AAVE Trip BLOG » Costa Rica Clasica
August 11, 2008
Costa Rica Clasica #2A Photos
Posted by AAVE Leader in : Costa Rica Clasica, General , add a comment
August 5, 2008
CRC2B from Guanacaste, Costa Rica
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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
CRC2A - Costa Rica Day-by-Day
Posted by Nate at AAVE in : Costa Rica Clasica, General , add a comment
Hey Abbott, friends and family,
Day One - Despite some flight delays and cancellations, everything went really well for our first day. Five of our team arrived early, so we played games and told stories while we waited for the others. Unfortunately, we had one student unable to join us until Friday afternoon when we would return from the river. It was a bummer, but everyone else arrived without incident - excited and positive about their upcoming trip throughout Costa Rica! Everyone went to bed happy and looking forward to our first day on the river.
Day Two - We left early for our time on the Pacuare River. Our guides were there to greet us and brief us on safety and all the fun that awaited us. This being our first day on the river, we spent a lot of time learning to work as a team and how to safely go through rapids. Everyone was starving when we arrived at the lodge and happily ate the dinner prepared for us by the guides. The team played some games to get to know each other better and then went to sleep to have energy for the bigger rapids that awaited them the next day.
Day Three - Our two boats braved the class three and four rapids throughout the morning! When we came off the river, we ate dinner and started back for the bed and breakfast. This night was very fun as we met Colin! He is a great addition to the crew!
Day Four - We visited the volcano Arenal to enjoy the luxury of the resort and had fun with the pools and water slides at Los Lagos.
Day Five - In the morning, we had a rich breakfast in the hotel Los Lagos. Afterwards, we went to the La Fortuna waterfall. In the afternoon we went to the German bakery with our German guide Maxine! We each an exam at CPI and then met our new host families!
Day Six - We went to a Wildlife Reserve. The Reserve was very beautiful and interesting. Then we went to the school and prepared food for lunch. We had fun in the kitchen. We learned how to cook vegetables in Spanish. Later we had Spanish classes and went to get ice cream before we went to our families! All in all a great and successful start!
Loving the AAVE life, CRC2A!
Costa Rica Clasica #2A - Pura Vida!
Posted by Nate at AAVE in : Costa Rica Clasica, General , add a comment
Buenas Dias Todos!
It is Andrea y Johnny, the leaders of Costa Rica Clasica 2B! The two of us, as well as Helen, Alexis, Ali, Brittany, Megan, Joe, Josh, Gardner, Corbin and Craig are just having a wonderful time in Costa Rica! We spent our first two days in Rincon de la Vieja park, where we rode horses with real Costa Rican cowboys or savaneros, herded cattle, tore it up on mountain bikes, cascaded down a river on intertubes, painted ourselves with mud at a local spa, and ate some great comida typica, or costa rican food like gallo pinto (rice and beans), plantains, and lots of fruit juices!
From there we travelled to Playa Ostional where we helped the environment and community by volunteering to protect the Olive Ridley sea turtle. Unfortunately, our bus broke down, but fortunately we were a short walk from our destination, so while we played on la playa, our superman bus driver don Julio fixed it and now it runs as good as new! We took a night time walk and were able to see two turtles on the beach and we even saw one laying its eggs! Afterwards we were rewarded by one of the clearest skies imaginable and tons of shooting stars!
Now, we are in Flamingo and just experienced our first night with our Tico host families. Everyone is great. The families are friendly living a very simple life. That is what adventure travel is all about.
Right now the kids are in their first spanish class and after that, we break it down at spanish dance class! We are so happy to have seven days at the beach and we are planning some great activities in addition to what is already planned! We will be certain to send a picture soon, so keep checking back! Hasta Luego!
Andrea y Johnny living the AAVE life!
July 23, 2008
A positive memory and inspirational note from a CRC1 Mom
Posted by AAVE Parent in : Costa Rica Clasica , add a comment
Dear Abbott and AAVE Staff –
Many thanks to all of you! Lucy had a wonderfully memorable experience in Costa Rica — from the great group of kids to her highly knowledgeable and inspiring group leaders, Andrea and Gustavo. She loved every minute of her trip and we are very grateful to you for providing the perfect vehicle for exploring Costa Rica.
Enjoy the rest of your summer,
Jill
July 22, 2008
CRC1B
Posted by AAVE Parent in : Costa Rica Clasica , add a comment
Subject: Re: Casey, AAVE Summer
Casey is back safe and sound and had a fantastic time in Costa Rica. She looks great and made many new friends and had countless unforgettable experiences. We are truly big fans of AAVE and were happy to share Casey with you again this summer. We’d also be happy to be references for future campers, having now had two great experiences with your company.
-Susan
And thanks again for a wonderful summer adventure!
July 18, 2008
CRC1A
Posted by AAVE Leader in : Costa Rica Clasica , add a comment
Que Lastima! Our last week in Costa Rica together as a group! Our Ultima Semana! But it is going to be just that. THE ULTIMATE FUN!
This week is off to an amazing start with a totally full day yesterday at the Hacienda Ranch in Guanacaste. We started off mountain biking on some really fun and challenging terrain, then rode on horse back down to the river where we raced through rapids on inner tubes! We wrapped the day up soaking in the brand new natural hot springs! They were beautiful, like out of a dream!
We finish our trip with a service project with the Humanitarian Foundation along with a new homestay. We meet our Tico families tonight!
We are all happy, healthy and Loving the AAVE Life!
July 16, 2008
CRC1C - update and photo
Posted by Andrea Carter in : Costa Rica Clasica , add a comment
¡Hola amigos y familias!
Everything is wonderful here in Costa Rica!
We are currently with our second host families in Monteverde, and although everyone was anxious to be with the group, we are having so much fun with our tico families! We have been spending our mornings touring local sites like the Santa Elena Reserve and El Traipiche sugar cane and coffee plantation! We have seen lots of wildlife and this morning saw a sloth sleeping in a tree!
During the afternoons, we are hitting the books at Spanish school and try to talk only in Spanish for 4 hours every afternoon!
We still have a few more days here to enjoy more field trips (including zip lining in the cloud forest!), language school and our wonderful host families. Everyone is happy and healthy and having such a great time!
We head to our final destination (it has gone by SO fast) on Friday and drive down the mountain to the Rio Pacuare for rafting! We hope everyone is doing well and you will hear from us again soon!
Hasta, Andrea, Gustavo and the crew from AAVE, CRC1C CRC1C
CRC1B - update and photo
Posted by AAVE Leader in : Costa Rica Clasica , add a comment
Hola AAVE Families and Office Staff!
Things are going really well here at Spanish school! We spent the morning at the beach and they are just about done with classes now. The AAVE lifestyle is now routine and we have all decided to live pura vida forever!
Attached is a photo of us at the beach in Flamingo. We are an amazing team and I feel very luckyÿto be their leader and so proud of their progress and bonding! Hope all is well back north and I will write (and send more pics again), soon!
Much love,
Sean and the AAVE Costa Rica Team
“I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestioned ability of a man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.” - Sister Hazel
CRC1C Photos
Posted by Andrea Carter in : Costa Rica Clasica , add a comment
