Each country we have travelled to has been so different from the last. When we landed in San Jose, Costa Rica we instantly met many English speaking people from North America. Some were here for work and some for pleasure. As soon as we stepped foot outside of customs we were swarmed by the regular group of taxi drivers that hang out outside every airport we have been to so far.
The currency here is difficult to translate because every 500 colones is equal to one dollar. So the smallest bill they have is the 1000 colone bill and their coins are huge and each worth 100-500 colones. We had taxi offers starting at $15,000 all the way down to 6000 colones to take us to our hotel. We chose the cheapest of our choices and a very nice man drove us to our first destination called Heredia. We stayed the first night in a hotel that we purchased with our credit card points. When we left the airport the weather was beautiful but by the time we got to the hotel we were in the middle of a terential downpour. The five second walk from the taxi to the reception area managed to soak every single item we had with us. The rain drops are huge and there are zillions of them targertting our bags and clothing. The hotel was huge and in the middle of a rainforest. It had ziplining, ATV`s, beautiful pool area with slides, waterfalls, horses, tennis courts, rock climbing and more. It was a gorgeous and fun place to walk around (when the rain stopped) and explore. We had a lovely view of the city from our room and cable TV!
We know that we are coming back towards home because we dont even have to use connections for the power plug and we`re only two hours ahead now. Plus we could look on a map and it would show it.
That night we ate at the hotel restaurant. We had chicken and beef fagitas and chicken wings and french fries and salad. It actually had flavor! In the areas we have travelled so far they do not use seasonings or marinades for their dishes. But here in Costa Rica everything has been very flavourful and delicious.
Anyhow, we had a relaxing first day and the buffet breakfast the next morning was stellar. We had rice and beans, sausages, omelettes, fresh juices, coffee and pancakes. A lot of it. We then used the resort-like pools and hot tubs before checking out. It was sprinkling a bit on and off during the day in Heredia. The owner of the hotel kindly gave us a ride into town where we caught a bus to San Jose. In San Jose things were a bit crazy. There are lots of people and we had our huge bags and couldnt really share the sidewalk with the many people who wanted to use it. We stopped and ate tacos and burgers for lunch before catching another bus to Ciudad Colon.
We came here because for the first time in the trip and in my life I am couchsurfing. We wrote to several people in the area and they all responded with different offers but the one family that we chose are perfect. They offered their home for two nights which works our well with the non existent schedule that we have. To use the public pay phones here you cannot pay with change, you must buy a phone card. So due to the time it took to do this and all the other mumbo jumbo we ended up two and a half hours late but they were not worried about it. They man picked us up from the main plaza with his daughter and drove us home. They live on a humungous farm in an old rustic and awesome looking house. The woman is a retired doctor and the man in a retired geology professor and they also have a 21 year old daughter who still lives with them. It is a fascinating place. We ate dinner with them and talked for many hours into the night. They have been hosting couchsurfers and worksurfers and home exchange people for years. Needless to say they have been many people and shared some great stories. They travel most of the year and have never paid for a place to stay EVER. I think we have been doing it wrong....
They gave us a key, gave us our own room with a bathroom and told us to come up for breakfast whenever we wanted in the morning. I think this couchsurfing community will suit us just fine. The lady actually said ``being bahai and a nurse got you the room``. She had been booked up before but someone cancelled and she chose us to stay for those reasons, pretty lucky I guess.
"If we are not happy and joyous in this season for what season shall we wait"
The currency here is difficult to translate because every 500 colones is equal to one dollar. So the smallest bill they have is the 1000 colone bill and their coins are huge and each worth 100-500 colones. We had taxi offers starting at $15,000 all the way down to 6000 colones to take us to our hotel. We chose the cheapest of our choices and a very nice man drove us to our first destination called Heredia. We stayed the first night in a hotel that we purchased with our credit card points. When we left the airport the weather was beautiful but by the time we got to the hotel we were in the middle of a terential downpour. The five second walk from the taxi to the reception area managed to soak every single item we had with us. The rain drops are huge and there are zillions of them targertting our bags and clothing. The hotel was huge and in the middle of a rainforest. It had ziplining, ATV`s, beautiful pool area with slides, waterfalls, horses, tennis courts, rock climbing and more. It was a gorgeous and fun place to walk around (when the rain stopped) and explore. We had a lovely view of the city from our room and cable TV!
We know that we are coming back towards home because we dont even have to use connections for the power plug and we`re only two hours ahead now. Plus we could look on a map and it would show it.
That night we ate at the hotel restaurant. We had chicken and beef fagitas and chicken wings and french fries and salad. It actually had flavor! In the areas we have travelled so far they do not use seasonings or marinades for their dishes. But here in Costa Rica everything has been very flavourful and delicious.
Anyhow, we had a relaxing first day and the buffet breakfast the next morning was stellar. We had rice and beans, sausages, omelettes, fresh juices, coffee and pancakes. A lot of it. We then used the resort-like pools and hot tubs before checking out. It was sprinkling a bit on and off during the day in Heredia. The owner of the hotel kindly gave us a ride into town where we caught a bus to San Jose. In San Jose things were a bit crazy. There are lots of people and we had our huge bags and couldnt really share the sidewalk with the many people who wanted to use it. We stopped and ate tacos and burgers for lunch before catching another bus to Ciudad Colon.
We came here because for the first time in the trip and in my life I am couchsurfing. We wrote to several people in the area and they all responded with different offers but the one family that we chose are perfect. They offered their home for two nights which works our well with the non existent schedule that we have. To use the public pay phones here you cannot pay with change, you must buy a phone card. So due to the time it took to do this and all the other mumbo jumbo we ended up two and a half hours late but they were not worried about it. They man picked us up from the main plaza with his daughter and drove us home. They live on a humungous farm in an old rustic and awesome looking house. The woman is a retired doctor and the man in a retired geology professor and they also have a 21 year old daughter who still lives with them. It is a fascinating place. We ate dinner with them and talked for many hours into the night. They have been hosting couchsurfers and worksurfers and home exchange people for years. Needless to say they have been many people and shared some great stories. They travel most of the year and have never paid for a place to stay EVER. I think we have been doing it wrong....
They gave us a key, gave us our own room with a bathroom and told us to come up for breakfast whenever we wanted in the morning. I think this couchsurfing community will suit us just fine. The lady actually said ``being bahai and a nurse got you the room``. She had been booked up before but someone cancelled and she chose us to stay for those reasons, pretty lucky I guess.
"If we are not happy and joyous in this season for what season shall we wait"
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