Arenal and Fortuna!

This past week has been so incredible and such a time of growth and new friendships. I started classes, and even though I am in a lower level than I had hoped, it has been good to review and solidify my spanish skills. I love my professor, there are only eight people in my class, and we hardly have any homework...yet at least. I have met some amazing friends and am excited for everything in store! This weekend was our first excursion, and we did so much!

Here I am with Lupe outside our hotel. In the background is Vulcan Arenal. We stayed in such a cute little hotel and they made the towels into swans and stuff, just like in Mexico! And we had breakfast in the restaurant behind us...rice and beans as usual.
Here we are (Melissa, Janelle, Melanie, Lupe, Krystal, and me) on Lake Arenal. We took a little cruise around and it was so beautiful. We kind of felt like we were in the middle of nowhere because it was all nature and dirt roads, and absolutely gorgeous.
Lupe and I are ready to hit the jungles and hike down to Fortuna waterfall. It was so warm and lots of animals and birds making noises. And it was beautiful!
This is a lookout point. You can see the waterfall in the middle of all the jungle and mountains. While we were hiking, we talked about what we WOULD be doing in oregon. Probably sitting in a coffee shop, writing a history paper, in the rain. I decided that I would much rather be in the jungles of Costa Rica. I just wish all my friends and family could be here with me!

We were the first to arrive to the bottom of the waterfall. The spray felt so good after the hike! And then I was the first to jump into the water, but for some reason the pictures that Lupe took didn't turn out...sad day. But the memories will be in my heart forever. Just imagine me swimming with all the other students then sunbathing on the rocks. It was like something out of a movie, and it was so fun!