Weekend Adventures

My second weekend here in Costa Rica has already come and gone.  With some planned LASP trips already planned time will go fast.  This meant, we (McCall and I) had to set out on adventures while we can.

Friday:
   The LASP students all invented two family members to a concert put on just for us.  I went with Marce and Tutu as it was my host parents 27th anniversary.  Humberto Vargas, a "Tico" put on an hour or so show at the San Jose Indoor Club, a very pristine recreation center.  In 2006 he won the Viña del Mar music award for Best Song in Central and South America.  It was almost like having Trace Bundy and Phil Keaggy come put on a show.  Everyone down here knows him.  He´s an amazing guitarist and singer and I was so glad we got there early enough, doesn´t always happen, to get seats in the front.

Saturday:

   McCall and I decided to head to Volcan Poas with whomever else wanted to join us.  We left home bright and early at 6:45am to get bus tickets and see the volcano crater before rained moved in.  A total of five of us went and we had a great time.  After the 2 hour bus ride with amazing scenery we had a 10 minute hike and there we stood before the crater.  It was impressive.  It´s one of five active volcanoes in Costa Rica and the world´s largest active volcanic crater!  While the steam did smell quite strongly of sulfur, we were able to see the little lake in the bottom for one quick minute-we were told that does happen often.  After many pictures with all the other tourists, we took a 30 minute hike to the lagoon.  The hike was definitely like walking through a jungle and the lagoon was a deep pretty blue.  Since I can´t download pictures to this computer, you´ll have to google image it to see what I´m talking about.  It was a successful adventure and a perfect day for it. 

Sunday:
   15 students and the LASP intern, Annie, went to Cartago. While it´s only about 25 miles away it always takes longer, about an hour bus ride.  There we met up with Annie´s friend and her now Tico husband.  Cartago is Costa Rica´s oldest community.  We saw the ruins of a church built there in 1575, got to see some traditional dances, and stopped at the market.  We then took another hour bus ride to a little pueblo which has ruins from the first church in Costa Rica.  After a good few mile hike down the road we spent the day at a park where we got to go swimming in a pool and we barbecued. It was a great time to relax in the foothills of the mountains and enjoy time together.  Of course there´s always another adventure. 
   When we got to the nearest town to catch the bus back to Cartago we had to stand outside in the pouring rain for over an hour.  Then, once the bus arrived the driver didn´t want to get everyone at the stop, almost 25 people, on the already crowded bus and tried to drive away at least twice.  Bless the heart of the little lady in the front we was forceful to the drive, "!No los gringos estan juntos!" (No, the foreigners are together!)  We somehow all crammed into the already crowded bus and made it up the mountain passes.  What a good memory that will always be.  Before heading out, we got to see the Basilica lite up at night which was breath taking.  I felt like I was at Disney World.  So beautiful! After getting home just a bit ago, I´m definitely exhausted from a full weekend, but SO glad that I´ve taken time to see the beautiful, lush country Costa Rica is. 

What´s ahead? 
   Another week of classes with no school Wednesday as it´s Costa Rica´s Independence Day!  Should be lots of parades and fun things going on.  Already people have been decorating their houses with red, white, and blue Costa Rican flags and such.  Looking forward to this adventurous week as well. 

Buenas noches.