There’s a pretty big difference between Nicaragua and Costa Rica. For one, Costa Rica has far more wealth, although it’s still nothing to brag about. As a result, there were some differences in the border crossings between the two countries.
Moving through Honduras and Nicaragua, everyone must pay separate fees to enter and leave the country. There are various attempts at maintaining the appearance of security, but in reality there isn’t much going on. They make sure nobody is getting smuggled over the border, but as far as dangerous items goes, it seems they only check Mexican citizens. Leaving Nicaragua, the only two people I saw get inspected were Yolanda and Rosalba, a sister worker and a matronly friend, both holders of Mexican passports. Fortunately, neither was trying to smuggle drugs into Costa Rica.
At the border, there was a tense moment of uncertainty, since they made many announcements that in order to get into Costa Rica, all visitors needed a ticket out. This wasn’t a problem for most people in our party, but I only had a ticket out of Panama, and not only that, but it was on my phone. Fortunately, Ken pushed me through by explaining the exact truth, and the border patrol man let it slide.
After that,we all had to collect our bags to have them checked by the border security. Again, most people were pretty much ignored. I’m not sure the man even so much as glanced at my bag. I doubt he would have cared much about my dirty clothes, anyway.
Maybe an hour into Costa Rica, the women got off at what I believe was a mechanic. It definitely wasn’t an established bus terminal, but they were met by a friend anyway.
Several hours later, we arrived at San Jose and were met by Darren, a very friendly American, who then took us back to his family’s condo. Once there, we were met by Manuel (Ken’s companion) and his uncle Francisco, who took Ken, Alan, and me back to his house.
Their family is very friendly, and they have three boys around my age. I imagine they feel equally or less comfortable speaking English than I do Spanish, so there hasn’t been much conversation out of any of our mouths.
Conveniently, they do have internet here, so that’s exactly what I’m using to publish this. I even got to talk to Caitlin for a little bit, but her parents decided to lure her away with food.
Speaking of food, Olga prepared a meal of rice, some sort of cheese cream mashed potato dish, a platter of carrots, tomatoes, avocado, lettuce, squash, and broccoli, and what I believe to be pork chops with onions. It was tasty, although I’m not certain about its authenticity.
Ken hasn’t been feeling well, so after dinner, Manuel took him to a doctor. They’re still out, and Alan is asleep, so I’m sitting in the living room, listening to the washing machine clean my clothes. Hopefully, they’ll be dry by the morning!
Speaking of the morning, we’re going out to the Caribbean side of the country to visit some friends and have a study there. We’ll be staying the evening, and I’m pretty sure the internet there will be spotty at best. I’ll update once I’m back in the world.
I’m so excited that you’re in Costa Rica now… I’ve spent so much time there. I hope you travel on one of the craziest roads I’ve ever been on— Between Limon and Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean side … It took 3hrs for your grandfather and I to drive what looked on a map to be 30 miles. –Potholes big enough that you’d have to get pulled out by a tow truck if you hit them… Wondering if we were on the wrong road, Dad kept on saying that we should turn back but I was with my father and looked at it as an adventure. There were a few cabinas along the road and I told him that I didn’t care where we spent the night- just as long as we didn’t have to boil our clothes and shave every hair in the morning. He laughed, thank goodness…
When we got to Puerto Viejo a rasta guy offered to sell us some ganja. Dad told Pam on the phone that night that he wanted to sell us Ganges… The whole river.
Anyhow, I hope you get to see this area… Beautiful. Right out of “Mosquito Coast” with Harrison Ford. Check out the lizards from “Jurassic Park”, too… Seriously– They run on their hind legs w/ their little crests raised. Mini raptors!
Have fun…. And if you get to Salvador on your Central American adventure, have some pupusas for me!
You meet the Sotos and Printz! They’re all so lovely. Send them my hellos!
The Costa Rican land borders are a shame… But once you pass it, apart from the roads and druvers, it’s clear why Costa Rica is called the Central American Switzerland.