Puerto Viejo
Trip Start
Oct 10, 2006
1
39
110
Trip End
Ongoing
Puerto Viejo, ***,
Costa Rica
Monday, February 19, 2007
There was torrential rain in Puerto Viejo when we arrived, when we left and pretty much most of the time we were there aswell. Puerto Viejo, famous for its beaches and its surfing waves was more developed, touristy and expensive than Cahuita but I still liked it.
With the rain-filled beaches not particularly beckoning, and the restaurants and bars outstringing our budget, I decided to get myself some bona fida, Caribbean-style braids done in my hair. It was supposed to cost 10 dollars, take an hour and a half and last a month...but when the lady lifted my hair and saw how thick and frizzy it was, the price was upped to 12dollars (still so cheap eh??), it took 3 and a half hours and she forecasted that it would last 15 days! I can't say that they suit me per se cos my features aren't chiselled enough for them but I think they're cool.
Collins reckons I look like a complete knack and I know Wonder Mum would hate them but next day in the daylight, I caused quite a stir with the African Caribbeans! I had one guy shouting some sorta black Caribbean lingo at me and another lady tell me that I couldn't pull it off..."Gurl, you is too pray-ty for that heair. I wanna take it out" Like that's gas. As ye know, I'm no prettier than the next but by saying this to me, she had insulted virtually half of the black population who wear braids..herself and Lauren Hill are more insulting towards themselves than most white "racists"
We had another incident with an animal in our room in Puerto Viejo.
check out the wuss under the mosquito net
Despite the fact that we were in some of the best accomodation we've stayed in so far with mosquito nets and all, a stray crab managed to get into our room. We were bout a km from the nearest beach but somehow we spotted a crab crawling across our floor in the evening..and he was massive. Collins jumped sprang into the middle of his bed and wouldn't leave his position (mosquito net up and all!) until I'd gotten the crab out. He tried to make a contribution to the process by flitting a paper in its direction. Thankfully, his attempt to behead the helpless creature proved unsuccessful. Anyway once again, I saved the day and the crab found a more suitable habitat for the night!
Puerto Viejo is a grand spot to land if you have a bitta cash in the back of the trousers. The same could be said for Costa Rica.
Costa Rica was certainly an impressive country. It's easy to see why it's so touristy: sun, sea and sand is a huge aspect of its attraction for people but unlike a lot of destinations, there's also lots to do apart from sunbathing. It has adventure sports, lotsa wildlife including 850 types of birds which is more than North America, Europe or Australia and a pumping night life.
It would be an ideal destination for a gang to head to for the craic. You need a fair bit of money compared with the other countries in Central America but it's still v. cheap in comparison with Eire. It would also be nice for a familia but would be wasted on v. young children.
The Ticos themselves are a nice race. V. helpful and friendly. They have not suffered the strife and turmoil of their Central American neighbours with civil wars etc. Their army was abolished in 1948 and they haven't needed one since. Economically, they are also far better off with free health care and primary education being huge bonuses. This doesn't come without a price, however, and I read the other day that the current budget deficit for the govt. is 348 million dollars...but saying this, a lot of the govts of Central America have the same problem and have nothing to show for it.
Costa Rica is similar to Ireland in that it has a notable national problem with alcoholism. Whilst the percentages tell the tale, we saw quite a few giveaway signs that also substantiated the claim like a more-than-average percentage of AA clinics and many a down and out character with a naggin of something in his/her hand...
Next day, we decided we wouldn't go to Manzanillo in the South of Costa Rica as planned because of the continuing rain showers. Instead, we headed down to the Panamanian border and waved goodbye to Costa Rica.
