Fun in San Pedro

This past weekend was the TEFL party for many of my new friends, so I just had to attend another one. The theme was the 80's, though teacher dressed in drag. On left, from L-R are Kaitlin, Jaci, Marcella, Heather, and teacher Natalie (all in the TEFL class that came after my own)

Me and Jaci after she beat me in the limbo contest (it wasnt fair, she was a gymnast)

Me and Heather

me and Jayme's Tico friend Alvaro (I dont know who the guy in the scarf is)

Tica train to a karaoke bar in San Pedro

Singing "total eclipse of the heart"- me, Natalie, Heather, Jaci

Superstition

Ridin' the tica train to the karaoke bar

4 ticos and a mexican (well, she's actually from California)







Kaitlin's last night- we'll miss you

Enrique and Jessica (Ticos)

Kaitlin's last night dinner party- L-R Jaci, Derrick, Natalie, Marcella, Katia, Kaitlin, Heather, me

Puerto Viejo and Calhuita

Whilst waiting for my visa to be processed (no idea how long this could go on!) I decided to head out to the Caribbean (how nice...only 4 hours to get to paradise!). I stayed in Puerto Viejo, a town that first attracted surfers for a good wave, known at "salsa brava" (meaning brave sauce). Now the little town has been somewhat touched by tourism, but is still much undiscovered in comparison to the resort-jammed pacific coast. I stayed at a hostel called "Rockin' Jays" which has everything from a hammock hotel and tents for rent, to a tree house. There are always tons of people around to chat with, and J's is located right on the beach.

The town of Puerto Viejo. My friend Kaitlin, now scarface. We were trying to bike back to the hostel on the beach, and Kaitlin broke a branch with her face. It was pretty bloody but at least it didn't get her eye!

Rockin' J's- decorated all over with colorful mosaic artwork and paintings.

We could bike everywhere! (Thats Derrick on my left, he's from Michigan.

Lunch on the beach - peanut butter and jelly with a little sand.

This was actually in San Pedro at the Jazz cafe- Marcella is on the left, another TEFL student in Kaitlins class.

Hammock pavillion, great place for a siesta!




Gorgeous beach.

Time to hydrate!

After my friends had left, I spent my last day in Calhuita with a couple guys I had met in the hostel.

Howler monkey in Calhuita Park.

Playa Blanco in the park, Calhuita.

Sloth.

From Rita's house to the new place

This is my new apartment and bedroom.... shared house with 3 other americans at the moment.

My old place at Dona Rita's, my Tica family.

The family dog... can't say I miss that thing barking out my window every day!



Family turtle- named Rita.

Me and Tica Mamma Rita.







Rita with Kaitlin and Lois, TEFL students living in the house.

Monteverde Cloud Forest

Jessie and I hiking in the Monteverde Reserve Cloud forest!

We survived!


Jessie with Flor in helmet

So after my most exciting job interview in Coronado for an elementary English teacher position ( I got it as long as they can get me a work visa!) I headed out to Monteverde to the Rainforest with my old roomates Jeff and Jessica, their friend from school Michelle, and their friend from Argentina Juan. The first day we were there we went for the EXTREMO ZIPLINE CANOPY TOUR! It was awesome...there were 14 ziplines in all, including one rapelling and one tarzan swing. Very fun, and some of the best views I've gotten yet in Costa Rica!











Me as tarzan! (none of the others girls would do this one)- lucky for me I went first, and really had no choice when teh Tico pushed me off the platform!

Michelle Me and Michelle- it was windy going across the valley so we had to go together so we could make it!

Weeeeee! Thats me!

Me and Jeff