Puerto Jiménez to Alajuela, Costa Rica
We have reached the final post in the Costa Rica series. It is with sadness that I write this piece – a shadow of the sadness that I felt that day. We awoke on a glorious July day at Casa Bella.
Giovanni and Yessenia had prepared breakfast for us. We ate fresh fruit, fried plantains, sausage and bread baked by their sister-in-law before packing our bags to leave.
As the students gathered their things I took more pictures around the property.
Our bags may have been packed, but we could hardly have been less prepared to leave when Eric announced that we needed to say goodbye to Giovanni and Yessenia and walk down to the Iguana Lodge where we would board the bus.
The entrance to the Iguana Lodge is beautiful. I hope to go back and stay there one day.
The bus made one stop before we left the Osa Peninsula for good. On our way out, we visited Gustavo’s wife in her wood carving shop.
She and her family are amazing artists. She sculpts these beautiful pieces with her teenage nephew and son.
I bought several of her pieces in 2013, and I bought more this time. Some very lucky people can expect Christmas gifts from Costa Rica. I only wish that there had been some way to get this life sized statue home. I love it!
Back on the bus everyone promptly fell asleep, sometimes in the strangest of positions. The students must have been tired. They had stayed up talking and laughing most of the night until about 4 am when I yelled at the all to be quiet. Despite the fact that I had not slept very well because the kids had kept me awake with their shenanigans, I did not want to sleep and miss my last hours in Costa Rica. While the others slept, Jonathan and I stayed awake talking.
We made on stop for lunch, but I did not take any pictures. I think that I was too hungry to think about documenting the moment. From there we continued on to Alajuela.
In Alajuela we checked into our hotel and then went for a walk around town. Alajuela is where we had started our trip in 2013. It thus seemed a fitting place to end this one.
We arrived at the market shortly before it closed. I was looking for a chair hammock, but unfortunately, I did not find one.
We visited the cathedral and plaza before going to dinner.
After we left the restaurant, we went to another plaza where the Oescats were giving a free performance.
The concert was fun, but my favorite moment from that night occurred back at the hotel before we went back to our rooms. We sat around the hotel pool and talked about the most difficult moments of the trip, our favorite memories and what we hoped to take into the future with us. It was heart warming to hear what the students had to say. They had really taken everything to heart and made me proud to know them. It is very special for me to know that I was influential in giving them such an important moment in their lives. I had a teacher take me to Mexico when I was sixteen, and the trip changed my life. I am so glad that I can pass her legacy on to others.
The next morning we would leave Costa Rica for a long and stressful trip home. A part of my heart stayed in Costa Rica, and I hope to be able to go back again some day. I hope that you have enjoyed my tales from Central America. If you have missed any of the previous Costa Rica posts, you can catch up here: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, and Day 10.
Happy Homemaking!
I am a teacher, traveler, artist, writer, homemaker and a whole lot more. In January 2009, I bought the Cape of Dreams. It was the second house that I had ever owned, but it was the first that I bought by myself. I now live in the house with my husband Douglas, our dog Kahlua, and Crème de Menthe, the cat. Because, what life is complete without a little Kahlua and Cream? I love arts and crafts of all kinds, and I refinish furniture as well. We are slowly redoing our entire house. You can read about my projects on my blog www.CapeofDreams.com
Love the carved objets d’arts; your gift recipients will be very lucky indeed. The best part of this post for me was the memories of the students and the legacy that you have paid forward. So touching. Jo @ Let’s Face the Music
Her work is so lovely. I love the purple wood pieces. Teaching is a rewarding profession.
What a wonderful trip! I, too, was touched by how you changed these students’ lives as yours had been changed years ago. I have a feeling you’ll return to Costa Rica–it’s part of you by now!
I am going to miss my weekly reminiscing about trip. I am glad I was able to share it with you virtually as well as with the kids in person. I shall return!
wonderful close to your trip, although sad. those kids you have taken over the years will never forget their experiences, and are undoubtedly different (better) people because of it 🙂
These trips are important because they give the students the opportunity to see how people really live in the countries that we take them to. Many of them have traveled with their families, but they generally stay in resorts when they do that. I hope that they will be better people after having this experience!