Costa Rica: A (weird) day in San Jose

Piña Coladas and coconut chicken at Lava Lounge. 

Last full day together. And a mixed one at that. 

Left La Fortuna in the torrential rain and San Jose cheerfully greeted us with a sneak peek of sun. Didn't last long.

The Lonely Planet terms San Jose as "not a pretty city". I think they're right on the money there. It reminds me of a creepy Eastern European city, not like the other vibrant and colourful ones I've experienced so far in Central America. Maybe this will make it less painful to leave?

Fun at the Norwegian embassy. 

Boys messing around with the flags. Quick dash back to casual Harry Potter reading before scary embassy lady returned. 

Workers having an ice-cream break. 

 

Strangest Russian dolls I've ever seen?

Surf shop fun to escape the rain. 

Jens practically had a stroke at finding a Dutch stroopwafel in a coffee shop. 

Costa Costa Rica

Happy to report the boat trip back to the mainland from Ometepe was leaps and bounds better than the trip there. Bagged spaces on the top deck; so less splashing and far less vomming. Fairly civilised in comparison. 

Long journey to Costa Rica- 3 hour border crossing with a hairy moment when Vik was almost not let into the country because of broken page in her passport. In the end she had to resort to some super glue and sneaking to a new window and a new official, praying that the previous guy didn't spot her. 

Arrived in one piece. Costa Rica dramatically different to its neighbours -a far more western and built up country and prices probably even more steep than home. $6 for a frappe?!

In the hills in Monteverde which is green and lush and significantly cooler. Not to have your insides feel like they are at boiling point and your breath not dissimilar to a dragons is a very welcome feeling. 

R&R day today; walked the steep path to town, laughed at the extent of the boys bakery breakfast, got a coffee in a tree house, chatted to some dogs and read my book.  

We're going to see what 'Bar Amigos' has to offer tonight

then off to La Fortuna tomorrow. Till then.

Nicaragua : Ometepe Life

A peaceful day on Ometepe. Read my book in a hammock, took a stroll into town, watched people go about their daily lives, witnessed school boys and girls flirting after school was let out, had delicious coffee and coconut cookie, recharged my batteries. 

6am start tomorrow. Over the border we go to Costa Rica.