Panama/Costa Rica

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Hello again my friends. I departed Bocas del Toro two days ago. Joined
two girls from Buenos Aires after the 25 minute water taxi and split a
45 minute cab to the border, went through immigration, walked across
the bridge border crossing, and caught a one hour bus to Puerto Viejo.
Walked to Rocking Js hostel and booked a private cabina, no bigger than
the size of the bed. ha.

Rented a bike and had some great fish tacos at a Jamaican joint in
town. Then headed south down an awesome jungle road, checking out some
sweet secluded beaches. Came back in time to watch Denver beat Pitt
from my hostel restaurant. Had some chicken peanut sauce stir fry that
still isn't settling well, though it was good. I sat at the bar talking
to a young American girl, Amanda, who is working to pay for the rest of
her trip. An Aussie couple stopped in for a few drinks as well and we
hit it off great. Ten beers later we headed down to another bar after
Amanda got off, along with a very interesting gay American fella.
Stayed there for a few drinks, then partied back at the Aussie's hotel,
before heading back to another bar at 2am for an hour, and back to the
Aussie's pad for another two hours after that. Crawled into bed around
5 before getting woken up by screaming kids at the hostel at 7:30. Checked out of the
hostel, walked 1k to Cocles beach and got a sweet bungalow, with hot
water! Place would have been perfect if Tristan and Tia made it down.
$90, big double bed, single bed, and loft bed. All for me
unfortunately, maybe I can push them all together and make one big bed.

Today I was whipped. Crashed at my bungalow for a couple hours before
renting a bike and cruising down the same rode about 15k to Manzanillo.
Had a veggie plate for brunch and headed out as there wasn't much to
see. Came back to Punta Uva, where I stopped the prior day. Sweet
beach, lots of palm trees. Relaxed for a bit before riding back to
check up on Amanda to see if she was still alive. She was back at work
and doing fine. ha. Cruised around a bit more and just came back for a
nice hot shower. Playing it mellow tonight, dinner at the hotel,
possibly check out one nearby bar, and hit the sack.

Tomorrow it gets interesting. One hour bus up to Puerto Limon where I
HOPEFULLY can rent a car and daringly drive 4 hours on the crazy Costa
Rican highways over to Dominical on the Pacific. Crossing my fingers,
we'll see. May just bus it the whole way.

Hope all is well back home.

Eric

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Photos

Pura Vida
Need I say more.

Welcome to Costa Rica
Crossing the bridge border into Costa Rica.

My Bungalow
After a sleepless night at the hostel