COSTA RICA: Travels w/ friends on NICOYA Peninsula

  Samara, Costa Rica
Monday, April 10, 2006

Good evening from a rather poorly bean....

No, don't worry, tisn't malaria or anything, but I have a stinking cold...Blame it on the arrival of the wet season and increased humidity along with constant exposure to costal/seaside resorts of late...grrrrr

So, over the last week or so I have been exploring another area of Costa Rica - Nicoya pensinsula.. higher up on Pacific Coast....

It was a good job the last of us left on Monday as there were voilent thunderstorms and torrential rain galore... Also, we heard off grapevine that there was going to be a strike led by the locals against the poor condition of the draingage system and road maintenance (do I hear echoes of parochial complaints re: green lanes in Jersey etc lol?)...Bridges are well poor with huge dangerous holes and that... The neighbouring town had been without water for a few weeks...intermittently on and off, with preference always given to hotels.....So basically we were sceptical about leaving and being caught in the midst of it all.....

What actually happened though was kinda hilarious..This tiny but fesity gringa lady, who obviously lives there permanently, charged her way to the bus station and ranted and raved about the government and local council thing saying it was digusting etc..... She then turned towards me and my friends and shouted angrily "and if you speak english....." then proceeded to translate the whole speech just for our understanding!!! embarrassing. The majority of the locals weren't phased by this talk and carried on as normal... weird as it is very true and disheartening!

We werent gonna stay put and left for san jose there and then. The bridges and roads hadn't yet been closed off so that was good....Bye bye Quepos/Manuel Antonio...Come again I may.....

I reluctantly spent Monday in the capital city, San Jose, with one of my TEFL course mates as I annoyingly had to sort out my onward travel. What a contrast to where I was living / studying...Normally the city is the poor and downcast area but San Jose seems to be quite the reverse.... it's a kinda trendy, moderately expensive and bright light city, with not so much pollution and blatant begging.....druggies yes.. felt more safe than when arrived for sure..
Oh yes, we had an interesting encounter with what I would now consider a stereotypical taxi driver - con artist I sware...making out that the hostel we were heading for was full/overbooked etc and even called up a mate who pretended to be the manager so to confirm to me they had no vacancies.....instead he was going OUT OF HIS WAY to recommend another hostel not mentioned in the lonely planet bible.....probably a friend or business contact..watvea!!!! so just blew him off.... dodgy !!!

Tuesday, I met up with the crazy english lass and we decided to join another two who were already on the nicoya peninsula..... a good 5 hour bus and boat trip but definitely worth it. ridiculously cheap and views incredible....the road network on the peninsula is aweful so buses are limited to where they can go. It's like being on a safari with dust tracks, wild vegetation and animals of all descriptions blocking roads including cows...

Spent Tues and Wed at the pretty isolated village of Montezuma down south. Took a hike to these amazing waterfalls and lagoons where I couldn't resist rock jumping from great hights... so much fun.

Wednesday eve we took this minivan shuttle service (buses impossible) down to another small village (Malpais/Santa Teresa) way out in the sticks........the four of us hired this cheap basic holiday home/cabin which was great fun. even had feasibility to cook own grub.....
Here surfing is the done thing so we had to mingle at a typical surf camp where we ate, played holiday camp games and were entertained by live open mike music..funky. Thursday, got mashed in the rough sea while body surfing but was nice to chill out.

The last stop for me was at Samara half way up the west coast where I had to leave the others today. Again, the only practical option was to board a crowded shuttle van which took 3 hours. The paths the driver chose to take were bizarre.....dodged pools of water and muddy bogs, climbed and descended ridiculously steep windy gritty "roads".....honking at animals roaming around etc... This place is paradise though... Very popular beach spot with the local population. Very tranquil and welcoming.....Plenty of open air bars with couches, hammocks, palm trees around whilst sipping cheap as cocktails...lovely jubly.... That was pretty much it there.

Right now, I am getting ready to go to Mexico at 2am where I will inform you of my adventures and welfare once fully into the swing of my Mayan/Aztec ruin tour......Will be nice to have it all "sorted up front".


PLEASE DO WRITE TO ME TO KEEP ME INFORMED WHAT YOU GUYS ARE UP TO AND HOW THINGS ARE ETC AS WELL..

Peace out :D