Hotel Balmoral San Jose

... had engaged with a foreign contractor to sponsor and build the high way, but it was not very long. Despite that there is a fee for every vehicle using it – for the next twenty years. But the contractor had finished the first part of the job, and now the only thing that remains is making a high way through the very high mountain region between the sea and San José. We drove for several hours on these windy roads – up and down ...

... not the one that I normally go to. It was really different. I should have been alarmed when I realized that I was the only person in workout clothes. Every other woman had on tight jeans and flat shoes&#8230;one lady even had on Debbie Allen &#8220;Fame&#8221; leggings and heels. The men were casual and one guy even had on white loafers. I did not let it bother me&#8230;at first. Then we got into dancing. I could roll for a minute<br><br>Los Brazos&#8230 ...

... that wanted to drink 'for free').  It was a lot of fun but it made getting up this morning that much more difficult.<br><br>Breakfast was bread (the kind I really like), coffee, juice, fruit (pineapple and strawberries) and an egg over medium.  Class was painful for all of us today especially since a few of the people drank a lot last night (LOL).  Our teacher, Juan Jose, was nice enough to let us start our 10am break at 940 and gave us 40 min instead ...

... the previous customer and was trying to double charge us. Bickering ensued and finally the owner gave Bart a refund and charged him the proper price. <br><br>Unfortunately the only cabs available were about the size of a Toyota Corolla, which was challenging given our considerable luggage. We looked like those clowns at the circus piling into those little cars. Of course we then had to listen to Bart announce ...

... away. Mark had booked a hotel for a our first night, Termales del Bosque, in a very secluded area close to Ciudad Quesada. Its a locals favourite with a natural thermal springs. It was very quiet there, apparently only 10 people staying there at the time, which was pretty cool. We felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. That day we went staright to the thermal baths and dipped ourselves into the hottest bath first, about 41c, then went to the cooler ones afterwards, a ...

... was really clear. I practiced skipping stones, the most I got was six bounces. I floated on my new air mattress and paddled around the river. Later in the afternoon I went to a club that my new school friends Coleston and Triton were having at their house. I had a lot of fun on their slip N slide, that they had made out of tarps. My week at school was very interesting. Some of the things I learned about were road signs, the Spanish alphabet and manners

... have me. Greg and Noel don't want to pay the $900 storage fee and decide to just store their bikes in a storage locker, returning to drive them to Panama in the next 90 days. Greg as a pilot can flu back for free and with a friend plan on driving his and Noels bike to Panama. Jene and I decide to store them in the same place that the Canadians have found. But before the city drives us crazy we plan our two day trip to Lake Arenal!

... Rica who is married to a Costa Rican. The youngest daughter who was travelling with them works for a Mennonite publishing company in Kentucky. We enjoyed getting to know them. Arrival in Costa Rica! Our Tica Bus took us up from low coastal elevations up through rain and fog, the first we've encountered since leaving Portland. We pulled into the Tica (one bus at a time)Terminal about 5:15 p.m. in dry weather, though, and stood together with our three ...

Where do I begin... I am here in San Jose, Costa Rica. I am not sure my first impression is beautiful. Maybe that's because it has been raining ever since I touched down. I didn't get off of the plane until 4:00 pm. After not knowing what to do about customs... my car or ride was not there. This guy Luis helped me out. At first I thought he was screwing me over. He called the hotel and I talked to the hotel guy. The hotel ...