Day 7

The relationships that were made on this trip are ones that have emotionally impacted our lives. Not only the friendships we built with each other, but those within the community as well. The wonderful people who housed us and cooked for us, their children, those who gave us tours and showed us their home on land and on water, and those who we met along the way are all people with beautiful character and energy. I think we honestly felt sad when we left not only because we were leaving warm weather and a tropical atmosphere, but we were also leaving friends that we don't know when we will see again.


On our last day in Manzanillo, Joseph thought it would be a great idea for us all to go to an animal observatory. This is a place that houses animals for rehabilitation that both can and cannot be released back into the wild. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed this, as we got to see some animals up close and personally. They actually let us into the monkey habitat, and the monkeys crawled and jumped all over us. One fell asleep in another guests arms, and it was so precious to watch. What was cool is that we were able to see some animals that we never would have seen in the wild otherwise. It was also great that some of the animals we can actually say we saw in their natural habitat previously on our nature hike.


Being our last few hours here, after this we were given some free time before our final dinner together. Some of us napped, some explored the beach and went for walks, some went to the local restaurant and ice cream place, and another few were able to see the Macaws. It was great to spend our last hours in Manzanillo relaxing, reflecting, and taking it all in before we had to say goodbye.


We then went into Puerto Viejo (the closest port, only a half hour away) for some shopping and ended our night at, of what we've been told, one of the nicest restaurants in Costa Rica. It was outdoors, with high canopies, and was very intimate.


We sat within the rainforest, eating meals, sharing stories, and feeling good about how we helped the community, and also how they helped us.


Pura Vida <3


Photos of Day 7: www.photobucket.com/fducr2012day7