As the kids continued their second week in Spanish summer camp, we began to feel more at home in Tamarindo. Every day, the kids would play games in Spanish, do beach exercises with Spanish instructions, and learn more about Costa Rica.
Farm Tour
Our excursion of the weekend was to Finca las Garzas. There, the gracious host provides a farm tour, as a authentic cultural experience! How authentic? I got pooped on by a baby pig! That’s farm life!
- Each of us got a chance to milk cows
- The kids and I went on a horse ride. Ethan rode holding the reins by himself for the first time!
- We fed chickens, a goat, and oxen
- We went on a ox cart ride, including learning how oxen and horses were used in farm life and for travel in the past.
- Some kids got to groom horses
Arroz con Pollo
When Ray discovered the omnipresence of Arroz con Pollo in CR, he started an Insta about it, seeking the many variations in restaurants (and any other opportunity). So we invited Mari, one of the camp counselors, to our condo to show us how the traditional dish is made! We had a great time prepping the ingredients, conversing, and cooperatively making dinner!
The fishing boat
Long before tourists became so common, Costa Rican people would go out on a lancha (small fishing boat, like a dinghy) and find supper or fish to sell. I’ve seen fish caught with a net, caught with a rod in line, but until today I had not yet seen fish caught with a harpoon spear! Ray and I went snorkeling and saw at least a dozen kinds of fish, small and large. Then at a second location, where the reef is deeper, we snorkeled with the two fisherman who caught fish by snorkeling down about 15 feet and speared rainbow fish, snapper, and parrot fish. Drawing a knife tucked in their swim trunks, they removed some innards, put it in a net, then went back for more!
I was fascinated by the process, and felt amazed to be able to watch this style of fishing. Even better, the grilled fish was fantastic! Fresh and perfectly seasoned!
Surfing
Surf culture is definitely prominent in Tamarindo. So I had to try it! Yes, this old gal can learn new tricks. All three of the kids were able to stand up, also!
A few last days of Tamarindo
Leaving Tamarindo was really hard because we had spent two weeks there, and bonded with a few friends. We felt “at home” here, as much as one can on vacation.
On the last couple days of camp, the kids had a closing presentation and went on excursion to Verdiazul, to see protected sea turtle nests and see a release.
My heart is full of thankfulness and warm fuzzies from our time in Tamarindo.
You can shake the sand from your toes but it will never leave your soul.
Anonymous
Cheerful Nomad 