2011 Costa Rica Summer

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Hot Springs

Yesterday we went to hot springs after zip lining. The hot springs were heated by the Arneal Volcano. I had the best day ever! The hot springs felt amazing. They were like giant hot tubs. Yesterday was the best!

-Mitchell

Eric’s Blog Games

Every night on this trip we have occupied our nights by playing games. We have played a huge variety of games. it has been very fun because they are all new to me. They are all very funny and keeps the energy in the room up.

Eric’s Blog Hot Springs

We went to the hot springs today in Costa Rica. It is a system of pools that get warmer as you go. The very top one is a real hot spring that supplies the heat to all of the other pools. They also had a bar that supplied every drink possible. The money portion was based on the trust system. It goes like this, after you are finished you give them your locker key and towel. Then, you tell them what you ordered and pay for it there. It was very fun because we switched back from freezing cold to very very hot.

Eric’s Blog Rain

To us rain pretty much means no sports, hikes, or outdoor activities. But when you live in the rain forest like these people do, it doesn’t affect your daily schedule. So far during this trip it has only rained twice and the first time we did our normal schedule, but today since there was a lot of rain and lightning our plans were delayed for a little while.

Eric’s Blog Down Time

I think the best part of having no activities to do on this trip (which doesn't happen often). You can use this time to show off your pictures and even talk about what exciting things you will do the next day. I use my time to blog and read. I also use it to gather up my clothes for the next day or to pack up so i am ready for the morning when we change hotels.

Eric’s Blog Blogging

I think that blogging for this trip is a great way to remember what we did and to not forget anything. It is also good to look back on is i get any questions about my trip from my friends and or family. I like the idea of having something to look back on when this once in a lifetime experience is over.

Eric’s Blog Rooming

I believe that one of the most important things to us students is rooming. It is all about who you are friends with and who you get along with the best. The trip is one million times better if you are having fun and you do not want to wake up in a bad mood because you had an argument with your roommate. I have enjoyed my roommates very much because i was with all of my friends every night.

Eric’s Blog Preparing for Zip Lines

Last night after our pineapple experience we drove a very long time to our new hotel it was very nice. Today I woke up at seven o’clock to the sound of a very annoying bird. I changed and headed up to our hotel room for breakfast. we then headed to the zip line place. It was a really cool looking place. The building looked clay made.After we got suited up and took the Sky Tram to the top of the mountain we stared down the highest zip line there was on the trip. After we took the two practice runs we were about to have the best 30 seconds of my life.

Best time of my life

I loved ziplining. There were amazing views, but the adrenaline was the best part. The first long zipliine was the highest at the place. It was incredible. i had never been on a really long zipline before, and it was like nothing I had done before. It felt like I was flying. The third zipline was the second fastest. I was incredible how fast I went. The fourth zipline was the second longest. Then, the longest and fastest was combined in one zipline. The fifth zipline was half a mile, and went 45 mph. It is the third longest zipline in the world. It was amazing. It went so fast! At one point it went through the woods for a couple of seconds. It was so fun! This was as good as, if not better than roller coasters! Can’t wait to do it again next week.

-Liam

Zip-Lining

It was awesome to go ziplining. It was my first time so it was even better. This is going to be a memorable moment for me.

-Jenny

Ziplining

Today we are going ziplining. It is going to be so fun and exciting. I cannot wait, because I have never done it before. This will be awesome. We are going to take something similar to a ski lift. We are going to take seven or eight different zip lines back to the ground. The seventh zip line is the longest zip line in Costa Rica, and third longest in the world.

-Mitchell

Pics

What I saw when I stepped off the plane and saw Costa Rica for the first time

Great views

Animals in the wild- The ant is a Bullet Ant. If it bite you it causes 24 hours of pain.

I will post more pictures later

-Liam

Eric’s Blog Day 5 Part 3

After the tree planting we went to a farm to milk cows, have lunch, and make homemade cheese. We also saw kittens and puppies running around..

It was really fun to milk the cows because it was my first time and it was really fun. It was a great once in a lifetime experience.

Eric’s Blog Day 5 Part 2

We just left the pineapple farm and the waterfall. It was soo cool. We are now at the place where we are picking up the tree saplings. We planted mohagoney, forest almond, and several other species. We carried them to a gigantic hill I enjoyed these activities because it strengthened our ecosystem. Every tree counts and we planted all rare kinds.

Eric’s Blog Day 5

First we got up very early and went to a pineapple farm. We learned where and when they originated. . From there we took a hike to a waterfall. It was really cool because we also got to swim in the water.

Eric’s Blog Night Hike

When we first got to the rain forest we had dinner which was chicken beans and rice. When we finished our meal we met our guide who showed us around. We say a huge variety of ants,bugs, and spiders. We also spotted a Hog Nosed Pit Viper. It was really cool and i liked how we got to walk across the bridges and turn off our lights to see the rainforest better.

Eric’s Blog Strays

I think that it is sad about all of the dogs we see on the side of the road. I can not imagine how people could kick out an animal onto the street. It is sad to see them hungry and afraid.

Eric’s Blog Day 4

Today we woke up and ate breakfast. After our meal we got onto bikes and rode to the beach single file. When we got there our guide split us in to two groups. My group got chosen to go snorkeling first so we had to find flippers, goggles and snorkels. When we got into the water i8 saw a huge variety of fish. When we finished that we went into the kayaks. My partner was Gavin and i was in the back because i have the most power. When we went into the creek we started a race. We passed everybody on the way there and back. the only problem was that going back we were against the current so we lost by a landslide.

Rappelling Photos

Their first words of advice were: Don’t look down until you are over the edge! Good words of wisdom – our first rappel was 165 feet with a waterfall to the right. If you look closely, you’ll see the line to the left and one of the experts standing at the bottom. It was so long so we could practice pushing off with our legs and releasing the rope.