Science Geek Alert!

Seeing as how I was “professionally trained” to create lab or scientific reports, I concluded that I would do exactly that for my Costa Rica Adventure. Here is my Lab Report.

A Visit to Costa Rica and the Subsequent Findings

Question/Hypothesis:

What is the Central American country, Costa Rica, all about? What does it look like? What does a month long journey through the country look like? How does an oversized uber-Gringo fit in?

Procedure:

1. Contact Costa Rican contacts (Tara Michelle Ruttenberg) and accept invitation
2. Purchase airline ticket
1. This process should take less than two hours
3. Obtain free tickets to basketball tournament
4. Board plane
5. Apply sunscreen
6. Speak Spanish
7. Take photos
8. Experience

Results:

• 25 days
• 10 consecutive days without underwear (boardshorts)
• 2.8 million grains of rice consumed
• 3.1 million beans consumed
• 6 ATM visits
• Innumerable bug bites
• 5 separate monkey sightings
• 3 species of Monkey
• 8 Naps
• Lotsa Pilsen
• 3 good hangovers
• 11 bus rides
• 2 rides in an original Hummer
• 0 phone calls (apologies to my parents)
• 846 photos
• 2 oceans
• 1 lake
• 1 volcano
• 2 cloud forests
• 75 total feet jumped off
• 0 shaves
• 5 Yoga classes
• Accommodations:
• 1 – Puerto Viejo
• Turquesa – Amatierra 1
• 3 – Hermosa 1
• 12 – Hermosa 2
• 6 – Malpais 1
• 4 – Malpais 2
• 18 – Monteverde
• 8 – Arenal
• 20 – San Ramon
• Amanda’s Room – Amatierra 2
• 6 different roommates
• 8 New Jersians
• 6 Angelinos
• 5 Texans
• 2 Baltimorians
• 2 Coloradans
• Many Ticos
• 1 Oregonian
• 2 Germans
• 1 guided tour with no one else
• 2 hours of surfing
• 118 falls off a surfboard
• 2 rain storms
• 1 sunburn
• 0 tan

Conclusion:

If green is your favorite color, go to Costa Rica.