Happy Valentine's Day!

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Happy Valentine's Day!

I was lucky enough to get back to Pascal on February 14th after my loving parents drove me early to the airport on a cold Monday morning in NY.

JetBlue's aircraft, a pretty new medium-sized affair had a problem detecting the fuel level, so there was a three-hour delay taking off. I kept thinking, maybe I won't see my husband on this romantic day after all. But no, we got off in time for me to make the second to last local bus from Liberia Costa Rica to the border at Penas Blancas. What is a Pena anyway?

I got in a taxi on the other side of the border and was driven by an OK guy, can't really remember what we talked about, my Spanish is not so sophisticated so I ran out of things to say pretty quickly.

Pascal was there waiting for me at Casa Oro, the big back packer spot in town, and we were lucky enough to get hosted by a fellow Canadian, Kusuma, from Victoria Canada who has a lovely apartment here.

San Juan is a nice mixture of Nicas and Party-loving expats. Also there is amazing ceviche to be had for 3 dollars a serving. We can't stop going to the local fish market for tuna and shrimp, behind which there us CAT PARADISE.

Doggies love it here too, and wild and domestic coexist. I saw a couple of cute pits too.

I couldn't think of a better place to transition from North America.

Missing you all

Alaina

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Photos

On the plane
Thanks Uncle Dave for the tasty cheese cake to go. It was not wasted.

Nighttime border
The trucks have to wait an awfully long time to cross this border. I wished them a Happy Valentine's Day!

Bus schedule
I was proud of myself for resisting the urge to take a taxi. The bus was great.

Morning coffee after a great night's rest
Mango season,mmm

One of those low sugar drinks
Nicaragua does this too now

Up to the Jesus statue at sunset
Kinda like all Catholic places

Nice view SJDS
From up

Jesus statue
Pascal pointed out they put an antenna in his back. Can't see that here.

Cooking tuna
Deliciousness

Nica eggs
They really are yellower

Omelette
Can't really mess this up. Our hostess is allergic to eggs so we have to be careful and use a separate pan. Thanks Kusuma for tolerating out egg lovingness.