Day 8 - On the Road

Today was an incredibly long day.  We had breakfast at 7, had to be packed by 8, and then left for our community service projects.  We didn't need as many workers at Bahia Ballena school, so a few students stayed at the house to work with Mateo.  They worked on the compost at the house, put in a drainage ditch, and helped set up more clotheslines for swimsuits and towels.  They really enjoyed working with Mateo and learning about why nearly all Costa Ricans compost and what the benefits are.

The other group went to the school to paint.  12 students went in one van and we worked on completing one of the classrooms.  It looks great!  We asked Ashley to send us pictures when the next Surf and Service group comes in to finish the job.  Although we didn't get to play with the students today, we did get to work with Jeffe, the 4 year old son of the teacher.  He is adorable and he was a wonderful helper!

We went back to Casa de Surf at 11 for our last meal at the house.  Thankfully it was our last because we found out that the water wasn't working.  This did mean, however, that we would all have to pile into the bus for Turrialba without showering after working all morning...  We said our goodbyes to Gerald, Ashley, Raquel, and our good ol' buddy Salvo.  At this point in time, we met our new bus driver, Choco.  What a character!  Hopefully I can get a picture tomorrow to give you an idea of what he is like.

So far, we've basically travelled in a giant loop.  The beach house was on the coast in Uvita and we had to drive all the way up to Turrialba.  It looks like a straight shot, but Costa Rica doesn't really have highways- just narrow, winding roads.  We had to drive from sea level to an elevation of 9,000 feet winding around mountains and volcanoes.  It'd be like taking a road like County Line across the state of West Virginia instead of taking I-77.  Not a great example, but that's how narrow it is and how much it winds.  Thankfully Choco got us here in one piece in just 6 short hours...

Once we reached Turrialba, Mau brought us to Pops for ice cream.  Pops was my favorite place my last visit- I think I went twice in the day and a half we were here.  It's family run and they have the BEST flavors.  After that, we walked to a souvenir shop to pick up some goodies.  It took us a little while, but we made our way to the hotel at 8.

Mau decided that it would be best to have dinner first, then get everyone sent off to their rooms.  We were just about to hand out room keys when the entire lodge began to sway and shake.  It felt like a subway was arriving underneath the patio.  We experienced our first Costa Rican earthquake!  Both Irazu and Turrialba volcanoes have been pretty active this week, so it was no surprise to anyone who lives here.  It did, however, cause a LOT of commotion with our group!  We haven't felt anything since, but it will be interesting to see how well we sleep tonight.  If you hear anything about it on the news tomorrow, don't worry because we're fine :)

Rafting will be an ALL day excursion tomorrow.  We are already tired, but I'm sure that our group will muster up the energy for a day on the river.  Choco will pick us up at the end of the river, all the way out in Siquirres, then we'll have to loop all the way back into San Jose.  It will be another long drive, but much better than waking up to leave for the airport before 4 AM to get there on time... oh wait... we've done that before.  Well, now we won't have to do it again.

My apologies for not getting everything to you this week.  I wasn't sure when we'd have wifi and it turned out that the surf house didn't have it.  I will get pictures added to my posts ASAP.  Just remember when you DON'T hear from us, it's good because we're having too much fun :)  See you soon!