Jueves 11 de junio - San Jose
After a final evening in Bogota, drinking a few beers with the other travellers in the hostel, I crash on the sofa until 3.15am when I awake and take a taxi to the airport. My first flight takes me to Panama City where I briefly depart my plane and then re-board in order to continue to San Jose. I have booked up a hostel, outside the centre of town for a couple nights whilst I get my plans together. After arriving at 'In and Basic Hostel', San Jose airport is infact in Alajuela a city slightly further away, I head off to eat.. spending 5000 colones, around 10 dollars.. and therefore around 20,000 Colombian pesos! I've been told Costa Rica is pricey, and I am now realising that.
I am feeling alone after being surrounded by new friends since my time volunteering in Ecuador. It is great therefore to skype with my oldest friend from home, Catrin and my sister. In the evening, I end up eating out again, but this time at a cheaper place with my dorm mate, Charlie from Putney.
Viernes 12 de junio - San Jose
My day is spent planning and contacting various different volunteering options in Costa Rica. Heavy rain falls outside, putting a stop to any thoughts of exploring outside the hostel!
Sabado 13 de junio - San Jose
I make plans to head to Heredia but the hostel is full as I look to book up a couple nights in a dorm. I instead switch hostels and remain in this side of San Jose. I decide, and confirm, that on Monday I will head to a remote area of Costa Rica called Mastatal, to volunteer on an agriculture farm.
Domingo 14 de junio - San Jose
With most places shut on Sundays, I end up spending the day watching the whole 2nd series of Broadchurch, after finding the episodes on youtube!
Lunes 15 de junio - Mastatal
After a final morning breakfast of pancakes at my hostel, I check out and take a local bus into the centre of San Jose. Here the plan had been to take a 2nd local bus to the otherside of the city, where my bus terminal/office is based. I however, manage to take two incorrect buses and finally take a taxi there! The bus is just about to depart when I eventually arrive, so I quickly grab a bottle of water and then jump on. Ahead of me I have around an hours journey to Puriscal, from where I will then take the 3pm bus (only one of the day..) to Mastatal.. infact it will drop me off at the entrance of the farm.
On arrival to Puriscal I hear two English speakers... gringos.. behind me. These two Americans, Jacob and Mark, are also on route to Mastatal but to a different project (in total there are 4 projects that use volunteers), they are about to begin a 6 month stay.. with visa runs needed in between due to the 3 month tourist visa. In Puriscal Jacob buys a machete, Mark is already in possession of one, in preparation for their upcoming work.
At 2.30pm, we board the ex-American school/army style bus, which quickly fills up before departing at 3pm. It is a slow and bumpy 2hr journey to Mastatal... plus we all have numb bums with 30mins still to go!
Eventually, sweaty and out of breath after the briefest climb up the pathway, I arrive at Villasmastatal! I meet the other friendly and welcoming volunteers. .too many names to remember at first.. there are currently 8 others here. Soon after it is dinner, a filling and tasty meal! It's good to know I am now going to be settled here for the next few weeks... however let's see how well I get used to the bugs biting away at me!
Martes 16 de junio - Villasmastatal
My first full day at Villasmastatal and the start of my volunteering here! After breakfast at 7am, we all slowly get ourselves ready for the mornings work. Here I will be volunteering only during the mornings from 8 - 12.. más o menos..! This means I'll have each afternoon free. Today we are heading to Cangreja National Park.. the border of which is literally opposite Villasmastatal. We walk for around 30mins to get to an entrance where Javier then gives us an insight about the national park ... a chance to understand some spanish.
Today I am equipped with a machete.. along with Isa and Javier, whilst the rest of the group carry rakes. Our job this morning is to clear the path! When we are finished we head to a nearby waterfall, making our way down the stream..I'm trying not to get my trainers wet and struggling with my balance, like usual.
It is a welcome end to our work, after chilling out here we make our way back to the farm for lunch.
In the afternoon .. still without a flight home, I book up return flights from London to Milan, so that I can be there for Ferragosto and party with Iris and her friends in the North of Italy... my return is now inevitable, although a trip a week later away again is exciting! Of course there is plenty I am looking forward too on my return to England, seeing my family and friends, however seeing many new parts of the world, the life and culture, has given me a new found aspiration to possibly settle and work in other countries for longer periods in the future.
In the afternoon .. still without a flight home, I book up return flights from London to Milan, so that I can be there for Ferragosto and party with Iris and her friends in the North of Italy... my return is now inevitable, although a trip a week later away again is exciting! Of course there is plenty I am looking forward too on my return to England, seeing my family and friends, however seeing many new parts of the world, the life and culture, has given me a new found aspiration to possibly settle and work in other countries for longer periods in the future.
Later in the afternoon, we all head into town, around a 30min walk, to play football! At first we have even teams, 5 a side, and it is a lot of fun. . However after playing for a while, we begin to catch the attention of the locals, resulting in new players joining our game.. soon it has become a lot more serious and skillful!
We are all in need of a beer after the game, we leave the locals to continue their more intense contest... however soon after they are also at the small bar..here in Mastatal there is a bar, two small window shops, a library, a little school and the football pitch! With only one bus in and out of Mastatal daily, we are truly in the middle of nowhere. . The sight of electrical lines, despite of course slightly ruining the natural beauty from my window seat on the bus, still provided me with some satisfaction that I wouldn't be fully cut off from the rest of the world.. although no doubt that would have resulted in an even more heightened experience.
We are all in need of a beer after the game, we leave the locals to continue their more intense contest... however soon after they are also at the small bar..here in Mastatal there is a bar, two small window shops, a library, a little school and the football pitch! With only one bus in and out of Mastatal daily, we are truly in the middle of nowhere. . The sight of electrical lines, despite of course slightly ruining the natural beauty from my window seat on the bus, still provided me with some satisfaction that I wouldn't be fully cut off from the rest of the world.. although no doubt that would have resulted in an even more heightened experience.
Miercoles 17 de junio - Villasmastatal
A hot and sunny morning, making the work difficult and extremely sweaty! Half of the group continue clearing the area around the coffee plants roots, a task they have previously started at the start of the week. The group I am amongst carry straw bags full of dead leaves to cover onto the area cleared around the roots of the coffee plants. The affects of the football, plus (maybe more so..) the lack of coffee this morning, along with the hot uncompromising sun blaring down upon us and the sheer humidity, results in a slow difficult mornings work (no doubt pleasure to the ears of many of you back in U.K who have followed my year long adventures far away from home!).
The idea of a trek to a waterfall in the afternoon has little appeal. I chill out in a hammock, beginning to read a new book. Later in the afternoon I walk into town with Marli and Isa to buy chocolate and have another cheeky beer.
Jueves 18 de junio - Villasmastatal
This morning I wake and get up at 6am in order to take part in a group yoga session. The views from the deck above our dormatory are incredible. A positive way to start the day, and a new experience.
Yesterday afternoon a family arrived with two young children, as well as Kelsey who will be teaching Andres (the son of Javier and Rachel) as well as running yoga sessions for all. Javier decides to take us all on a tour of the farm and accomodation/social areas.. giving explanations about the plants and the history behind the different buildings and their construction. This agriculture farm has many examples of self sufficiency and recycled/natural creations. Very interesting and insightful, plus a chance to practice spanish.. listening and speaking.
The tour takes up the majority of the morning, when we usually work, so today we have a day off from the normal hard labour!
This morning I wake and get up at 6am in order to take part in a group yoga session. The views from the deck above our dormatory are incredible. A positive way to start the day, and a new experience.
Yesterday afternoon a family arrived with two young children, as well as Kelsey who will be teaching Andres (the son of Javier and Rachel) as well as running yoga sessions for all. Javier decides to take us all on a tour of the farm and accomodation/social areas.. giving explanations about the plants and the history behind the different buildings and their construction. This agriculture farm has many examples of self sufficiency and recycled/natural creations. Very interesting and insightful, plus a chance to practice spanish.. listening and speaking.
The tour takes up the majority of the morning, when we usually work, so today we have a day off from the normal hard labour!
Later in the afternoon after more delicious food, we all head again into town for another game of football. After heavy showers earlier in the afternoon our game is played in parts on a waterlogged pitch.. Other volunteers from the chocolate farm arrive, so we have a match against them. The taste of a refreshing cold beer is again the perfect end to our afternoons excursion.
It is a dark walk home, the path partially lit by the couple of torches a few have brought with them!
Viernes 19 de junio - Villasmastal
Back to work on the farm, and today I dig and clear a tomato patch along with Chelsea and Roger. In the afternoon, whilst the rain pours down (others have gone off to two different waterfalls and are no doubt soaked from the rain), I finally book up my flight back to London..see you at the start of August..
We head out for drinks in the evening, most of the group are heading to the beach this weekend whilst the Dannish couple Lona and Mikkel are leaving for good, so it is goodbye to them. An end to a great first week volunteering in Mastatal.