For a tropical country the Ticos really get into Christmas. My family and I headed into the town for the lighting of the decorations - very interesting. Was sort of like a parade but with each music/dance group doing their own route. It got a bit complicated when the groups bumped into each other but nobody seemed to care. I met even more family members and tons of their amigos. Marathon time! So on Monday I was able to find one of the 3 places where you co...

Finished up a great week in Monteverde. Took a great trip to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve - a cloud forest is actually a rainforest with more humidity (100%). Saw a lot of interesting creatures including the Quetzal - rare bird to see and is supposed to bring good luck. My favorite was the tarantula - have never seen one in the wild.Didn't have a traditional Turkey day (actually ate spaghetti on rice??) but that's OK - instead we took dance lessons at t...

Sunday afternoon I moved in with my Tico family (host family) and we headed off to a fiesta - their friend's birthday party. Complete with way too much food, pinatas and dancing. Even had a bunch of 6 - 8 year olds beat me badly at soccer - they thought it was so funny!Started classes on Monday and right away really liked the professora and the other students. All sorts of backgrounds and a few of them have even done the same thing I have - quit their careers ...

On Fri 11/16 I took the six hour public bus up the very narrow and poorly maintained dirt road to Monteverde - only $5! At the hostel I met Darla, a fun Seattle girl and we explored the town in the wind and rain. For dinner we had a very classy wine and cheese party in the dorm. On Saturday Darla and I went zip lining in the cloud forest canopies - amazing! The clouds fill the valleys so when you zip through you are in the clouds! Didn't take a camera since i...

Landed Wed 11/14 in San Jose. Everyone has said how awful the city is but I had a good time. Met a couple Australians and walked around the town looking for watches - no more cell phones to use for the time! Later I was able to fit in some hammock time! At night went roller skating with some other Americans. Very random but a lot of fun - the Ticos (locals) really get into their skating!