Written by Junior Casey Courneen 

An abrupt 3:30 am wake up call started off our adventure to Costa Rica.  As we arrived, after a turbulence filled couple of hours, you couldn't help but notice the enormous mountains and smoke stack volcanos surrounding you at every turn. Tom, Mason and John are our tour guides for the week as we begin our trip through this Latin American country. 

After departing from the San Jose airport, we made a few stops before arriving in Turriabla. The first stop consisted of lunch at the San Jose Mall followed by a cultural visit to the Virgin of Los Angeles. Next, was the start of our two-hour ride to our hotel in Turriabla, which was remarkable to say the least. There were unbelievable views from the top of the mountains, to the valleys below filled with coffee and sugarcane plantations. 

As we end our first day with dinner at the Villa Florencia hotel, we can't help but be excited for what's to come this next week here in Costa Rica. The only words left to say are the popular Costa Rican saying: Pura Vida, which we learned means "pure life".