Fútbol!

This morning students were given the option of sleeping in or going surfing early.  If we were surfing, breakfast was at 7:30.  If we chose to sleep in, breakfast was at 8.  I got up early to work on the 1,000(!) pictures that we have so far and when I went to breakfast, I found Mrs. Wooden with her coffee in her favorite spot on the patio, watching all the birds.  It's so cool to see parakeets flying around everywhere in their natural habitat!  Katy, Lou, Katie & Kayce were returning from a run to Uvita village and back.  As early as it was, they were brave to run in the sun & humidity!  Lou said that for a short run it was a lot of work!

At 7:30, we were joined by our 3 guides, the 4 runners, and Matt, Alex, Patrick, Daniel, Rem, and Garrett for breakfast.  I'm so glad that they decided to get up and do something this morning- like true Ticos!  The 6 boys, guides Carolyn & Yendrey, Mrs. Wooden & me, and later comer Peter all headed out to the beach at 8.  The others slept in and stayed with Edguardo at the hotel to swim and watch the Costa Rica-Italy fútbol match right from the start at 10.

Those of us who chose to surf were not disappointed.  We got there right as the high tide was going out; there were really strong waves and they were far enough apart that we had the chance to ride some good ones.  Garrett, Matt, and Patrick all had the chance to go out farther with Brian again.  They really got to, as Matt would say, "shred some gnar," or whatever it is.  The group also got to see a sloth in the trees!  First one of our trip!

We got back a little after 10 and the rest of the group was already settled in at the restaurant to watch the game.  After a quick rinse to get off the salt, we hurried to join them.  We made it back just in time to watch Costa Rica score right before the end of the first half!  I think the group was indifferent, but the locals were really pumped :)  Basically the entire country was shut down so everyone could watch the game.  It was so much fun to be able to take in the culture this way.  Costa Rica won for another big upset & it was crazy.  People were honking horns, yelling down the street; San Jose was complete gridlock as people spilled into the streets to celebrate.  All of the Ticos are in a REALLY good mood this afternoon!  Alex was proudly wearing his Italia jersey today, so he had to make the quick change after the game...

Lunch was a little later as the celebration continued.  We had a chicken & mushroom lasagna that was really good- kind of funny having an Italian dish after that game.  We left for community service around 1:30, heading back to Bahia Adventura.  Today's activity was much less strenuous, but it was so humid that you couldn't help sweating even in the shade.  Instead of doing construction, we took all of the water bottles used by the patrons of the boat tour and we turned them into trash cans.  The group worked really well together.  The first step was to remove all of the bottle labels, then sort the bottles by size.  This was fairly easy since they've only used 2 different water brands.  The next step was to put 2 holes on either side of the top and on either side of the bottom.  Then we cut wire and put 40 bottles on each, going cap end first.  We took another wire and put it through the bottom of those bottles.  We used wire to hold 2 of our bottle loops together, then created a bottom.  We had enough bottles to create 2 full trashcans today and 2 partial ones.  It is a simple concept, just time consuming.

We are back at the hotel for a little free time before dinner.  MOST of us should be packing for tomorrow, but it sounds like everyone is swimming right now... we have a very loud group.

Tomorrow we set out for the cave!  We'll leave right after breakfast at 7, then we have a hike up the mountain.  It's not a long trip, but it is straight up and very humid, so it will probably take us all morning.  After lunch we will rappel, then dinner and stay over night!  Sunday morning we'll wake up and swim, then make the drive to Turrialba.

There won't be any internet access for the next day and a half, so I will post again on Sunday night!  If we make a stop on the way to Turrialba, I'll try to get a post up, but no promises.  Have a great weekend!!

Healing sunburn, healing bruises, and no bug bites!  Pura vida!
"Ole, ole, ole, ole, Ticos, Ticos!"