Hola from Costa Rica! Today was another early morning for half of the group, while the other half got to sleep in until breakfast at 7:30. The first group woke up bright and early for breakfast at 6:00 am Then they headed off to horseback riding with the driver and fan fav, Eddy, at Rancho Santa Maria. First, we got our helmets and saddled up our horses. We felt like true rancheros! We also learned Eddy used to be a bull rider. After we learned this fascinating fact about Eddy, he taught us how to control and ride the horse. A nice refresher for some of us, who were a bit rusty, but also, a good learning experience for those new to horseback riding. The way they ride in Costa Rica is different than you might expect. We jumped up on the horse all by ourselves (no stool!) and began our ride through the cloud forest of Costa Rica. The horses took us through the trails at the base of the mountain following our fearless leader, Edgar. Our horses led us across rivers, up and down narrow muddy paths and over a pasture. One of the group’s favorite sights was when we stopped at a lookout of a breathtaking volcano that disappeared in the clouds in the sky. Then, we continued back to the ranch, passing many fruit trees such as mango, guava, and orange lining the road. Upon returning from the ride, the second group was just about to begin their own adventure. Once the second group completed the ride, we all reunited again at Finca La Anita.
After lunch, we began our science endeavors with our groups. Some groups worked in the lab in the upper floor of the classroom, while others headed out to the fields to experiment on working and active ants in the wild. The hike to and from the fields was tiring due to the abundant amount of hills, along with the drastic changes in weather from full sun to rain and back again. Something we have learned is that the weather here changes every minute because we are in the rainforest. We worked on our experiments all afternoon with a short break before la cena (points if you can translate). Dinner was amazing like always, with carmelized plantains with ice cream and dark chocolate nibs for dessert.
Following la cena, each group discussed our progress thus far with our great teachers, Andy, Silver, and Allan. They gave us pointers and encouragement about our projects. Science was short tonight. Everyone exhausted from the busy day, we returned to our cabins to unwind and go to sleep. The day was full to the max, and we all enjoyed it very much. Hope all is well at home with our lovely families. Can’t wait to tell you about our endeavors!!!
Peace and love,
Isabel and Katie A.B.
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