Enga mellom fjella

Costa Rica: July 10-17

ME: just me.

July 10:

The hysteria of the day before. Packing went slow. Everything went s.l.o.w. To bed too late.

July 11:

A very long trip. All day. Jen picked me up at 4 in the morning and got me to the airport.

Once in Costa Rica I couldn't do anything with my phone (too late). Took Tuasa bus into town. No single room at Gran Hotel Centroamericano so I went to Hostel Van Gogh. Fortunately they had a bed.

July 12, San José:

Managed to get new telephone number. Luís helped me with that.

Met up with Brian and we ate at the same Chinese restaurant we ate at before. We both like dim sum.

People in hostel from Cork and denmark. Andreas from Århus is amazing!

July 13, San José:

Evie and I visited the zoo. Took some of pictures. Wandered around Barrio Amón. Found out the Jade Museum was open...

...and Evie turned into a tour guide! she'd read up about it but had never been there. It's new and world class. Glad we went together. Even took photos of phallic objects... read penises. The collection has lots of jade but also stone and ceramic artifacts. The Spanish were mostly interested in gold so they ignored everything else.

Brian decided to go with his mother to Limón.

July 14, San José:

Took the bus to the university in San Pedro and took photos of the awesome street art.

Walked back.

Exchanged some money with David. Got a 1914 5 centavo coin. And a Venezuelan note (a pink one).

Fish al ajillo (garlic). Later yuquitos (fried yuca).

Sat on the floor while talking to Evie. Had a difficult getting up. The pain... but no harm done.

Teenagers from San Carlos played pool (but should've turned their other toys off). I picked on them. To their delight.

July 15, San José to Pérez:

Got up early and took my time packing and getting ready.

Wandered to the bus station. Took photos in Plaza de la Cultura of shoe sculptures.

3 hours on the bus. The mountaintops were clear of clouds. Unfortunately I didn't have seat by window.

Bought my usual rootbeer, bread and white cheese at rest stop.

Arrived about 4. WAs able to get to market before closing, eat and see friends.

Ran into people I knew within minutes.

Small town...

July 16, Pérez:

Feria = farmer's market. Gave licorice to Sam and Marguerite. Hugged Ilena. Spoke with Franklin, José, Ronaldo, Maxine, Susana, others... Ate one of Sam's TexMex enchiladas. Very good.

Had my pinto con natilla at Soda El Molina.

Saw Johnny at bus stop. Met Aarón in park; he plays pool. Got call from Mary. Met Carter at Delicias; he writes essays.

Very social day.

Unfortunately felt weak, tired and depressed.

July 17:

Midnight of the 16th/17th. I need sleep.

Awake at 7. Up at 9. Shouldn't have gone back to sleep.

Wandered down to feria (farmers' market) and saw a couple friends. Not busy on a Friday.

Bought avocados. Shopped with Sam after we ate gallo pinto at a new place. I had to eat something...

Posted animal pictures. Edited photos of penises (phallic artifacts from Pre-Columbian times). Bought one liter of milk in a good plastic container I can re-use.

Sent a postcard to my friend Gary. Cost 600 colones = that's over $1. Costs went up again.

Went to writer's group. Met up with my friend Johnny in the park.

Late evening? Roar of macho motorcyclists tearing up the town. Miserable until they left.

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