A Quest for Adventure

The weather is changing for the better. Its been rainy since we arrived, I think we brought it with us from Orosi. The bus ride here was alright, other then my left leg - I seem to have some sort of bug bite that swelled up really big and its getting smaller now, but its bruised. I think it was a spider or something weird. Other then that weird thing, I'm pretty well though I look like I have chicken pox.

Puerto Viejo is an interesting place, lucky us were staying further out about 2kms away from town, which is a nice walk if there is no rain. We're in to pick up some groceries and take care of some other business. Highlights so far here probably the fruit, wonderful everything which makes what we have at home taste like crap. We are going to pick up some bikes on the way home as well, we need those to make getting around a little faster, not easier. The roads here, if you want to call em that, are bumpy - similar to a road in vancouver after our winter this year. They arent paved here, its just compact gravel. You just have to becareful when the cars and trucks go by to get out of the way so you don't get splashed by the muddy puddles.

After the rain stopped yesterday we went over to Barry and Nancy's to say hello. We talked for a while, I'm not sure how long, time seems to be a forgotten concept here. We start volunteering tomorrow, though what we are starting is still up in the air. Im excited, they are warm and wonderful people full of great stories to tell.

Time to head back out, for our walk back home.

xox
Ashley

yay we made it to orosi, which believe it or not was a lot more difficult than catching 3 planes in 12hours (avoid san fran airport at all costs, seriously the worst airport EVER!). anyways, orosi is great, a nice valley in the mist of rolling jungle hills...they grow lots and lots of coffee, bananas, patatos etc here. Its really small town though and few backpackers come out this way, which is really unfortunate because it is really worth the trip even though finding the bus from cartago to orosi may be a bit challenging! I have definately had fun here, largely because of the great people at the Montana Linda hostel, they also got a spanish school and they organise tours---went on a tour to volcano iruzu today and of the entire orosi valley, it was pretty cool and definately worth the trip, got some wicked photos! unfortunately, those wont be loaded till later but it´ll be worth the wait! they say the volcano, which it´s really active anymore may have an erruption soon, there have been some pretty good signs..
hm, so tomorrow we head out of orosi and continue navigating costa rica, going down south on the carribean side to puerto viejo talamanca (sp?), that´s where we will be volunteering and hanging out for the duration of our trip.

will write more soon...ciao

-Ali

If I were the little bit homesick, I cannot be anymore. Sitting here in PC Orosi an internet cafe not too far from where we are staying at Montaña Linda. The clouds just parted and a rain storm has just started as I write this. Thunder and all its quite nice, not like cold and wet Vancouver rain. The only thing I´m thinking about right now, is the walk-run back to the hostel. The rain is good reminds me of Vancouver in the summer when it just starts to rain.

Our adventure to Orosi on the 24th was an adventure. Three buses and we made it. And a lot of walking around San Jose, looking for the bus to Cartago. My spanish got a good workout asking for directions every couple of blocks. There are no signs in Costa Rica, pretty much anywhere, so figuring out exactly where you are and which way is North is a tad challenging.

Today we went on a wonderful tour of the area. We stopped at the top of the valley into Orosi, its a beautiful view, and chatted about some of the problemas here in Orosi. Then off to Volcan Irazu one of the active volcanoes in Costa Rica. It has three craters, one is still active. At the bottom of it, there is a large green pool. Its incredible, one of those gotta see it to believe it. After we finished walking around the volcano, we went back down to Ujjaras and Cartago to see a old church and a new church. When we were in Ujjaras, it was warm and wonderful, the ruins of the church were massive and still intact. The church in Cartago, Los Angeles, was more of a cathedral with large ornate stained glass windows. Shortly after, back to Orosi for some lunch and then a nap, 6 am was a little early.

Tomorrow we are off to Puerto Viejo by bus and possibly and hopefully taxi. If we do take a taxi it will only take about 6 hours, depending on how long the storm lasts. If we don´t take a taxi, we´ll be up somewhere around 8 hours or more. That will be another adventure.

Pictures and updates soon.

xox
Ashley

After three planes and a awful connection in San Fran, we made it. The airport in San Fran is not what I would call organized by ANY means. Lets just say I had some choice words as we pretty much ran through the airport. After we left San Fran things improved - our flight leaving Dallas was delayed by 15 minutes - lucky us - we had some time to spare at the airport to take a moment and a breath. The other great thing about the airport in Dallas was no security check!! Everything else went pretty well, were at the hostel in Alajuela. Made it to the Mas x Menos and back with some groceries.. off to bed soon.

xox
Ashley

Only a few hours to go, I cant wait to get on that first plane...actually i cant wait to be in Costa Rica. Getting there hm that's a bit of a different story. Afterall, nothing is more stressful than having one hour between connecting flights! well ok, maybe there are a few things but lets not go through the list...hm have a stop over in Dallas...not sure if that's a good idea right about now who knows they might be lynching canucks fans...all jokes aside we will be in Costa Rica soon, better brush up on my spanish phrase book!