Volver al Caribe

Trip Start Aug 08, 2008

Trip End Oct 12, 2008

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Flag of Costa Rica San Jose, Costa Rica
Friday, September 19, 2008

One great thing about traveling in small groups is the increased flexibility.

Since Caitlyn and Anna went to Manuel Antonio last weekend while the rest of us went to Puerto Viejo, and this was Caitlyn�s last week, I thought I�d tag along on their proposed trip to Tortuguero this weekend. They had found a flight for only fifteen bucks, so we thought the whole operation would be fairly cheap and painless. Unfortunately, by the time we got around to booking it, the price had gone up to $50 each way. There were alternatives involving a series of buses and boats, but they weren�t cheap and took the better part of a day each way, so were really not a practical option for a weekend trip. I�ll be seeing Tortuguero with my folks, anyway, so I was up for anything. Caitlyn proposed Cahuita, where I went snorkeling last weekend, but apparently there�s a sloth sanctuary I missed out on

Costa Rica Backpacker's hostel

. Once I saw some pictures of Buttercup and the babies, I quickly agreed.

Due to a combination of misreading the schedule, cutting it too close, and hitting horrendous traffic on the bus to San Jose, we missed the last bus out to Cahuita, so we�re staying at the Costa Rica Backpacker�s hostel and taking the first bus out at 6 a.m. tomorrow, which should put us in town by 10.

It's a nice hostel; there's a pool I probably won't get around to using because it's a bit chilly already, and plenty of indoor and outdoor common space, including a movie theater of sorts. Our room smells a little musty, and for some reason there's a woman traveling with a 2-year-old boy staying in our room (can I be judgmental for a minute? Hostels are no place for kids) but the mattresses are fairly comfortable and the place is quiet.

We had one of the best meals I�ve had so far while traveling outside Puriscal at the attached restaurant, and while they don�t have anything besides Pilsen and Imperial (in cans) at the so-called bar, booze is booze and I haven�t had any for a week.

We met another hostel guest who never actually told us his name, and had one of those conversations you have with other hostel guests who never actually tell you their names

San Jose graffiti

. Where�re you from, what brings you here, what are your theories on the meaning of life, etc. We sat at a picnic table in the darkening twilight while winged creatures that looked like bats, but I'm telling myself were only birds, swooped overhead. I was fascinated by his personal story; somehow the whole drifter-who-had-a-job-but-left-to-explore-the-world schtick never gets old for me. But when we got into a philosophical discussion of ethics and psychology, it gradually became apparent how little he�d absorbed in the way of critical thinking skills while accruing these daring adventures, and I lost interest.

Still, the discussion made me miss the people in my life with whom I can have these intense yet rambling discussions. I realized I�ve been holding back a lot with the other volunteers, because they already think I�m weird enough. I can�t wait to be back with the people who know I�m weird, but put up with me anyway.