The plan is "no plan"

So the adventure started before I even got onto the plane. The airline had a policy of not wanting to let anyone board without a return ticket because of fear that I might be rejected at entry and they would have to fly me back for free! So they forced me to buy another ticket. At first they were offering me silly tickets from Costa Rica to Nicaragua, but then I asked if I couldn't just buy a refundable ticket. They said "sure" and told me that if I bought a premium 1st class ticket that it would be 100% refundable.

Are we actually free to fly on one way tickets?

So I said, ok, give me one of those.. and then they finally let me on the plane!

Now of course I was concerned about Laura... would she get the same troubles leaving from Spain? Would they let her into the country without another ticket?

So, riding on my plane I whipped out my newly stickered water canteen. And I proceeded to ask the flight attendant to fill my canteen with water! She agreed, and everyone around me was stuck with unfashionable plastic cups.

I'm sure she was thinking "Only some nut case from Oregon would ask for their canteen to be filled on a plane!".

And of course I put a bird on it:

Arriving in Costa Rica

When I landed the immigration was incredibly easy: all I had to say was that I was staying a while before traveling to Panama. He said "enjoy your stay" and stamped me in. It was so incredibly painless that it was reassuring. One hour later Laura appeared at the exit and we were re-united.

We took a bus into town for 1$ instead of 20$ in a taxi (which was painlessly easy) to a hostel named Tranquilo. This was quite a nice hostel, though I'm not quite sure what was VIP about our room, since it was extremely hot, barren and small.

We met some nice people in San Jose, two connections that Laura managed to make before we leave. I wasn't as successful on my side as none of my potential connections came through before my departure.

We met Yamil and Sabrina for drinks and lunch and got to learn about a few things in Costa Rica. Both of them are involved with the flamenco / guitar and dancing world, so good people for Laura to know. While talking with them we talked about how our plan was "no plan". Which we are learning isn't always that easy for people to understand or accept.

Cahuita

The next day we had had enough of San Jose already and headed out on a bus to Cahuita. We were standing around waiting before we realized that we needed to buy a ticket before we got on the bus. Laura comes back and says "bad news" we have one sitting ticket, and one standing ticket! Standing on a bus? Hmmm, sounds like something that you might experience in India! So we got on and swapped places on the bus for many hours, it was a rather uncomfortable drive, and I really wouldn't recommend it.

We were though very excited to be finally on the coast and away from the big city. We got to step out into the tranquil night, eat food with a very kind and friendly gentleman, and enjoy our first stay in our lovely cabina.

The beach here is great and we also did a nice walk into the forest. We saw a big iguana, some really pretty crabs and hermit crabs. And some unidentified furry things.

All in all, it still feels like i haven't left Portland cause it just feels like i am on holiday... I wonder how long that feeling will last?

Much love to you all,

Sebastian.