Been A While

Sorry for not posting for a while! It's been an interesting week or so. Got to see the other coast in Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean side. It is a totally different experience- environmentally, culturally, atmospherically- and I loved it. It's got a beach bum Bob Marley feel to it, and it was totally chill.
We stayed in a hostel for the first time, and that was quite an experience! It is totally culturally different as well. It is a cheaper way for people to stay somewhere overnight- uually students and cross county backpackers. In the hostel, the first night, we stayed in tents. They had an entire loft that was just tents side by side, $7per person and you can keep your belongings in massive lockers down below. The second night, we elected to try something totally different and even cheaper- we stayed in hammocks that rent out at $5 a night! It was a fantastic experience. While we were there, we met people from ALL OVER- apparently, Puerto Viejo is a major backpacking stop. I met people from Austria, Holland, Australia, the UK, and Sweden. I think more too, I just didn't catch where they were from.
I also got the chance to make a Tica friend- she didn't know any English, so it was a great opportunity for me to practice. At the end of the night, she gave me her bracelet as a keepsake- how sweet!
Another part of the experience was renting bikes- the bikes were old, pedal-brake bikes with baskets on the front, $5 for a day. They turned out to be a great investment, as we rode about ten miles in total. During the day, we also got to see a surf competition- for someone who lives nowhere near the ocean, that was a unique experience!
We also got to visit a wildlife preserve where we got to play with howler monkeys and sloths, as well as seeing all kinds of poisonous snakes, frogs, an ocelot, and a really funny looking owl.
Of course, ther was also beach time. I got to see a black sand beach for the first time, and it almost glitters back at you. The waves on the Caribbean side are WAY bigger than the ones we saw the week before on the Pacific side, so I didnt swim too much.- but of course, it was very nice to be by the beach again. Love that sound. Right before we left, the tide was right for collecting small misc shells and coral pieces. I only got about 15, but they are unique and beautiful.
This weekend serves as a big celebration in both countries- back home, the Superbowl, which, gracias a Dios, I get in ESPN vivo here. Also, the same day is election day here in Costa Rica. THis is another thing I am learning to be culturally different. Here, it is a celebration of a peaceful history throughout their tme as an independent country. Having no army since 1949, the country prides itself on not needing military strength, and living as a fair democracy. People drive into the city throughout the entire week, putting a serious cramp on traffic, and party all day Saturday into election day Sunday. Everyone who is able to votes, and they continue partying. This year, there are four candidates, including their first female candidate- and the polls favor her. It proves to be an exciting event and a serious part of history that I cant wait to observe!
Check out my pictures on SHutterfly! (scroll down for a link)