I hate US immigration
Trip Start
Aug 21, 2008
1
20
59
Trip End
Ongoing
Alajuela,
Province of Alajuela,
Costa Rica
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Interrogated by US Immigration during sleep deprivation
Costa Rican Hospital services are better than the US and free!
Trip to Volcan Poas
My 37th year got off to a good start (nudge nudge, wink wink - Meridyth), followed by Carrie buying me a birthday lunch before I set off to Newark airport to return to Costa Rica. I was pretty knackered after traversing three continents in 36 hours and was looking forward to some much deserved rest. Apparently US immigration had a different idea; pulling me aside for some, still, completely unknown reason to aggressively interrogate me holding the plane for 15 mins, whilst.
Initially I was taken aback at the intrusiveness of the questions/responses such as 'how are you affording to travel if you haven't got a job?' ; 'let me see how much money you have on' ; 'don't you think its strange that you didn't bother to look for a new job; people don't just go off traveling.'; 'why are you traveling on you own?' etc etc. After a while however I realized that they were just throwing as much muck at me to see if any of it would stick and I calmed down (I was concerned they thought I was trafficking drugs - no anal search for me thank you!).Finally they seemed convinced enough that I was 'rock-star wannabe' Mark Edmunds who did used to work for UBS and was not a international drug baron, and they let me go. (no apologies...nothing!)
I arrived in Alajuela, (a good alternative to the infamous San Jose) at around 9.30 and hit the sack sharpish. I had an uncomfortable nights sleep due to crazy chest pains when breathing (bad sign). The next day I rose at 6 (thinking it was 8!) and decided to do nothing apart from re-aclimatise which turned out to be a stroke of fortune as by afternoon I had to take myself to the ER as the chest pains had increased. The Costa Rican hospital was pretty awesome. I was seen within half hour and had been given four sets of drugs and a needle in my arse within the next hour (all free when using my little health insurance card that isn't even supposed to cover costs upfront - rock on!) From what I gather I have something like strep throat which can potentially turn into pneumonia so glad I caught it early. I went to bed at 8pm determined to rest - the chest pains had gone thankfully.
The next day I felt tons better but wasn't keen on traveling too far so decided to take a bus to Volcan Poas...the lazy man's choice for Volcano hiking as a 9.15 bus from Alajuela takes you most of the way for $3 return fare.
I was really only going because I had nothing better to do whilst recuperating however was rewarded with amazing views of a luminescent turqouise lagoon situated within the crater of the active smoking volcano. The guide book says don't bother after 10am in the morning due to clouds but with a little patience the lagoon shows itself.
Returning in the afternoon I decided I was well enough for the 4am start the next day to reach Ostional a turtle refuge on the pacific coast where thousands of them are expected to be laying eggs in the next couple of days. Another 8pm curfew for me!
Photos to come when internet uploading is free....
Comments
Savings..it is called Savings!
You should have given the immigration guys an economic 101 lesson.But I understand the hesitation...they may have not graduated from high school.
When you work, you save! S A V E....you monkey probably forgot about it because you live off credit cards.
Savings are those monies you set aside for times like these. And dont use it to buy the junk for a car you drive nor the American football subscription that costs more than you can afford, which also pays for the millions of dollars the players get from idiots like you!
Would love to have a tape of your interrogation...I think Cory will say no, lets have it the way it went and forget about it.
Lovely....that is all I have to say lovely...
Pura vida!!