Dec. 20, 2014 
Will have to keep this final photo blog brief as we are heading to the airport in about 30 minutes. (When we get back next week we will post more photos online.) Yesterday (Friday), we traveled to Volcán Poás and La Paz Waterfall Garden and Wildlife Preserve for our final full day in Costa Rica. Both places were incredible, with breathtaking views, lush hillsides and beautiful waterfalls along with exotic animals.
Women’s cross country teammates Hannah Jumper and Vanessa Valentine combined for today’s blog to share about their experience at the volcano and animal sanctuary. Today (Saturday), we went about 15 minutes away to a neighborhood with a huge population of Nicauraguan refugees for a Christmas party put on by a couple local churches and a kid’s club at a school. It was an eye-opening and shocking experience to see where many of these kids lived in a shantytown with tin walls, tin roofs and dirt floors. The Christmas party was a wonderful time for everyone and you can tell there are a lot of great people in this community who care about the children. The party included singing clowns, caveman jugglers, face painting, a former professional soccer player stopping to sign autographs and hand out soccer balls. We had a blast and are truly going to miss this wonderful community and all the great people here. Time to have one more delicious meal by our incredible chef Marlam and then off to the airport! Pura Vida! See you stateside!
While every other day has involved a shoe distribution, today was much more of an adventure day for us. We traveled an hour and half through the most beautiful mountains and landscape we have ever seen for some touristy attractions. It was bright and early but music was playing and we were all once again singing along poorly. I think by the end of the trip Chello will throw the speakers out the window due to our “bad music taste,” which today included an eclectic mix ranging from Taylor Swift to the Tarzan soundtrack. Regardless the bus rides have been some of the most memorable moments throughout the trip and today’s was no different.
Our first stop was the Volcán Poás, a volcano which sits at just under 9,000 feet high. Throughout the whole morning the sky was nothing but clear blue, which we hear is a rarity in the mountains. However, we soon appreciated the clear weather as we approached the crater of the volcano. The massive crater is one of the biggest in the world and as we stood above we could see the bright blue pool of water with steam spouting upwards. The steam, as well as clouds, blew in and out, and many times brought strong sulfur smells with it. After a multitude of group photos and selfies with the volcano we ventured up to the upper lake. It was a pristine lake, not too different than ones that can be found in Tennessee with the exception that it sat top of a volcano. Being the athletes we are, we decided to take the mile hike back to the bus. The combination of the high altitude and the constant uphill climb made us quickly question our cardiovascular strength; however, no one should worry because training at altitude only makes us better athletes. Throughout the hike we were surrounded by luscious greenery with a wide range of plants that are definitely not native to Nashville. We are sad to report we did not see a sloth. We all survived the sharp, slippery downhill back to the bus for our next adventure.
Again we hit the road, speakers blasting, athletes singing, and — a Costa Rican Cowboy herding several cows up the other side of the narrow, mountain road? Yes, this did happen and of course we made Oscar stop the bus for a photo opportunity. A few minutes later, we pulled over for a surprise stop at a small market known for their fresh strawberries served with condensed milk and chocolate. It was a sweet treat to boost our energy levels to an even higher level.
Eventually, we made it to our next destination, La Paz Waterfall Garden and Wildlife Preserve. La Paz is a beautiful, ecological attraction featuring hiking, waterfalls, and a multitude of rescued animals. After rice and beans, rice and beans, and more rice and beans, we were all very excited for a highly anticipated lunch buffet. We all helped ourselves to a nice, large, American plate of pizza, French fries, and garlic knots, along with some fresh pineapple, salad and roasted chicken. We all may have to run an extra mile, or two for that one.
With our bellies happy and full, we made our first moves towards the wildlife exhibits. We were awestruck as tens of hummingbirds gathered around feeders and fleetingly stroked their tiny wings. As athletes, we can only hope to move as gracefully as a hummingbird. Next, we visited the monkey exhibit where the lively monkeys were just as excited to see us as we were to see them. One monkey even grabbed Taylor’s GoPro camera through the cage and framed himself for a close-up. Then, we passed through an extravagant butterfly garden followed by a bird aviary where we were offered an exciting experience to hold a toucan. The little toucan was so adorable with its black and yellow feathers, colorful beak, and large beady eyes. Next up, were the big cats. We saw sleeping cougars, cuddling ocelots, and a fierce, pacing jaguar.
After the wildlife preserve, we hiked through more serene, Costa Rican rainforest. Along the way we saw lush flowers, trees, and even more wildlife. Including, this cute little animal that we all thought was half dog and half anteater. At the bottom of the trail, we were in for an incredible sight. Above us, poured a raging waterfall. Standing at 300 feet tall and surrounded by the forest green, it was absolutely breathtaking. We all took numerous photos trying to capture the pure beauty. Gawking at this waterfall, we couldn’t help but be reminded how, yet again, it’s the simple things in life that matter most. Water slipping over a rock was enough to make us smile with joy. As the day came to an end, we had truly lived out the Costa Rican motto, Pura Vida.
Tonight’s dinner was extra special. Marlam made delicious fish, potatoes, vegetables, and plantains, followed by a warm brownie dessert with ice cream. Shortly after dinner, all our hearts were filled with love when Kelly, on behalf of us and Soles4Souls, presented Marlam’s teenage twin boys and young grandchildren with their very own new pair of shoes. Their grateful smiles were contagious. As always, we wrapped up the night with games, but this time with a twist. We all created and handed out trip superlatives. Amongst some others, Jerome won most likely to be Oscar. Kelly won most likely to abandon society and live amongst the walruses. I (Vanessa) won most fluent in broken Spanish. Jill won most likely to give a child two left shoes. With only one night left, we all reflected on our trip experiences and how close we have all become since we first stepped foot in CEDCAS.
