I wasn't originally planning on going to Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica but on my last day in Bocas I stumbled upon a hostel on the water and decided to switch hotels. At the hotel I met a guy who said instead of spending all day on a bus to San Jose I should break up the trip by heading to the Caribbean coastal town of PV. It sounded good and I was optimistic I would finally see sun.
My last day in Bocas it was raining all day but I got to sit out on the dock reading and chillin. That night was taco night and they had a singer with a gorgeous voice who sang traditional Mexican songs. I made friends with the owner who is also the owner of Fudpucker's in the States via his lawyer who is a chill Panamanian. We ate BBQ chicken with a neighbor friend who was from Ft. Worth and an ex-cop/private security in Iraq. The chicken was delicious. I had 5 beers and thought it was weird how I didn't feel any of them...until the morning when I woke up.
I got up not so happy and wanting some decent priced eggs...there were none to be found so I hauled myself to a boat. When we docked I met a Swede heading my way and then we ran into 2 more Swedes going that way so we joined forces. This proved to be very helpful. They all managed to BS their way through the check-point at the border but I got stopped and that's when I had to walk in the POURING rain without a pancho or umbrella to print out a $3 copy of my eventual flight back to the States. Totally dumb. Whatever. I met back up with the Swedes after and we spent a good few hours chatting about Sweden, Swedish crime novels, and the like. It was a good time. We all parted ways in PV. I was cheap and needed something fast since it was pouring. The first place I found is where I ended up...it was perhaps the shadiest place I have ever stayed in Latin America. The rooms were nice and all but....when I got there the American owner was smoking a joint and about 5 guys looked totally strung out in what we would call the lobby while watching the guys work on draining the literal baby pool that formed in front of the front desk bc of the flooding. He gave me a key for a room that was kinda far in the back so I asked for something closer to the front to which he responded- "Oh, we never have any problems in my hotel- no rapes or anything like that." Thanks. I switched rooms, went to eat dinner, locked my door, and said a prayer that record of no rapes stayed that way.
The next morning I got myself up and going to the bus. The guy downstairs said there were no buses running bc the road had been washed out. Having much experience with Central America I freaked out mildly and said I'd go check on it myself. I got there and the buses were running albeit a different route. The new route would add at least an hour onto the journey which was fine bc my mom didn't land til later and I had already factored in extra time to run a TICA bus errand. Once on the bus, a random white guy asked me in Spanish if the seat next to me was taken. This made me smile because it always makes me laugh when people try to speak to me in Spanish first and they are clearly white and would prefer to talk in English. A couple of minutes later he must have forgotten that he didn't think I spoke English and started cursing and telling me how he forgot to return his room key. From there I was entertained for hours by a funny Irishman...
I finally met up with my mom who I hadn't seen in over a year. I was so delighted to see her. We embarked on what would become a nearly 7 hour bus journey. (Only today did we figure out we should have rented a car. Oh well, we are doing that tom.) We finally found the GORGEOUS house we are borrowing and head out at 11 pm to find sustenance. We found it in the form of some yummy mahi-mahi fajitas and WAY too strong margaritas. We got terribly lost on the way home and ended up taking a cab three blocks :/
Today, my mom managed to make me totally jealous by sleeping in until nearly 10. I woke up at 7, went shopping, made breakfast, and made her some coffee. She was over the moon when she woke up to it. After, we got ready and head for the beach. We talked, waded, and finally found a lunch spot with amazing food. Mom had red snapper and I had calamari...so yum. We also found some jewelry we can't live without.
We head back to the house to put the leftovers up and sit by the pool. I put black beans to cook and mom read. I was laying down when I saw what I first thought was a black cat but then turned out to be a monkey!! It was looking right at us climbing the coconut tree right above our heads. Mom ran to get the camera but by then he'd gone.
Now, just unwinding and thinking how wonderful how I don't have to do anything tomorrow either :)
2 comments:
Well, i don't know really know where to start. Generally speaking, it seems that you are having an emotionally up and down trip through C.A. It seems as if things have gotten better since you got to Costa Rica with you mom. Panama and the secluded island you were on seems absoulutely gorgeous. The food look so good, I found myself licking my lips very time i came across one in you albums. Its hard for me to write everything I want and get my thoughts arcoss but you look very happy and in good spirits so that makes me happy. I was sorry to hear about the shit service at the hotel where you had to keep the rooms a artic temps. That is recipe for strep throat for sure. What luck that your bunk made had meds. you know how i am with religion, but someone was looking out for you. That could have been a much worse situation if you didnt get the meds into you so quickly. The bridge in you city looks drastically worse from when char and i were there. I have tried calling you a few times in the last week but only to get voice mail. If there is a new number let me know, please. I would like to hear your voice and what your plans are. Stay well chica and i cant wait to see you state side.
AY
I forgot to say that i did laugh out loud a few times, but especially after reading the part where you did a prayer that the rapes would stay at zero. What kind of hotel 'manager' says that shit. Unbelievable. I think that it is going to be hard for things to bother you once you come back to the states after dealing with CA for three years. From transportation, to infrastructure to customer service to quality of life you will be hard to get bent out of shape. At least i think so ;) we shall see!
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