Costa Rica
If you don't follow my blog you might wonder why there aren't any pictures here. Well thats because unfortunately my camera got stolen in Nicaragua. So here we are now in Costa
Rica. Many call it the little US of central America. This due to the overwhelming majority of US travellers and people who just moved here for good. Hit the ‘flip out’ button to
see how I experienced this rather small country on the west coast!
We set off from San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua with the goal to cross the border and get to the southern tip of the Nicoya peninsula. The border crossing became more or less a
routine. Millions of photocopies, running and looking after officials while trying not to loose my nerves. With this behind us, a 300km drive awaited us. After passing the town of
Nicoya the landscape would transform in an amazing mixture of hilled meadows that would be spotted with huge hardwoods and ubiquitous tropical dry forest. Im pretty confident that
this was one of my most memorable drives on this trip so far. Especially the total lack of tourism and in general the scarcity of human settlements make this part of Costa Rica a
real experience! To give you abetter picture of this landscape; It reminded me a bit of the scenery in Hobbiton, shot in New Zealand for the movie Lord of the Rings.
As usual at some point the concrete street turned into a dirt track. We managed to cross a couple of streams and finally found our way to the cozy little town of Montezuma. I
highly recommend to stay in the Downtown Montezuma Hostel. The price for a double is 15$ and with that you get an incredible feel of being part of a big family for free. I spend
here over one week! At first it was due to the fantastic vibes here. But at the point it was due to pay for the room, I noticed that I didn't have my credit card on me. After
several attempts of going through the whole luggage and searching the entire car, I was sure it there was only one last explanation left. I left it in the ATM of the last cash out
in a little town one hour up north from here. So a bit frustrated I drove up there to check on the ATM and to ask in the local police station. No luck! After calling the bank
several times I managed to get the address where the ATM boxes will be emptied - and with them hopefully my only chance to get to cash! The fly in the ointment was that they only
empty on Mondays, it was a Wednesday! So once more whiteout cash but with plenty of time I got stuck due to my poor handling on plastic cash. The funny thing at that moment, I
wasn't even sure the card will be there after all!
Believe me I didn't mind waiting in such a peaceful place. I had time to catch up with my pictures and even write a bit for the blog. People would gather every day on the porch
and time would just slip away. In the evenings we would usually all cook and then share the different dishes in-between us. Dustin & Kevin, two surfers from the States, would
always be up for some fun action. This all gave this place an uncomparable familiarity.
On Monday all my hidden savings where depleted. This bloody card had to be in this box or I would have some serious troubles. But if theres a god, he would be merciful on this
particular Monday.
Equipped with fresh cash, we packed up and hit the road towards the capitol, San Jose, with the mission to get me finally a new camera. Man, I was a pain in the ass this whole
time with complaining on what great shots I'm missing out. Sorry Nadia! But it occurred to me just now after the loss of my equipment what great deal it is for me to be able to
take pictures. I can’t imagine myself anymore to travel without having at least a semi decent camera with me.
Somehow this place would not allow us to leave the easy way. On the way to the ferry in Paquera we got first stuck in one of the river crossings. Schwarzenegger got fortunately
pulled out by a truck quickly, but made very worrying noises afterwards! Once the water evaporated we where once more ready to go. Shortly after we got the news from some locals
that the ferry doesn't run today because of strikes. With that information we gave the ferry further up north a try but got once more pushed back by a roadblock. After returning
to Paquera suddenly all the exit roads would be barricaded and we sat in a trap! There was nothing left than to sit it out. After lunch the police cleared out the barricades of
the slip road to the ferry. We drove past at least 50 policemen. The idyllic scenery suddenly changed dramatically! Fortunately we just made it out in time.
San Jose is not worth a single minute! I wasted two days on finding a new camera in this very westernised city, without any luck. Either the price is tripled the prices back home
or you get a pocket camera! So might be a good business idea for the future to open a proper camera store here.
Still without a camera we decided on visiting the Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio. The area around this natural reserve is very posh. Many Americans come here to spend their
holidays or even set up a second home base. The peninsula where the park is located on is very picturesque and when you wake up early you might have even the beaches for
yourself.
The little town of Uvita would mark our final stop in Costa Rica. Sadly it was the last stop for Nadia before returning back to Mexico. Our ways would part here after she joined
me all the way up in Guatemala a couple of months ago. We shared unforgettable impressions and went through a lot together - Pura Vida!
Now here I was again, on my own for the first time since…I can’t even remember! In this situation it’s always a bit of a sad feeling that hits me first, but then you realise what
great moments you where able to share with a new friend.
