AAVE Trip BLOG » CRC2B from Guanacaste, Costa Rica
August 5, 2008
CRC2B from Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Posted by AAVE Leader in : Costa Rica Clasica, General AAVE Trip BLOG , trackback
It was a scavenger hunt conducted in Spanish like no other in the pueblito of Guaitil. The kids, in groups of three and four, set off down the dirt road in search of answers. The first man they stopped was walking in blue jeans under the sweltering sun. On his shoulder he carried two cardboard boxes full of peeping chicks. “Que es la significa de Guaitil?” they asked him. “What does Guaitil mean?” He told them that unlike most towns in Costa Rica that are named after saints, Guaitil is named after a common tree local to this region of Guanacaste. In Guaitil, there are relics on peoples shelves, things that are 800, 900, 1000 years old. At least, that’s what the locals will tell you. Most of the people here are artisans. The local clay lends itself to pottery and brilliant pieces are molded, fired, and painted in a traditional way dating back to ancient Mayan cultures.
In Guaitil students walked from shop to shop, speaking “spanglish” with the owners and browsing among red and black pots. We savoured a cold drink from the local pulperia, enjoyed the silent shade of the small town, and then played a bit of soccer and frisbee in the towns soccer field (which is one thing ALL the towns have in Costa Rica!) We then traveled to Santa Cruz and ate a wonderfully traditional lunch at a womens co-operative where steaming pot after steaming pot sat simmering on a traditional wood burning clay stove. The corn tortillas were fresh, thick, warm, and to die for!
Full and a little sleepy we are back in Spanish school, studying inside while the afternoon rains are roaring outside. Its a good life we are living here in Costa Rica! Sometimes I pinch myself to make sure I am not dreaming. Well, back to work…we are busy planning our final celebration with all of our host families which takes place on Saturday after a week of sharing experiences. Hopefully there will be a pinata involved!!! Tomorrow we set sail on a snorkel cruise where we hope to catch some rays, drink some fruity drinks and see some marine life like tortugas, octupus, fish and more! Until next time, Pura Vida!
Andrea, Johnny and CRC2B
Comments»
no comments yet - be the first?