Bowling Green State University Athletics
Fred the coati
Costa Rica: Day 8
August 19, 2009 | Women's Basketball
It's not every day that you get a chance to see a coati and milk a cow before 9:00 a.m. But, for the BGSU women's basketball team, Wednesday (Aug. 19) was not a typical day, and this is not a typical trip.
PHOTO GALLERY - Wednesday, Aug. 19
In fact, the aforementioned events were just the start of another busy day in Costa Rica, the final full day of the team's foreign tour.
Is it possible for each day to top the last? Well, possibly. On Wednesday, the travel party enjoyed a relaxing morning, hanging around Villa Blanca. Some people slept in, while others explored the area. One of the first creatures to greet several team members was a coati (see photo), affectionately named Fred by one of the coaches. Fred wandered around the grounds, seemingly oblivious to the strange American humans following him with their camera-like devices.
At approximately 11:45 a.m., it was time for another long bus ride (note: there are no short bus rides in Costa Rica). This time, the Falcons were off to Arenal, an active volcano. After lunch in a nearby town, the team embarked upon a hike of roughly an hour and a half, in a driving rain. Most of the hike took place on a normal hiking path, but the team also got a chance to traverse some lava rocks borne of past volcano eruptions. The scene reminded some of us old folks (well, OK; only one of us) of the Led Zeppelin "Houses of the Holy" album/CD cover. A few quick answers to anticipated questions: 1) No, it did not look EXACTLY like the album cover, and 2) Yes, everyone was clothed on the hike, unlike on the cover.
Did we mention that the entire hike took place in a driving rain? We did? The soaked group then reboarded the bus for a (thankfully brief) trip to Tabacon hot springs, where they spent the next few hours relaxing in and around the numerous hot springs, waterfalls and pools, with a view of the majestic Arenal volcano peak in the background. There was a little something for everyone to enjoy. One associate head coach particularly seemed to enjoy the water slide leading into one of the pools. Like a three-year-old child hopped up on sugar and candy, she repeatedly ran up the steps and slid down the slide. Run, slide, repeat. Run, slide, repeat.
A great time was had by all at Tabacon, and the rain actually was a refreshing change of temperature from the water in the springs. Another incredible meal, this time a buffet dinner in the Tabacon restaurant, awaited the Falcons. The tired but happy group then boarded the bus once again, for the long ride back to Villa Blanca. Believe it or not, several members of the group already were looking ahead to the final breakfast at the resort on Thursday morning, before the team heads for home.
Since the team will basically wake up, have breakfast and then leave for the airport, there will likely be no blog of the day's events. However, as soon as we return to the States, we will endeavor to post photo galleries of each of the last few days. Thanks to those of you who have been reading these daily entries, and let me apologize one final time for all of the rambling. We'll see you back in Ohio -- Roll Along!
UPDATE: The photo galleries for each day are now available.
PHOTO GALLERY - Wednesday, Aug. 19
In fact, the aforementioned events were just the start of another busy day in Costa Rica, the final full day of the team's foreign tour.
Is it possible for each day to top the last? Well, possibly. On Wednesday, the travel party enjoyed a relaxing morning, hanging around Villa Blanca. Some people slept in, while others explored the area. One of the first creatures to greet several team members was a coati (see photo), affectionately named Fred by one of the coaches. Fred wandered around the grounds, seemingly oblivious to the strange American humans following him with their camera-like devices.
At approximately 11:45 a.m., it was time for another long bus ride (note: there are no short bus rides in Costa Rica). This time, the Falcons were off to Arenal, an active volcano. After lunch in a nearby town, the team embarked upon a hike of roughly an hour and a half, in a driving rain. Most of the hike took place on a normal hiking path, but the team also got a chance to traverse some lava rocks borne of past volcano eruptions. The scene reminded some of us old folks (well, OK; only one of us) of the Led Zeppelin "Houses of the Holy" album/CD cover. A few quick answers to anticipated questions: 1) No, it did not look EXACTLY like the album cover, and 2) Yes, everyone was clothed on the hike, unlike on the cover.
Did we mention that the entire hike took place in a driving rain? We did? The soaked group then reboarded the bus for a (thankfully brief) trip to Tabacon hot springs, where they spent the next few hours relaxing in and around the numerous hot springs, waterfalls and pools, with a view of the majestic Arenal volcano peak in the background. There was a little something for everyone to enjoy. One associate head coach particularly seemed to enjoy the water slide leading into one of the pools. Like a three-year-old child hopped up on sugar and candy, she repeatedly ran up the steps and slid down the slide. Run, slide, repeat. Run, slide, repeat.
A great time was had by all at Tabacon, and the rain actually was a refreshing change of temperature from the water in the springs. Another incredible meal, this time a buffet dinner in the Tabacon restaurant, awaited the Falcons. The tired but happy group then boarded the bus once again, for the long ride back to Villa Blanca. Believe it or not, several members of the group already were looking ahead to the final breakfast at the resort on Thursday morning, before the team heads for home.
Since the team will basically wake up, have breakfast and then leave for the airport, there will likely be no blog of the day's events. However, as soon as we return to the States, we will endeavor to post photo galleries of each of the last few days. Thanks to those of you who have been reading these daily entries, and let me apologize one final time for all of the rambling. We'll see you back in Ohio -- Roll Along!
UPDATE: The photo galleries for each day are now available.
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