DCWB Costa Rica 2010
Day 2 - First game versus Costa Rican National Team. Drive through Braulio Carillo National Park and Cloud Forest. Arrive at Selve Verde Lodge along the Sarapiqui River.
DCWB woke up refreshed and ready to go for our first game against one of the Costa Rican National Teams. We woke up and had our first breakfast in Costa Rica, where we enjoyed rice and beans, various fruits, danishes and delicious coffee. After loading our bus, we headed further into San Jose for our first game. We stood on the edge of the court snapping photos of the arena. One of the first things we noticed were the different lines on the court, especially the larger lane. Next, we warmed up, exchanged gifts with the other team and had a picture taken with them. Finally, the game started and we were quick to learn of their aggressive style of play. Unfortunately, we could not finish with a win. We learned how to adjust our style of play and looked forward to our next game with them. After the game, we jumped back on the bus and headed downtown for some snacks to hold us over until we arrived at the Selve Verde Lodge along the Sarapiqui River. This was the first of many times we would look at the register and panic because of the large number we saw on the screen, and shortly after remember that were using colónes instead of dollars. In order for us to arrive at our next hotel, we had to travel through the Braulio Carillo National Park and Cloud Forest. This bus ride was our first experience of the many hills and valleys that would come later in the trip. Over both our right and left shoulders, we could see various wildlife and vegetation. We did the best we could to try and capture all of the beuatiful scenery. At some points along our drive, certain valleys and cliffs were hidden due to the thick layer of clouds that sat on top of the National Park. Our tour guide, Roberto, explained that these clouds are a regular occurence there. At last we arrived at the Selve Verde Lodge, which was surrounded by trees of all sizes and shapes. We quickly changed into our bathing suits to find the pool and get the lay of the land. We took the self-guided tour that the hotel offered and took some great photos of the rainforest up close. Also, we stumbled upon a suspension bridge that overlooked a portion of the Sarapiqui River and gave us a great view of the howler monkeys that would fortunately be our alarm clocks for the next morning. We spent time in the pool, had a delicious meal at the hotel and went to bed early because we had a busy day ahead of us.
