So I'm going to skip the previously mentioned Puerto Viejo trip and go straight to this past Saturday because, well, what happens in Puerto Viejo stays in Puerto Viejo (not really, but take Nosh's "this is what partying with 19 year olds is like", change 19 to 22-24, and that's a pretty solid summary of the weekend >.< )
Manisha, Randall, and me went white water rafting on the Pacuare river Saturday and it was easily the most fun we've had since we've been here. For any of you rafting enthusiasts, its one of the top 5 rivers in the world according to national geographic and definitely lived up to its reputation. Our guide for the day was named Saci, a dude with 1.5 legs. That's right, 1.5. Where his left knee should have been was a fully formed foot. Don't ask me how, but it was crazy. He used crutches to get around everywhere and would always stop next to knee high rocks so he stand up without the crutches. He was also absolutely crazy, but in a good way. He'd periodically leap out of the raft in calm areas and proceed to pull us in when we tried to pull him back into the raft. We also went down half the rapids backwards just because we could, and we even went airborne one time using a rock for a ramp. It was sweet. Saci had definitely found his perfect job because half a leg really doesn't matter in the water. Randall's a life guard in Cali and Saci easily outswam him.
However awesome the rapids and Saci were, the best part was definitely the rain forest rising up on all sides of us. In some places we'd float by beaches that gradually gave rise to dense trees. In the canyons, the mountains rose straight up out of the water to our left and right, with trees growing directly on the sheer rock faces and the occansional waterfall crashing down on us from 100 feet above. Sadly, none of our cameras are waterproof so I couldn't take any pictures, but it was easily the most beautiful place I've been to in my entire life. At one point in the river was a rock that looks like an on coming fist. If only I could have gotten a perspective shot of me pounding the rock... *sigh* (on a pounding side note, one of the women at our school is here with her kids and her 3 year old gives me a pound everytime I hold out my fist. I'm totally teaching my son that before "da-da"...)
That night was Dustin and Zack's last night in Turrialba so the five of us (them + the rafting trio) decided to go out and celebrate. After pregaming with a bottle of guaro on the curb in true Costa Rican style (hurray for $10 fifths!), we headed to Charlie's, probably the best bar in town. After a few rounds of shots (which they have 5 whole pages of) we discovered the massive food list because, honestly, what do drunk people want more than food? On Dustin's recommendation we got a platter of dank nachos, wolfed it down, and ordered another. My appetite is indeed in full form even outside of my local chipotle enviroment.
From there we made our way to the local discotec which was an experience to say the least. Zack and Manisha started dancing (as we med students are prone to do) but no one else was dancing except for one other couple. Everyone else in the place (75-100 people) was standing around the edge, hanging out and watching those drunk/crazy enough to be dancing to hip hop. Apparently no one grinds outside the US. However, about an hour later the dj started playing salsa music and suddenly the dance floor was packed. Five minutes later it was back to hip hop and the dance floor was again deserted to a mental *facepalm* from myself. We also saw two girls go at it while the security guards & boyfriends tried to separate them. They had latched on to each other's hair while one was beating the other in the ribs with a beer bottle. Pretty hilarious. Around 2 we said our goodbyes to Zack and Dustin and went home for the night.
This Friday we're leaving Turriabla to spend our last week in Dominical, a beach town on the Pacific coast, and hopefully I'll have something more exciting to tell than the non-stories from Puerto Viejo. Only a week and a half until orientation and I'm gonna see you all in Charlottesville. So exciting! Until then, Pura Vida! (basically the all around go to Costa Rican phrase)
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