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Published: December 16th 2008
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Tonight I am in San Jose, Costa Rica after a long bus ride from Bocas del Toro.
On Thursday the sun brok through the clouds around noon and 6 of us haggled for a boat and snorkling gear to take us out to the other islands. For about $13 each, we got a boat and a guide and snorkel gear for 5 hours. We crossed a wide area of water and zipped in between some small island of brush along some canals. The first stop was Dolphin Bay, but we found no dolphins (they were reportedly on lunch break!) and after circling a bit, and seeing some coral, headed to a Cay where we found a palapa hut out over the water with a rickity narrow dock and cheap beer.
We climbed down a ladder into the water, which was a bit cloudy, but clearer than water I've ever swum in. There were all kinds of fish - schools of small ones, larger zebra striped fish, and several large long torpedo shaped ones. My underwater camera case came in handy, and I took some great photos!
Unfortunately I got stung by a jellyfish (on my butt!!) and that
bothered me until Joanne kindly medicated me with a benadryl! I'd picked up bread, cheese and some snacks, as had the others, and we had a bit of a picnic under the palapa.
From there we headed out to a bouy in the middle of a bay and climbed into the water from the boat. Corals, sea cucumbers, anenomeo and a few fish were there, and we all enjoyed ourselves. Our guide took us to another spot, but the storms had made the area too turbulent to see while diving, so we elected to go to Bastimentos island instead and walk around.
Isla Bastimentos is like another world. The main 'street' is a paved track about 4 feet wide, and there are huts of corrugated metal that serve as homes, shops and hotels. We walked around a bit and saw several young boys with boxes. The boxes had strings and a sliding door, and they told us that these were for catching rats. The whole island had a very caribean vibe, and less of a latin american feel.
From there we climbed some stairs to an upper part of the island, and looked for a shop sellling
homemade beauty products - face washes and mud and stuff - but it was too far away to get to before we were due to meet our boat. On the way back down we saw another young boy, brandishing a machete, with three huge brown rats trapped between layers of chicken wire. He told us that they were for dinner.
The boat dropped us back at the dock on Isla Colon, and tired we headed to the hostel. Later, we had a Panamanian style dinner at a local place on the main street, and did some internet stuff to prep for the trip to San Jose, before going to bed early.
I was up at 6am, had a shower and petted the hostel's cat, Hansi, before having a bit of breakfast with Joanne and Eric. We got the 730 am boat to Almirante, where we managed to meet up with a Panamanian tour guide who shared his taxi to Changinola. We had planned on taking the bus, but for $4 each the taxi was good and fast, and dropped us at the right spot!
We waited a little over an hour for the bus to San Jose
to arrive. It left at about 10, and we drove for about 20 minutes through banana fields before reaching the Costa Rican border at Sixola. We went through immigration on the Panama side, and then crossed a narrow wooden bridge to the Costa Rican side and repeated the process. There was a lot of flooding in Sixola recently, and everyone seemed to be knee deep in mud. 45 minutes later, the bus pulled out to continue onto San Jose.
The bus ride was long, about 7 and a half hours in total. We were hoping to head right on to Monteverde tonight, but there are no buses until tomorrow morning, so we caught a cab the short distance to Hostel Pangea. ID bracelets and a gaurd at the steel front gate ensure only guests get in. Im in a dorm for $12, and that includes free internet and a few other perks. There is a a pool and a rooftop resteraunt/bar with great views of the city. San Jose is a dangerous city though, and there isn't much to see, so we are eager to move on.
Eric, Joanne and I had dinner here at the hostel, and
The snorkling group!
Sebastien, me, Joanne, Eric, Heidi and Duncan I bet I'll got to bed early, as I have to be up early to catch the 630 bus.
Monteverde tomorrow!
On a happier note, my spanish is really improving, and I'm learning new words each day. Id guess I now have about 80 words, and I think I can call that spanglish!
Eileen
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Kim
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Sounds like an amazing trip so far!
Hi Eileen, It's great to hear that you are doing well. Sounds like an amazing trip so far! Have fun! Be safe! Kim