Well I've really sucked at keeping up with my blog. Hopefully to make up for it, instead of writing a million posts about all of the things I've done since the end of March, I have compiled a Top 100 Moments list. I've decided to do it in semi-chronological order instead of trying to objectify so many ineffable and amazing experiences. So without further ado, my Top 100 Moments in Costa Rica.
1. Meeting everyone that first day in Hotel Bouganvillea (we had no idea what we were in for)
2. Leaving snow and cold in Cleveland in January and arriving in Costa Rica to beautiful weather and sunshine
3. Having that first beer with Jason at Bougainvillea
4. Orientation in Monteverde
5. The night hike in Monteverde
6. Ziplining in Monteverde
7. Bar Amigos
8. Celebrating Karley's and Meredith's birthdays (It's been great getting to know you)
9. That first beach trip to Manuel Antonio
10. Going to Poás (on a beautifully clear day)
11. Swimming, hiking, and having our own little beach at Osa Peninsula on a remote private reserve
12. Discovering the beauty of no electricity and candle-lit dinners in Osa
13. Playing psychiatrist (too many times to count)
14. Seeing so much wildlife including 4 out of 4 of Costa Rica's monkey species in one weekend
15. Whale watching
16. Having dolphins swim right alongside our boat
17. Snorkeling at Isla de Caña
18. Hiking way high up Volcán Arenal, not breaking our necks, not even a little, (some of us took some serious tumbles though), and seeing the view from up there
19. Taking a dip in the free hot springs in La Fortuna
20. Jumping from a rope swing into a river with little waterfalls in La Fortuna
21. Rafting the Pacuare River
22. Jumping off a cliff into the river and swimming under waterfalls
23. "Riding the bull": riding on the front tip of the raft while we went down a rapid
24. Being really cold at the top of Volcán Irazú with Audrey
25. Hiking to Volcán Barva with Audrey and her parents and going to Kalú with her sister and her boyfriend
26. Having the beach to ourselves with Jason in Mal País
27. Watching the sunsets from the beachside tiki bar lounge chairs with Jason in Mal País
28. Spending a few days at Playa Negra and Playa Junquillal with my host parents
29. Watching one of the most beautiful sunsets on the beach after a storm passed through with Ligia and Gustavo (my host parents)
30. Watching conservationists release baby turtles out to sea
31. My family coming to Costa Rica
32. Hiking with my family in Arenal and Monteverde
33. Trying out the different hot water pools at Tabacon Hot Springs with my family
34. Having a hot tub in our hotel room in Arenal
35. Ziplining in Arenal with Calder
36. Sleeping in soft plush beds when my family came
37. Drinking wine with my family on the balcony of our hotel in Monteverde and watching a lightning storm
38. Spending the day at the beach with my family at Manuel Antonio
39. Hanging out at the rooftop pool and swim-up bar at our hotel in Manuel Antonio
40. Drinking beers at the Bat Cave with Calder
41. Spending the day at Bougainvillea with my family and Audrey
42. Skyping my friends
42. Skyping my family
43. Skyping Dan
44. Discovering I could pay attention in 4-hour long classes entirely in Spanish
45. Hitting the bar Thursday after History class with Nicolette, Hannah, Audrey, Sydney and Jason
46. Splitting buckets of beer
47. Nights at Bule
48. The jukebox
49. Belting out 90s and early 2000s classics at Bule
50. The Calle Trece Concert
51. Going to Kalú and Café Mundo with Audrey and Karley
52. Going with my host parents and Audrey to that farm in the Caribbean and the beach in Puerto Viejo for the day
53. Seeing a margay napping in a tree- twice.
54. Seeing an endangered leatherback turtle as we patrolled the beach at night from poachers at Tortuguero
55. Getting tan
56. Competing with Audrey for who was more tan
57. Beautiful weather pretty much always
58. Rocking J's in Puerto Viejo
59. Having really awkward encounters at Mr. Grill with Audrey
60. Hearing Hannah tell a story
61. Gustavo's (my host dad's) stories and jokes
62. Getting smoothies at Mandarina
63. Going to "Muffins" to "study"
64. Eating at Sushi Home
65. Going to the national championship fútbol game and watching Heredia win (¡campeones!)
66. Making a fool of myself that one time at Bule with Kate (ok, multiple times for me)
67. The first torrential downpour (and many subsequent ones)
68. Falling asleep to the sound of the rain on the tin roof
69. Seeing quetzals
70. Playing cards - kemps, spades, president (keEEMPs)
71. Waking up at 4 AM to watch the sunrise from Costa Rica's 2nd highest peak at 11,000 ft
72. Celebrating Hannah's birthday
73. Watching Hannah do the worm
74. When Karley recited the Kentuckian alphabet/trying to get her to do it again
75. When Sydney said y'all more than 3 three times in a sentence. Bonus if she said y'all selves
76. Picking up saying y'all from Sydney
77. Kayaking on Laguna de Apoyo, a filled-in crater of an extinct volcano in Nicaragua
78. Taking a boat ride out on Lake Nicaragua, seeing the isletas and not getting eaten by freshwater sharks when we jumped in
79. Playing that movie game in the pool at our hostel in Granada
80. Completing my classes
81. Improving my Spanish immensely
82. Playing basketball with Tracy and Jason
83. Anytime Hannah was at Bule
84. When Hannah's southern belle accent came out (you're pretty alright)
85. Thunderstorms
86. Posts on Adventure Hungover in the Rica
87. Getting to know everyone in the group in the last 5 months
88. When my host mom told me I'll always have a family and a place to stay in Costa Rica
89. The Final Dinner at La Esquina de Buenos Aires
90. The Awards Ceremony for the ladies of our group
91. Passing around the cards to write things about each other at dinner
92. Learning and absorbing so much about the country and the culture
93. Learning so much about my own culture
94. That final hurrah Thursday night at Bule
95. The final lunch with my host family
96. That really bittersweet final goodbye at Muffins
97. Making lasting friendships
98. Discovering what it means to be tranquilo
99. Learning the true meaning of pura vida
100. Knowing I'll be back
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