Gearing up...
22 grudnia 2018, Stany Zjednoczone ⋅ ⛅ 50 °F
Students and faculty from Longwood University are gearing up for an exciting program in one of Latin America’s most successful nations. While not a rich country, Costa Rica has become a global Czytaj więcej
The Organized Suitcase
29 grudnia 2018, Stany Zjednoczone ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F
The organized and well thought through suitcase is key to a Marks study abroad. We will be moving to a new location almost every night. This allows us to visit a diverse set of communities...from Czytaj więcej
Ready for Takeoff
1 stycznia 2019, Stany Zjednoczone ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F
We are boarded and ready to depart. Next stop...San Salvador.
Hostel LaJuela
1 stycznia 2019, Kostaryka ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F
We have checked into our first accommodation near the airport, and it is a sweet little hostel run by a fantastic woman. She is also an amazing chef.
All dressed up
1 stycznia 2019, Kostaryka ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F
The Central Square is all dressed up for the holidays. Interestingly, I was here at the same time last year but there were no lights. We took in some local color...families congregate to let kids play Czytaj więcej
Mercado Central
2 stycznia 2019, Kostaryka ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F
Our first stop today was at the central market, where locals go to buy fresh produce, cheese, meats, etc. This is not a typical tourist destination so the locals were intrigued by our group.
Mask workshop with Gerald Montoya
2 stycznia 2019, Kostaryka ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F
We traveled to the community of Escazú in order to visit the unique workshop of Gerald Montoya, whose grandfather was a mask artist. Masks are with in a celebration on Saints Day, with lots of Czytaj więcej
Sugar Cane
2 stycznia 2019, Kostaryka ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F
Costa Rican’s enjoy juice made from the sugar cane. Students used the press you see in the photo to prepare the juice. After cutting off the skin, the cane goes through the press two times. Sugar Czytaj więcej
Incredible Sunset
2 stycznia 2019, Kostaryka ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F
We took a long hike up the mountain to see the sunset. Along the way we passed a beautiful farm and befriended some dogs.
Pal Michal
2 stycznia 2019, Kostaryka ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F
We are in a rural coffee community learning about sustainability projects. This lodge is our home for two days. Our first night, we had a guacamole and pico de gallo cooking competition. Then we made Czytaj więcej
Coffee Farming
3 stycznia 2019, Kostaryka ⋅ ⛅ 75 °F
Learning about coffee farming at Dona Rosa coffee farm. Students picked coffee, roasted it, grounded it, and enjoyed the beautiful environment.
Latin Dancing
3 stycznia 2019, Kostaryka ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F
Salsa. Meringue. Bachata. Cumbia. These are the Latin dances your students now know. Dancing with the local students was a great time. Hopefully some of the videos load.
Happy Birthday
3 stycznia 2019, Kostaryka ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F
We had a student celebrating her 20th birthday. So in typical Latino style, I bought 4 cakes and fed everyone in the lodge. Happy birthday Jessica.
More Latin Dance Videos
3 stycznia 2019, Kostaryka ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F
Check it out...good job Longwood.
Finca Doña Mary
4 stycznia 2019, Kostaryka ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
We visited a farm owned by my friend Sergio’s family. It is such a special place, and as you can see from the pictures, it is stunning. We enjoyed a traditional campesino breakfast like what Czytaj więcej
Horseback Riding in the Mountains
4 stycznia 2019, Kostaryka ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F
This afternoon was spent on horseback as we toured the incredible mountains of Monteverde. We arrived at the peak just in time for sunset.
Santa Elena Preserve
5 stycznia 2019, Kostaryka ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F
We spent the morning learning about cloud forest ecosystems in Santa Elena Preserve. This area is protected thanks to donations from outside of Costa Rica. You see us in our ponchos because of the Czytaj więcej
Zip Line Canopy Tour
5 stycznia 2019, Kostaryka ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F
Students are finishing up the largest zip line canopy tour in Central America. There are something like 16 segments with a walk in between. In total, the trek is for about 3 hours and there is light Czytaj więcej
Monteverde
5 stycznia 2019, Kostaryka ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F
The area we are in was founded by Quakers who were looking to leave the USA during the Korean War...and save their kids from the draft. Now, it is a destination for ecotourism, especially adventure Czytaj więcej
Exotic Fruit
5 stycznia 2019, Kostaryka ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
We have tried just about every exotic fruit here...mango, green mango, guava, water apple, passion fruit, papaya, etc. Here you see Longwood ladies next to an unusually short papaya tree.
Wind Energy
6 stycznia 2019, Kostaryka ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F
As we leave Monteverde heading to Arenal, we pass through an especially windy area. You see windmills placed by a private company that is harnessing energy. Costa Rica uses mostly clean Czytaj więcej
Arenal Lake
6 stycznia 2019, Kostaryka ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F
Lake Arenal is a manmade lake made in 1990s for hydroelectric power and also to get water to the Guanacaste region. There, you see dry forest and it gets very hot. It is a very flat area and has Czytaj więcej
Pipa Fria
6 stycznia 2019, Kostaryka ⋅ 🌧 77 °F
Fresh coconut water is delicious here and very healthy. Students are sampling freshly cut coconuts.
Coatis
6 stycznia 2019, Kostaryka ⋅ 🌧 77 °F
Along the road is a huge population of coatis. Over the years the group has gotten bugger and bigger. I remember it being about four and now there are probably twenty. Tourists are feeding them and Czytaj więcej
Sloth Sighting
6 stycznia 2019, Kostaryka ⋅ 🌧 81 °F
Great sloth sighting...this one was a three toed sloth. You see a mama and baby. I took the picture on my zoom camera and the used my phone to take another pic.