Hola, como esta?

Hello everyone from Costa Rica. Just a quick update from me. I left Curacao at the end of August heading for Panama to study Spanish at the Spanish by the Sea School in Bocas del Toro. I had to fly through Bogota Columbia on my way so I decided to stay over 2 nights to get a chance to see the city. Bogota is a really huge city. The altitude is daunting to say the least. I was nervous being in the city by myself so I stayed mostly to the areas I felt were safe like the museums and places like that. I took the cable car up to the top of Mount Monserrate

and had lunch in a fine restaurant looking out over the city.

Now I can honetly say I have seen all of Bogota. Been there done that.
From Bogota I flew into Panama City for one night and then a small prop plane to Bocas del Toro Panama. I like Bocas very much. It is how I imagine Key West to have been long ago. there are great restaurants and beautiful beaches. One day while hanging out on the beach on the small island of Carenarro I happened to look up in a tree just above me and to my surprise saw that I was not alone. In the tree above me was a small, three-toed tree sloth literally hanging out. I watched him for an hour or so

sloth

I stayed in Bocas at the school for two weeks, studied Spanish, met friends, drank sangria and had a really good time!

Bocas

Next I took long ride from Bocas to Turrialba Costa Rica for another two weeks of spanish. Here I sit with one week left to go. I like it here very much. The school is situated on the side of a mountain overlooking the town down in the valley and across from the school is Volcan Turrialba, the volcano after which the town is named. Volcan Turrialba is an active volcano which had been dormant for decades. However, recently it has become more active than usual spewing gas and steam. It is amazong to see on a clear day. I am disssapointed that we cannot hike to the crator as you usually can, they are not allowing people up there. I don't understand, just because some vegetation and few animals are dying up there is no reason to keep tourists out. Yesterday I was on the deck here at school and a tucan perched on a nearby tree. That was cool!

Tucan

Yesterday we rafted the river wild. It was awesome. The white water never stopped. For 30 kilometers, about 4 hours we paddled and screamed and swam, unintentionally, in the cold water of the Pacuare river.

river wild

I have one more week in Costa Rica and then back to Panama City for days. Then I fly back to Curacao Oct 4.
I miss everyone but, I love the adventure.
I will stay in touch with you guys (even if no one but Rhonda and Chim every post anything...slackers)
Lots of Love Ro
"Not all who wander all lost" - Gandolf