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Published: October 9th 2008
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random pic - skechie wiring on the shower I left Puntarenas at 2pm on another local bus. The bus ride cost $2 bucks. My number system in spanish is still very new so most of the time when I am unsure how much something cost I give them a bigger bill but then this equals more change. Costa Rica change is heavy so I think I will need to practice my numbers or I am going to have to either hit the slots or carry a big mountain coop change purse.
Catching the bus can be difficult because even though the sign tells you the bus stops here it can sometimes be half a block away. Again I am the only gringo on the bus. Travelling by bus is fun but at times you have no idea where you are going.
Before the bus left I thought to myself I should of went to the bathroom. The bus ride was 3 hours long and I thought there would be a rest stop but no such luck. I never came so close to peeing my pants and we were going up a mountain and it was pitch black and pouring rain.
My brain went into shut down mode and all focus was trying now not to wet myself. The bus kept stopping because it is a local bus so sometimes it picks up more passengers and sometimes it stops so traffic can pass on the narrow road along the mountain. I felt my strength slipping trying to hold it in and minutes felt like hours. I was in a complete dilema. At ths point I didn´t think I can last 5 minutes and Monteverdes is no where in sigh in the pitch black so I either get off with my bags or stay on the bus and explode. The bus stopped a couple more time and I lost it and decided to get off the bus with my bag and hopefully trek the rest of the way hoping it´s not too far by foot. It is pouring rain and pitch black along the mountain road and not a soul in sight.
The driver was all confused because we were in the middle of no where but that was the least of my concerns. I asked for my bag in the storage and he was trying to communicate with me why I wanted to stop in the middle of no mans land. I finally said Banos (washroom) and he repeated back Banos!!! so now the entire bus knows we stopped in the middle no where for this gringo to go wee wee.
I booked it to the bushes and holy smokes, I could of stood there for an hour peeing. I was so worried the bus would start going and I would be stuck in the middle of no where but luckily they waited for me.
The walk of shame was near approaching as I pass the driver and said mocho gracias. Everyone was giggling. I sat down and I felt my blood pressure and heart rate return back to normal.
The road to Monteverde is rough because you are going up a mountain and when it hits 6pm it´s pitch black. In hindsight I would of been in big doo doo if the bus had taken off without me.
Another 30 minutes and we finally arrived at Monteverde. Now if you never taken a local bus before you never know where you are going to stop because their bus stations are not like ours. It can be anywhere so you have no idea where to stop. When in doubt I just stay on the bus until I see all the locals emptying out or until it´s the last stop.
This time I didn´t over shoot my target. Monteverde is spread out and it´s extremely hard to know where you are in the dark. You are pretty high up in the mountains and when it rains it´s all midst.
I stayed at Camino Verde for the night and I am so glad I got here in one piece without having to walk in the rain and trying to trek here in the dark.
Tomorrow I booked a trek with a biologist-guide and then visit the sugar cane factor and coffee plantation.
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