Day 10: Home again.

The trip home went off without a hitch.  A bit rushed at Dallas-Fort Worth.  We had 1hour and 15 minutes to get through customs and make our next flight.  When we got to the gate, there were only five people still in the boarding line.  Nick of time!!

Nothing much happened other than that.  But I did see this out my window before the plane took off.  Can't be good!  But there is no info about it on the internet, so I have no clue what was going on.

On arriving home I did 3 things I couldn't do in Costa Rica: (1) A Mountain Dew (2) a pizza (COULD have, chose not to) (3) a good night's sleep free of barking dogs, crowing roosters (yes, in TOWN!) and loud diesel trucks.  I'm happy to report that all of that has been accomplished!

So that's Costa Rica, 2014.
Back to teaching today!!!

Day 9: Our Last Day

Here's some pictures of the Hotel Milvia where we spent our last two nights.  Very beautiful and comfy.

Front entrance. That's my travel companion Laura asking
about check out tomorrow (Wednesday).

The front lobby and stairway

Interior garden.  Laura's room is in the corner.

The view from the balcony.  Night time in San Jose.

My room!

I had the morning free, so I went to COSI (our liasion here in Costa Rica) and prepped for my classes on Thursday and Friday.  Yup, gotta hit the ground runnin'.  A quick change of clothes and then we prepared to return to Marion Baker School.  While we were waiting, my dear Costa Rica friend Montse stopped by to say hello!

Me, Montse and Laura. Two of the nicest people I know.

At the school, we visited our student Emilee's class and the kids remembered us from our previous visit.  Marianna invited me to sit beside her and I asked her to read to me.

The fifth graders were having an Electricity Conservation Fair and were pleased to have non-School visitors to share it with.  I got this many stickers for being wise and saving money by conserving electrical power.

At the end of the school day, we rode back in the school bus with the kids.  Back at COSI we enjoyed our student Cynthia's presentation of her experience in Special Ed hear in Costa Rica.

We finished the day eating patacones (pah-tah-CO-nays) a chip made from fried slices of plantain (and we supplemented them with adult beverages) at a wonderful little restaurant called Casita Azul.

Tomorrow is a travel day.  Flight out at 8:30 am.  Good-Bye, Costa Rica.  I hope to see you again soon!

Day 8: Back to San Jose

We said good-bye to Mileidy, our host mom in Quepos (actually she's 14 years younger than I am!) and had to drag our suitcases 5 blocks to the Bus stop.

We decided to take a taxi, (That's pronounced "air conditioning") since it had rained most of the night and the humidity was off the charts.

We went to Manuel Antonio to watch Alyssa teach.  It was fun and I got to read to the kindergartners -- in SPANISH!!!  ("Un Dia De Nieve" by Ezra Jack Keats -- actually the Spanish version of "A Snowy Day.")  That was something!!!

The next 6 hours were spent riding in a 10 person van across country from MA back to San Jose.  YAWN.  Didn't take a lot of pictures.  Nothing to report there.

We checked in at Hotel Milvia.  The home stays were okay, great language and cultural experiences, but this Hotel is SO COMFY.  Huge rooms, a bathroom you can land a plane in and the bed is so big I'm afraid I'll become lost.


I'll post pics of the Hotel tomorrow.  I'm too tired and it's too dark right now.  Tomorrow we are going to visit the students In San Jose one more time.  Wednesday - - Day 10 is our travel home day.  I have gifts that made my suitcase SUPER HEAVY.  Also, I need to find a LAUNDRY.

Day 7: Last free day/ Kayaks, Soccer and Catholics

The company that provided our Mangrove Adventure.

The old dude that runs the place likes to make these grasshoppers for the
kids.  He weaves them using two reeds.

Diego, our guide.

Egrets

I'm not sure -- Heron?

Feeding the white-faced monkeys.  The ones yesterday are kind
of tame.  These are wild, but just as bold.

Laura, my friend and travel companion, feeding a
piece of banana from her head.

This band was just THERE all morning long.
All ages, genders and skill levels.

Soccer.  It's as huge here as every place else in Europe and
 Latin America.  Still hasn't caught on in the US.

PURA VIDA!!!

La Parroquia de La Inmaculata Concepcion de Nuestra Dama
(The Parish of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady)
I went to Mass here.  Thankfully they have a 6:00 pm Sunday Mass.

I've noticed that people in Latin America have a different
perspective on the Death and Resurrection.
This is in the entryway of the church.

The interior of the Church,

Day 6: The Rainforest and the Beach.

Immature grasshoppers.

Our naturalist, Marvin.  What a sharp pair of eyes he had.

Lizard.

Remember those immature grasshoppers?
This is an adult red grasshopper.

A bat.

Yes, we have crabs.

Jungle bird.

Natural protection.  Sharp spines to
discourage squirrel monkeys..

Lizard.

Army Ants.  They travel rapidly in a rigid line.  And they BITE!

Lizard

I told you, we have crabs.

This hermit crab uses a cap from a water
bottle as its shells

Sittin' on a log on the beach,
Watching the tide come in.

I think I mentioned, we have crabs.

Lizard.

Lizard.

White faced monkey.  I jumped about 8 feet in the air when
he stuck his face in front of mine.

Not at all skittish.  They WILL unzip your backpack looking
for food, WHILE YOU ARE WEARING IT!

Ended the day at the beach.