My Tortuguero Adventure!

This past week we had a 3 day weekend due to Columbus Day; we had to celebrate it a week late for some reason I don't really understand. So myself and four other friends embarked across the country in search of tiny little turtles! The Green Turtle has a nesting season from July-October in Tortuguero with August and September being the best months to go. So, I was a little nervous we'd fail our mission since we were arriving at the end of the season.

At 6am we were picked up and we began our journey. As soon as our tour guide, Maria, started taking our names and details about us, I knew I was in for a long ride. She went all around the bus introducing one another and giving little facts about us all. Then she wanted us all to say why we were coming to Tortuguero. "Isn't it obvious?" I was thinking in my rather crabby state. I just wanted to listen to my music and sleep but all I could hear was her loud voice telling me all about Costa Rican facts. Luckily, she eventually stopped talking and I fell asleep. When I awoke, we had stopped at a banana plant (factory? farm?) I learned that bananas do not grow on trees! They are from a herb...didn't really understand that translation, hierba, but whatever.

When we finally reached the point of transfer, I was ready for our boat ride. It takes an additional hour to get to the lodge going on the river. We left at 6am and we arrived at Mawamba Lodge at 2pm. Surprisingly, it didn't feel like that long of a journey. We quickly had lunch and then we went on a tour of the place. We got to see a Red Eyed Tree Frog! He was soooo cute!!!! I had just put on bug spray though, so I was unable to touch him...tear. After the tour, I went to take a siesta while the others went for a beer. When we all joined back up for dinner I heard the news: A little baby turtle got lost looking for the ocean and somehow scampered into someone's cabin! My friends got to see him because a worker brought him around before taking him back to the ocean. Poor little guy, needs to work on his directions. I'm pretty sure that, if I were a turtle, that would be me. I was convinced I had missed my chance to see a baby turtle and felt sorry for myself all through dinner. Luckily, we had signed up for the Turtle Tour that night so I still had hope.

We left at 9pm in search of turtles. You aren't allowed to take any pictures at night so as not to disturb the turtles. The turtles come to lay eggs every 4 years. During the year, they come to the beach about 6 times. During their first visit, the whole process takes them about 2 hours 30 minutes and they lay about 120 eggs. By their last visit, it takes them about 1 hour 45 minutes and they lay about 60 eggs. The sad part, only about 1 or 2 out of every 1000 will ever grow to be adults. :( We got really lucky and there was a mama turtle laying her eggs when we arrived. We were a little late so we didn't actually see the egg laying process but we watched her bury her eggs and then head back to sea. It was amazing. She was so big! Probably 3-4ft long and 2-3ft across. Our guide told us that the Leather Backs are twice as big! (They nest in January in Guanacaste and April-June in Tortuguero.) He also told us that the night time is not the time to see the babies hatch. You have to come at either sunrise or sunset. They hatch throughout the day but then they rest underground until the time is right for them to make their escape to the ocean! So our group decided to get up at 5am the next morning to see the little tykes. 5am came...and went. We continued sleeping...

The next day we went for a boat tour through Tortuguero National Park. It was VERY wet. I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have liked due to the fact that I was drenched and worried my camera was going to get wet. I did get to see the Jesus Lizard, I think that's his name. The one that can run across water on his hind legs. That was cool. We returned back just in time to head to the beach in pursuit of babies! As soon as we got to the beach we saw a big group hudled around about 200 meters away. We started walking faster, then one of us would run for a few feet and then walk. Finally, I just took off running. There were babies everywhere!!! It was the most precious thing I have ever seen. These little  guys were so adorable. They kept getting stuck in our feet prints and some got a little turned around while looking for the ocean. They would scurry for a bit, quickly rest, and scurry some more. I put my hand down and let them run over it. We got to see three sets of turtles hatch and go to sea! Loved it!

This has, by far, been my favorite experience in CR thus far. I get to come back in April with my students and then my Bro and I are coming in June. Can't wait!!!

On the Road Again

This past weekend myself and 4 other peps decided to head to Manuel Antonio for some much needed sol. We had been sick of the torrential downpours occurring 24/7 in Escazu. It has been raining so much, we have been finding mold on some of our things! Ew. Also, all this rain has really been taking a toll on my shoes. Double Ew.

Our journey to the beach was rather uneventful, if you  call almost being squished between two giant semis and fearing the brakes were going to go uneventful. The new highway is closed because, in the 30 years it took to construct the thing, they did it poorly. Shocking. With all the rain, there are a lot of mudslides and falling rocks. So, they closed it until they can make it safe once again. Translation, we had to take the route through the mountains. This road is so twisty I often get car sick. The good thing about this road is that, on the inclines, there are often passing lanes so you can get around the really slow cars and trucks. Well, Mike was in one of these lanes passing a semi when another semi came around the corner. It was such a tight fit, I don't know how we kept our side-view mirrors. The moment after was full of awkward laughter and terrified looks. Also, since we are up and down so much, Mike started to notice a change in his brakes. I was waiting for the moment they would fail and we'd go soaring into the mountains. Thankfully, they remained intact and we arrived safely!

It was a gorgeous day on the beach! Joanne and I dazzled onlookers with our amazing soccer skills while the rest of the crew soaked up the sun. Molly claims she is now proud to be able to say she received her first jellyfish stings! At the time however, she was not too thrilled. She didn't want to get into the ocean after that. Scott, telling her she has nothing to worry about, went swimming and came back with some stings of his own! I was also filled with a desire to swim. As I was floating up and down with the waves, a crab bit my toe! As soon as that little critter attached to my toe I started flailing and kicking all the way back to the shore. Although I couldn't see the crustacean, I'm sure he was ginormous!

On Sunday afternoon we reluctantly packed up to head back to Escazu. Joanne and I had a soccer game at 5 that we wanted to get to. Mike has a GPS to help us on our way. But, since the Highway is closed, it always tries to get us back on it. So, we were ignoring "Amy" and Mike was just asking Molly and I for directions...for those of you who know me well, you see the mistake Mike has made. Apparently how you get to the beach isn't the exact way you get home so we ended up taking a beautiful scenic detour. On this lovely excursion, the car kept getting louder and louder. Then, it started having troubles getting up hills. Luckily we got back on the correct route and managed to make it to a town before blowing up.

There must have been some luck shining down upon us because a tow truck came along! He put the car onto the bed of his truck and said he'd tow us back to Escazu. Only problem, there were 5 of us and his car could only hold 3, including him. So, Mike, Scott, and I jumped back into Mike's car and rode in there! It's often fun thinking of all the crazy things we do in CR that are quite illegal in the US! (Don't worry Mom, he promised to go really slow.) Around 5:30, we had made it home! A trip that took us 2hrs 40min to arrive only took us 5 and a half to get home! (We did stop for Subway though.) Sadly, Jo and I missed our soccer game...

The randomness of children:

‎"Ms. K, I came out on TV this weekend!!!"
"Umm, what?"
"I came out on TV!"
"Do you mean you were on TV this weekend?"
"Yeah, that's what I said!"

‎"Ms. K, what would you do if you woke up in Africa?"
"Um, go on a safari?"
"What would you do if you woke up and Folke....oh, haha, maybe I shouldn't say that..."
*Glad to know that, by 8th grade, they are learning to control themselves to some degree...and also glad he didn't finish that statement

Assignment: Create a graph and write a story explain the changes in your graph.
I received a story about Jersey Shore and how ratings increase/decrease according to the cast members antics complete with details of said antics. I also received a story titled "Poopie Paulie" all about farts.

"Ms. K, will you marry me? I'll give you an M&M."

This week we get Monday off for Columbus Day (a week late, but don't get me started on that) so we are heading to Tortuguero! I am really hoping we get to see the little turtles hatch! Until next time...