Weekend at the Caribbean Coast

The past couple of days was a perfectly relaxing time to start bringing the trip to an end. We left San Jose on Thursday and went to La Selva research station. We stayed in a cabin in the woods that reminded me of what it would be like to be away at summer camp... with only 3 bathrooms for all 27 of us. There we walked around and saw some different wildlife. A few of us even braved the jungle in the dark and went on our own night walk to try and see anything different, especially a snake that we tried so hard to see (and basically failed other than spotting the end of one slithering under a log) the whole time. Friday morning we got up bright and early and did another nature hike, this time with a real guide. In all honesty I really find all the hikes and seeing the wildlife really interesting but it had started to lose its luster at that point. I am glad that we saw some different things than we had before in other places, though.

Wild pigs in the rain forest

¨Blue Jean¨or poisonous dart frog

Friday Afternoon we left La Selva and visited the Chiquita Banana plantation (see the Chiquita Bananas blog for details on that). Being such a banana lover, it was interesting to see the plantation and hear all about what Chiquita is doing to protect the environment. The ¨Miss Chiquita¨ show was also especially entertaining. That night we stayed in Puerto Viejo, a small beach town on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. The town was very small and had tons of character. We didn´t have much to do that night so a bunch of us hit the town and enjoyed karaoke with Ronald, our bus driver all month, and one of the most fun dance clubs, Roots, we have been to the whole trip, right on the beach.

Beach view at Puerto Viejo

Saturday morning we got up and went a few minutes down the road to go snorkeling again. Snorkeling was fun but honestly I think some of us were more excited about the decent weather and knowing we were at the beach.

Saturday afternoon we left Puerto Viejo and went to Manzanillo, another beach town on the Caribbean, though this one was less touristy and more or less in the middle of nowhere. The hotel we stayed at, Las Palmas, was incredible. It was by far the nicest hotel we have stayed at on the trip. It was more like a place I would stay with my family than the decent hotels and motels we have stayed in mostly. It was a beautiful place, right on the beach, with nice rooms and a definitely some of the best food (and most food) we have had at the restaurant located on site at the beach. The beach itself was gorgeous, with clear blue water and tons of palm trees. Saturday afternoon we had a little bit of sun time on the beach before a large dinner and then hanging out together around the hotel all night.

The beach at Manzanillo

Sunday morning, even though we didn´t have any plans, most of us still opted to get up early, eat breakfast, and enjoy the great weather on the beach all day. We got lucky and had sun until early afternoon (which has been basically unheard of recently with all the rain we´ve been getting). Even when it rained in the afternoon a group of us still stayed out and played in the ocean like little kids. That night was another one of just hanging out and being goofy around the hotel. I think it is starting to hit all of us that we only have a few days left together so we´ll take all the time we can to enjoy each others company.

We are back in San Jose now. We have a full (and last) day of classes tomorrow and a lot of work to get done in between. Wednesday we have a paper to turn in and presentation to give, followed by our final exam that afternoon. Thursday is our last day trip to a waterfall somewhere, and then Friday is a free day to pack and hopefully shop at the marketplace downtown for more souvenirs before heading back to the real world Saturday morning. For anyone who has been reading these or that I have talked to recently I know I´ve said this a million times, but I really can´t believe its almost over. The month has flown by and I am depressed just thinking about having to leave this country and say goodbye to all these people that I have gotten so close to so quickly.