August 7, 2007

Most of my last day in Costa Rica was spent doing laundry and packing everything up. However, I’ve had the most incredible experience here so I won’t complain of one day of packing! I have to say that I was able to fit time in to jump into the pool, relax, and order a nice strawberry daiquiri! Knowing that EcoTrans was picking me up at 4 am, I tried to get to sleep early, but I ended up laying in bed reminiscing on the so many things I’d experienced in the last 4 weeks. This has been the trip of a lifetime and thanks to Robert and The EGF Costa Rica Group, I have had the most amazing summer experience!

August 6, 2007

After a fun-filled day yesterday, I was ready to "lay low" today and enjoy the beauty of Flamingo. My day was simple, yet completely enjoyable. In the morning I woke up late and headed for the beach. I practiced my skim boarding once again, and relaxed to the sound of the ocean. Around 12, I walked back up to the condo and met Robert so we could go to lunch. We feasted on delicious food from Pleamar. Following our lunch, I headed to the bank so I could pay my departure tax early and be able to skip the long line up at the airport for it. My afternoon was spent driving to CEPIA to say goodbye to all of the people that I worked with. It was so sad and I can’t wait until I see them again - hopefully soon. When I arrived back, we went to Judy’s for a nice dinner that she had prepared for us and went to sleep with full bellies not long afterwards.

August 5, 2007

Today I woke up at 10:30. I could not believe how long I slept; a full 12 hours! I must have needed it! Robert had coffee made so I drank that, woke up, and got ready to start my day! Both wanting to leave Flamingo for the day, Robert and I got into the car and started to drive to Playa del Coco. Before we got on the highway, we passed a church fundraiser and decided to stop and check it out. They were cutting up coconuts, selling lots of homemade arroz con pollo, selling junk, and playing loud music. It was a nice family event to be at on a Sunday morning.

Cutting the Coconuts

A Local Girl with her Coconut

Once on the road again, it was about a 45 minute drive on the highway. On our way, we drove through a little town and saw people playing soccer, or should I say futbol! We pulled over, walked to a local bar, got some drinks and watched some of the game. It was really great because it was all local people - no tourists - and it was such a different feeling being there.

Futbol Game

After the game, we continued on our way to Playa del Coco but ended up getting a little lost. We ended up pulling into the Four Seasons Hotel and new we’d taken a wrong turn! Eventually we got back on track. Forgetting that it was Sunday, most of the places we were planning on going to were closed! Nevertheless we ended up at a really neat little restaurant for lunch called “Coconutz” where there were big turtles swimming around in their pond.

A Turtle at "Coconutz"

It was BBQ day, so we both had bbq ribs with tortillas! After our lunch, we walked around Playa del Coco and looked in all the neat stores that were selling “junk”. This one place we went into had more jewelry, t-shirts, shoes, and souvenirs than I had ever seen in my life. It was also the most random mixture of things I have ever seen as well! It ranged from boots and hammocks, to cooking utensils and earrings. As soon as we had seen enough and were ready to go to the Congo Trail for a canopy tour, it began to pour rain. We drove to the Congo Trail any way and found out that they closed the zip lines through the forest during the rain. So, instead we ended up seeing lots of curious monkeys, big colorful parrots, and huge snakes! I played with one of the monkeys and he kept trying to steal my umbrella. Then, I fed them some apples and they were just so happy!

Feeding Apples to the Monkeys!

Afterwards, I held a big snake that started to wrap around my arm. I got a little nervous and gave it back to the Congo Trail guy!

Holding the Big Snake!

Still raining, we realized that zip lining was out of the question, so we got back into the car to drive to Flamingo. Instead of taking the highway back, we were daring and took “the Monkey Trail” back home. It is about 1/10 of the distance but it’s only a dirt path full of pot holes! Fortunately we made it back safely! By the time we got home it was about 7 pm. I played around on the computer while Robert watched a movie. It had been a great weekend but it’s just too bad it’s my last!

August 4, 2007

This morning, Sarah and I walked to the RipJack Inn for coffee and breakfast. We gossiped over breakfast and walked back her condo. Ready to head back, I packed up my things and jumped in the car to head back to Flamingo. Exhausted from the night before, I spent the afternoon sleeping by the pool, catching some rays. Later in the afternoon, I showered and decided to drive back to Playa Grande to spend the evening with Sarah and her friends again. We ended up getting ice cream and playing Boggle and Yahtzee once again. I was in Flamingo and fast asleep by 10:30.

August 3, 2007

On Friday morning I had a nice run through Portrero followed by an hour of relaxation by the Presidential Suites pool. At 11, I took the Yaris (the rental car) and drove to Huacas for my last full day at CEPIA. Once at CEPIA, Sarah and I prepared tuna/avocado/tomato/mayonnaise sandwiches for the kids. They gobbled them up and all wanted more to take home to their families. Soon afterwards, the older girls came for the Friday girls’ group and we all left for Tamarindo. Laetitia and the girls took the CEPIA bus, while Sarah and I drove separately so that we could stay longer to look around Tamarindo. When we arrived, we all went to a beautiful hotel to swim in the pool. I tried to teach one of the girls, Alma, how to swim and we all floated around the pool and hung out.

Alma, the Girl I Gave Swimming Lessons to

Another one of the girls sat in the shallow end because she is due to have a baby by the end of this week. At about 4 pm, we all climbed out of the pool and I had to say my goodbyes to all of girls. It was really sad to say bye to them. They are all so sweet and each so unique. I will miss all of them and hopefully will see them again. I will especially miss a girl named Catherine. There was something about her that made her special to me (regardless of the fact that we both share the same name) and I plan on staying in touch with her.

Catherine

After my goodbyes, Sarah and I looked around the shops in Tamarindo and then went back to Huacas. Sarah left back to her place and I drove to Outback Jacks to meet Robert and Judy for dinner. The three of us had a nice dinner while watching the sun set.

Sunset

At 6:30, I left the restaurant to drive to Sarah’s house in Playa Grande. Two of her friends, had flown down to surf and stay with her for a couple weeks and so I met them. The four of us talked and played Yahtzee over some nice wine and then went to the Crazy Monkey Bar! There, we danced and had a great time.

August 2, 2007

Today was a busy busy day filled with lots of things. I relaxed and had my coffee out on the balcony of the condo in the morning and by 9 am I was at the bus stop soon to discover that the bus did not travel to Huacas today because it was a holiday. I walked back up the hill and to the condo where I stood in front of the air-conditioning for about 20 minutes until the sweat had dried off my body and clothes. Since there was no bus and I was only planning on going to Pacific Emergencies until 1 (due to the holiday), I took the car to Pacific Emergencies. It was a very slow day and unfortunately only a couple of patients came. However, I did a lot of reading out of the medical dictionary and learned a lot of interesting things. At 1 pm, I left Dr. Mendez’s office and drove to the grocery store so I could buy some food. I shopped around and bought the necessary and was back at Presidential Suites by 2. Hungry, I ate some lunch and then put away the groceries. Robert wanted to get his hair cut and I wanted to meet the hair-stylist (Chris from Paris, France) so we took the “GingoFlamingo Mobile” down to the Flamingo Beach Resort, where Chris’ salon is located. Robert got his haircut while I walked around and window shopped in the hotel at all the nice touristy souvenirs. We relaxed for awhile and then headed to the beach for a workout. I did my run and lifted some weights at the hotel while Robert walked on the beach and then back to the condo. When I came back to the condo and did not see Robert there, I knew he was up at Judys! I made my trip up the stairs to the condo above and met the two of them up there. We chatted and visited and ended up leaving at around 7 with lots of food that Judy had given to us to take back home.

August 1, 2007

I was on the bus at 9:00 am to Pacific Emergencies. It’s crazy to think that next week I will be on my way back to Canada. Time has gone by so quickly and it’s hard to believe that I’ve already been here for more than 3 weeks. Working with Dr. Mendez was once again fantastic. I am becoming much better at taking blood pressure and understanding medical terminology. At around 12 pm, the office begins to slow down and everyone takes their lunch breaks. Since I was supposed to be working at CEPIA today and had just gone into emergencies for the morning, I walked back to CEPIA. There, I had my lunch, and created volunteer packets and pamphlets until 3 o’clock. At that time I walked to the corner and waited for the bus in the rain. When I arrived back at the condo, the rain had stopped but the lightening had not. For the next hour or so I laid on the couch and watched the lightening storm flash and dance over the ocean.

The View before the Storm

It was the biggest, most beautiful lightening I have ever seen; almost like watching fireworks. I must have been very relaxed because fell asleep and work up at around 630. I made myself a simple dinner and read my book. Robert and I later walked to the Super Flamingo for some milk, beer, and greasy caramel popcorn. We watched Knocked Up (apparently a “pirated” copy form Thailand, which Robert had borrowed from a friend, with the funniest English subtitles I’ve ever read in my life) and I went to bed.