Day 9: From Ziplining to Moonshining!

We woke up early for a 7:30 AM breakfast before heading to
Ecoglide (Zip-lining Adventure) where we met our guides Andres, Ronald, Oscar, and Alonso. They helped us suit up and gave us a quick rundown of how zip-lining works. Flying on the wires allowed us to see some of the most beautiful sights of La Fortuna's country side. Midway through the zip-lining course, we did the Tarzan Swing! If you're wondering, it's exactly what it sounds like: a straight, 40' - 50' drop then swinging back and forth  like Tarzan! After we finished the zip-lining course, we returned to Los Lagos resort.

We got our things together and hit the streets of La Fortuna to grab lunch and do some shopping. The majority of us ate at Restaurante La Parada, which sold a lot of American food. This makes sense, as La Fortuna is the number two tourist attraction in Costa Rica. There were plenty of items to choose from for those who wanted to shop; everything ranging from floral print dresses, to backpacks and fanny packs, to beach towels and pocket knives.

After our free time ended, we went to the orphanage a few blocks away. It was amazing, the kids were so great! There were so many children and they were all so friendly and welcoming. We gave them coloring books, crayons, stickers, bubbles, toys, and so much more. They absolutely loved the giant punch balloons and even when they popped, the kids laughed contagiously, enjoying every moment. One little boy walked around slapping stickers on all of us saying, "peace be with you." All of the kids were so precious and gave us a burst of energy as we played with them all around the house. The Tias (the women who run the orphanage) thanked us for all we did; as we got on the bus to leave, the children were yelling, "I love you"...Cue the tears.




From the orphanage, we drove to Don Juan's Finca Educativa (Educative Farm). Upon our arrival at the organic farm, we could see the storm clouds rolling in. Our guide, Jack Danny, introduced himself and began the tour. Jack talked about how the farm only uses "healthy fertilizer," which is actually dry manure, molasses and no pesticides. Since it was physically safe to handle the fertilizer, we spread two wheelbarrows full on the recently planted crops. After we finished spreading the fertilizer, we took a tour of the actual farmland where crops are grown. The land was marked off in geometric shapes so the students who come to the farm can learn how agriculture and crop rotation work, while also developing math skills. After the crop tour was over, we went to the "Chocolate House" where Chocolate the Cow, two pigs, and the biodigestor are housed. After the Chocolate House, we went to the "Troja" where the firewood and the sugar cane press are kept. Jack showed us how sugar cane is pressed to make a very sweet juice. Finally, Jack showed us the final product of the sugar cane... moonshine! We were allowed to have a taste and we came to a consensus that it tastes like good gasoline. We helped prepare dinner and got to meet Don Juan, the man who makes the Educative Farm possible. We asked Don Juan if he likes chocolate and apparently he does! Our dinner consisted of fresh Tilapia raised on the farm, ceviche, salad, yucca chips, and of course, rice and beans along with a coconut-like popsicle for dessert. With our stomachs full, we returned to Los Lagos for a good night's rest.