Well, last weekend was occupied with this awesome 3 day tourist type package. Leslie´s parents came into town, and invited Susan and I to join them all in a tour to the north end of Costa Rica. It included a volcano, a waterfall, a buttefly garden, a coffee plantation, white-water rafting, a mosey-boat tour for wildlife, a canopy tour, 7 awesome meals, and an organic farm. I´ll hit the highlights...
the canopy tour- much better than that in Nicaragua, basically b/c the guides were friendly, chill, and let us do the Superman!! This is what it sounds like...they flip the harness around, and you face downward in a flying (superman) type position, and fly down a zip-line. I got a good 3-4 seconds of feeling like I was flying. Crazy sensation by the way!
The organic farm- we literally just walked throug the rainforest and this guy, who owns the place, just showed us the craziest, random things to know about life in the rainforest. Different trees and plants, what they can do. (Did you know that there´s a tree that can walk??? Like 2 meters a year) The meals at this farm were entirely organic, which however, still tasted amazing!! We also walked through their garden, where I had a hay-day. Picked various peppers, fruits, and plants that were awesome!
The volcano- basically, every volcano I´ve seen is just awesome!

While we were up there however...I inserted my Checking/debit card into the machine and got money and a receipt back. Money and a receipt. MONEY AND A RECEIPT. No card, those bastards! No not really, but I of course cancelled it because I figured I could get bye without it b/c I only had one week left. Well...I found an amazing deal to change my flight to April 25th, and so now...I´m in Costa Rica without cash. WHOOO (Les & or Susan said they´d be by personal banker for the duration of the trip, so its not such a big deal anymore)!!

Last night I took my family to dinner, which very awesome!! I definitely lucked out with my family down here...they have been as good as it could get! As we got back from dinner, they gave me this awesome Costa Rican surfing T-shirt as well!! Sweet!

The way my volunteer stuff ended was this...the swimming lessons were great. The kids all thanked us on the last day with these cards and, all in all, I think we helped em out, if just a little bit anyway.
At Linea Vital...I was able to help them with their email account...setting up a system that makes it easier to contact all of the members about updates, overdue notices, etc. I also wrote a letter in English that I´m hoping will get them a larger membership base. Here´s hoping on that!!

The plan...
this week I´m hoping to visit the last 2 cities in Costa Rica that I haven´t been to (slight exageration, but it kinda feels like the truth). Monte Verde & Manuel Antonio, which are both suppose to be awesome. The two together offer cloud forests, surfing, snorkeling, and national parks.
The following week will include a 3 day turtle volunteer program on the Caribbean Side, where we capture turtle eggs as they are nested, and protect them from predators as they hatch. From there...it´s the Osa Pennisula or Panama, if not both. I would like to do both, but if having to choose one, would probably pick Panama. And finally, a Futball game with Saprissa, the local heroes that everyone seems to love. Hopefully I´ll get in a fight where I can just flail my legs around and hope to kick someone. Ok, maybe I´ll just watch!

Hasta Luego!!!!!