Back in San Jose for my last day of Costa Rica. I already said adios to my traveling companions, some hugs and some snarls (I told off The Picker because he was constantly telling offensive and incredibly stupid jokes on the bus). I liked everyone but him. LOVED our tour guide, Manfred. He was so patient and kind with everyone, including The Picker–who had to be the most annoying person I´ve ever met. Seriously, I kept looking for hidden cameras. I thought surely this was a social experiment or something.
But that´s not really why I went on this trip. Yes, it was a trip designed specifically for singles who were looking for some adventures in the jungle. But it was more than that for me. Again, no clarity has come, but I´m really glad I came.
Yesterday was an incredible kayak tour through a mangrove forest. I was discouraged when it started pouring rain the second I sat myself down into the kayak. But there was nothing to do but row after that. And unlike the mountains, this rain was warm, as was the river we were paddling down–bathwater warm.
And then it happened. A whole swarm of white faced capuchin monkeys came down the trees in the pouring rain looking for food. Our guide said it was extremely rare to see these monkeys out in the rain. In a way, it´s a shame because they were obviously looking to the humans for food, which means that tourists have been feeding these wild monkeys (BIG no-no), but in another way it produced a priceless experience for me: I paddled over to the trees where the monkeys were, and the guide told me to hold out my hand like I was holding something. And a little monkey came right to me and took his little monkey fingers and tried to pry my hand open! I´m sure he was bummed when he found nothing in my fingers, but it was so cool!
We saw a bunch of birds (mostly water foul I don´t remember the names of), and a baby boa constrictor. I didn´t take my camera on this trip because we were so soaked, but I´m hoping the couple of people who had waterproof cameras captured the shots.
And finally back to the hotel to dry off, sort of. Nothing is really dry here, but at least I took a hot shower and then had dinner with some of the girls at this amazing little, tiny restaurant up on the side of the hill. Then it rained again. It rained all night–hard. I heard the electricity go out a few times. I was glad it came back on in time for me to pack because I was thinking I was going to have to pack by flashlight (thank goodness I brought a little maglite!).
Back to the bus for another long ride to San Jose. That´s another thing I wasn´t really expecting: long bus rides on dirt roads. The only roads are windy and very bumpy and a lot of them were closed due to excessive rain and mudslides. We had to take many alternate routes on this trip, and I´m happy that everyone was very patient (except for The Picker, who constantly asked questions over and over and over about when we were getting to our destinations, what time to meet again for the bus, when we were going to eat, how much for the extra bean dip, etc. etc. arrrggghhhh!!)
And now back in San Jose. I´m all set to meet Anna´s cousin tonight for cocktails and then back to her house to meet more family. I have a feeling this will be one of the highlights of the whole trip!
OK. Off to explore a little and see if I can find some reading material for the plane home tomorrow.
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