Day 14: Montessori y Mercado

Today started with an early breakfast buffet of fruits, Gallo de Pinto, scrambled eggs, bacon, waffles and an incredible maple syrup that had a kind of citrus flavor. It was so good! We hopped on the bus and headed for the Home Two Montessori school. We met the owner and principal, Alejandra, who introduced us to the school and explained the ideas behind the Montessori program. They are actually one of the few training centers in Central America, focusing on learning through play and exploration. The school admits children as soon as they begin walking, and continues through first grade.

Gabe at Montessori before meeting the children. Only picture taken, silly Gabe!

The older students had a field trip, but we were able to help in the younger children's classrooms. The students' diverse ethnic backgrounds mirror the biodiversity found in Costa Rica, coming from Venezuela, the Nicaragua, the United States, India, Korea, China, Japan, and of course, Costa Rica. The teachers spoke to the children in both English and Spanish, creating a bilingual atmosphere. After three fun-filled hours, we bid the students and teachers good-bye and headed to El Patio de Balmoral. The menu selection included a variety of American foods like chicken fingers and veggie wraps along with typical Costa Rican fare like ceviche and Sandwich Tico, made of a pastrami-type lunch meat, fried cheese slices, mashed black beans, lettuce, tomatoes and mustard.  The nearby candy store was a big hit, and we bought a lots of gummy frogs, crocodiles, spiders and sour candy to take home and/or eat on the plane ride home.

The fun really began as we hit the local Mercado, which could be compared with a mini swap meet. The Mercado offered a plethora of items unique to Costa Rica. The tiny stalls burst with souvenir hammocks, bags, coffee cups, coffee, lighters, wall art, key chains, jewelry, and t-shirts, just to name a few. The cacophony of sounds, abundance of colors, and melange smells overwhelmed us; vendors calling out, "adelante" (come in), a rainbow of tropical colors and shades of wood finishes, and the smell of leather, wood, cigars, coffee, and burlap. We spent at least an hour and a half browsing, using our new found bartering skills, taught to us by our guide, Adrian, getting the best possible deals on souvenirs for friends, family and ourselves. Laden with our bargains, we returned to the hotel to figure out how to get our great deals home without exceeding the airline weight limits on our baggage. We then went to dinner at a small restaurant called "Matices,“ which felt similar to a local sports grill. The patrons barely noticed us as the Costa Rican soccer match, between Ireland and Costa Rica's National Team, blared from every television. Each time a team scored or blocked a goal the corresponding cheers and groans filled the restaurant. The game ended in a tie, which pleased the locals. Our menu choices consisted of familiar "Mexican" food with a Costa Rican twist. The burros, served fried, resembled what we know as chimichangas, and the "cheese fingers" were wrapped in a light, crust-like dough rather than breading. Regardless of the differences, all the food tasted great. Upon our return to the hotel, we received our schedule for the next day's activities and went our separate ways, many talking the time to call or contact home while sitting in the hallways as there is no Wi-Fi in our rooms. Others simply collapsed from exhaustion after the busy day. Many of us are having mixed feelings as we approach our last full day in Costa Rica. We are anxious to return home, but also love this country and all we are learning.