Costa Rica

In the morning we got up and went for a walk in search of the bus station to find a bus to Fortuna. I asked at a Libreria for directions and what do you know, first try and we found it. The next bus leaves at 1230. On our way back to the Hotel we stopped to use the computer. Then back to pack up our things and watch a little more tv. We've been tv free since we left Alajuela on the 24th of April. It was nice just to curl up and watch movies. The bus to Fortuna was beautiful, not the bus, but the scenery. The lush rolling hills, the sky was clear blue, the sun was warm. It was beautiful. In Fortuna we found a hotel, Hotel San Bosco. Classy place. Hotel San Bosco is a little more fancy shmansy then what we'd been used to for the past 4 weeks but now we were on vacation. Our first day we spent walking around town, checking things out and going for a swim in the pool!!! On the Sunday we booked a tour to see Volcan Arenal and then to Tabacon Hot Springs.

The tour was a 2 hour walk through a reserve near the volcano which was wonderful, though steep inclines. Then we went around the backside of the volcano to see lava. Lava we saw!! Nothing fantastic or overwhelming but we saw lava. After the lava we headed to Tabacon Hot Springs, something I have never done before. The hot springs were nice, I wish we had more time there, especially because when we got there it was dark. After we spent some time in a few different pools, it was time for our buffet dinner(I said we were on vacation). After dinner we were picked up and taking back to San Bosco.

The next morning we went back to Alajuela on a "direct" bus. We stayed at the Maleku Hostel again, its great there. We made it there without a hitch, and the bus even dropped us off about 5 minutes away. That night we went to our favourite Mas X Menos for some food and surprisingly great dinner. After dinner it was bedtime for me and up early the next morning.

Our last day in Costa Rica was spent souvenir shopping in Sarchi. We took a bus to Sarchi, it was about an hour. We bought some last minute things and had a wonderful lunch at a small nearby soda. Gallo Pinto for me and Casado con carne for Ali. Taaaasty!! After we took the bus back to Alajuela we dropped our things off at the hostel and went the the nearby mall. It was about the size of Brentwood Mall in Burnaby I'd say. One of the few "malls" in Costa Rica.

On the 30th we got up early to catch our plane. Just before we left I found out that our flight was delayed by 5 hours. It was a long trip home. When our plane finally left San Jose at 2pm we thought we were staying in the Dallas airport for the night. Because of the awful weather most flights were delayed thank goodness. In Dallas when we arrived, we found out that we could catch a direct plane to Vancouver, except we had to go on standby. Luckily after getting to the terminal in less then 35 minutes we caught our direct plane home. We were sooooooo happy because neither of us wanted to spend the night in Dallas, especially me. When we got to Vancouver, after waiting for ALL the bags to come out, both my bags were not there. They were in Dallas. Over the next two days they both arrived at my house.

It was a wonderful trip, I would have liked a week or two longer but it was great regardless. I can't wait to go back...

Where I left off... somewhere near Wednesday, going to spend a night with a BriBri family. After picking up some gifts and stuff from the vendors in town we cycled back to the Bridge. Shortly after putting some laundry in the dryer, I bid farwell to Barry and Ali, and off I went with Alejandro, Willi and Maria (Niña) into the mountains. The walk which is what they call it and I call it hike, starts off pretty shortly after you leave the Bridge. They said I needed botas (boots) and they were right. We ascended and descended through rivers and muddy hills for about 30 minutes until we reached the last climb up to their house. Its incredible to believe that these kids walk this path every day to and from school, usually by themselves. When we got there we sat in the kitchen area for alittle while, until the kids went down to the river to wash dishes, which really means play in the river. The river is down another incredibly dangerous hill but I made it down and back up in one piece. The whole family goes up and down carry dishes, clothes, 4 bottles the size of Javex bleach full of water, barefoot. Its a feat though to them its normal. Mother Maria made the family dinner, fried chicken, rice and beans. Their meals usually consist only of rice and beans but as a part of my stay, I brought meat for dinner. After dinner night fell very quickly and off to bed we went. Unfortunately after dinner I got really sick, and spent some time in the bushes vomitting. I´m alive. After surviving the night of a feverish sweat, we got up and spent some more time in the kitchen. Niña took me back to the Bridge shortly after around 830 for Soup Kitchen, our last soup kitchen.

Our last soup kitchen was pretty slow, not a whole lot happened. On Wednesday Nanci took two girls in the car to Turrialba and on the way back on Thursday they had some hig car problems. Throughout the day Nanci called us with updates. The right axel broke and repaired by a mechanic. I helped Maria cut the vegetables for next weeks soup and then we left for the last time. Thursday night was mostly packing and getting ready to leave on Friday.

It´s different not being in Puerto Viejo, the air is different and there´s no ocean here in San Ramon.

Love
Ashley

So that is right, I'll be back in the country of Canada in 11 days. Quite sad indeed. I really like working at The Bridge, spending time with the famillies. Things are always exciting there, always something going on. Recently, theres been a bit of hmm... discussion about a problem with the school. Every week, one teacher always asks her students for money about evrey 2-3 days. It is illlegal in Costa Rica, but as with many other things it happens. One boy, Alejandro has been saving for a long time to buy a bicycle. They cost about $80.00, and he had almost that much money in the bank. (Note, that he is one of the few BriBri WITH a bank account) Over the school year, since Feb. because the Bridge doesn't have the money, and his family doesnt have the money, his family has been using the money to pay the school. At first it was $1 then 2 then 5 then $10. Around here, $10 is ALOT! Anyhow, Alejandros parents and Barry & Nanci are up in arms about this. As the saga goes on, the school isn't doing much about it and the teachers comment was "Don't send you're children to school if you can't afford it." Primary education in Costa Rica for children is mandatory.

Other then the joys of NGO work in peripheral countries, things are great! Nanci and I took a few kids down to Manzanillo and picked some Noni (a really disgusting fruit that grows on trees). The BriBri kids are a lot of fun, and they are the ones to ask if you're ever looking for animals. They can spot em, miles away. Manzanillo is really beautiful. Only a few steps from Panama is how far south we went. The trip was rather uneventful, we stopped at a small tienda and Nanci bought us all an apple. A wonderful very expensive treat. One apple costs about 310 colones.. so about 75 cents for one apple. Delicious.

Yesterday Nanci, Ali and I went to Limon to pick up some school books for the kids. Limon is a untouristy city. I like it, its not BIG like San Jose but more lively then here. We had lunch at a cafe, some great chinese food.. possibly better then anything I've had at home. Except maybe for Hon's. We picked up a few of the books we needed and came back. Its about an hours drive north of here, and thank goodness the roads are paved. Otherwise it would be 3 hours one way!

We've made travel plans for our last few days. On the 25th we're leaving for San Ramon, then up to La Fortuna to see Volcan Arenal and then back down to Sarchi for some arts & craft fare and then to Alajuela for our last day. Thats it for now, unless I can find money to pay for school in September, and I'll stay here for another month.

love,
ashley

Back in town again today. We were supposed to go to Don Candido's today, but they had to take care of some "real estate" issues. I'm not exactly sure what they are doing or when we're going back. Whenever they give us the call. The weather has been pretty good. Its been raining, hooray! It keeps the temperature a little lower but more bugs to bite me. Last night after dinner we went down to the beach to catch the end of the storm. The lightening and thunder was incredible. It lights up the entire sky, the beach faces East, and there are no mountains, just ocean. I wish I could transport pictures in my mind for all to see.

Soup kitchen on Saturday was wonderful. Maria and her children run soup kitchen on Saturdays to pay for their weekly grocery bag. They are a well oiled machine that group. After soup service ended, I went out to play with some children. Someone came down and brought a HUGE donation of kids stuff, clothes, underware, books, paper, and bubbles. We brought the bubbles out. Barry has said a few times and I believe its true, that at the heart of all the BriBri children, they are like any other child you've met. They love to laugh and play. However, there is something very different about them, then a "western" child. They will play for hours with a simple stick. Bubbles were even better. We ran in the street, seeing who could blow the biggest bubble and keep it on their wand. The little babies, would run and try and catch the bubbles. The only lame part - I forgot my camera. I won't do that again.

No plans for this week. Soup kitchen tomorrow, and possible Don Candido's sometime this week. The mosquitos have taken a liking to my legs, and feet. I think we've decided that I have about 100+ bites, some old some new. Some are itchy, some arent. So I'm off to the Farmacia for some dental floss and possibly new mosquito repellent. The OFF with Deet, is not working.

xox
Ashley

Well it has been awhile since my last entry, mainly because i have been out of comission so to speak. I spent a lot of time in bed over the past few days, either there or extracting liquid from my body in the most inconvinient ways! In anycase, it all amounted to yet another interesting and educational experience with our friend Don Candido. I went to see Senor Candido on Saturday about my ailments. After the usual gleeful greeting, he took me into the back of his examination room where i experienced indigenous bribri diagnotic techniques. Let's just say it involves pressure points and if you think you have felt the pain of squeezing on those pressure points oooh times that by 5 and you'd have some idea of what it feels like. In the end though it was all worth while as the plants Don Candido gave me to make some teas with seem to be working rather well, although one of them tastes butt awful! =Þ

-Ali