Instead of soaking up more beautiful scenery, yesterday was a day about culture. Melissa and I met up with my former exchange student, Flo, who is living in Cartago for one year. His host family gave us a tour of Cartago, including the ruins of an old church and the most sacred Catholic site in the country, La Basilica de las Angeles. The basilica is absolutely gorgeous, inside and out. When we were there, there were several baptisms and a wedding going on all at once! There were also dozens of people shuffling down the center aisle on their knees, an act of devotion. Below the church, there is a spring of water that is said to cure ailments, and many people bought bottles to take some home.
After the tour, we visited Flo's home, and I said goodbye to Melissa. It's time for me to figure things out on my own! I then went with Flo and his family to a big family birthday celebration. It was not only Flo's 20th birthday, but also his uncle's 50th. The whole family of 30-40 people celebrated on a farm outside of Cartago. There was amazing food, and I even ate a little bit of chicken because I just couldn't say no! There was also music, dancing, karaoke, and a piñata in which everyone participated. I was able to have some conversations in Spanish, though a few of the aunts speak English and thus we talked for a while. On the whole, the family is very tight-knit and welcoming. Flo is quite lucky to have such a wonderful host family.
After five hours of partying, I needed to head down to my hostel. The whole family was very concerned that I'm traveling on my own, and thus didnt want me wandering the streets at night. They had never heard of the local hostel, and thus insisted that I stay at a nicer hotel. It was quite pricey - $30 a night!! - but worth it for the privacy, nice bed, and personal bathroom. I awoke this morning to church bells and singing at the basilica just across the street.
I have changed my mind, and thus today I am heading to Monteverde, a national park and cloud forest just north of San Jose. The Caribbean seemed like a good idea, but the weather hasn't been ideal and there are reportedly lots of mosquitos there. Plus, there just doesn't seem to be enough time to do everything.
I may be alone now, but I know the basics of the bus system and safety concerns. I expect to meet more exciting people in Monteverde, but who knows!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Hello, niece!
I'm impressed with your courage & versatility in traveling all over Costa Rica & making decisions on the go. Thanks for the blog as it's a fun way to hear about your experiences. Happy trails!
Love, Jean
Oh you're making me so jealous! I'm sitting here in my office with snow falling heavily outside my frosted window. It's already begun to be dark when I leave for work and dark when I get off. It's a little frightening. I've got lots of things to keep me busy though! My sister, Raz and I are putting on a Drag show as a benefit for Interior AIDS Association this December. I wish I could look forward to a Christmas break knowing that you'll be in town ready to go get cozy at a coffee shop somewhere, but I know that you'll be down there doing what you need to do and making your way through the world, soaking up every second. I hope that some day you and I can conquer the world together. Maybe New Zealand? Well I'm sure you have enough travels to think about for one year. I'll be thinking of you and hope that you're doing wonderfully. I also hope that you're finding this trip to be freeing and fulfilling in all the right ways. Take care of yourself and know that I love you all the way up here!
Post a Comment