this was in the email... but now I am able to put it on the blog.....
Hola Familias!
This is our last evening in La Fortuna before we head to the coast. Meaning "the fortunate," La Fortuna has welcomed us and opened up our understanding of Costa Rica significantly! This town at the foot of the volcano has become cozy, and we are sad to leave it, but we know that there are more adventures ahead!
Today was one of the most spectacular days! We traveled to a local cave for a tour in the morning. I was thinking that this would be a somewhat corny Crystal Cave- like visit... oh no! We met our guide Victor and hiked down to the cave entrance where we noticed that there is a river flowing through the cave! With our helmets and headlamps we courageously entered into the unknown. Inside, we saw exquisite formations of stalagmites, limestone walls, and millions of years old caverns. We were in the womb of the earth! On our exploration, we were up to our knees in flowing water at times. Other caverns were only accessed by crawling on the ground. We saw a variety of well-adapted critters and even a few bats. It was an unforgettable adventure!
In the afternoon, we explored the waterfall which is also called La Fortuna.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Pura Vida Coastal Style
Hola Familias!
Now on the Caribbean coast, we have been spending the days moving through some much warmer weather and soaking in the sun. Yesterday was the highlight of the trip. We traveled into the interior mountains to the Guaymi community, an indigenous group in Costa Rica. We spent the day at the school meeting the students and working on a variety of service projects. The newly built school is the shining star of this community. The government has recently granted more funding for education to isolated regions and this has resulted in better access to education for Costa Rica's rural populations. The Guaymi people speak their own language, and many also speak Spanish as a second language. While at the school, the PC students worked the entire day on a variety of tasks. With the help of the Guaymi students and the one teacher/ principal (on crutches) we planted over 80 trees on the school property. In addition, we resurrected an old overgrown vegetable garden. We weeded and planted watermelons, zucchini, cucumbers, mustard greens, cilantro, and tomatoes. This was a tremendous undertaking! We also established a germination area for a variety of other plants including almond trees. At one point, Maria turned to me and said, "This is the best part of the trip. We are lucky to be here." That awareness that service is a two way path and beneficial to all involved was amazing. With the mountains of Panama in the distance and our new friends waving us on, it was sad to say goodbye to this beautiful community.
Today, we headed to the end of the road... Manzanillo is the last town in the southeastern region before Panama. Manzanillo is a small, sleepy Caribbean beach town. There we met our naturalists guides Tino and Michael who led us on quite an expedition hike through the coastal jungle. We spent the morning tasting different fruits, vegetables, and even insects! Ask us later about our termite snack!!! The coastal ecosystem has an abundance of birds, sloths, howler monkeys, and snakes. Oh yeah, we saw two eyelash vipers. It was crazy! After our long hike, our team needed some beach time! We swam in the warm waters of the Caribbean all afternoon...blue salty waters, palm trees, coconut water, and soft sand. Tomorrow is our last day here. We are heading to a wildlife rehabilitation clinic and then back to San Jose. In some ways, our students are ready to reunite with their families and return to their home lives. In other ways, they are super curious about the world here and excited for more... This has been quite a journey!
Signing off!
Alice
Now on the Caribbean coast, we have been spending the days moving through some much warmer weather and soaking in the sun. Yesterday was the highlight of the trip. We traveled into the interior mountains to the Guaymi community, an indigenous group in Costa Rica. We spent the day at the school meeting the students and working on a variety of service projects. The newly built school is the shining star of this community. The government has recently granted more funding for education to isolated regions and this has resulted in better access to education for Costa Rica's rural populations. The Guaymi people speak their own language, and many also speak Spanish as a second language. While at the school, the PC students worked the entire day on a variety of tasks. With the help of the Guaymi students and the one teacher/ principal (on crutches) we planted over 80 trees on the school property. In addition, we resurrected an old overgrown vegetable garden. We weeded and planted watermelons, zucchini, cucumbers, mustard greens, cilantro, and tomatoes. This was a tremendous undertaking! We also established a germination area for a variety of other plants including almond trees. At one point, Maria turned to me and said, "This is the best part of the trip. We are lucky to be here." That awareness that service is a two way path and beneficial to all involved was amazing. With the mountains of Panama in the distance and our new friends waving us on, it was sad to say goodbye to this beautiful community.
Today, we headed to the end of the road... Manzanillo is the last town in the southeastern region before Panama. Manzanillo is a small, sleepy Caribbean beach town. There we met our naturalists guides Tino and Michael who led us on quite an expedition hike through the coastal jungle. We spent the morning tasting different fruits, vegetables, and even insects! Ask us later about our termite snack!!! The coastal ecosystem has an abundance of birds, sloths, howler monkeys, and snakes. Oh yeah, we saw two eyelash vipers. It was crazy! After our long hike, our team needed some beach time! We swam in the warm waters of the Caribbean all afternoon...blue salty waters, palm trees, coconut water, and soft sand. Tomorrow is our last day here. We are heading to a wildlife rehabilitation clinic and then back to San Jose. In some ways, our students are ready to reunite with their families and return to their home lives. In other ways, they are super curious about the world here and excited for more... This has been quite a journey!
Signing off!
Alice
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Attempt ·2
Hola Familias!
I wrote a long detailed blog entry.... but then the internet cut out last night! Oh, the feeling of starting a long entry again is a bit frustrating. Be patient with us as we work with technology in this beautiful country!
We are hitting the road in five minutes, packed up for the day ready to explore a local cave, and then we are hiking to La Fortuna waterfall. This will be a truly amazing and active day!
Later, I will update you on our zipline adventures, organic farm tour, and the visit to an old hacienda turned into a cultural center.
Everyone on our Costa Rica team is doing well! Spirits are high and the positive energy is flowing! We are soaking in the Costa Rican experience!
Pura Vida,
Alice
I wrote a long detailed blog entry.... but then the internet cut out last night! Oh, the feeling of starting a long entry again is a bit frustrating. Be patient with us as we work with technology in this beautiful country!
We are hitting the road in five minutes, packed up for the day ready to explore a local cave, and then we are hiking to La Fortuna waterfall. This will be a truly amazing and active day!
Later, I will update you on our zipline adventures, organic farm tour, and the visit to an old hacienda turned into a cultural center.
Everyone on our Costa Rica team is doing well! Spirits are high and the positive energy is flowing! We are soaking in the Costa Rican experience!
Pura Vida,
Alice
Monday, March 24, 2014
On the road again....
Hola Amigos!
This morning we said goodbye to the Seeyle family and thanked them for the incredible stay at their lodge on the farm. Our students had the opportunity to hear from the matriarch of the family, Maxine, as she shared her amazing story of moving down to Costa Rica in the late 60's. Their home nestled up in the high mountains became our second home for these last few days. The family, the forest, and the animals on the farm have captured our hearts!
This morning we said goodbye to the Seeyle family and thanked them for the incredible stay at their lodge on the farm. Our students had the opportunity to hear from the matriarch of the family, Maxine, as she shared her amazing story of moving down to Costa Rica in the late 60's. Their home nestled up in the high mountains became our second home for these last few days. The family, the forest, and the animals on the farm have captured our hearts!
We are experts now on milking the cows and caring for the baby goats! The goats were just about the cutest things I have ever seen... they are seven days old today!
Kevin and our guide Quique are both self-admitted "bird nerds" which is GREAT because they have taught us so much already. On an afternoon hike, we even caught a glimpse of the elusive quetzal. This is a special bird for Costa Ricans, and I can see why! Kevin took this picture yesterday.
Penn Charter students were sad to pack it up and leave the farm life, but I promised them that the trip will get even BETTER! That has already come true!
We traveled most of the day today to reach the Arenal region. En route, we stopped to have lunch at EL Jardin, a lookout point that gave us a hazy view of the Pacific coast. Here is our group at lunch:
Along the road, we stopped at a Mega Super (think Shop Rite) for our first dose of Costa Rican shopping...for snacks of course! Our guides Quique and Alejandra encouraged the kids to try local Costa Rican snacks instead of the treats they might already know. So, our adventurers gladly sampled pork rinds, yucca chips, and wild Costa Rican candy bars. This is all part of immersing one into a new culture, right?!
We arrived at our hotel in the Arenal region and it was like a dream. We heard this low rumbling noise that we soon discovered were howler monkeys off in the distance. There were toucans and parakeets flying above us. And Nick D. put it best when he said, "We are right next to a volcano, overlooking a lake, and swimming in a beautiful pool! This is out of control!" Tomorrow, we will zipline and visit a local organic farm near La Fortuna. Later, we will have an opportunity to explore the town of La Fortuna.
I am enlisting some students to write a few blog entries tomorrow!
Signing off from the base of Arenal,
Alice
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Farm Life
Hola Familias!
This is a quick update from the Seeyle Farm! We are up at 9,000 feet in the Talamanca Mountains of Costa Rica about 1.5 hours south of San Jose. Internet is very spotty here, so I feel lucky to be able to connect right now! (All other attempts have failed.)
We are settling in to Costa Rican farm life here! We are caring for newborn goats, milking cows, chasing chickens, and hiking with four dogs in tow. Today we completed an AMAZING hike up to the Parimo ecosystem above tree line at 10,300 feet. In addition to the steep climb, the altitude kicked our butts! We are drinking lots of water and eating delicious rice and beans, fresh fruit, and homemade breads.
Tonight we are heading to bed early as we have a long day of travel ahead. We are taking the bus to La Fortuna in the Arenal rgion, about 5 hours north west of here. We are above the clouds here, and so the sky is full of brilliant stars! Truly beautiful.
The computer is starting to cut out, so more updates when we arrive in La Fortuna. I'll include pics next time as well.
Pura Vida,
Alice
This is a quick update from the Seeyle Farm! We are up at 9,000 feet in the Talamanca Mountains of Costa Rica about 1.5 hours south of San Jose. Internet is very spotty here, so I feel lucky to be able to connect right now! (All other attempts have failed.)
We are settling in to Costa Rican farm life here! We are caring for newborn goats, milking cows, chasing chickens, and hiking with four dogs in tow. Today we completed an AMAZING hike up to the Parimo ecosystem above tree line at 10,300 feet. In addition to the steep climb, the altitude kicked our butts! We are drinking lots of water and eating delicious rice and beans, fresh fruit, and homemade breads.
Tonight we are heading to bed early as we have a long day of travel ahead. We are taking the bus to La Fortuna in the Arenal rgion, about 5 hours north west of here. We are above the clouds here, and so the sky is full of brilliant stars! Truly beautiful.
The computer is starting to cut out, so more updates when we arrive in La Fortuna. I'll include pics next time as well.
Pura Vida,
Alice
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Text Alerts!
Hi All!
Kevin Berkoff has a text alert system set up that can update you on our group's progress along the way! Please sign up. It is super easy!
Mr. Berkoff will be sending out text alerts routinely in order to update parents regarding our progress on the trip. To sign-up to receive text alerts on your cell phone or via email, please follow the directions below:
How to sign up for Mr. Berkoff's
Expedition: Costa Rica messages:
To receive messages via text, text
@mrberkof to (267) 536-3897 . You
can opt-out of messages at anytime
by replying, 'unsubscribe
@mrberkof'.
Or to receive messages via email, send
an email to
unsubscribe, reply with 'unsubscribe' in
the subject line.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Pack it up, pack it in... Let it begin!
Please review the packing list! This is essential for the trip!
Any packing questions? Ask Mr. Berkoff..he is an expert packer!
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