Rock climbing

While it was fast and effortless to rappel down into the canyon, we climbed out.  

There were foothold and handholds bolted into the cliff to make it possible to climb out.  We wore our harnesses, and we were attached to cables.  The guides could catch us if we fell, and they could also give a little assist on the climb by use of the cables and pulleys.  

Once we reached the top, do you think that we were done?   Think again.  Then check the photos tomorrow and the days that follow.

News Item:  Costa Rica recently won the World Tourism Organization's 2009 Ulysses Award at the "Innovation in Tourism Education" conference in Madrid, Spain.  Several schools near Tamarindo have implemented the "School Tourism Culture Awareness: Costa Rica Adventure" program developed by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute.  The program teaches elementary school children the importance of sustainable tourism through fun interactive exercises and games.

For a small country like Costa Rica, where tourism is the number one industry, teaching children at a young age the benefits of eco-tourism is important both for future economic development.  Developing special programs for elementary school children has the added benefit of educating their parents when they ask their children "What did you learn in school today?"