May 3rd - Happy Birthday Heather

We spent 2 days in Costa Rica and I feel like it was almost a forgotten port for many. We were so focused on the 19 day crossing of the Pacific and preparations for arrival in Miami, that when we arrived in Costa Rica, it was a surprise! I enjoyed our time there and felt it really brought the voyage back full-circle. I walked off the ship and down the long pier back in to the hot sticky equatorial climate and Spanish-speaking country. Puntarenas wasn't much of a town and the Pier was really like a big long sidewalk that extended out in to the ocean allowed 2 cruise ships to dock at.The first morning, I was the trip leader for a Canopy Adventure. Costa Rica is known for it which is basically zip-lining around the tree tops. There were way too many students on the trip; 144, but when everyone finally did get their chance to play in the tree tops, we were a few hours behind schedule but everyone had a good time. I spent the afternoon roaming around Puntarenas, walked along the beach area, met up with Libby and Caleb and had the most amazing mangos ever! The beaches weren't that nice but the mangos were fantastic! It is peak mango season in Costa Rica right now and the trees are heavy with ripe, juicy, sweet mangos. After having a taste of one at the canopy place I was on a mission to get another. I found a fruit market on one of the streets and managed to ask the guy working there for one and if he would cut it up for me so I could just eat it right there. I tried to pay him but he wouldn't even take any money for it. It was so good…I thoroughly enjoyed walking down the street with mango dripping all over me!

Our first night, Amanda, Noah, Mario and I all went out to dinner for our last full night in Port. It was sad that LE couldn't join us since she was on a trip to the Arenal Volcoano. I think that is someplace I'd like to see someday! We had a good time, ate some Arroz Con Pollo and then walked around the town some more.

May 4th

On my second day in Costa Rica, I went horseback riding. Not sure why, but I really felt the need to do this. I was the trip leader again for this trip and there were only 20 people which was much much nicer. My horse's name was Julietta and we got along alright. I'm certainly not an expert horseback rider and was a little uncomfortable at first, especially on some of the terrain but got the hang of it towards the end of the ride. I didn't like going down the steep hills and Julietta didn't like the rocks. Once I figured out the signals she liked and she realized that I was the boss, we did much better together. Overall, I will not quit my job and become a Costa Rican Cowgirl, but once I relaxed, it was a lot of fun. After the ride, we once again were spoiled with some great fresh fruit. If I had to make a list of all the things I will miss most about this trip, the amazing tropical fruit we had everywhere would definitely be on it. Mangos, coconut, pineapple, jackfruit, those little baby bananas from Vietnam…and the list goes on!

After we returned back to the ship from horseback riding, I walked up the gangway of the M/V Explorer for the last time. It was almost 6pm, On-Ship Time was 8pm and there was just enough time for some dinner and to start gangway duty. The next time I'm on the gangway of the ship, it will be walking down and disembarking in Miami.