Project phase PART DOS

Ok well we are in San Jose now and have free internet in the saweet hostel we are in so expect mucho grande blogging...

Currently 5 people chilling in San Jose while the rest of the group have begun their journey to the south of Costa Rica, towards Puerto Jimenez. So yes, a couple of us have been hit by the feared TRAVELLERS TUM TUM. So we are recuperating trying to get better with DR. GORDO on NURSE duty.

Project phase - So, So.. We arrived in LOS COCOS {that is not really the name but our adopted title for the community we were working with} Amazingly kind and friendly people who seemed very grateful if not a bit shocked to see 14 girls wielding pick-axes and shovels. We had the honour of spending the 5 days in the house of The CUBAN DOCTOR and his family- includind cuatro dogs CURIOUS GEORGE, SHADOW, PSYCHO and random little dude. Extended family also included 1 MEGA pig, 3 piglets, 4 geese and around 428792 chickens. Oh, The Doctor also had human children Abraham Jessica and Marie. On the first night Jessica did a little traditional jig for us while Abraham aged 2, stole the limelight and threw some shapes on the dance floor gangster stylie. BUT to return to the project phase, 5 days of hard work, we received lots and lots of support and help from the locals and often had to take the tools out of their hands to prove that we were up to the job. Special mention to LIZS talents pick-axes skills and raking. Apart from flattening and cementing in the playground stuff, jobs also included painting the equipment, often multiple times after the kids hijacked the brushes and decided to attack a tyre with an array of clashing colours.

However, it must also be mentioned that it wasnt all work. Paddles in one of the largest lakes in the americas, with amazing views of two volcanos and this is despite the threat of the BULL SHARKS. But we have all got our limbs intact. We did a lot of chilling in the midday sun/torrential rain, sunbathing only to be disturbed by a tropical storm. Sun tans are coming on nicely. We managed to pick the one time to visiit when sand flies converge in their billions and there were swarms and clouds of them dive bombing us whilst we attempted to eat our 5 star cuisine cheffed up by the food group.

The end result was a bright colourful, safe playground which the community can enjoy and build upon. The village asked when we left to email them a picture of us with our names on us so that the children could know who the hardworking girls were who helped make their playground amazing.

love the ILL FOOD GROUP-Liz, Hannah, Gordy, Vicky plus special guest, Sophie