Last Sunday (January 11th) the group of us took a trip to Volcan Irazu (Irazu Volcano), La Basilica (a beautiful church in Cartago, Costa Rica), Ruinas de Ujarras (the ruins at Ujarras) and we had a buffet lunch at a beautiful location over looking a lake.
We got to the school at 07:45 for a planned 08:00 departure. It was early. We drove for about an hour and 45 minutes to get to Volcan Irazu. We got there and it was cold and cloudy. We are in Costa Rica, no one expected it to be cold and cloudy. After putting on more layers and using the restrooms, we walked over to look at the crater. Unfortunately, the view was less than spectacular. There was an incredible amount of fog. My professor said to keep our fingers crossed and it was still possible that the clouds would pass. But even with our fingers crossed – the fog was there to stay. There was a speck of clear sky for about a minute and everyone ran over to that location to try to see what they could. Eventually, we came to terms that we wouldn’t see much except for the spooky fog, so we just took pictures of that. We then proceeded to take pictures with the plants. Then we were off to the little gift shop to get hot cocoa or coffee (or both). Then it was back in the bus to head over to the city of Cartago and to the Basilica.
Irazu Volcano – behind the fog
Walking up to the crater
I promise, there is a crater.
Photo opp with the fog.
For Your Safety.
Pictures of the fog covered crater.
pondering life…
walking into the unknown.
My new album cover. You can by my self titled album in 2062..
Colorful rain jackets walking into the fog.
Can you spot the Becca?!
The Basilica is a gorgeous church. It is pretty much the main church of Costa Rica where Costa Rica’s patron saint, La Negrita, resides. There is an annual pilgrimage to this church every August where people walk from their home towns in Costa Rica to La Basilica and when they get to the church they walk the rest of the way to the alter on their knees. They then proceed to give thanks or ask for prayers. It was truly a beautiful church.
La Basilica
After departing from the church we continued to lunch. This was a pretty good buffet. I am not a big fan of buffets, it is an endless supply of food – ENDLESS SUPPLY OF FOOD – which brings up the question: why do I need to stop eating? But it was tasty typical Costa Rican food, and they had amazing coffee (as expected from anywhere in Costa Rica). After we ate more than our stomachs could handle, we walked down by the lake. Then it was off to the Ruinas de Ujarras!
The cool little coffee contraption.
eating and eating and drinking drinking
gotta get a selfie.
enjoying some coffee at the lake
The Ruinas de Ujarras is one of the oldest remaining structures from the early times of Costa Rica. The Ruins date back to 1600 – 1656. At the ruins, after taking some necessary pictures, we walked around the park a bit. Much to our surprise, after we crossed a bridge, there was a man selling fruits! He gave all of us a free mango, and I bought a bag to take home. They were delightful! Then, it was back on the bus and off to our final stop of the day – Mirador Ujarras (a look out point over the city).
Ruinas de Ujarras
Posing at the ruins..
me. chillin at the ruins.
He tried to climb the ruins, he tried very hard.
The bridge we had to cross to get to the mango man.
We pulled up to the look out point and immediately all of our jaws dropped. It was gorgeous. Absolutely beautiful. Our tour guide had told us before (when we were all wanting to just go back to our houses and take naps after eating our stomachs away) that if we didn’t see this look out point, then the whole day was pointless. I agree with him after seeing it.
At the outlook point.
Beauty is real.
Ujarras.
Group selfie!
Can We Go Please? 