans. Fortunately, this one was in captivity.

In the frog exhibit, we saw a tree frog, which looked absolutely petrified; a green and black poison dart frog (which I did not know was poisonous at the time); and a strawberry poison dart frog. I mostly just tried not to touch anything…

Red touches black, you’re okay Jack…

…red touches yellow, you’re a dead fellow.

A tree frog sits as still as possible while humans crowd around him.

This green and black poison dart frog reminded me of Darth Maul from Star Wars.

This strawberry poison dart frog seemed very safe. Luckily, we were informed of the contrary.

Cows, bunnies, guinea pigs and oxen wrapped up the captive animal portion of my visit. Unfortunately I didn’t poke around enough to find the big cat or butterfly exhibits, but I was able to spot several coatis digging around for food. Coatis are kind of like raccoons, only with curly tails and long, pointy, flexible noses. Though a little skittish around humans, coatis are generally okay with getting up close and personal. However, like hummingbirds, they can be tough to photograph since they don’t like to stop moving.

These oxen tried so hard to stay awake for this picture.

Carmela the cow smiles in the Costa Rican sun.

It’s been so long since I’ve held a bunny!

Coatis use their long noses to dig into the ground for their prey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can describe the journey to the waterfalls in three words: stairs, stairs, stairs. Flights led us down to different views of the waterfalls preserved at La Paz. But they were well worth the trek, with their gentle cascades and lush green surroundings.

The first waterfall.

Me with my friends Jordan and Amari.

Look closely and you’ll see three waterfalls!

These flowers along with many others lined the steps to the waterfalls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m so happy that I was able to embrace even more of Costa Rica’s natural beauty this weekend. Next, onward to Monteverde and Arenal!

¡Pura vida!

-Cara

Manuel Antonio – crocodiles, anti-cancer fruit, first steps and how I met Manny…

Sorry this post is a little delayed! There is just so much I want to share with you all! Check out more pictures from this trip and others on my photo pages!

A crocodile sun-worships in el Rio Grande de Tarcoles.

This past weekend, I went on an excursion with other AIFS students to the Manuel Antonio on the Pacific Coast. On the way there, we stopped at a bridge overlooking el Río Grande de Tarcoles. It’s known as being an extremely contaminated river that is populated by crocodiles, or cocodrilos.

My guanabana smoothie!

Fortunately, we were close enough to take pictures, but far enough away that we wouldn’t be attacked. Crocodiles are fast on land, you know.

After taking pictures of the crocodiles, a bunch of us got smoothies from a nearby fruit stand. I decided to try one made out of guanabana, or soursop, which the vendor told me naturally works like chemotherapy as an anti-cancer fruit. (I checked, it does.) It tasted delicious and was very refreshing after such a long bus ride.

The first capuchin monkey I ever saw in person!

 

A few hours later we arrived at our hotel, Hotel Villabosque. It was absolutely gorgeous, from open common areas surrounded by trees and plants to an upper level pool to beautiful architecture. Plus, when we first arrived, monkeys started climbing on the roofs and railings!

All sorts of birds perched on the telephone lines as the sun began to set. Unfortunately, the sunset was over by the time we got to the beach, but I got to take my first steps in the Pacific!

My first wave in the Pacific!

Friday night was filled with good times and dancing and basically exploring the night life on the coast. We went to the Liquid Lounge, then El Gato Negro, a Latin bar, and I got to test out some of the moves I’ve been learning in my dance classes.

We started early Saturday morning with a nature walk through Manuel Antonio Park. We had a guide who knew exactly how to spot all the animals, from monkeys to sloths to bats to iguanas to hummingbirds. A howler monkey made his way from one side of the path to the other over our heads, and our guide warned us that howler monkeys are the type that really like to throw…things.

A howler monkey lurks in the treetops as we make our way through Manuel Antonio Park.

I’m not entirely sure what kind of moth/butterfly this is…

A “sloth on the move” reaches out for his next meal.

After the walk, we went swimming in the ocean. Before laying out to tan, I decided to take a look around the trees that border the beach. Raccoons crisscrossed the path and the trees were filled with capuchin monkeys.

A mother was climbing around with a baby on her back, and I managed to get a picture of one looking directly at my camera. My mom and I named him Manny, after the park.

Manny the curious capuchin monkey tries to figure out who and what I am.

We stayed on the beach for a while, swimming, tanning and even eating fresh coconut that our guide, Luiz, cracked open on a dead tree.

Then we left the park to go to lunch and bought fresh coconuts that you could drink out of. The coconut water was so cool and refreshing after such a hot day in the sun. Afterwards, we went to a place called El Avion Restaurant and Bar for lunch.

The bar itself is located inside a 1954 Fairchild C-123 plane “allegedly” purchased by the U.S. for the Nicaraguan Contras that never made its way out of its hangar in San José because of the Iran-Contra affair.

The owners of El Avion converted this plane into a bar.

The owners of El Avion purchased the plane and brought it piece by piece to Manuel Antonio. They constructed an entire restaurant around it as well, with gorgeous views of the Pacific.

We went back to the beach after lunch and a bunch of us basically passed out in the sun, and I managed to get a good tan. I can’t quite say it’s solid yet, but it’s a good base.

Me with a bunch of my AIFS peeps en la playa.

 

That night we went to a street party one of the local bars was having. There were a ton of people everywhere, from tourists to Ticos. My friends and I even got in some pictures for a Tico’s bachelor party! Honestly though, dancing, for me, is like ice cream. I never realize how much I love it until I’m doing it (or eating it I guess).

After some more beach time on Sunday morning, we made our way back to San José. We took a longer winding root that brought us through more mountains with beautiful scenery.

I’m so glad my first weekend in Costa Rica was such a success complete with amazing people, awesome food and the joys of nature!

¡Hasta luego! ¡Pura vida!

-Cara

Los dias primeros…

¡Hola!

This is my very first post for my blog about my time in Costa Rica! For the next three months, I will be studying at Universidad Veritas and living with a host family in San José. I will also go on several adventures around Costa Rica, from ziplining through the Monteverde Cloud Forest to spotting animals on the Pacific beaches of Manuel Antonio Park.

A view of San José from a balcony I found at Universidad Veritas.

Since the excursions have yet to happen, I thought I would tell you all about my first few days in San José. (It’s kind of long, so if you want, just look at the pictures :))

On Sunday night, I was picked up from the airport with other AIFS students, and we were taken to Universidad Veritas, where we met our host parents for the first time. My host mother (or mama tica) Stephanie, picked me up and we rode to her house, which is about a fifteen minute walk from Veritas. There I met my host sister, Juliana, and we chatted until it was time for me to go to bed. One of Stephanie’s rules is that in the house, we have to speak Spanish all the time. We only use English when I absolutely cannot understand what she or Juliana are trying to tell me. I like this rule because it will help me to improve my Spanish.

Monday morning, Stephanie and I had breakfast and then she showed me how to get to Veritas. After that, I had AIFS and Veritas orientations.

In the afternoon, AIFS took us on a tour of San José, where we were shown points of reference such as KFC, San Pedro Mall and the Diamond Gym.

Museo Nacional de Costa Rica in downtown San José.

Later, we took a walking tour of downtown San José and went through this really cool market where we can buy authentic Costa Rican souvenirs. I will definitely be going back there! Afterwards, we met Elizabeth Escalante, our resident director for AIFS, and went back to Veritas. A bunch of us needed supplies and phones, so we walked to San Pedro Mall. We exchanged money and purchased phones from Movistar. My phone reminds me of the Nokia Shorty I had in middle school.On Tuesday, my classes started. Everyday for the next four weeks, I have four hours of Spanish (the basic level). Then I have my electives Intercultural Communication and Theory of Latin American Tropical Dance in the afternoon.

Mi primer almuerzo en l’universidad, una flauta con pollo.

During lunch, I met una Tica se llama Isabella, y su madre Laura (lo siento, sometimes I may mix Spanish in with English). She is from Guanacaste, which is northwest of San José and very warm. Isabella and the other tico students start classes next week.

After Spanish class on Wednesday, I went out to my first Costa Rican restaurant, which is in mi barrio, Cordoba. I had ceviche pescado, which I was told consists of raw fish cooked in citrus with a lot of cilantro and tomatoes (or something like that). ¡Es muy deliciosa!

Mi ceviche pescado.

Later, I had my first mural painting class. For the culminating project of the semester, we as a class will design and paint a mural in some community space nearby. (I love the idea of this project because my friend, Lauren, and I did a documentary on graffiti and public art last semester. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd-kGJ-DKiQ) This way, I can truly leave my mark on San José and Costa Rica!

Later, AIFS took us to a restaurant where I had gelato for the first time. It was amazing!!! Me gusta comida, todo el tiempo.

So that’s my first few days in a nutshell. Keep checking if you want to learn more about my host family, my excursions and encounters, and even some tips for if you might want to visit Costa Rica.

¡Pura Vida!