..what does it mean? Well, I wish I could tell you some really funny story to explain it, but, the truth is, I have no idea! And, neither did our guide, Esterling. It was just some random road sign that made NO sense to anyone, and provided us all with much amusement on our van-ride back to the Pura Vida Hotel after a day full of fun tourism-type activities. We started the day off with a long ride through every kind of town, from the low-end, to the malls, and finally the ”country” of Costa Rica. Our first stop was at a coffee factory where we received an awesome tour. Next we headed off to our lunch, which was part of a Rural Tourism program. This program takes you into one of the small towns in Costa Rica. Every town that participates in this type of tourism has received a grant for protecting some part of land, in this case springs, and then tourists come in and support the program with their business. It’s an ingenious idea, and I feel like it allowed to really experience every-day life in a Costa Rica town. After walking around the reserve (?), we headed to a coffee farm, where we got to make tortillas and have FRESH coffee. It was amazing. Once our tour was over, we all piled-back in to our van. It was a really fun trip back to the hotel, with a few souvenir stops, lots of stories, and even some singing and dancing. At one point, I asked Elia to help me get my ”Kike earrings” in. Future note to the world: It is extremely difficult to put earrings in someone else’s ear in a moving van, going down a mountain in Costa Rica. However, it is also extremely entertaining, and can be successful if you’ve got the right friends ;P After a few hours, we finally arrived back at the Pura Vida hotel, where our final banquet was awaiting us. We hurriedly ran back to our rooms, dressed-up in all our fancy clothes, and then had a phenomenal ”Last Supper.” Now we are all in the process of packing to get-up at 4am and head back to the states. (No one wants to leave!)
All in all, this has been one of the most amazing experiences of my entire life. The people, the stories, the adventures, the food, everything, is going to be engrained into all of us for the rest of our lives. Today: Costa Rica. Tomorrow: Home…. Spring Break 2012? Costa Rica: Round Two.
PURA VIDA MAE!!!
~Rachel
Can’t wait to see you tonight! Spring Break 2012? Can anyone go? This blog has been awesome and really made the trip come alive for the readers. I’m already a fan of Costa Rica and I’ve never been!
Great job, bloggers! Safe travels…. home soon!
Thanks so much for coming . . . and to the whole crew from Unity this year . . . you single handedly (or 11 handedly?) are putting Drake Bay on the map. Perhaps you’ll even get Nacientes Palmichal on the map too?
If we have other guests going down to Drake Bay we make sure they take a look at this wonderful and “alive” blog for ideas on the myriad of things you guys have discovered.
Thanks again,
Berni/Nhi/Carlos and the Pura Vida Hotel Team
http://www.puravidahotel.com
WOOOHOO! spring break!!!