There are lizards everywhere here, inside and out. Aubrie just walked into the bathroom and there were three of the friendly creatures awaiting her! Little things like that make this place so much different then home, yet we are somehow adapting. At home, something like this would freak most of us out. Yet, in this type of environment, we let them be and just observe. PURA VIDA!
Yesterday, Day 4, we started a different type of project. We began the morning with a beach clean up. We started right by our Cabina, and ended at the Twomey residence. The Twomey's are retired FDU professors who began trips to CR years ago. For 18 years they brought students down here to experience what we are experiencing right now, and now Dean Mauro is helping to keep their legend and mission alive. They have a beautiful home in Manzanillo.
The clean up was such a success. We filled multiple bags of trash, including lots of plastics that are very harmful to marine life. After about a mile and a half down the beach, we followed a little path through the rainforest that lead to the Twomey residence. They kindly invited our entire group over for lunch, and showed us their beautiful home. The homes here are truly amazing. They are like the tree house you have always dreamed of as a kid...but...in the middle of the rainforest. Waking up here every morning would be truly breathtaking.
Conversation and relaxation at the Twomey's was very inspiring. They have some awesome stories to tell, and are just truly kind people. They were so interested in what we have gotten out of our trip, and also about ourselves in general. I am so glad I got to know them a little better, and also glad to be apart of what they started in CR many years ago.
On the way back to our Cabina, we collected beach almonds for the Macaw rehabilitation center and ARA project.
Today, before lunch we were able to learn a bit more about the ARA project here in Costa Rica because Colleen, a volunteer at the center, came to talk to us. This center is making history, because not only are they rehabilitating hurt Macaws, but they also have finally successfully bred them and have released around eight-ten birds into the wild. They are an endangered species, and this center is the only one who has had success breeding Macaws as well as successfully releasing the babies around age seven into the wild. It was a great thing to hear about, and is such a great cause. We might actually be able to go to the center to see the Macaws, but we aren't quite sure if it will happen before we leave. I hope we are able to make it work!
The rest of the day we spent collecting more almonds to donate for the Macaws, and then spent evening watching the sunset at the beach and swimming in the Caribbean. I am telling you, it is more beautiful then pictures on a post card here.
In Katie Rolwood's words (she seems to be quite the inspirational one this trip) "It is so interesting how at home, we all think something like the Empire State building is amazing and wonderful, but here, nature creates its own wonders."
PURA VIDA! <3
Photos of Day's 4 and 5: www.photobucket.com/fducr2012day4
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