Submitted by Katelyn Shelly on the 2019 winter session program in Costa Rica sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures…
My second full week in Heredia, Costa Rica was even better than the first. Classes have now gotten into full swing. I even had two exams and two presentations already. I have to say it is such an interesting and exciting balancing act: going to classes, doing homework, and studying for exams while going on amazing excursions and exploring this lively country on your study breaks! Overall, things are going well and I’m learning so much. Week two was filled with excursions that were both fun and educational.
During the week ,we were introduced to the latin culture with a dance class taught by two Costa Rican dancers. We learned three traditional Latin dances – salsa, merengue, and bachata. It’s amazing how so many of the Latin countries have their own variations of each of these dances. We also toured a few famous and historical spots in San José. The National Theater, built in 1897, with its impressive architecture was a site to see. Also, the Costa Rican Art Museum was very interesting, and very different from any art museum I’ve ever been to.
Over the weekend, we had the incredible opportunity to experience some of the drastically different, but equally beautiful environments and landscapes in Costa Rica. We went, from sea level to 11,300 feet elevation on one weekend! Saturday was a free day so the group decided to book a boat ride excursion to Isla Tortuga, a tropical island off the Pacific Coast. On Sunday, we traveled to the highest active volcano in the country, Volcán Irazú. This national park, and even the trek up to the top, was simply breathtaking. We talked with our tour guide about things we saw such as the farms, different vegetation and climate, past volcanic activity, and more. This volcano has not erupted since 1963 and it erupts on average every 40-60 years so it could happen any day now! We were truly in the clouds when we got to the top so we could not see that much. It was about 20-30 degrees colder than the valley and very windy. Just when we started to think we weren’t going to see much, our spirits were lifted when a huge gust of wind blew away the clouds and the enormous crater appeared so clearly. I’ve never seen anything like it! The main crater was filled with a beautiful turquoise lake that has been known to change colors, from emerald green to wine red. Although it was not clear enough while we were there, it is said that on the clearest days, it is possible to see both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans from its summit.
These amazing experiences have made me so excited for what is to come in the next three weeks. Next up on the list, Manuel Antonio, a coffee plantation, more cities exploding with culture, another volcano, and more!
