Costa Rica & Language Schools
Jennifer Klebanoff
going to spend 2 weeks in an intensive spanish program/language school
and 1 week traveling around. Has anyone done the language school thing? Can
you recommend schools (or the experience for that matter).
And for Costa Rica in general...any tips? I found a great airfare, so I'm
all set there. But what to do? Should I bring my bike? You know, all
the usual questions. Any info is appreciated.
Jen
Kathryn Lawder
>
>And for Costa Rica in general...any tips?
>Jen
Well, it's been awhile, but we spent 4 wonderful weeks in Costa Rica, January
1979 (gasp!). At that time, the following was true:
Not many paved roads outside of the Pan American Highway, and San Jose,
just gravel and grade, so biking would be rough;
Car rentals were muy expensive; we elected not to rent one at all.
That left us the local transportation, a system of solo entreprenurial
(sp?) buses. Basically, anyone with the desire could purchase an old
[typically U.S.] surplus school bus, decide on a route and a fare and
run it on whatever schedule felt right.
We spent most of our time on the beaches of the Guanacaste Province
(NW pacific coast); people were friendly and delighted to have some-
one to try their English on; we were not fluent in Spanish, but we
had a good dictionary with us and did just fine.
We found the people and the country charming and thoroughly enjoyed our
stay.
Hope it hasn't changed too much and that you find it magical too.
Best wishes for a wonderful honeymoon!
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Kathi Lawder I can't run but I can walk much
law...@ohsu.edu faster than this! _P.Simon
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Holly Freeman
schools. But they should de good considering Costa Rica
has around a 90% literacy rate and more teachers per capita
than most other countries.
Anyway, there are plenty of things for you to do to quickly
absorb your two weeks stay. If your really into nature and
hiking Costa Rica has more area of national reserves to total
area than any other country in the world. There is plenty to
see in that aspect. From active volcanos to dense rain forest.
Also, white water rafting is very popular sport. I never went
but all the pictures certainly looked great. Then there's
the surf. Some of the best around. During the Summer months
the Atlantic side is good with beautiful beaches like
Jaco and Playa Hermosa. At this time I am not sure how dificult
it is to get to the Limon on the Carribian side because of the
earthquake earlier this year. I'm sure it is possible but maybe
not by every road yet. Have fun it's a great country :)
Leigh Palmer
Lawder) writes:
>Well, it's been awhile, but we spent 4 wonderful weeks in Costa Rica, January
>1979 (gasp!). At that time, the following was true:
> Not many paved roads outside of the Pan American Highway, and San Jose,
> just gravel and grade, so biking would be rough;
We just returned from Costa Rica where we saw the solar eclipse. There is
a lot of pavement outside San Jose and the Pan American Highway, though if
you want to see the country you will have to use the latter anyway. We also
had nothing but good experiences. Try "La Caravelle" restaurant in Punta
Arenas, and the dining room of the Gran Hotel Costa Rica had uniformly
excellent food. There is a a typical restaurant in San Jose called "Cocina
de ?" or nearly so which we enjoyed, was full, and had not one non-tourist
patron on the evening we ate there! People are eager to please and eager
that you like their country, of which they are quite justifiably proud. It
reminded me very much of the healthy attitude prevalent in my youth in
California in that respect
>
> Car rentals were muy expensive; we elected not to rent one at all.
We rented an expensive car and later learned that there are cheaper rentals
available. Shop around, by all means. My high school Spanish was adequate
for communication one way, but the local Spanish is of a higher baud rate
than Mexican Spanish. See "mas despacio" in your dictionary! It's useful.
> That left us the local transportation, a system of solo entreprenurial
> (sp?) buses. Basically, anyone with the desire could purchase an old
> [typically U.S.] surplus school bus, decide on a route and a fare and
> run it on whatever schedule felt right.
>
We used the local buses after we turned in our rental car. Easy, fast.
Typical fare 11 colones (less than a dime) clear across town.
> We spent most of our time on the beaches of the Guanacaste Province
Guanacaste is wonderful. We didn't explore south. If you have to skip a
place, skip Limon. We found it unattractive, though it is on the way to
some attractive places. If we'd driven through Braulio Carillo National
Park and on to Sequirres that would have been far enough. By the way, from
there to Limon the excellent highway has been destroyed by the April 22
earthquake, and is unsuitable for a car by reasonable standards.
> (NW pacific coast); people were friendly and delighted to have some-
> one to try their English on; we were not fluent in Spanish, but we
> had a good dictionary with us and did just fine.
>
>We found the people and the country charming and thoroughly enjoyed our
>stay.
>
That has not changed!
>Hope it hasn't changed too much and that you find it magical too.
>Best wishes for a wonderful honeymoon!
Leigh Palmer
Simon Fraser University
Fernando Urbina
>Costa Rica is great I do not have any info on the language
>schools. But they should de good considering Costa Rica
>has around a 90% literacy rate and more teachers per capita
>the surf. Some of the best around. During the Summer months
>the Atlantic side is good with beautiful beaches like
>Jaco and Playa Hermosa. At this time I am not sure how dificult
>it is to get to the Limon on the Carribian side because of the
>earthquake earlier this year. I'm sure it is possible but maybe
>not by every road yet. Have fun it's a great country :)
Just a short note to tell you that Playa Hermosa and Jaco are on
the Pacific Coast, not the Atlantic Coast. Also, it's still hard
to get to Cahuita and Puerto Viejo on the Atlantic coast, but that
should be the only effects you'll see from the earthquake.
- Fernando Urbina
na...@apple.com
Kathryn Lawder
>Costa Rica is great...
>the surf. Some of the best around. During the Summer months
>the Atlantic side is good with beautiful beaches like
>Jaco and Playa Hermosa.
I agree with Holly's assessment. One minor point, Playa Hermosa and Jaco
are on the Pacific/west coast of CR.
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There is a place to plan the best vacations with the best people at the
best location, Costa Rica and your frendly travel service
http://www.theticoagency.com