Travelling round the world 101 - San Jose, Costa Rica

Wednesday, San Jose, Costa Rica, 22.49pm 

Back in good old Costa Rica. I wonder how much of my life this country will claim? Not that I am at all complaining mind as I feel so at home here. I love these green rolling hills, the people, the beaches, the mountains, its’ rivers and lakes, the language with its accent and all its idiosyncrasies, the culture, the lack of an army (the government disbanded it in 1946 after making a deal with the US, so all the money goes into schooling, healthcare and reducing crime)....

...the food, asking a thousand questions in the panaria (sort of a convenience store), 'que es eso?' 'que es eso?' 'que es eso?', (it has now almost become a running joke between us...it’s just everything is so different and new every time you go!!) the rafting/zip-lining/canoeing, and the general feel of this wonderful patch of planet earth.

Soon, we shall be returning to Quepos/Manuel Antonio where my favourite beach, friends and lots of fond memories await us, and I know that all too soon I shall find myself on a plane to Cuba leaving this lush, vibrant green behind and beneath me. Best enjoy it whilst I can :)

 

Travelling round the world 101 - back to San José

Tuesday, 11:22am, Manuel Antonio main beach, raining 

Ahhh it's our last day in Manuel Antonio. 2 plus weeks has absolutely flown by. It was my friends birthday last Sunday, which passed with lots of smiles, dancing, and most importantly, cake. Last night we went to Byblos (a restaurant pool/snooker place/bar by night) to say farewell, ciao we´ll be back soon enough to everyone. Quite sad really. Everyone seemed really sad to hear that we were leaving. Mind you I didn't go round advertising it as I am not especially fond of goodbyes. Well let's face it who is?

My friend actually hadn't had a cake on her birthday (one before on Friday) so to make up for it i made two. Turned out to be interesting as the oven ran out of gas at 21:45 half way through baking the second cake and we had to toddle all over to try and find some more. Luckily our incredibly smiley land lady was still up (although that it not surprising for a tica lady) and gave us the HUGE gas canister from the unoccupied apartment below us. Anyhoo, so we turn up to Byblos with a cake each in the hand. I felt like a cake celebrity and got wished happy birthday aaaa lot. No one seemed to want to hear that it actually wasn't my birthday. O well. So in about 5 hours my friend and one of out better tico friends and myself will be catching the bus to San Jose. Sob. Wish it wasn't raining. Pero.....we´re now in Marlins restaurant and I´m eating the most delicious fish I have ever eaten in my life it is scrumptious. Rico :)

Thursday, 15:02, Costa Rica Backpackers once more

I am currently in San José, heading off on a bus to Nicaragua's border at the bright and early time of 5.30am. Still, in my opinion it is better to get up early to make the most of the day. I despise myself (well maybe that's slightly strong a word) if for whatever reason time is spent unnecessarily when there is so much to see and do. Life is rather short after all :)

18:16 

O. There is a tropical storm that has just hit Nica and believe it or not Parrita which is just north or Quepos. If we had left Quepos a day later err well we wouldn't have. The bridge that the bus has to cross is 3 feet under water, houses cars swept away you name it. Everywhere an angry churning surge of storm water. The news says that it should have passed into Guatemala by Friday morning but there's more on the way. So. We´re now catching the 03:00 bus to San Salvador, El Salvador's unfrequented capital. 22hrs! eek!

Travelling round the world 101 - a la Quepos

Thursday 12:14 on the bus to Quepos

I do not what to think about how many times I have taken this bus before. The twists and turns of the road become more familiar to me with every passing. The scenery is so beautiful its indescribable. A sense of peace descends as the road dips and twists revealing ever deepening green rolling hills and valleys. A blue brown ribbon of a river snakes in-between cutting its path slyly through the descending trees and shrubbery. 

Thursday, one week later, 11:24 Coco´s, Manuel Antonio
My friend (who also lived here before) and I ascend up the steps to be almost knocked over by the multitude of hugs and exclamations. Esta aca un otra ves! Ahhh que bueno! Como estas? Todo bien? Como esta Inglaterra, muy fria verdad? (errr si) Ahhh pura vida! Que bueno a verte! etc. We felt so loved! It was lovely to see so many friendly familiar faces almost as if they knew we were coming but they couldn't have possibly as we only told one of our local friends yesterday. 

After all, one of the main set backs with travelling, especially if you are moving around quickly from place to place is that you often don´t get emerged into the real local culture and way of life and/or get to meet many. (Not that going to CoCo´s - a local bar - on a Thursday night gives anyone a true picture of Costa Rican culture but oh well it's far better than hanging out with tourists). We went to the beach for about an hour earlier (it has to be said my favourite beach in the whole world) but there weren´t many people around as it had clouded over and rain was fast moving in. So, que bueno que everyone was out that night! Literally all our friends bar two were out which was great! Ahh tis good to be home (well...my second home in many ways).

Tuesday, 09:56, Bamboojam resturant, on the road to Manuel Ant Ahh salsa! I've missed it whilst we've been travelling. Every Tuesday and Friday they have a live Latino band that nearly always play salsa, merengue, bachatta and cumbia (occasional reggaton, reggae roots etc.). It's hot, very hot, generally very crowded but great if you want to dance and don't mind occasionally getting your toes trodden on. Good dancers too. Sometimes incredible ones! Very uplifted atmosphere and lots of fun. I don´t know what it is about dancing that makes me so very happy. Who needs drugs, I mean really? When I´m dancing, especially when I´m dancing well, I feel like I am absolutely flying. Weeee. I once read somewhere that dancing in particular releases a chemical in the brain that it addictive (in addition to the obvious serotonin and endorphin release). It doesn't surprise me. After all, exercise is addictive. Your body gets used to the increased levels of endorphin's and doesn't want to give it up. Quite useful too, as we would probably have more obesity if not. I do truly love dancing. Its like my therapy. Well, dance therapy at any rate.

Travelling round the world 101 - Punta Uva, Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

Thursday  – Punta Uva, Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica 11.12am
Well Panama has been and gone, not that I saw a lot of it due to my weird illness. May well have been the malerials so I have stopped taking them. We didn´t even get to see the canal!! Shame, will have to save it for the next trip. My friend went however, and took photos for me so I can pretend in a way that I did. 

We crossed over the very rickety bridge that marked the border to Costa Rica yesterday and I do not think I have ever been so happy to arrive in a country. I love this pais with its rolling hills and lush vegetation. I think that Costa Rica will always have a place in my heart and I am happy to be back here, home. 

We set up camp at Rocking J´s hostel one of the coolest ones that I have been to so far. $5 for a hammock! Bargain. I love Puerto (literally óld port/harbour) everyone rides bikes here, reggae ragga dub and step pour from every corner and the pace of life is ever so gently slowed. Mind you, the bikes do not have breaks as I discovered when we hired them to cycle to this beach (Punta Uva) which is only a short 7/8km from the hostel. You have to pedal backwards to stop. Which takes some getting used. Especially given how ticos (slang for Costa Ricans) can drive over here...swinging from one side of the road to the other without warning. Ahh its all fun! As we arrived at Punta Uva a horde of large pastel blue crabs scurried away into their holes in the sand as we approached. The beach was idyllic, stretching on, a gentle curve into the horizon.

Wedesday – Costa Rica Backpackers, San Jose, 11.16pm
Very strange to be in high rise surroundings again. We had a wander round today, so many cars, faces of many nations, people rushing (weird!) Tomorrow we are to take the 3.45hr bus journey to Quepos ´city´ (in actual fact a small town) where I lived last year. Mixed feelings about going back but really looking forward to seeing it again and, of course, our friends. My Spanish always is greatly increased when surrounded by native speakers I know as you're not just having the same basic conversations. I force myself gladly.

Its now 11.28, my eyes are beginning to blur so I think I should hit the hay as one must be up early tomorrow

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Well at the end of my last post I was also in San Jose ready to make the familiar journey to good old Quepos/Manuel Antonio where I have now spent over 4 entire months of my life. This is where I left you.....