Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching. -C.S. Lewis
Picking up a random lady's suitcase when it falls down.
Sharing your band aids when a fellow member of your group trips.
Talking to a girl sitting alone at a table.
Translating for others and using our Spanish for a good cause.
Picking up items others left on the bus and delivering it to their rightful owners.
Calming down those who are scared of turbulence and shaky boats.
Those are just some of the things I've observed in the last few days. To top it all off, I had a member of the other group tell me that he wishes he were in our group since we interact so well. I will take it!
After a bumpy boat ride (it was all lies that this was the smoothest one!) we arrived of the island of Santa Cruz, Charles Darwin's playground for all things research.
We had a couple of hours free and found a local breakfast joint. It had some very questionable juices and a coffee I won't soon forget but the kids didn't complain and just watched me get mad about the nasty food. On the bright side, Nicholas has been looking for ceviche and this one dish didn't disappoint. We found the only shop that was open that early and as Fabian calls it "contributed to the local economy."
We checked into our hotel which was full of smaller type cabins tucked in between luscious gardens. The travelers who went to Costa Rica last year immediately said "Tortuguero!!!" Yep, beautiful place, bugs and nature. Just want you want when you are exploring these islands.
After lunch, we headed out to the Charles Darwin Research Center. We were warned that we would only see a small part of it since it's going through restoration. While we didn't see as many tortoises as the day before in Isabela, what we did see was good enough for a Mexican telenovela. Ask your students for footage.
Next stop: flat walk down on the beach to swim and kayak. Oh so many lies. It wasn't flat. Mostly it wasn't on the beach. Did I mention it wasnt flat?! Later on when I called out our local guide for the "flat" comment, he shrugged and said it wasn't rocks and it was paved. Well, there is a difference!
We were rewarded when we made the final turn onto Tortuga Bay, it's pristine white beaches is what you see in pictures. I was immediately drowned by an unnamed student but hey, I know that's the price of admission.
We rented kayaks and some kayaked for the first time ever. Sea turtles, (vegetarian) sharks and sea lions were in the water. Lots of pretty birds in the mangrove trees.
On the way back from the beach people started dropping like flies. Tripping, steps, air, who knows. Traveling with us now is one in a wheelchair and another covered in ice. Since it was none of the California 9, I must concur with the statement the night before: "we are fit!"
Back at the hotel, we had dinner and relaxed. Our days are so so busy that by the time we get back we are hot, sunburned and ready to hang in our rooms. Even on nights when Logan students' room becomes the travel central since the Florida group joins our kids to hang out in their room. What can we say, we are likeable!
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