We have now moved to the last hotel on Tamarindo Beach. The trip was pretty eventful as we encountered a semi truck whose load had shifted on one of the curving mountain roads and lost most of the load down the mountainside. The driver was unhurt and we did not have to wait too long for the road to be cleared.
The views from the bus changed dramatically through the drive. We left a really green mountainous area that was often enveloped in mist to a flatter drier place on the Pacific Ocean.
The learning part of the day was a tour of the Papagayo development and it's sustainable practices. We were impressed by the many environmental and community-oriented programs the development had implemented. Our students seemed really engaged in the presentation and asked really great questions. Two of the people from the development office got on our bus and took us on a driving tour of the peninsula. Because only 30 percent of the land can be developed while the rest must remain in a natural state, we saw more monkeys in the development than we have anywhere else. The company's environmental practices at the marina had added 10 different species of fish that had not been seen in the area before the development. Because Papagayo is an upscale development, the company has invested in improving the schools in the area to train workers for the properties. Job creation and some of the social programs in the area have greatly benefited the people. We also visited one of the water treatment plants that recycles waste water for irrigation of the golf course and green spaces.
Back to the hotel. I am writing this from a lounge chair overlooking the ocean. It is fantastic. We ate breakfast in the open air restaurant that looks like a giant tiki hut. Students are walking and running on the beach. Some are surfing while others are going sports fishing. It is our first free day of the trip and we are delighted to hear that it is snowing in Omaha while we are here in paradise. Pura Vida!
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