The Road to Monteverde

Today our students made their way from Arenal to Monteverde and the town of Santa Helena. The trip requires a few hours in the bus punctuated by stops for snacks, lunch, snacks, a howler monkey sighting, and more snacks. 



Our guides organized a "cultural exchange" for our afternoon in Monteverde. The students were given an the opportunity to practice their Spanish and social skills as we pushed them way out of their comfort zones and, leaving their phones on the bus, forced them to play soccer with a group of Costa Rican children their age. The event was huge success and I was very impressed with our students' ability to thrive without internet connection. After a few spirited rounds of well-organized soccer, the game devolved in to a confusing, but entertaining version of soccer I've never seen before. Sweaty and smiling, we ended the experience with ice cream from a local vendor. 



Our hotel in Monteverde is charming, rustic, well-staffed, minimally appointed, and surrounded by natural beauty. It is absolutely my favorite hotel on our trip and fits the setting perfectly. Clearly, the students abhor it. They'll survive just fine as the food is good, we have a bonfire roaring, and there's a "club" with DJ Rotty-Rott spinning tonight. 




Tomorrow is another busy day and likely a highlight of the trip for many students. Hiking, zip-lining, and horseback riding around the cloud forest will surely make for some strong memories and much-liked social media posts!

Hasta mañana!

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