Friday, October 30, 2009

Nicaragua manana!

NICARAGUA. Tomorrow.........aye, tomorrow already?

Costa Rica---check! I love you Costa Rica and I'll be back sometime!

A big THANK YOU to Jenn and everyone at Hidden Canopy for being so accommodating, generous and helpful. I'll be back here too! What a place!

I need sleep, buenas noches!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Schools out forever...

Tear. No more classes with Marielos.

Today was my last day. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh. Sad Sad Sad day for me. Guessing its a happy happy day for Marielos, no more crazy gringo in the mornings craving batido de mango!

I do want to share Marielos with the world, since she's a great Spanish teacher. Today we cranked out some numbers for people that are interested in coming to study with her and live in Monteverde with a host family.

$225/week for lessons, bed + meals! Trust me when I say this....this is probably the cheapest in Costa Rica for the quality.

If interested contact Marielos directly:
mabarca73@yahoo.com
or call 506.2645.6807

My two favorite chica's in Costa Rica.....Gabi y Katherinne!

Thank you Marielos, Gabi, Katherinne and Geovanny for opening your doors so many times, if I ever get a door, mine will be open to ya'll!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

I admit, I'm spoiled......

This last week has been filled with entertainment. Here's an update with photos!



Sindy taught me how to make Ensalda rusa: Beets, potatoes, carrots, cilantro, eggs, mayo, lemon, onion, red pepper, salt and a bit of sugar!

Hola Will? Como va todo?

Great story: The water for the ponds here at Hidden Canopy is routed from a stream and then channeled back to the stream at the bottom of the property. Well, two days ago the water tubes were plugged so we went to find out. A hike up the mountain. An interesting walk in and up the river. A hilarious show watching Luis work in a pond and then the hike down. And don't worry, it rained!

Wild mountain strawberries. Also found wild raspberries!

Spent the night with Marielos and family last night. Ahhh. Love love love being completely immeresed in a Costa Rican family. Marielos made me salsa.

Top 3 favorite foods ever: Chips and salsa, smores, rootbeer floats. Yesterday, I ate all of them......!~ Rootbeer floats and smores are a new thing for Gabi and Katherinne. Think Gabi ate 3 or 4 smores!

Almost impossible to keep everyone in one spot, but starting to say good-byes and capturing any moment possible withe everyone here! Hidden Canopy and we're missing Christian and Cinthia

Quience Anos

Cultural experience # 91

The festivities of the quience anos.

Only for girls. Similar to a wedding. And everyone dances ALL NIGHT LONG!

Marielos asked if I would like to go with her because her daughter Katherinne was one of the girls accompanying the birthday girl (whom I didn't know) Stephanie!


So there are 5 girls accompanying Stephanie, sometimes girls have 15 girls and all girls are accompanied with a date.

The food........incredible and so much. Chicken, beef, pork, in every form. Salads, you'd think it was a Christmas buffet, rice and beans....always. Chichcharrones and more.

Well over 200 people.


The music. A DJ. The lighting, similar to a club. A pinata hanging. Confetti, balloons, masks, noise makers and EVERYONE dancing to whatever song playing.


Muchas gracias Marielos!

Lo que es una fiesta!

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Nicaragua in one week!

Quick note.

Leaving Costa Rica (tear) in one week. Ayyyeee only one more week at Hidden Canopy. Heading north to Nicaragua. Leaving for a couple of reasons. One being my visa expires the first week in November. The other, is because Luis is leaving to head back home and invited me to go with.


View Larger Map

Luis works here in the Monteverde treehouse hotel with me. His family lives in Matagalpa. He's returning home for his babies 1 year birthday. So, my plan is to head off into another country with him. Experience life in a 3rd world country for a bit while having contacts and then continue traveling. I'm excited about this because he ONLY speaks Spanish, no more English for meeee!

Unsure when I'll return to Costa Rica. I have to return, well kind of, my plane ticket back to Dallas is out of San Jose....sometime in July, but who knows! Pulls at my heart strings when thinking about leaving but happy to have had the experiences here that I have had. Very fortunate and lucky~!

More to come this week, but wanted to inform you that I'll be on the move and away from internet after this week.

Advice for Nicaragua? Places I must see?
The list thus far:
Granada
Ometepe

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Hidden Canopy Tree House Hotel at it's finest!

We've added a few people to the Hidden Canopy family so thought you might enjoy an update!


Jenn, the owner of Hidden Canopy


Christian, Jenn's boyfriend!


Alonso, the brother to Christian and the head chef!


Sindy, the girlfriend of Alonso and another amazing chef! And her beautiful cat Izzy!


Will, this guy knows every tour, hotel and restaurant in Costa Rica


Luis, Mr. Construction!


Andrea, a high school student doing her practicum here to graduate.


John Carlos, another high school student working here to complete his practicum.


Cynthia, she's new this week! She's helping out with everything.


Me too! They all call me 'loca'


Papi, Pumpkin and Scout


Gazu, our security

Pearla, we call her Pearla Negra because she's always in the mud!

Tamandua........he's part frog part dog. Spending most of his days in the ponds!

So this is our family! Hope you enjoy!
Now back to the treehouses....

Friday, October 23, 2009

Feliz cumpleanos para Alonso


Yesterday was Alonso's birthday. In honor of his day, Jenn bought a cake and surprised him while he was teaching me how to make budding.


Since it was his day, he did what he pleased!

And so did I, so this is what happens when you give us cake.....


And this is what happens with you lose a cake fight....

After budding and afternoon tea, Jenn sent Alonso and Sindy to Don Juan for a nice dinner.


Just another day in paradise!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

La Fortuna - The waterfall and Volcano Arenal

Yesterday I hiked 6k's (cheated a little when I got a ride on a quad up the steep parts) to the catarata....waterfall!

Talk about raw power! Holy pumping. I was swimming on a treadmill! The water was a bit chilly but the bite was forgotten immediately after going under.

Swam with a group from England. And get this, Red Bull is still following me. One woman works for the company that produces the Red Bulletin in England. SMALL WORLD!


La Fortuna Waterfall

The view from above!

quoting myself "can you take a picture of me before I take my clothes off?!"

Thought you would enjoy this....tenni's, backpack, swimming suit! Hello Costa Rica backpacker!

The water was CRYSTAL clear!

Walking back 3 Toucans decided we were going to be friends.

Volcano Arenal, one of the most active in the world.

Tried.....tried....but didn't succeed at seeing lava. Rained all night, decided I didn't want to pass another day in Arenal, so I came back to Hidden Canopy today!


Everyone getting off our boat. I went to Arenal by what they call here.... Jeep-Boat-Jeep but its actually van-pontoon-van on paths with holes the size of me! Loved every second of the trip!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Thermo Mania / Rincon de la vieja


Volcano Miravalles

My head is exploding. THIS COUNTRY IS AMAZING! Volcano's. Thermo waters.....have to hold my breath because it just doesn't seem real.

The way I dry my hair in Costa Rica

Breathing now. Ok. Just spent 3 days in the hot springs called Thermo Mania with Jenn, Christian and Marielos. The back drop of this hotel is Volcano Miravalles. We soaked in the hot pools, bathed in mud and rested in the Jacuzzi. This place was grrrrrrrrreat!

Thermo Mania!

Eating Tres Leches from our patio.....

(Marielos and I drying with volcanic mud!)

Monday we tried to go into the National Park Rincon de la vieja but it was closed. Luckily, we found out about cool waterfall and hiked to it. Not knowing we could swim there, we hiked up without swimming gear, but hey, who really needs clothes anyways!

(Jenn and I chilling (literally, the water was cold) in the waterfall!

Today we hiked inside the park. Rincon de la vieja is absolutely stunning. Boiling water, smoking holes and bubbling mud. A couple times Jenn and Christian took my hands, made me close my eyes and led me to new views, try walking down a volcano with your eyes closed!


Hello tree that could kill me!



Breakfast of champions as Jenn says. Trits Ice cream for breakfast! A gift from my new friend at the local bakery!


Ahhhhhhhhh sooooooo in love with life right now!

Back in Monteverde at the Treehouse hotel, heading to Volcano Arenal tomorrow by jeep-boat-jeep! Cross your fingers that there is lava!