Gran Costa Rica San Jose

San Jose, Costa Rica 1st-4th October<br><br>Got back to San Jose after leaving Managua the same day at 7am on the Tica Bus and took roughly 8 hours so not too bad. Same long border procedures except bags checked more on Nicaraguan side on the way out. Spent the rest of the evening walking round San Jose city again and managed to get credit card eaten by card machine after taking money out that night! <br><br>Next day was spent sorting out how to get my card back ...

... the language. Yesterday, I asked a guy (in Spanish) if he spoke English or Spanish. He told me that he spoke a little Spanish. I began talking to him in English and asked him the usual<br><br>Where are you from? I could care less but I was lonely and felt like entertaining conversation. He told me some story about being from &#8220;all over.&#8221; I kept wondering if this &#8220;all over&#8221; place was where he ...

... I know it's not fair to judge from such a brief encounter but we noticed right away that the people were just not as open and friendly as we've met in neighboring countries.<br><br>Immigration and customs could use a little help in the efficiency department.<br>

Today we planned to drive further afield, to take in some of the pre-columbian ruins and come back by way of the coast road. For this, Fabrizio now insisted that we take his late model SUV, which was a considerable step up in comfort and performance. I suppose I passed the test of being willing to drive a beater without incident, and was now getting the frequent driver upgrade. We first went to San Andres, one of the ruins closest to San Salvador. Some interesting ...

... their own coffee markets or lacked the personnel to sell coffee in the U.S. After finding out that a New York City would really appreciate this tasty cup of coffee from El Salvador. So as the two economies struggle we must press forward and not forget the times of the past as we make our own reflections on the times of the present. On that note I leave with a little known writer who said "It was the best of times ...

... then welcomed us, said an invocation, and then led a responsive reading from Psalms 85. The praise band led us in several more songs, the associate pastor gave the pastoral prayer, and then a man from the congregation welcomed visitors and read announcements. Vacation Bible School starts tomorrow, a youth retreat is coming up, and volunteers to help clean the church were requested. Another lady ...

... could be really dangerous. What Matthias didn't know was that the danger had already started. Unbeknownst to all of the other staff on the beach, 3 kids were caught in the ¨river¨ and were calling out for help. Josh, the American on staff, saw them, and thought that the kids were just joking since they were so close to shore. He realized how serious it was when he noticed a fourth kid heading toward the others and suddenly drop out of sight. He swam out to them and ...

... when I enter Honduras as well since they only give you one stamp for all of the Central American countries. Once we made it to San Salvador, Chansonette's friend (a missionary that worked with her parents in the Ivory Coast) met us at the bus stop and drove us to her house. We will be staying in the mission house most of this week with day trips to various places. It's a really nice place and we each have our own room and bathroom.