British Columbia, Canada; Essex, England; Santa Anna, Costa Rica;

From Jess in London,

Hi Linley, 

 I visited the Olympic stadium in Stratford, London this week. I went swimming in the aquatic centre, I left flat Mrs Cripps because I didn't want her getting wet! But I did take some photos! 

 Attached is a picture of; 

 A tube train, this train is part of the central line which cover the 'central' part of London. 

 The outside of the aquatic centre - how cool does it look! Things are still a little bit weird with the coronavirus measures so swimming isn't as enjoyable!

 The Olympic stadium, which has since been converted into one of the local football grounds. (Mrs Cripps will know this team!) 

 Best wishes 

Jess 

From Flat Mr Wilson [sent by Blake] in Costa Rica

Hi Blake

Flat Mr. Wilson here.  Yesterday was a very exciting day for me.  I got to ride on a bus and a ferry in the same day. I am including photos from rides. Before we left we got Mc Donald's. It had rice and black beans, friend plantain, eggs and tortilla.  I left me home in Santa Ana at 8am.  I rode on the bus for 3 hours till we got the ferry. Then we rode on the ferry across the ocean for 1 and a half hours.  Then we got back on the bus for 1 hour before we arrived in Cobano a small town near the beach. From here we were picked up by Ron and he drove us the rest of the way. He is my second host person when I am on the beach.  Ron is from Israel and owns a hotel in Santa Teresa. He promised to take me surfing this week.  He was on the Israel Pro surf team and show jumper team for horses before.  This Saturday August 29th is his birthday that is why we came early to the beach.

As you may know from my last message Costa Rica is a Latin country located in Central America.  Here we have a diverse range of looks on people born here.  As you can see in the photos the man working on the ferry is dark with dark hair and brown eyes. Both parents are Costa Rican.  Then we have the driver of the bus.  Both parents are Costa Rican, but he was born very light with blue eyes and almost blonde hair. So here in Costa Rica people can look very different.

I saw that your class had some questions.  One was where do people go for holidays. In Costa Rica most go to the beach.  Of they can afford to travel many go to Mexico, Dominican Republic, Panamá or even Europe.

We do have many beaches here.  Both sides of the country is on water. The main difference between some beaches here and others is that most beaches in Costa Rica are dark sand as we are a volcanic country.

Costa Rica still has active volcanos.  Actually some have been very active lately. I use to live about 15 km from an active volcano called Arenal.  I don't live there anymore. It was really cool because when you thought you heard thunder it was actually the volcanos tummy rumbling almost like she didn't have enough to eat.  Now she sits pretty quite.

Please if you have any other questions let me know.

Take care

Flat Mr. Wilson, Catherine and Ron