Costa Rica

As before this is a new post because Mary and Helen are in Costa Rica…My comments are in blue and on your right is her earlier posts and leave a comment

Most of the pictures are clickable to enlarge just backspace to come back.

anyway We left David this AM at 0830 on a really nice bus – no air-con or toilet but opening windows -hit the border about 2hrs later and all piled out with bags and all, herded into a round room with luggage in 2 rows and us round the edges while the sniffer dog (a little spaniel) came through. Then we had to open our bags on the tables and they had a quick ferret around then out to the que for stamping departure from Panama..then we walked up the street with all luggage, past the bus being washed- amongst pavement shops and to the next que for entrance to Costa rica and same thing again!!

a couple of stops for snack and loo and arrived 1800!!!!we passed through beautiful river valleys then up the ranges into the mist and above – saw thousands of acres of pineapples, sugar cane, some bananas and lots of cattle ranches, pretty good trip..

Here in hostel in San Jose now which is huge and a big party place for under 25s oops.. well Helen has a head cold and sleeping it off for now while I do the investigations..pool on the rooftop ..check the website for hostel pangea.. The city looks very drab after that beautiful healthy countryside so we wont be here long- just see a few sites tomorrow then away to the beach and jungle down south again.

Author Note : Hostel that Mary and Helen are staying in

January 19th

Message from Helen

Hi!

Well we left Rio a few days ago, Mary reckoned it was just as well cos she thought I was becoming a bit too fascinated with bottoms. I´m telling you, on the beaches there EVERY single woman  wears a g string bikini (no! not me!!!), regardless of age, size or shape, amount of cellulite/boils/scars. And not many of them were perfect. How could you not be fascinated? But at least they didnt parade themselves down the main street dressed like that, not like the men, no no no- they happily strutted their stuff everywhere. Now, with the men it seems any kind of stomach and chest is acceptable to display proudly,  their togs are a slightly squarer and tighter form of the budgie smuggler and WAY TOO MUCH anatomical detail is revealed, horrible.

So, then we went to Panama, which suffered badly in comparison. A nice enough and pretty enough country, we spent the last few days on a beautiful island, did sea kayaking and hiking around; then took a long bus trip to Costa Rica where we are now in the capital and tomorrow off to a national park which was recommended by a fellow traveller.. Apparently it abounds with wildlife (toucans, sloths, anteaters, monkeys etc,) waterfalls and pristine beaches, sounds pretty scabby. We are just taking each day as it comes and enjoying the freedom to do anything. Have met some interesting people, lots of like-minded travellers who can give us tips on avoiding scams and pitfalls as well as where to go and what to do!

Next country Nicaragua. I was born for this life…

Hope you are all well, not too busy.

Lois, how is Lucy?

Dean and Marilyn- you should definitely hop on that plane and come over!

Mum and Dad, sorry for being vulgar..

Sambones, hope your knee is ok now.

Lots of love, Helen

Back to Mary

This hostel pangea in san jose gets rave reviews but bit like a prison with steel grid all around, bars on the windows and lookout over tin roofs–all other guests are freds age!!  the pool is on ground floor but open to the sky with walls around..too cold to usehere..its the first time i needed a blanket overnight and wearing polar fleece this AM..we will look around a bit today in the city and check out the butterfly and hummingbird gardens!!then off to the beach tomorrow to Manuel Antonio national parque.

anyway we been having a lazy day wandeing the strets in San jose – went to a butterfly garden which was lovely and saw a hummingbird.. then found the artesanal markets . the fashion shops seem very out-dated after  Brazil..-have packaged up some surplus stuff so will send it to you via the medlab unless you say otherwise..nothing in it for you this time but you might like to go give the little boys their things and keep the rest for me thanks!!!

will do more shopping in Equador before leaving..

We just went out on the town  for dinner lovely lasagne and salad..and back by 7pm cos after that its apparently unsafe..everyone was pulling down their roller doors over the shops and heading home from work or dinner out..its more secure and ugly than Ngaruawahia -lots of curled barb wire on fencetops..quite surprisingly disheveled looking place really but in  daytime everyone very friendly

21 January 2010

am staying at Manuel Antonio NP now in costa linda hostel whcih is very lovely..

We caught the 4hr bus from San Jose late cos the first was completo (full) so when we dragged our bags to the hostel we had booked they had given away our reservation!! managed to get her to arrange another place but was at the top of a long road and in an old hostel with 10 beunk beds sharing one bathroom with shower!!and cockroach!!and snorers so..

called into this place and sorted a bed for 2 nights and its great..private double room at end of 2nd floor with balcony for 10$us a night..

we spent the day very early in the national park and was so beautiful seeing huge lizards,a sloth from afar..birds butterflies and huge trees..one fallen one was 33metres long with trunk as big as my hips at base and pencil straight!!.heaps of monkeys and not too many people.swam several times at differnt beach breaks and saw the sun set red over the beach again tonight!!!still very warm again here and ate some delicious local food at a reggae bar then home for a big nap!!

23rd January 2010

no worries here. very hot though..maybe 35 the hotel guy said.

We are doing pretty well paying about $10 US a night each or less for room and about the same for meal each day and bus fares maybe $5 seem to add up a bit more on snacks and shopping or something too.

This morning we caught a local bus then the next to Punta arenas..were geared up with day bag and dragging my suitcase and turned and bumped someone at the station and reached out to say sorry and caught him in the crutch!! well there was nothing left but to rush away after that!! the bus was great fun and i reckon it gets you very involved with the locals hopping on and off and chatting away!! everyone is so well washed and groomed which i dont know why i find surprising but we are dripping sweat and hair a bit bedraggled after a few hours on the bus..

anyway that bus was 31/2 hrs then got another pretty much straight away after a loo stop that took us here in 3hrs.

Lots of cattle ranching up here and heaps of shops selling Roxy label gear-its wierd really. thank goodness we found a cafe that is air-con.

might check out some airline possibilies to cross from Guatemala into mexico cos it a pretty long way to bus it.