There are MANY photos and stories from yesterday that will be shared in the group album but wanted to pass along this awesome group photo as we depart for the airport! PURA VIDA!
Thanks to you Mrs. Roth and your family and friends for taking the kids on such an amazing adventure- their week was jam packed with memorable events and cultural opportunities. We are very grateful for this opportunity for our kids! Enjoy your summer!
HOLA FAMILIAS! Although it is nearly 9:30pm here in Sitio de Mata, we are just winding down after a LONG travel day. All of the Ridgefield travelers have been ROCKSTARS (as usual!) and they are all now getting settled in their host family's homes. We arrived in San Jose at 2pm, made it through customs in record time, and ventured outside of the city for a traditional Costa Rican meal: casado . After lunch, the true group bonding began (without any phones or technology!) on a nearly 3-hour bus ride. As the bus made its way through some windy roads, our local guides - Marvin, Rafa, and Pedro - educated our kiddos on Costa Rican geography and the history of the towns we were driving through. Once we arrived in Sitio, we were greeted with the most INCREDIBLE welcome party! All of the families lined the streets to dance and sing as the students entered the community. Each student was introduced to their "mom" for the next few days and returned to their homes for dinner and s...
We danced the night away after watching some traditional Costa Rican dances and now we are heading to the Pacuare Outdoor Center on the riverbed of the Pacuare River. There is no electricity and very little service at the EcoLodge so you may not see a blog post until tomorrow night when we reach out final destination in La Fortuna, CR. Don't worry! Your kids will be immersed in nature, playing games by candlelight and sleeping in screened-in cabins.... & being in the moment of course! For the Roth Family, this is one of our favorite places to stay because of how truly unique the location and accommodations are. We appreciate your patience! Pura Vida!
Last night's sleep was enhanced with torrential downpours and we awoke this morning to a beautiful overcast morning. Thank goodness all of the kids were well-rested because we had a FULL day packed with adventure and community service. Using the funds raised by many of your children and our group's carwash, we were able to transform the recess yard at the local elementary school. Students worked on painting the fence, the soccer net frames, the basketball backboards, powerwashing the court, planting trees on the perimeter and digging a drainage ditch to prevent flooding during heavy rains. Throughout the day, our group cycled through canyoneering - a mix of hiking and rappelling down three waterfalls in the middle of the rainforest. Everyone showed immense levels of bravery and support for their fellow travelers as many conquered their fear of heights and the unknown! Based on the weather conditions these last few days, there has been a slight change to the itinerary. While w...
Thank you to all of the travelers for an amazing week filled with wonderful memories. Pura Vida! xo
ReplyDeleteThanks to you Mrs. Roth and your family and friends for taking the kids on such an amazing adventure- their week was jam packed with memorable events and cultural opportunities. We are very grateful for this opportunity for our kids! Enjoy your summer!
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