Melissa is my Costa Rican name

Costa Rica was an unbelievable experience for me and I learned so much after the trip.  One of the things I miss the most is the fresh squeezed juice and the food.  Everything was fresh and all the food was grown locally.  I can understand why Costa Rica is the happiest place on Earth after meeting so many great people on this trip and a fun fact that separates Costa Rica from other countries is that they do not have a military.  

I like that Costa Rica incorporates sustainable practices into their daily lifestyle.  For example all the farms that we went to used natural organic fertilizer (Bocachi compost) this does not produce any green house gas and everywhere we go there are more than one trash can, each trash can is for different waste products.  In the US, this is not a common practice and I think this should be incorporated here as well because we produce so much waste. 

One thing that truly stuck out to me is the fact that is was normal incorporating sustainable practices into their daily lives.  In the US, it is not a practice that everyone tries to do and think this is something we need to work on more.  I believe everyone should visit Costs Rica because we all need to start caring about the Earth and try to be more sustainable.  If order to experience the real Costa Rican life style, you should try to support the locals by staying in smaller hotels instead of resorts.  This was my second time visiting Costa Rica and I made the first mistake by staying in a Resort.  I did not leave the resort, so I never got to travel and see what Costa Rica had to offer.  Going again truly amazed me and I wish never stayed in a resort the first time I went to Costa Rica.  This trip has truly brought me out of my comfort zone because I did not know anyone on this trip.  I made so many great friends to share the fun experiences we had during out trip in Costa Rica.  I was able to go white water rafting, which I have never done before and it was an unforgettable experience. 

Not only did I learn how to be more sustainable, but also I learned some survival skills in the rain forest.  For example, when we were in Tortuguero our tour guide showed us a vine that grows on the trees in the rain forest and if you rub it on your body it becomes a natural form of bug repellant. I even got use this skill when we went on the Cacao farm because there were so many mosquitoes around us.

This one of the best trips I have been on and could not ask for better people to experience it with.  I became more sustainable and I try to influence the people around me to be more sustainable as well.  If I could I would go back on this trip again!! Thanks everyone for following us here and our Twitter @BryantMKT421

Pura Vida!!!

Ellissa Cho

Aka Melissa

@_ECHO____

Sanctuary in the Sun

Monday, January 12^th

Hotel Double Tree Cariari- San Jose

            We arrived in San Juan a little it before 2 pm on Monday, January 12^th. Exhausted but excited to begin our journey, we left the airport with high spirits. Before we stepped foot on Hotel Double Tree’s wonderful grounds, we ventured through San Jose via bus. Our tour guide Manual and our bus driver Carlos led us on a sightseeing tour through the streets of San Jose. We saw the national theatre, jade museum, the national stadium and enjoyed a wonderful lunch at a restaurant called Nuestra Terra.

             We arrived at the Hotel Double Tree- Cariari in the early evening. After 12 hours of travel, the open-air lobby, complimentary cookie, and Wi-Fi, this hotel felt like a sanctuary. That evening we enjoyed a delicious welcome dinner and the company of our peers. The next morning we awoke to a beautiful pool view, including a cabana and a poolside bar. In all, the hotel served us great as a San Jose hub. From this hotel we travelled throughout much of the central valley including coffee plantations such as Dota and Espirito Santo and we enjoyed a fruit tour in the Los Santos Region.

             Fun Facts:

The hotel has a Casino

It also has an excellent exercise facility

Sustainability

             In regards to sustainability, the Double Tree was a good indicator of what we grew used to in Costa Rica. There was great commitment to the community, both economically and environmentally.  One thing in particular that drew my attention about this hotel is their 4 out of 5 level of sustainability according to the Costa Rican Tourism Board. This is a good mark considering that the best level is a 5. One might wonder, in what ways and through what means does a hotel become more efficient or act more sustainability.

            In the hotel rooms, I noticed a key in the holder, that when taken out, shuts all power in the room. This is a method done in many parts of the world and is an effective way to mitigate needless emissions and pollution. The hotel is also designed in the traditional hacienda Costa Rican style, which through its tile floors, high ceilings and archways, keeps the rooms cool. This is a way the hotel is removes energy costs and use from cooling the building. 
           This hotel was a great introduction to the different levels of sustainability as well as the culture of the Costa Rican people. I hope one day to return to this hotel and investigate San Jose even more!

Marco Addonizio

A Delicious Welcome!

What better way to be welcomed into Costa Rica than by a delicious meal at Restaurante Nuestra Tierra located right in San Jose? Nuestra Tierra, which literally translates to "Our Land" in English, serves authentic and fresh Costa Rican Cuisine, which is commonly referred to as "comida tica". (Tica being a word that Costa Ricans use to refer to themselves). Upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted by an unbelievably friendly and hospitable wait staff who sat us at long wooden benches. Once sitting down you can get the feel of a typical Costa Rican kitchen with onions, cups and plantains hanging from the ceiling, the strong smell of fresh coffee and other delicious aromas.

For lunch,the restaurant was serving chicken, fish or pork chops, all served with a salad, fried plaintain and "casados" (rice and beans). Fun fact: Costa Ricans typically served rice and beans with almost every meal, it is why they are called "casados", which means married in Spanish.

Once we ordered our meals, the wait staff began to bring out a variety of different natural juices for us to drink. We drank passion fruit, guava, strawberry, and the like. Some of us even felt brave enough to mix a few of them together. All in all, I think its safe to say it was definitely a new lunch experience for all of us.

Once we had our fun with the variety of different juices, our food came served over banana leaves. I ordered the chicken, and it was completely satisfying (and I'm not just saying that because I hadn't eaten after traveling for over nine hours). I think I can speak for everyone when I say the food was delicious and one of the highlights of the day.

After we finished our meals, they brought out a typical Tico dessert, arroz con leche or rice pudding. Personally, I love arroz con leche. When I studied abroad in Spain last year, my host mom would make it for us in the winter, and being able to enjoy it again really brought those memories back.

Needless to say, I definitely enjoyed typical Tico cuisine and I am excited to continue to try new food while we are here!

-Tayla Benoit (@TaylaBenoit)

Don't forget to follow us on twitter to follow our adventures at @BryantMkt421