Manuel Antonio!!

25th MAY 2009 - TRAVEL TO MANUEL ANTONIO
We headed away from Fortuna in the taxi. The lady that spoke to us was in the front, the driver was driving (obviously) and another guy was in the back with us. I was a little apprehensive about taxis after the story about the American girls getting robbed, but my fears heightened when the taxi stopped en route to pick two more guys up. I had such bad feeling that we were going to get robbed and so once again, I slyly transferred some money and my bank card to my bra. Better to be safe as we would not have had a prayer if they had tried to rob us. I was probably stupid to even worry about it as the lady and driver had seemed so nice and I had no reason to suspect anything untoward. Silly horror stories putting the brain in overdrive!!

I needn’t have worried at all. We arrived at the bus stop safe and sound and the lady even got out to help us get on the right bus to San Jose. She really was lovely and very helpful. It was another 2 hours to San Jose and we didn’t get there until about 1.30pm. Green season was going strong and the rain was coming down heavily. We trekked in the rain to the coca cola bus stop to then catch our next bus to Manuel Antonio. There was a bit of confusion at the bus station as we wanted to catch the direct bus however a guy kept telling us that the direct bus was full and kept ushering us towards the collective bus to Quepos. We really didn’t want to go on a collective bus as the journey took twice as long with all the stops. We must have looked confused as different people all began telling us different things but as we didn’t understand Spanish we just ended up even more confused!! What to do?!! We decided to get on the Collective bus as if the direct one was full we didn’t want to have to wait around for another 2 hours for the next one!! Blooming buses…I would be glad when I would no longer have to use public transport!!

The collective bus was so busy. One large lady was practically sat on Nat’s knee for a good hour of the journey. I laughed but not so sure Nat saw the funny side!! The journey took ages too….five and half hours!! It really was a shocking journey!! It was dark by the time we arrived in Quepos. The driving was manic and at one point the bus had to do a full on swerve to avoid a cyclist without lights on his bike!! Good job it wasn’t be driving…I don’t see things on the road in daylight let alone at night!! The driver did well to spot him!! As it got later the rain got heavier too so in that respect I wasn’t so upset about being on a bus. If you are going to spend the day travelling on a bus at least don’t let it be a glorious day outside!!

We eventually arrived in Quepos at around 7pm. We then had to get on another bus to Manuel Antonio. Thankfully it was only 7km away and therefore a short ride. We weren’t sure to get off though and soon we were the only people left on the bus with one other guy. The bus driver stopped and asked where we were heading and we advised him that we needed a hostel in Manuel Antonio. The other passenger who spoke English said he was heading to a hostel too and that we should follow him. He seemed ok and so once again we willingly followed a stranger off the bus and towards where he said the hostel was. He took us up a very dark dirt track where another guy seemed to pop out from no where and join us. Nat shot me a nervous glance however on this occasion, I actually did not feel so scared…the guy did seem genuine and he had helped me out earlier at the services when I had been looking for the till. I was right to trust my instincts and he led us safely to a hostel.

The hostel was ok…nothing special and plenty of mosquitoes but they seem to come as standard in Central America. We dumped our stuff and had a wander back into the town. It was teeny tiny!! 3 restaurants, a supermarket, and 2 gift shops. Expensive too!! We decided to budget and buy some bits from the supermarket for tea. Nat bought some bread and crisps for a sandwich and I bought a yoghurt and some nuts! We then headed back to the hostel and chilled out in the room for a bit. Later that evening we spent and hour or so on the internet before heading off to bed. More mosquitoes that I first thought in the room and you could actually hear them buzzing and squealing. I didn’t like the sound and so I wrapped myself up in the sheet like a tomb. I may suffocate but at least I wouldn’t be bitten by mosquitoes!! I went to sleep thinking about home…I could not believe we only had 2 full days left in Costa Rica!! Where has the time gone?!!

26th MAY 2009 - BEACH BUMMING & TAN TOPPING
I woke up earlier than ever. Amazing how early I wake up when I have the option of sleeping in…never seems to happen like that when I have to be up for work!! Nat was awake too and had spent half her night fighting mosquitoes. I didn’t get one bite in my tomb…success for the sheet!! Once we were dressed and ready we headed for some breakfast. Big tasty bowl of fruit, granola and yoghurt for me however I didn’t feel so thankful when the bill came. Tax added on twice…scandalous!!!

Following breakfast, we headed to the beach. The beach was nice. The sand was really smooth and although the sea wasn’t a beautiful colour, the surroundings of the National Park made it look pretty. It was a nice temperature to begin with…not too hot and the sky was blue. I sun creamed up and began to worship. We needed to top up those tans before we headed back to sunny Yorkshire. As time ticked by, it got hotter and hotter. My face lasted for about 10 minutes before I had to cover it up with my skirt. I did not want to look like Rudolph with a sun burnt nose! It was too hot to lay in one position for too long and I had to keep turning over to ensure I was cooking evenly on all sides. Even that didn’t work for long and I could feel myself burning. The sea came to our rescue but even that was a warm temperature and not at all refreshing. Still, it was wet and I had a good swim about as well as losing my bikini bottoms one final time to wave surfing!! Not sure I will ever learn!!

After the sun became a bit unbearable, we decided to move from the beach. Nat didn’t feel too good and I was going to turn into Larry the Lobster if I wasn’t careful. We bought some cold drinks from the supermarket and headed back to the room for a siesta. Amazing!!

At 3pm we headed out again and thankfully it had cooled off a bit. We caught a bus to the nearest ATM to get a few grand out the bank for hopefully the final time and then caught the bus back to Manuel Antonio. During the day there were loads of market stalls and sellers set up along the beach front selling bags, jewellery, cloths, clothing and other nic nacs. Some sellers were quite entertaining as they tried to sell us their goods and I could have spent all day bantering with them. Nat did bow to the pressure and buy a necklace whereas I was tight and kept my cash in my purse!! Shame on me!!

Once we were shopped out, we headed back to the room to chill for a bit. I did another stint on the net and Nat wrote her journal in the room. Both having a bit ‘not you time.’ We then got ready and went out for a nice meal…probably our last meal out of the whole trip. We picked the nicest looking restaurant of the 3 and settled with a beer and some good food. We spent most of the meal reminiscing about parts of our trip, talking about our highlights and lowlights and discussing how we felt to be going home. Still didn’t feel real to me at this point. I felt really weird about it all. I knew I was going home deep down but it didn’t feel like it was going to happen. Maybe wishful thinking on my part…who knows!!! Following our tasty meal and emotional conversations we headed back to the room where I tucked myself up in my tomb and slept like a baby.

27th MAY 2009 - GOODBYE MANUEL ANTONIO
Woke up early once again. Jittery feeling in my belly. Think it may be due to the fact that this was my final full day in Costa Rica and I would begin the journey home on the following day. Can’t describe how I was feeling. Way too weird and so many mixed emotions!! Nat was a little quiet too and I think we were both going through the same thing.

Once dressed and sorted we headed out for breakfast. Not to get busted by the double tax, we bought a banana each from the supermarket and viola…breakfast was served!! Once eaten, we headed onto the beach for the final time. It wasn’t as hot as yesterday thankfully and was quite pleasurable to lie in. I finished my book and Nat lay with her own thoughts. Such a tense atmosphere…not with each other but with the situation. I could not get my head around the fact I was going home. Had it really been 8 months?!!

At around 11.30pm we headed off the beach and headed back to the hostel where we showered and packed up our bags. I said farewell to quite a few of my clothes that I had worn for the last time and never ever wanted to see again. Straight in the dustbin and boy was I glad to get rid of the weight. Nat threw away even more stuff than I did. Definitely one thing we were looking forward to most about going home…having a wardrobe and not having to wear the same items day in and day out!! It was going to be heaven!!

Once our slightly lighter bags were on our backs we headed back into town and caught the bus to Quepos. In Quepos we bought a ticket for the 2.30 direct bus to San Jose. Another 4 hour bus ride but this time we did not make the mistake of going collective. Direct all the way for us!! Whilst waiting for the bus, I bought a freshly chopped pineapple and ate the whole thing. So much pineapple and by the end I never wanted to see a pineapple again!! Well, at least for a day or two. The bus eventually came and we jumped on. Goodbye Manuel Antonio.

We arrived in San Jose after the 4 hour bus ride at around 7pm. It was pretty dark and very rainy but we knew where we were heading this time and the hostel was only a 5 minute walk away from the bus station. Thankfully they had a room for us and we dumped our bags. San Jose is a little like the other Central American countries in that it is not really safe to go wandering about at night...especially 2 young (no jokes please) girls. We were both a bit subdued as well and so weren't up for doing anything big. We decided to head to the internet just around the corner and do a couple of hours blogging...no way were be going to be up to date by the time we arrived home. If only aeroplanes had drop down computers with internet access...we would have been set!! After publishing our final blog in a foreign country we headed back to the hostel.

We were both very tired and very anxious. I was quite giddy and had butterflies like I get on Christmas eve when I know I have been a good girl and father Christmas will visit. And yes...I still get that feeling every Christmas!! I was really looking forward to seeing all my friends and family but I was also worried about how I would adapt to 'normal life' and nervous as to whether I would fit in again. Travelling had become my way of life and I liked it. I thought it suited me and I really had enjoyed every minute. Part of me was really sad that it was ending!! I wandered if I had changed and if anything at home had changed. I didn't want it to all feel like a dream once I arrived home. So many thoughts going through my head. We chatted about our feelings for a long time before we went to sleep.

We were finally heading back to England!!!

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