Monday, July 9, 2018

2018 Summer Adventure: Day Two, Road Trip

2018 Summer Adventure

Sorry we are posting a few days late.  We've been so busy and so tired each night, we get back to the hotel and just crash to the sounds of crickets, frogs and the jungle.

Day Two:  July 5th
We leave Liberia for our home for the next 2 weeks:

Horquetas de Sarapiqui

Each day is a new day, a new experience, a new wonder and a new love.  

Each day we pray for God's guidance, His peace and His patience.

He has blessed us abundantly.

Each day we see a sparkle of God's beauty in the tapestry he has painted in our midst.  

Each day we decide what new experience, what new adventure we share with our loved ones back home.

What a day filled with adventures!  


Woke up, ate breakfast and packed our bags to get on the bus with Denis, our new best friend and his wife Damaris.  Off we went. 


Then, our first stop was at the bank due to some construction payment complications- kids decided to exchange their US dollars to Costarican Colones. With their cash in hand, each grabbed a ticket and waited for their number to be called.


Josie and Frank had exchanged their money and when it was Johnny and West's turn there was a little problem. The lady looked at their passports and realized they were too young. That meant that Johnny and West weren't able to exchange money and Josie and Frank had to re exchange their money and get US dollars back. We learned that you are not supposed to exchange money unless you are 18 and older.  Best part was that the women who helped Josie and Frank didn't know what to do... they had to consult with their "jefe"...classic!   With the help of the bus driver's wife, they gave her their money and she exchanged it. All was good and Nancy did what she needed to as well. Soon after, the kids were off to spend their new money on costarican snacks and beverages for our bus ride.




After a short bus ride (3 hours) to Upala, just a hop, skip and a jump for Nicaragua, we stopped for an amazing meal and a priceless cultural experience.  We entered the market in search of a place for lunch.  After walking and observing the different, small business establishments and multiple "sodas" (mini cafe type countertop restaurant), we decided on "soda de Lindo"...

Group favorites were cow tongue, liver, carrot and orange juice, and the atmosphere of sitting around the counter and sharing "casados" our first meal together as a group.

A "casado" is a typical meal with a your choice of a meat, rice, beans, fried plantains, a salad, cheese an some form of potato (in our case, mashed).

Once everyone had a full stomach we got back on the bus and were getting even closer to our destination. while we were on our way we saw a vendor on the side of the road selling "mamones chinos".     -- Everyone got their own bag and we again hopped back on the bus.  

We were getting closer and closer to our hotel "Sueno Azul" and we finally arrived! We unpacked our bags from the bus and carried everything over a bridge.

THE BRIDGE
"ohh my gosh"  says Josie.  It's a wobbly, single person walkway over a flowing river with rapids and rocks.  Green forest surrounds our view and as we approach the other side, a "Bienvenidos" sign greets us.


As we approach the lobby, pulling our bags over cobblestones, and past the swimming pool, we are pleasantly greeted with our welcome drinks of fresh passion fruit juice. YUM!


After a quick dip in the pool for the kids and an Imperial for the adults...



---we gathered for a meal together and to share the highlights of the day. 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY:

We decided that at the end of everyday, (or the beginning of the next, depending on how tired we are) we would gather and each share one highlight of the day.  Highlights of Day 2:

  • Frank:  The bridge was super cool
  • West:  The food, all the food
  • Johnny:  Everything!
  • Josie:  Manones chinos from the vendor on the roadside
  • Paul:  The housing stock.  Homes here are very different than those back home.
  • Nancy:  Watching the kids master their Spanish everywhere we went.
  • Jeff:  Going to US owned discount store (not to be named) to look for level and all the strange looks from "ticos" as he and Paul walk side-by-side.  




Thursday, July 5, 2018

2018 Summer Adventure

Day One:  July 4th  

We leave our beloved country on it's birthday to celebrate a new kind of life in Horquetas de Sarapiqui


Each day is a new day, a new experience, a new wonder and a new love.  

Each day we pray for God's guidance, His peace and His patience.

He has blessed us abundantly.

Each day we see a sparkle of God's beauty in the tapestry he has painted in our midst.  

Each day we decide what new experience, what new adventure we share with our loved ones back home.


Today on this day, seven of our adventurous volunteers will meet in Liberia, Costa Rica.  Paul Bertucci left a day to encounter his own adventures.  Jeff Larson left on his own a bit later than us to enjoy a few more hours of sleep in his comfy, "size appropriate" Minnesota bed.

As for the five of us (Nancy and West Alvarado, Josie Kietzmann, Johnny Falzone and Frank Lizzi).  We arrived early to depart together on this journey.  
Costa Rica here we come!

The day was long, but not without adventure, laughs and new beginnings.  One adult and four youth... what can possibly go wrong?  First:  Nancy's bag was searched... culprit was the Spot It card game.  Johnny's bag was then searched... culprit... Swedish fish.  Frank's bag was opened at customs... culprit St. Louis Park based Nordicware bundt pans.  And somehow, Josie was able to sneak scissors through... what an adventure!

We made it to Houston!
While in Houston (for a very long layover) we ate, we walked, we painted our nails, walked some more, we ate again, we read, we gamed, we waited.

  
Then, finally, we board, we do more reading, more gaming, more eating, some sleeping, listen to a very sad baby cry, and finally...

YA ESTAMOS AQUI EN COSTA RICA - PURA VIDA
We grabbed our bags and headed to our simple hotel located in downtown Liberia.  
It's hot and sticky here but we are ready for our next adventure. 

Now let's let this real journey begin!

Stay tuned... more to come...