Travels in Costa Rica Journal

DAY 1-

My mom and Lynette dropped me off at the San Francisco airport late last night.

I tried to check into my flight but they directed me to another kiosk a ways down the terminal, since they had to verify some info for my international travels. The woman helping me was confused- so Costa Rica has to see proof of onward or return flight, but the girl seemed to think I had to show a ticket to show when I was going back to the USA haha.

I hadn’t checked my backpack yet and all my stuff was a mess, a big sweater wrapped around my waist (to keep me warm on the flight) falling down and knocking my guitar into everything. I set my stuff down for a second to readjust and I heard a sassy lady who passed say “Hey what’s up Phoebe!!!” hahaha.

The flight was late boarding and I spent my time reading my book Jungle, and just walking around trying to get some blood flowing. When I finally boarded, as I approached row 25, I saw a young man with long blonde hair in a ponytail looking up expectedly at me. When he saw me take off my backpack to stow he said “aw shit!” (in a joking way). We all know we were hoping to have our own rows for the flight, but the flight ended up being completely booked. He was crammed in the middle seat.

We started chatting right away about random things- he said he liked my nails and I said I liked his (they were painted black and chipped). Conversation got into him getting a graduate degree in political science so of course I tell him ‘oh I have a masters in anthropology’.

“Anthropology!” he said. “Well we need anthropology for political science!! Awesome!”.

When I said I was going to Costa Rica, he mentioned how he had been there a long time ago.

“Anything you’d recommend?” I asked.

He thought for a moment.

“Don’t have anything in your pockets when you see the monkeys. They stole a condom out of my pocket.”

“Well, was it flavored?” I asked.

I heard the people in the row behind us burst out laughing.

“I honestly can’t remember. Although I’m not sure why I had a condom anyway not like I was getting much action back then! The monkeys were definitely getting more than me! haha!”

He said he was in a metal band. He wanted to travel the world. A lot more but I can’t recall at this time. Right now I’'m sitting on the couch in our 15th floor airbnb flat in San Jose Costa Rica.

I met up with my friend Taylor in the Houston airport and we traveled the last leg of journey together. It’s all a blur, due to the fact I hardly got any sleep. I tried to sleep on the plane rides but felt too cramped. I was able to stretch out a bit more when I was sharing the row with Taylor so I got maybe two hours off and on sleep. When we landed the immigration line was INSANE- I think it took like an hour to get through. Lots of tourists, of course!

We hopped on a shuttle to the car rental place. When the desk agent asked me if I specked Spanish, I said “ummm just a little!” he said something like “oh well you’re in a great place to practice” and I joked something like “yes that’s why I am here to find a husband to teach me Spanish “.

We got a nice brand new SUV 4x4 which we heard is good to have here because the roads can get pretty gnarly.

We drove to our airbnb which was like 20 minutes away in a kind of hip part of the city. It took us a while to figure out the parking situation (the parking meter app was not working) and when we finally made it up to the room it was such a relief to shower and crawl into bed for a quick nap. The place said it had two beds but It really only has one so we will share it tonight. Hopefully I won’t toss and turn too much and disturb her sleep!

After an hour rest we got ready and went for a stroll around the area, with a goal to find a place to eat. We are in an area with lots of restaurants. We finally settled on one and split some ceviche, a portobello mushroom burger and fries, and each had a beer.

On our walk back to the flat we stopped at a cute little corner market, and Taylor got into a conversation with an American guy who had moved here. We eventually checked out and continued the conversation for quite a while, he really was long winded but the topics were interested (energetics of our names, naturopathic stuff, etc.)

And now I’m gonna sleep! Tomorrow we drive to Monte Verde. Stoked.