June+29,+2011

June 29, 2011

We took a very cold bus ride to Newark ( too much AC). After shifting lanes 2 times, we were finally able to get our etickets and check in our bags. We went through security without problems and found our exit gate. By the time we got situated, we could look across the river to the New York City skyline. Loading the plane was smooth. It was very full but we were generally in the same area. There were two other Eftour groups on the plane, but neither of them were ones that we were joining up with. Most students were able to sleep through the flight and we did receive a breakfast en route. What a great group of travelers we have! Arrived in Costa Rica and waiting in a line similar to a rollercoaster line. (We wish they had some sort of info on how long it would take to the Customs). We were greeted by a picture of the President - a woman! Once we got out of customs, we were able to meet with Mario - our EF tour guide. He arranged travel to our hotel. We arrived in the center of San Jose at an old (1930s) hotel with a beautiful lobby and a live piano player. Mario left us there because he had to pick up other groups. We spent the afternoon walking around the city, We tried a Costa Rican fast food restaurant. All the waiters spoke very little English, so the ones in our group that spoke Spanish got a chance to use their skills. It was fried food, similar to KFC, but with Costa Rican salads/salsas on the side. It tasted pretty good since we hadn’t eaten for several hours. From the restaurant, we could look out over a open area outside the city’s old Opera house. There were thousands of pigeons. After lunch we quickly returned to the hotel to grab rain gear because the sky looked threatening. We wove our way through the city streets (a pedestrian cobblestone area) to a local jade museum which has artifacts from Pre-Columbian area (prehistoric). They has many interesting and beautiful pieces including pottery, jewelry, stone carvings, etc. I thought the neatest things were the jade teeth fillings and roller wheels and stamps that they used to roll designs on material or skin. Once we got back to the hotel, the rooms where ready and everyone had a chance to relax before dinner. A handful of use visited a grocery store behind the hotel. We are able to use American money and they give us change in calones. The exchange rate is approximately c500 = $1. It was funny to receive c1000 for change. One of the students had 1 million in change! Obviously it is interesting paying c1500 for an icecream cone. At dinner we met our other party from West Virginia that will be joining our group. (The 5 from Boston didn’t arrive until very late.) They are mostly ninth graders with a young Spanish teacher and a few parents and grandparents traveling with them. Our groups have blended very well and seem to enjoy each other. Mario has told us he can tell we are a good group of well behaved students. They are doing a great job representing the United States. After a dinner, we walked next to the hotel for some icecream and currios and collapsed into bed. Although the hotel was old, it was clean and the students gladly slept.