COSTA RICA AT LAST!

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August 31, 2006 On CR time! 12:10pm
Yup! I am now in Costa Rica!

A hell of a delay at George Bush International Airport, Houston, but finally got off the ground.
All total. 40 minutes on the tarmac! So the pilot punched it and we were only delayed 8 minutes into Liberia.
And as things go, my ride was NOT here waiting for me, so all the rental car reps tried to rent me a vehicle, then the hefe for the taxis
spoke up and said he get me a taxi for a mere $50 yup, welcome to CR! The rep at the hotel, said he would have charged $30...go figure.
Got a picture of me in front of the Aeroporto Liberia, thanks to that Hefe(boss)...seems I looked funny trying to take my own.
I got a Toyota sedan for the ride out to the wilderness. BIG MISTAKE! the road is built extremely well, just the rocks on top are the size of
baseballs in all shapes, not to mention the pot holes. So, Luiz Roberto, had to go in 2nd gear, @ 15mph, for 16km. It was slow goin' and HOT!
Luiz was pointing out the scenery, and teaching me local lingo, especially his admiration for the Ticas(muejeres). Sorry, but I did not
commit the words to memory. LOL! Just think of T&A and large.....LOL! It was a fun ride, just 2 old farts making the best of it.
After 1hr and 20 mins, we made it to Hacienda Guapechelin or the Ranch, sorry, no pronunciations coming from me....but the Hefe, remember him, did NOT
know what I was saying, nor did the phone operator he called to get a number. He was thoughtful enough to try, then he called the Rincon Lodge and got the number. David, at Rancho, talked to me, and apologized for NO RIDE, but said I am reserved for a room. In b'nez! (business). So, its 3pm set my watch back 1 hour to br on CR time, got a PowerAid and a H2O to hydrate, needed it bad.
Here is the website for the Hacienda Guachipelin...better/faster photos:
http://www.1costaricalink.com/eng/hotels/hotg/hotg-guach-1.htm
Pull it up and see what I saw....
Had a room mix up, 28 was NOT ready, so they put me in 27 for 2 nights. Power just went out and a storm is coming from the East. A lot of thunder, little lightning but it was continuous.
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Went to get a drink, the infamous Gaurro punch, Happy Hour! 2 for 1, Its all I needed to chill. Got a buzz, had 2 coffees just to maintain for dinner, I was tired! Dinner, buffet, was nothing to write about, just chicken or pork with veggies or rice (no saffron).
It rained up till 8pm, a bus load of high school kids went swimming during the electrical storm....I guess they are used to it and believe it is far enough away.
But, no OTHER guests were in the pool. HMMMM?
Met couple next door, Erick and Harriet from Atlanta, world travelers to say the least. They are on holiday for 6 days, worldwind tour I suppose.
Told them of my adventure plans and the spontanaity of it all. They offered a ride into town so I could rent a car, he got theirs for $179 per WEEK from Thrifty,
via the web in Gernany....COULD NOT get that before I came, nor while here. more later....

The 1st night: WOW! noise, then quiet, then 11pm all lights out, Monkeys off in the extreme distance, gekos, crickets,.... then 02:30 the COW.
Seems to me, anyway, she lost her calf and was wandering the grounds screaming(or whatever cows do) to find that calf...all I could do
was lay there til 4 ish, then the kids and cowboys got up, MORE NOISE.
Already another day...

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Photos

Me at the Areopeorto
Yup! The Hefe took this for me...I looked funny to them trying to take my own.

At the Ranch
Shot from LookOut Point at @ 06:30

Comments

[Jared]

hahaha
Youre actually there, thats kick ass man. good for you! send a post card! so are they charging you in us $'s or their own?

[JakeNcr]

Like, I would be Somewhere else?
No postcards! Pics on Blog! They love $US But my VISA card goes farther! cash is king! Now Colones 505=$1US...exchange on the card will be good!