The Step Children Of Costa Rica

We are back in 100 degree weather with 100% humidity in Costa Rica.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner was presented to us in one of two dining areas.  Every day they had some kind of native floral thing on our table.  Notice any other humans sitting there?  We didn't either.  The first couple of meals, we sat where we were told ... just the two of us ... at this table for eight.

 At first it didn't bother me much.  All our meals were buffet type, of such that I can't remember a single meal, other than beans and rice.  

Dinner found two beautiful swan napkins at our table for eight.  I looked around to find all the other tables full of people, along with their guide, laughing and having a good time.  Patty ... why are we sitting alone?  We tried once to sit at another table, but were told NO ... THAT'S your table.  

We became the step children of Costa Rica.  Every meal we sat at our table, all alone, with no one to converse with.  I'm surprised they didn't have us doing the dishes or mopping the floor.  

It was even worse when we discovered they had a huge beautiful swimming pool.  Funny, the tour company never mentioned anything about a pool, nor that we should bring bathing suits.  Here we were steaming hot and miserable and could not go in the pool like everyone else!!  

We probably could have worn our one extra set of clothing into the pool, but there was no way to ever get it dry again.  As I may have mentioned, we went back to the room and put on our rain-wet clothes and sat underneath the fan. 

The next meal, we snuck over to the SECOND dining area (where we were not allowed) and sat with a gal we recognized from one of our adventures.  I think we had breakfast, but were soon caught in our act of treason.  It might even have been nice had the other group guides stopped by to say hello, but alas, we were left along for the entire trip.

Except for these guys, who met us almost every day, looking for bananas left over from breakfast.  

 Cute as can be, they have teeth an inch long.  You do not want an up close and personal encounter.

 At last our adventure to the East shore was over as we were taken to the dock to await our bus back to civilization.  Our still wet clothes were stashed in zip-lok bags for the return trip, to keep everything in our suitcase from becoming moldy.

The next problem we encountered was what bus do we get on?  No one seemed to know if the step children would even be returned to San Jose.  After a two hour wait, with standing the only option, we luckily got on a bus with no clue where we were going.  Unfortunately it was headed to a hotel we had never heard of before on the far side of San Jose.

 Along the way (it was a very long drive) we stopped at a restaurant of sorts, with many tables set up for lunch.  We grabbed a plate of food and sat down.  We must have had STEP CHILDREN emblazoned on our foreheads.  We were told in no uncertain terms we had to MOVE.  Those were NOT our tables.  We ate quickly and headed outside where I found this guy moving around the tree.

 These sloths are known for sleeping high in the trees and not being available for photos.  I felt very lucky to be entertained by this one eating leaves.

 At long last we landed in the no-name hotel, asking just about everyone how we were supposed to get back to OUR hotel.  Finally one of the guides said he was going that way, we should go with him in this cab.  Ummm we have no idea who this guy is or if he is really taking us to pick up our luggage left at the hotel.  Are we being kidnapped???

As you can see, traffic in San Jose is even worse than L.A.  It was somewhere between one and two hours for us to arrive at our room.  I almost kissed the ground thanking God we made it back this far.

 We are completely alone by now, as everyone else in our group left four days earlier for the U.S.  We repacked our stinky still wet clothes into our stuffed suitcases and picked up a trinket or two in the gift shop.  

Next morning we were taken by another unknown individual to the airport and dropped off.  We don't speak Spanish and they don't speak English.  Won't this be fun!!

Whew!!!!  At long last we are on the airplane to San Francisco.  THANK GOODNESS!!  Except ... wait ... how are we supposed to get from San Francisco to home????
 

I finally called the tour company and asked that same question.   Wasn't I surprised to hear her say a limo would pick us up for the drive home.  Are you kidding me?  Sure ... a limo is going to pick us up and drive four hours to Sonora California.  In my mind I was trying to think who of my friends might come pick us up.

Let me just say we are wearing the clothes we have worn for the last three days in 100 degree heat.  Needless to say, we don't really smell all that lovely.  Sure enough, as we waited out on the sidewalk while people gave us a wide berth, a limo came up and called our names.  

Holy cow ... he's not only cute, but dressed to the nines ... and here we are looking like we just came from  a huge rain storm in the jungle.  We tried to explain just that, but I'm not sure he believed us.

We had to give him instructions on where to go, but he drove us the entire distance to home.  This time I kissed the ground.  You cannot imagine how happy we were to be home and not kidnapped somewhere along the way.

The end of the story .... I threw those clothes away.  The zip-lok bag was black when I opened the suitcase.  Who knows what matter of living thing might have been in that bag.  Several weeks later we each got a refund check for a hundred dollars or so for the first part of the trip we missed, along with a discount coupon for another trip.  NO ONE took them up on THAT one.

I hope you all had a nice New Year's Day.  It was sunny but cold here, making it nice to just look out the window.  If you want to go to Costa Rica this year, give me a call!!  I'll provide you with tips and tricks on how to survive.