i.s.a. - international studies academy san francisco

Students: Akunna Nwankwo Anita Ciccone Francio Armella Pitteard Denise Navarro Iza Mari Benedicto Jeven Taylor Keyvin G. DeLeon Monica Rath Nicole Chapman Olivia Rivera Renée Asha Petronilla Hansemann Willie Williams

Chaperones: Alena Killpack (Group Leader) David Meyrowitz Dana Chapman

Tour Itinerary:

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Everyone (travelers and parents) meet at I.S.A. at 8:30 pm and drove to the airport at around 9:30 pm.  At the airport the excitement grew even more:

Mexicana from San Francisco (SFO) to Mexico City (MEX)

Group picture at the airport

Group picture at SFO

Elinor accompanying Anita and Renée to the airport.

Olivia and Akunna all ready for the big adventure.

Check-in is serious business!

Check-in at the airport

Check-in makes thirsty!

Friday, February 12, 2010
Arriving in Mexico City.

Colorful rope tent in Mexico City street

Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral

Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de María

Palacio de Bellas Artes opera house in downtown Mexico City

Renée and Anita in Mexico

Mexican Market

Mexico City Street Vendors

La Dolce Vita: Mexican Style

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Arriving in Costa Rica.

Renée and Anita in Costa Rica

Flora of Costa Rica

Traditional Costa Rican Ox Cart

Oxen in Costa Rica

Meeting Explorica‘s Tour Director and checking into the Best Western Irazu hotel.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Travellng to Arenal via Poás Volcano.

Costa Rica Travellers

Costa Rica Explorer

Renée and Anita the Costa Rica Cruiser

I.S.A. Expedition Adventure Crew

Spending some time (two days in total) in the misty cold cloud forest while visiting Poás Volcano on the way from San José to Arenal.

Monday, February 15, 2010
Visiting Arenal Landmarks.

World's Largest Oxcart: A huge, brightly-painted carreta that sits in the Parque Central in front of the church in Sarchí Norte.

Zarcero Topiary Garden

Willie, Monica, Armella and Nicole enjoying a special outlook in Zarcero.

Pura Vida!

Water Fun!

Peace!

Costa Rican Cuisine

Taking a Lake Arenal kayaking tour and enjoying a Hot Springs visit.

Lake Arenal Kayaking.

Akunna and Olivia kayaking.

Wet Kayak Tours on Lake Arenal.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Green Iguana

Common Iguana

School Visit in Monteverde.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010
COMING SOON

Thursday, February 18, 2010
COMING SOON

Friday, February 19, 2010
COMING SOON

Saturday, February 20, 2010
COMING SOON

Sunday, February 21, 2010
COMING SOON

Monday, February 22, 2010
COMING SOON

In the San Francisco airport I was so tired, but extremely excited. I was only 3 hours away from the exciting world of Mexico City and a foreign country. When I finally boarded the plane I was so exited but I have to say, NEVER EVER sleep on a Mexicana air plane because it will literally kill you. The food was horrible. They put salsa on the lasagna that was not really lasagna and the burrito which only had carrots, peas, and celery in it was covered in pasta sauce. The plane ride was fun but when I actually got to Mexico I had even more fun. I went on a double decker tour bus in Mexico and I seen almost all of Mexico City. Later, on the taxi ride back to the airport, I saw the side of Mexico City that the tour guides didn’t want us to see. There were police with machine guns, and I found out then it was the Tenderloin. On the plane ride to Costa Rica, I was so tired, I fell asleep through dinner and I didn’t get to eat. But anyway when I got to Costa Rica we went into a best western hotel and casino, and there was a really loud, giant party there. I was so tired it wasn’t hard to sleep. The rest of the trip was full of adventures. Now I’m back in boring old San Francisco ready to go to Germany! YAY o_O
By Renée, Seventh Grader

Accommodations Information:

02/13/2010 – 02/14/2010
Best Western Irazu
Km 3 Autopista General Canas
San Jose, xxxx
Costa Rica
Phone Number: 506 2290 9300

02/14/2010 – 02/16/2010
Hotel Fortuna
1 block off the main road and 200 meters from the park of La Fo
La Fortuna, xxxx
Costa Rica
Phone Number: 506 2479 9197

02/16/2010 – 02/18/2010
Hotel Villa Verde
Located 1.5 kilometer from the Cheese Factory
Monteverde, xxxx
Costa Rica
Phone Number: 506 2645 5025

02/18/2010 – 02/20/2010
Best Western Jaco Beach
Diaz Av.
Jaco, xxxx
USA
Phone Number: 506 2643 1000

02/20/2010 – 02/22/2010
Best Western Irazu
Km 3 Autopista General Canas
San Jose, xxxx
Costa Rica
Phone Number: 506 2290 9300