Dawn in Costa Rica

Got up early and showed Richard around San Jose. Walked to the host family’s restaurant but it wasn’t open/ Juan saw us and opened up and met Richard but didn’t offer us a coffee even- never mind! Met Jacky for lunch in the market where we bought fish for the evening meal. Then checked out at The Gran hotel and valet got our car for us! Then set off to Llano Grande in the mountains. Couldn’t find the house at first so had to contact the host who directed us back s short way and had Manuel meet us and open the gates for us. The place is fantastic- like on top of the world/ tremendous views! Katie and Dan arrived 3ish but took ages going through immigration but arrived by 7.49pm by taxi! Was so good to see them!

Has a great meal – cerviche , followed by shark steak and fruit for dessert and much wine! Had the champagne to celebrate Richard’s retirement and end of my volunteering! Temperature certainly drops in the evening !

My last day at La Carpio- were given wonderful heart cards from all the kids- hoping that we will return soon and thanking us for all our help and wishing us well! Maria told us that we were the best thing that has happened to them and that we were obviously sent from God!

Jacky and I had a wonderful last meal together and then did a supermarket shop- buying wine and produce for the weekend and then got a taxi to the house and another to the Gran Hotel. Arrived with so many bags for just one night and they had upgraded me fir a wonderful suite. It was great to have s really hot shower with soft thick towels and nice body products!

Richard was late arriving as kept missing the hotel! But then had a super meal and Prosecco and when we got back to our room had a bottle of champagne and chocolate fruits due to a fictitious anniversary!

So great to be back with Richard and will be seeing Katie and Dan tomorrow- so excited!

Great day at La Carpio- the children are always so pleased to see us and Maria and the Pastoria are always excited to see what we have planned. Painted and glittered toucans and the adults wanted to do it as well!

Had our exit interview and we weren’t popular as had several comments to make and wanted a breakdown of where all our money went!

Last day tomorrow- very excited to see Richard and also looking forward to a night at the Gran Hotel- a bit of luxury and no more planning to do! Katie and Dan will also be arriving on Friday for a long weekend which will be fantastic!b

Last week at Pre School- time has gone so quickly! And Richard will be arriving in 2 days!!

The children at La Carpio are so pleased to see us- it’s so lovely! Emmy- our mentor turned up today and was given a glowing report on our rapport with the children and their progress! Apparently God sent us to help them! Divine intervention!

Still walking miles and finding new places in San Jose. Did our last Salsa class yesterday which is some workout!

Another early start- 6am at the canal for a 3 hour boat trip around the national park. Saw spider monkeys, caiman, toucans and so much more. And it really is a rainforest as poured with rain several times on our trip and next moment was humid with blue sky!

Came back for a delicious breakfast and then had a swim before saying goodbye to the lovely Laguna hotel and back on the boat for another 3hour trip down the waterways to Limon

Then lunch at a lorry stop that served great food and a 2.5 hour drive back to San Jose. An American girl is staying for the week but she thinks English peoples spoken English is hard to understand!! Now need to get ready for class!!

Very early start as picked up at 5.40am! 1.5 hours drive and then stopped at this delightful place for a lovely breakfast of fruits and coffee and buffet. Then another 1.5 hrs and got on a boat for a 3-4 hour ride along the canals and rivers past all the mangroves. Saw so many different birds including herons, egrets, kingfishers, snake birds and a chestnut mandibles toucan

Also saw south’s , howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys, male and female basilist lizards and so much more

Arrived at a lovely hotel on the river and with the sea behind. Had s late lunch and s swim and then off by boat to the town of tortuguera. A beautiful peaceful place

Can not believe that today is my last Friday at the pre school as Richard will be arriving next Thursday- so excited!!

Preschool was a bit dramatic as had a prayer group at back of church – all women holding hands in a circle and chanting to God- getting louder and more passionate! The children didn’t seem to notice but certainly had to speak loudly to get heard over the noise!!

Made lion masks today which went down well with many action songs and mini gymnastics!

Walked around a new area of San Jose today – had some beautiful buildings and lovely restaurants. Had the Plat du hour – a 3 course meal with drink for only £6-£7!!

Came back early and washed clothes and packed backpack for our trip to Tortuguerra tomorrow- another early start! Being picked up at 5.40am!!

We were fortunate that the protest wasn’t on today so didn’t have to walk miles! In pre school got the children to make snakes out of pipe cleaners!h

After walked onto the Costa Rican museum of modern art-,some amazing large paintings so detailed and very sci fi

Then walked onto Sister Maria Romero’s museum. She was some woman who wanted to help the poor with education and health care. She went to the bank and asked for a loan to build on a lot she had been given and said that the Virgin Mary would be the guarantor! And so she got the loan and somehow received donations each month to make her loan payments. She has been to Rome and met the Pope and has now been beatified and waiting for Sainthood. She is claimed to have performed many miracles- an unborn baby was diagnosed with cleft lip and palate recently but was born perfect and the medics have no explanation! Whatever she was a special al lady!

Walked 8.5 miles today and still have a swollen left ankle!!

Another dramatic start- bus couldn’t enter La Carpio as a road block so had to walk through the village to the church for our ore school. There was a massive protest rally on to give all of he citizens of La Carpio access to free drinking water as many have only been receiving a very limited supply whilst the rest of San Jose does not have any problems. So the poorest community are being forced to have to pay for drinking water which they cannot afford to do! Therefore we arrived late but managed to get through our topics and introduced gymnastics at the end which they loved! Had to walk back through the town uphill in the midday heat! We have walked our furthest today- over 10 miles! Our mentor was supposed to come out to see us but she just went back on the bus and was so astonished that we walked!

Had cookery class today- made empanadas out of boiled plantains and corn flour with cheese in the middle and then quickly fried- certainly different!

The class size is still growing unbelievably ! Revised body parts , colours and shapes and introduced wild animals- they loved making all the appropriate noises! Coloured in animal faces!

On return to Downtown we visited the free outdoor sculpture exhibition of Jiminez Deredia

The last Pope commissioned one of his scuppers for the Vatican.

We then visited the Gold museum- very interesting and took ages.

Then onto the restaurant for an early supper and a wine before heading home for class preparation again