Most Inspirational Moment
Costa Rica is the type of place you can get caught up looking at it just through a camera lens... there's so much to see, do and capture but I urge anyone to stop for a moment or two along the way, pause, listen to the birds/ monkeys, feel the sun on your face, the water wash over your feet at the sea. Stop and look up as you hike through the different areas. Listen and watch the children at the school visit, laugh at yourself as you try to make a Tortilla! Then you will take back more than pictures but memories of moments. I was inspired by the whole country; it's want to improve living standards and create bright futures for its children through education, conservation and hard work by many.
Thoughts on Group Leader
So what makes a good group leader a great group leader? I'm a Head of Human Resources so I'm often asked this question in my working environment but for a holiday is it different? Some of the common factors are; management and communication to different personalities (I felt included but was coerced when needed, I fear water but I ended up kayaking!!), organisation (you don't want to miss a thing in Costa Rica), safety (we did have a Tsunami happen while we were away!) BUT.... what more do we want as consumers? How about this list; · Extremely knowledgeable – our leader knew and lived Costa Rica, being a local guide he added his personal experiences along the way, his bird and general wildlife and plant life knowledge was very impressive · Patient – with different age ranges, strong personalities, no doubt repetitive and certainly endless questions he coped always in appropriate and calm manner · Passion – he cared that we all experienced Costa Rica, he cared that we saw but also felt the essence of Costa Rica · Hard Work – How about the non glamorous heavy lifting of our luggage, changing a tyre on a busy roadside with the other key man “our bus driver” and a jack that didn’t want to make life easy.... · Excellent English – I was very impressed and embarrassed I hadn’t brushed up on my Spanish. I would have loved to been able to communicate more with the local people Diego Vazquez, our guide, made a difference, not just good but a great guide!!! Thank you.
Advice for Potential Travellers
A couple of things: 1. Do take some warm clothing for the mountains; it really does get cold... 2. Do all the hikes you can, they really are wonderful, I have a weak knee and a knee brace was helpful but a couple of poles for the downwards would have helped 3. Experience all that you can, even if you're scared... I did the Zip Line and Tarzan swing... but I am an adventurous type... 4. Take a good camera and a quick to use small compact one, sometimes when hiking you have to ask yourself which is better? 5. Have a laugh; get to know your fellow travellers, even if its 3 or 4 am at Heathrow airport! 6. Learn some basic Spanish, you’ll feel a lot better and its appreciated