Trip log. Vancouver to Costa Rica with 2 hr. layover Dallas flying time 7 hrs. $1085 round trip, return mid Feb from San Jose. Taxis airport to downtown $20. I walked a block and got a bus within a min. for 500 colones = $1 CND. The bus went within 3 blocks of the hotel and a very friendly beautiful CR lady on the bus told me about CR during the 30 min. ride. She suggested I get a taxi for the 3 blocks. A number of people were interacting (offering dubious services) with me as I looked for a cab. [View Full Entry]

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They say it takes about a week before you break out of your comfort zone and really get into your trip and they are right. I have to say I have not stayed at a funkier hostel then the Tranquilo backpackers hostel. This place is probably the best hostel I had ever stayed at. The vibe is just off the charts. I arrived from Caribe bus station and made my way here. The hostel use to be an old mansion but now they are all little dorm rooms. This place is like spring break meets bob marley meets jack johnson. It{s [View Full Entry]

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So I finally met up with Marianne and John and out of no where a full on marching band was in formation on the intersection. I guess it must of been some sort of school organized event because there were 20 to 30 something kids and a conductor leading them down the street. It was pretty fun watching the little kids dance to the local music. Soon after we went over to the bus station and paid the driver $8 for a 6 hour trip to San Jose. The bus ride was uneventful except when we got stopped by the policia [View Full Entry]

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After a light breakfast, a few quick emails, checking out of my hospedaje, 3 bus rides, one failed attempt at border crossing, one successful treck across the border, several lines, $7.50 in bus fares, a six dollar cab ride, and 12 hours I finally made it. I'll admit that this has been one of my most exhausting, warmest and coldest, but most of all longest day here so far. It was a great adventure though and I had many great encounters along the way. As I was leaving my hospedaje in the morning I returned the key to the woman who [View Full Entry]

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Die Hauptstadt Noch vor dem Finsterwerden kommen wir in San Josè an und machen uns zu Fuß auf den Weg zum Hostel. Wir merken, dass schön langsam die Hauptsaison beginnt - das Hostel ist fast voll und wir bekommen nur noch einen Platz in einem 8ter Zimmer. Das Hostel ist aber ganz nett, mit Internet und Frühstück, wir sind müde vom frühen Aufstehen (4:15) und beschließen zu bleiben. Nach einem schnellen Abendessen (Fisch & Schrimps - unser fixer Speiseplan) chillen wir noch ein bisschen im Fernsehraum (seit Guatemala hatten wir keinen Fernseher mehr in unseren Unterkünften) mit Scrubs und fa [View Full Entry]

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So I called Tranquilo Backpackers (which I see has been included in the location selector here even), and got myself a room reserved. Without any complaints, the hotel receptionist at this soulless place let me check out. I HAD to go and meet people. Here´s Tranquilo´s funky recep area: [img=http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p112/julespenk/Jules%20Solo%20Extension/5%20-%20Costa%20Rica%20Again/IMG_1873.jpg] After my complementary pancakes, I met one man who proffered insights into the seedier, and well-hidden, side to Costa Rica. He cut a striking figure with his large bell [View Full Entry]

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Following our five star experience in Tamarindo with friends, we were hurled back into the world of backpackerdom in route to San Jose. Gone were the nice beds, kitchen and fresh coffee and replaced with cold showers, bunk beds with two inch mattresses and day old coffee. The bonus was a complimentary wonderbread breakfast topped with something that resembled strawberry jam. Despite the attached photo with the clean and green sign surrounded by garbage, we found the city to be quite charming and clean. We managed to take in three city parks, the national costa rica museum, the university camp [View Full Entry]

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Hola Amigo's, commo estan??? I'm all good, well have had a hangover that lasted almost 40 hours but now that's passed am back on top form again! Well you'll be glad to know that i don't intend to write as much as i did last time, but then again, i never did last time so we'll see! We stayed in Granada for just 2 nights in the end and felt pretty much the same about it as we did Leon. That is, not that impressed. It was a really pretty town with loads of multicoloured houses and churches, but apart from [View Full Entry]

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K folks jsut to let u know I"m still alive and well. Enjoying the relaxed prices (at least compared to where I've beem) and am enjoying tons of fresh fruit and dirt cheap fish (not to mention beer). So yeah things are alright. I hit up some canyoning yesterday which was a blast. Maybe not as hardcore as Switzerland but some serous repells. One was like 150 feet from a suspension bridge. It kicked ass. Not too shabby, and the fact that the waterfall went through a hardcore rainforest was amazing. Absoluely loved it. SO heading out to a horse farm [View Full Entry]

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ENGLISH Security to leave the UK at Gatwick involved extensive checking of our ten flight itinerary, in depth questioning and confirmation of visa requirements for each country. A few hours later, we were installed on board Continental flight no.CO29 and we were listening with the greatest attention (but not necessarily the greatest conviction) to the incredible exploits of the federal agent sitting in the seat next to us. Blown up in an army operation in the Middle East which burst ear drums and injured his back he was now moonlighting as a federal courier. His previous jobs inc [View Full Entry]

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