Adios Costa Rica

My last day in Costa Rica! Tommorow I catch a 2pm flight back to Hotlanta. Wont get home til midnight, but my trip folks....has come to an end! By the way I love these ...... apparently!

So yesterday was an amazing day for me. In two ways.

1) I caught 10+ waves!!!!!! Yes I surfed I surfed I surfed!!! One of my new buddies here Kyle, a surfer/skier from Colorado, hurt his foot surfing and offered to help me out with a minisurf lession. Well he was so helpful! Santa Teresa is NOT the best place for beginners to learn. The waves break harshly and They're back to back. So he helped me get out into the good surf area and I missed the first 2 waves. But after than I stood up and stayed up every time after! Later he left and when I went out on my own I got up 2 out of 3 times. So I was rocking it! So excited! Totally got my $5 worth!!

2) I did it. I went back to Mal Pais. Went back to the spot of my attack and rewalked my path. It was hard to tell the exact spot. Why you may ask? I'll explain in a second. So anyways I decided to go out the the beach and re walk my path. Aka from the beach to gravel path then to road and then to surf camp. So went back to the start point of my attack. But the minute I hit the beach I remembered all those feelings and thoughts going through my head 4 years ago. Being alone and unprepared. Not sure where I was going to travel next. I started to cry as I remienced . Not tears of sorrow,but tears of joy. I realized I had come so far since 4 years ago. I was now walking the beach with happiness in my heart. I didn't realize how much I had grown since then. I recollected seashells, then walked back along the beach back to the fallen tree by the path where one of my attackers was sitting on. I proceeded through the gate (even though it is no longer used since the path was widened now) and the got chills. I remembered everything. The minute I started looking at the path from that previous view I remembered the spot, even though the path had been widened. I didn't cry, I just felt. Let tose feelings from 4 years ago take over me. The fear, the fight or flight take over again. Not knowing where my life was going. Was I about to die? Was I about to raped? Was I never going to see my family and friends again? I took a moment to let those feelings take over again....and then let pass. Let them go. Those feelings a fear being replaced now with courage and strength. It was crazy how far the road was from my attack. It was crazy that I was able to get away. I forgot how far i had to run. I was so proud of myself. I was so young when it happened. Barely 21. How much strength I was able to have at that age. To fight for my life. All by myself. I also couldn't help but think how blessed I was. I didn't just let the attack rule my life. It took some time, but 4 years later here I am. So much wiser, such a better traveler, and no longer a scared little 21 year old.

So I went back onto the main road I proceeded up to surf camps drive way. Chills everywhere. It was such a far run! I went back and actually got to meet the owner of the place. I thanked him. For having such an amazing staff and how helpful they were 4 years ago. I asked about the road and it being widened. He told me they widened the path into a road so you can see the street from the beach. They did this because of my attack 4 years ago......... Crazy eh? I'm glad I was able to have such a positive influence on the community.

Anyways sorry for the long post. But I am so happy I went back to Mal Pais. If I hadn't gone I would never have had the chance to realize how far I have come in life. I am so happy to be me!


I love you all and I will see you all Thursday,
LIsa

Day 9!

Today we arrived in Santa Teresa....slight change of plans I know! But it is literally the same place as Mal Pais, just a few more blocks down. Hostels are cheaper over here and money is running low! Also in Mal Pais the only path to the beach is the same one I was attacked on 4 years ago so I figured if we stay in Santa Teresa I could just go over to Mal Pais and the the spot it happened. Spend my time rewalking those steps again and then after I was done, head back to Santa Teresa and not have to worry about walking up and down that path afterwards. I will be doing that tommorow!

We are staying at a hostel called Tranquila backpackers. It is 2 stories with dorms on each level...mixed gender. This will be my first time having a dude in a hostel, but I can't complain because the showers are sweeet! The last place we stayed (god bless it) had an amazing view. But the shower was quite possibly the most disgusting thing I have ever stepped foot in. Super dirty,rarely worked, and there were plenty of places for little critters to crawl up it and peep holes for Ticos to sneak a peak! So I am super happy to have these new kick ass showers. By the way have a talked enough about the showers? Shower shower shower shower shower....SHOWER. There I'm good!

So about my snorkeling trip yesterday....It was awesome!!!! Isle de Tortuga was kick ass and a ton of fun! And snorkeling was awesome by the way!!! Not something I will ever do a lot of. Kind of made me sick with all the salt water in my throat, but it was cool to see the ocean that way. I've never done something like that before! We spent 1 hour snorkeling..saw tons of fish. Then we went to the island for lunch and beach time. Got some cool coral pieces to take back home. Then we went out for another hour of snorkeling and Igot to hold a yellow blowfish!! I can't wait for that picture!

Today we took a bus to Santa Teresa and just spent the day collecting seashells, watching surfers,etc... We ran into a friend Kristen from La Fortuna and hung with her on the beach. We passed a sign that said surf rentals $5 all day. I think we're gonna rent two tommorow and just have at it. We figured this whole town is a surf town and we'll probably meet some dudes to teach us to surf or at least we can have fun at it on our own.

Thats it for now. Only 2 more days left people! Then it's back to good ol Gerogia...... But I have some big news for my future plans when I get home. I'll save the big news for when I get back though. We all need surprises in our life eh?

Hola para Montezuma!!

So I had another awesome day today! Went and hiked the waterfall Charrata Monetzuma if I am correct and it was amazing! The hike up began with climbing roots and at one point I did some sketchy off the path climb and now that I look back I can't believe i did that! Crazy climber chick eh? It was grogeous 3 waterfalls pouring into eachother. But we were warnedto leave because it was about to rain and not the safest time to be out there. And of course last minute we discovered there was a super easy way we could have gotten up! Oh well!!!

Tonight we ate with a sweet couple we met at the waterfall and later on we booked a tour to La isle de Tortuga. to go snorkling. We heard amazing things and I have never snorkled so I am excited!! The guy at the info desk was awesome too. He was very patient with our spanish and let us practice a bunch. It was so cool! I learned a lot. He offered to also teach us to salsa so I think we will be taking him up on that tonight! Everett taught us some basics back in Monteverde so it will be nice to try out our skills tonight!!.

Also BIG UPDATE! Sunday we will be leaving for our last destination....Mal Pais. Yep I know a drastic last minute change, but I feel really good about it. I have done a lot of growing on this trip. A lot of thinking and reevaluation of how I look and see things. My eyes have opened up a lot to who I am and what I want to do with my life. I am at a much more postive place now. One where I am ready to see the path that 4 years ago changed my life, and it be okay. See it again and get some much needed closer. Good closer. And a chance to rewrite my trip last time....this time with happy thoughts and memories. Life is to beautiful to see it anyother way.....

I love you all and momma. Dom't be scared this is a good thing! I wouldn't go if I wasn't ready. And I will email you immediately after! Promise

love you all!
-LIsa

Day 6

Way to much to say! I wanted to keep this thing updated but the more I travel the more I do and it's hard to keep up with this. I'll just say yesterday in La Fortuna we did a hike up to a dormaint volcano with a view of Volcan Arenal that we were told would be 1 1/2 hours including the walk to it and hike up it.....well it was an 1 hr walk to the base and 2 hours to the top and back of the most strenous hike I have ever done! I've done some pretty narly hikes...but this one took the cake for sure!! Some parts were even 3--4 feet distance from one step the the next and required pullng your self up by a root. Needless to say we were under prepared and didn't have enough water or the right shoes! But honestly I couldn't have asked for a more amazing day! The hike hurt but was a great excercise for the mind and body. And the view of Volcan Arenal was out of this world. And the dormaint volcano,San Chato was filled with a green...I mean almost tenniscourt green water....it was amazing.... Only one other couple was there and it really felt like everything I could have ever asked for after 2 hours of hellacious hiking was given..... There were these little fish in the water too that sucked on your toes and 30 would go for it at a time it was so funny!! I was cracking up and I'm sure I looked like a lunatic but it tickled!!!

After that we spent the day at Gringo Petes hostel and went to bed pretty early to wake up for our 5:30 bus. We took a bus from La Fortuna to San Ramon. Another bus to Punterenas. Then the ferry to Panquea. And met some cool surfers heading to Mal Pais that let us ride to Cabano. (Which took an 1 hour out of what would have been a 1 1/2hr bus ride! And then a taxi to Montezuma....All those places should have taken til late tonight we got here at 4! Only an 11 hour day not bad!!!
We are staying at hotel Lyl, a cute funky artsy place right on the beach for $10 a night. With hammocks all over the place...people I am in paradise! Tommorow we head for a massive watrfall hike where 3 waterfalls stack on top of eachother. I went last time and it was amazing! Can't wait to do it again....

Well peeps I gotta go that beautiful ocean and hammock are calling my name right now....

Love you all!!
-Lisa

Diaz cuatro

So we spent to rest of our night in Monteverde with our new friends Kathyrn and Andrew and a cute little restaurant in a shack. It was the best cosado yet and yes I am obsessed with this cosado!!! We went out to a lounge later that night with some younger gents that help run the place and tours where we were staying at Everett and Erick. Tow of the coolest peeps I have met. Erick is from Cali and traveled for a year and then moved to Costa Rica. He has been here for 3 years now and runs the tour companies in Monteverde for the family. Everett grew up here and his paretns owned the place we stayed at. So the lounge was pretty dull at first...Then Gabriene and Erick took over the mike. It turned into our own little dance club and we had a blast! Everett taught me how to salsa and we all spent a good bit of time doing the salsa.

This morning we took the boat to La Fortuna and Erick came with us to go see his mamasita in La Fortuna. Everett was supposed to join us but I think his tico girlfriend got a little jealous. But anyways guys this view in the boat.....absolutely amazing..... Words cant describe the view....If you have a chance look up Rio Chiquita and you will get an idea of our ride. The volcan was visible to whole time. I went and stayed on the front of the boat the whole time and got a front row seat to the best view.......... So today we went on our search for the natural hot springs only ticos go too. They don´t want tourist to know about it because the fancy ones cost $$$!!! The big bucks mis amigos. So we found it and guys....it was amazing. We climbed down to a river and it looked like any river you´d see in the USA. Expect the minute you put your foot in it, it was hot. It was the coolest thing ever. We went when three new peeps we met on the boat Seabass,Chad and Mike. Ya that was homeboys nickname. Anyways it was amazing. There was a point where two streams met...one luke warm and one hot. If you got in just the right spot you could half and half it. We all spent about two hours there and then went to get some food and tried some coconut milk for Tresciento colones. about 4o cents. It wasn´t too bad. I wouldn´t drink it everyday, but it was quite the resfreshing beverage. Anyways we are off to find this local tico place called the bridge with our amigos from the boat and try and see some lava flowing from the Volcan. Then we´re gonna go to another $$$ hotsprings that Erick got us into for free. And after that sleep!Tommorow we are waking up early to take a taxi to the ranger station and do some hiking. Then Erick is gonna try and get us a kayak tour for cheap. He has been awesome and we owe him big time.

I will update later because I have to get ready for tonight!
love you all!

lisa

Day 3 cont....

Okay I know I already titled todays....but anyone who knows me knows I have a problemo with writing too much detail and making letters into novels! But today definitely deserves an extra blog! If you´re inpatient just hop to the second paragraph for the good stuff! So we were waiting for a bus to get to the base of San Luis waterfall. But we got bored so we decided to see how far it was on foot? Well turned out to be to far, but there was ¨The Towers¨the highest point in Monteverde. And it was only 30 minute hike out of town and then a 2 hour hike round trip. One of the guys at the desk mentioned Reservo... ? Can´t rememer the full name but it was a research center that offered day hikes for $$$ or you could just go up and see a humming bird reserve for free. They said it wasn´t too far from the Towers so we thought....hey why not? Well we left a 9 am and passed the Towers around 9:30 am.... Then we passed a small, and unmarked waterfall trail. It took about 40 minutes and it was a cute waterfall. Saw some leaf cutting ants going to town with the leaves, and saw some kind of costa rican racoon. Can´t remember the name. So we headed back to the main road uphill to the ¨Reservo¨along the way some dogs started to follows....thing is they never left us. It was adorable and we have tons of pictures of these little guys. They stuck with us the whole darn day! Well after 2 or so hour of hiking and tons of signs saying this way to the Reservo....we gave up. Turn after turn and we couldn´t find it and it was already 11:30 so we decided humming birds weren´t really more important than the Towers so we headed back. Quite a work out...or so we thought.

So we headed to the Towers. Finally got there with the pups in tow. Started hiking up and of course it started to rain....light rain. Neither of us were dressed for rain but we figured a light rain? How bad could it be? So we continued on up a steep steep loose rocky hill. The rain started to pick up, but our pups stuck with us. Suddenly the monsoon started...and didn´t stop. My Chacos were covered in an inch thick layer of mud and even when I tried to clean it off it came right back. I could barely take one step forward without sliding two steps back. So I vered off to a ledge with trees and proceeded to scrape off the mud. Then the ran got worse..suddenly the road we had just hiked up was turning into a small river/mud slide. The pups and us were completely soaked and streams were still flowing down my hair no matter where I stood. Neither of our packs were water proof so we stood there for awhile debating if we should wait togo back down to avoid getting stuck in the mini river. We decided to go for it and of course immediately began to slide without control. Luckily there was one side that was slightly covered my trees, but of course was pure mud up to my ankles. I have never been so wet and muddy ever!! We all finally made it to the bottom after lots of laughs and close spills. And had another 35 minute walk from the road to town. Of course it was raining the hardest now. We got shelter ever so often to try and work off the shivers and dry off . Which was impossible but we needed a break after an hour of being soaked and soaked and soaked. We finally made it back to town with our doggy friends in tow still. We later found out they usually stick with girls and go hiking with them and when theycome back to town they go they part ways. It was cute everyone or car that came near us they chased away. Our little protectors!
So tonight we went and ate at this little 3 table restaurant off the beaten path and had the best casados yet! On the way back we found a small shed with jewelry and wood art. The mans daughter made all the jewerly and I got a gorgeous bracelet made out of....watermelon seeds! ITt is so cute.

Sorry for not posting pictures, but we don´t have the usb plug! I will post when I get back!

love you all...Pura Vida,
Lisa

Dia Tres

So the zip like was incredible. There was one exactly 1 km long. Honestly if any of you come to Costra Rica you have to do the zipline. I have never seen such a beautiful few of things. At one point we were ziplining through the clouds and all you saw was white passing your face at high speeds. And if you looked down you´d see the trees, the valley below....it was breath taking. Unfortanetly little ol Lisa doesnt weigh too much and on a really cloudy one I got stuck so they had to come out and get me. Well...one of the guides who was still on the platform I had just taken off on didn´t know I had stopped midway. He figured I had finished. So out of the clouds comes a guy flying at 80 mph and has maybe 5 seconds to hit his break to avoid a collison. Of course he nailed me head on! Luckily it didn´t hurt too bad but we both were screaming. It was quite a rush. He was scared of me the rest of the zipline tour. Anyways they give you the option to hang upside down if you want. So i waited until the last one. AKA the 1 km. The guide goes with you so you don´t have to worry about breaking and you just hang upside down and don´t have to worry about anything, but the view. I didn´t realize it but he filmed it with Gabrienes camera so once I get back to the states I will post it. It was incredible!!!

Last night we went out to Tres Amigos and got some beers with some locals we met and it was a blast! Got to practice my spanish. It´s crazy because everyone has facebook so it´s pretty easy to keep in touch with everyone.

So today we are going to go for a hike. Up to a waterfall and then to the highest point in Monteverde. Tommorow morning we leave for La Fortuna to visit Volcan Arenal. All the books make it sound like it´s super expensive, have to have a tour guy, and pay $$$ for hot springs...we almost decided not to go, but after not being able to believe the Ticos don`t have a backpackers version.....I did researching online I discovered there´s a ranger station where you can pay 6 bucks and hike a good bit of the volcano area. There´s a bridge at night where you can see it as it´s active and there´s hotel that closed down that had natural river hot springs that is not owned so anyone can go to it. So tommorow we are off to the volcano!

Once again I love you all and I am having a blast!!

Day 2

Hey guys. We arrived in Monteverde my bus. Took about 4 hours. Not to bad! I slept a lot because honestly I felt quite nauseas (never even thought about bring medicine for that!) but I still made the time to look at the beautiful views along the way. Tons of mountains and hillsides covered in lush green. We are staying at Camino Verde and got a nice place for $4! Not bad eh? Well I will update later. Just about to head out for a canopy tour so I will get back to you all later. Just wanted to make sure all the worry warts new i made it here safely ; ) love ya mom!

Just wanted to let you all know I am ok! We are currently still in San Jose. We missed the bus but we are staying right next to the station in a very safe hotel. The front desk guy Josue is amazing and has been so helpful. He is from Limon and moved here to go to college. He has written in my journal tons of phrases to help us get around. We will leave for Volcan Arena or Monteverde in the morning around 630 am. Sorry if the characters are off but the keys are a lot different! I will keep you posted on tommorow where we end up going, but as for now we had dinner at a little shop downstairs and pollo con salsa and it was amazing!!! We will be staying up here hanging out with some cool peeps we met a married couple Rebecca and Ryan. They are from Canada have been traveling all over south america and central america for 9 months. I am so jealous! What an aamzing gift to travel with your love. They have a blog too www.rrsadventures.blogspot.com Anyways we are not gonna venture out in San Jose because it´s not exactly the safest.

Anyways love you all and I will update you all later!