Pura Vida en Costa Rica

One more time! My final country summary blog, so bittersweet. Costa Rica was like a half port since it was only three days, but it was fun and relaxing. Apparently we’re the first semester where finals have been done before the last port, but I can’t imagine it any other way. With everything done and out of the way, we could just relax and enjoy some final moments with our friends. It was pura vida! That’s Costa Rica’s phrase – if anyone asks you how you are or how something is, that’s how you should respond. In English it means “pure life;” I think it’s a wonderful phrase, I plan on adapting it.

Our first day we docked in Port Caldera instead of Puntarenas because they had two big cruise ships in so there was no room for us. Port Caldera had no town at all, which wasn’t a problem for most people headed off to beach houses, but Alison and I were a little worried about what we were going to do. Last minute we checked in the ticket donation box and got two free tickets for an SAS outrigger canoe trip. We ran to the Union to get tender tickets (yep, we got to tender one last time!) and they said we had to run to catch it. We didn’t have anything with us so we dashed to our rooms and threw bags together. We ended up missing that tender but got on the next and the bus was still there waiting for people to show up! We were very lucky, but very unprepared, but it was free so it all worked out! The trip ended up being a lot of fun. We took canoes out onto the ocean – they had floating braces on either side so no chance of tipping over – and rowed out to a secluded beach about 45 minutes away. We were not very good at first with our coordination; we thought we had gotten better by the end but our guide was still laughing at us. We even got to do the synchronized switching rowing sides by lifting the paddles into the air. We had an hour or so on the beach to explore. There was a small waterfall that’s formed by rainwater coming down the mountain. We took a short hike through the forest and saw a white-faced monkey up in the trees. Then we stumbled upon a huge trail of leaf-cutter ants. It was one of the coolest things to witness; we walked alongside them for a ways, just a path of little green dots trotting up the hill. Before we headed back out on the water they served us fruit; I had some Costa Rican pineapple, which is pretty much my favorite fruit ever now – too bad they don’t sell it in the States. It’s white, unlike Hawaiian pineapple, and has less of a citrusy taste, which would explain why I like it and hate other pineapple. Back at the canoe headquarters we spotted Scarlet Macao up in the trees! Apparently this was really lucky; the birds are monogamous and always travel in pairs, and when one dies the other dies of heartbreak. We had plans to go back out after getting on the ship to clean up, but they ended up stopping tenders early at 6:30 because the water was too rough. The ship moved from Port Caldera to Puntarenas that night.

The second day Alison and I explored Puntarenas – it was basically the two of us the entire port because all our other friends were on extended trips and abandoned us. We walked around the town, most of which was shoe stores and black market DVD and backpack sales on the street. Down by the beach there were a couple blocks of vendors. Surprisingly we didn’t buy much, but it was mainly because since this is the last county we all realize how little room we have left in our suitcases. We went to lunch at a place by the pier and got lots of delicious seafood and tropical drinks! Then we spent the afternoon on the beach. There was a nice breeze so it didn’t feel hot at all, and the water was the perfect temperature. It was a little bit dirty, but it was in sight of our ship so it was pura vida. That night we walked around and got some ice cream and then strolled on the beach. It was pretty uneventful until we passed a sea turtle! It was dead and lying on the beach rotting, it was pretty disturbing and sad.

The last day was my canopy adventure! Ziplining through the rainforest. I was so excited for this trip, but also kind of nervous because I haven’t always been so good with heights. We got all decked out in harnesses and helmets and leather gloves, I was looking pretty hot! We started on a short line as a practice one, and then had 7 more lines. They would strap you in – I would have to get on my tiptoes so they could attach the pulleys since I’m so short – and then you place one hand on the ropes attaching you to the cable and one reaches behind your head. That hand forms an OK sign around the cable while you’re going, and to stop you lower your palm onto the cable. I got pretty good at stopping at just the right moment and landing on the box on the platform. I only got turned around a little on the longest line, and never once got stuck before the platform and had to pull myself in. Alison was not so lucky haha – she got stuck and even ran into a guide on one platform because she couldn’t stop herself. The third cable was the longest, and it ran out over the riverbed and then into the trees. Some of the trees seemed too close for comfort, but I only grazed a couple with my feet. For this line the guides pulled you back up the cable a couple feet and you had to pull into a tuck so your feet wouldn’t hit the platform, then they pushed you off. They did a false-start for me and scared me, but once I really went it was spectacular, wind just flying past your face and the most amazing views. We had the same guide the first and last days, and he told this incredible story about watching a man get attacked by a crocodile – it seemed like it might be a tall tale at first but by the end he had me convinced, either way it’s an incredible story. One of the rivers we drove over has 20-25 crocodiles per square kilometer – absolutely ridiculous. There are crocodile tours and the guides will hold chickens out over the water and hit the crocs on their snouts. Ronaldo was on one and the guide was hitting the croc on snout, but the third time the croc grabbed his hand and pulled him into the water with the man on his back and his hand still in the croc’s mouth. The croc kept pulling him under and finally Ronaldo remembered he had heard they’ll let you go if you gauge them in the eyes, so the man tried it and the croc released him but then tried to catch him again. Luckily they started the boat and it scared the croc off and they pulled the man into the boat. He survived with only a couple scars on his hand and on his chest where he got stabbed with a talon. Absolutely insane. That night Bering Sea got a special desert and champagne toast for having the most participants in the shipboard fund drive – 81% participation. The drive raises money for scholarships, and we raised around $30,000 this semester!

Today was the Ambassador’s Ball! It was a great night. Everyone got all dressed up, so it kind of felt like Homecoming haha. We had two seated dinners with multiple courses and a complimentary glass of champagne. The food was wonderful, which is going to make the next 3 days of normal ship food even harder. We started with dim sum, and then hot and sour soup, a mandarin orange salad, and choice of entrees – I got the filet mignon with asparagus, and I’m already craving more. It was so nice to just have a sit-down dinner with all our friends in our home away from home. Afterwards there was a dessert buffet and a dance. The dance was a time machine straight back to middle school – soooo awkward. And it’s on the closed circuit tv, so you can watch all the awkwardness even if you’re not there! It was still a great almost-ending to this trip. Tomorrow we transit the Panama Canal. We’re already back on east coast time, which is so strange to think about. Only three more days. . .