I've got so many things to say right now, but have no idea where I should start. I guess we'll just start at the beginning, as it's usually excepted for a story to begin.
Friday, February 26th, 2010, I arrived at our University just before 10am. Which was the originally planned time of departure. Only to find out the time was changed to 10:30 which in Tico-time really means 11am, which is about the time we left. In two vehicles, a mini van/bus of 10, and a 4-runner with 4. About 25 minutes into the ride, the 4-runner had pulled over, which of course the van I was in pulled over as well. I think the car was burning rubber/about to lose a tire. SO after a few minutes delay, the van (I was in the front seat of the van) continued its drive while the others waited for a vehicle replacement. At this point, all is still well with our van.
We stopped twice for a bathroom/snack break, within the first 4 hours (time is definitely an estimate because my exhausted self was asleep in the front passenger seat, as expected) The 2nd break we were told to hurry, because we were on a time schedule to arrive before a certain hour to cross the border or else we would not be able to cross because it would close - and we wouldn´t be able to get our visas stamped. So, after about a half hour drive through the soaking wet and floaded areas of Limon (the houses and fields were flooded, not so much the roads...YET)
We get towards the end of Limon, only to find a break in the road, and that it is flooded, so our vehicles would not be able to make it across. (So much for the time schedule) At this point, we all got out of the vehicles, (Our group was 14 girls. The drivers were associated with our school and travel agency) 14 girls, GRINGA girls, with suitcases/backpacks in hand. We crossed the broken road, only to leave our drivers and the vans on the other side. (At this point we were on our own-there was another man associated with the agency on the other side waiting to help guide us on our way...slightly) We hopped into 2 taxis and went on our way again. Crossed the border, and got into a van - with this man who was apart of the agency. The driver of this van, seemed quite determined to get back on schedule, because our ride to the Ferry was at a speed of about 100mph, so it felt. Which, is alot more scary when you´re the passenger, not the driver I might add.
To cut this part of the story short, we arrived late to the Ferry and were told to wait at this restaurant on the edge of the ocean. The Hostel we were staying at was sending a 'ferry' to come get us. We would have to pay extra for this. We were told 20 minutes, and ended up waiting an hour. It was dark, late, and a little humid, yet chilly at the same time. We were exhausted, cranky, and starving. This trip was starting to take a tole on us. After about an hour of waiting, a boat, similar to the size of Poppop (my grandfather)´s old crabbing boat - slightly larger in order to have a capacity of holding at least 16 people. So we crammed into this boat, suitcases and all, and went on our way to cross the ocean to the Island of Bocas del torro.
Boat rides are nice. They're almost always nice and fun. I love running through giant waves as the boat crashes down to the regular water level-splashing all the passengers while its happening. I love speeding and jumping with the boat. I love putting my hands in the water to feel the cool saltiness of it, and the taste of the salt when I have been splashed in the face. BUT. I LIKE IT WHEN ITS WARM. and when I am in a BAITHING SUIT and NOT holding a purse with an ipod nor when we have a boat full of suitcases that are getting soaked as well. This ride, was horrible. the first 10 minutes was fine, then we hit the rough waters and EVERY SINGLE ONE of us got off the boat soaking wet. It was cold. The wind hitting our face was NOT the same pleasant feeling as when it happens on a warm-sunny day. I was sick already, and I'm positive this made me more sick.
We arrived at the hostel, where I immediately tore through my suitcase to change clothes, for a moment. We were given our bed assignments - in my case, i was given my hammock assignment. Which was located OUTSIDE the room with the other 14 girls, where all the bugs were licking their lips and waiting for it to be my bedtime. Thankfully one of the girls was willing to switch with me, but the one who switched with me was assigned to SHARE a bed with one of the other girls. Let me remind you we were staying in a HOSTEL. These beds barely fit one person. We had to fit two. Why did I have to share a bed if I paid the same price as everyone else? I have no clue.
Skip the boring parts, and I'll tell you the bathroom in one of the other rooms, where I was going to stay the first night orignally, I entered in the evening, to find a 'Fiesta de Cucarachas' or in other words...a Cockroach party. Needless to say, I chose to find the other bathroom to use at that moment. The bathroom in our room, was not much better, but 100% acceptable because it was empty of cockroaches, but full of little newts. (Which i didnt even mind at all.) The floor of our shower however, was missing some pieces. And there was a decent 6x6 sized hole, leading to the ocean. Wait, what? leading to the ocean? Oh yes, little fishes were visible and swimming under our shower, in all of the dirty run-off water.
Ooh - we also discovered that our hostel (called 'Aqua Lounge')was situated on a little island OPPOSITE of the one which had restaurants, clubs, shops, grocery stores, and everything else. When we got off the boat, we were expected to pay. $4. I had no money with me, because i had not had the chance to go to downtown San Jose to get American Dollars and ASSUMED (silly me for assuming) there would be an ATM nearby our place, to take money out. SO we had to cross islands, indebting me of more $1 for the taxi boat ride across, to find a restaurant and an ATM. So immediately after getting my bed assigment, i showered and caught up with the group before we left to the otherside. My friend Meira and I sat with a couple others at this DELICIOUS place called .. well I forgot the name. And after a day like that, I accompanied my delicious Alfredo with a wonderful smoothie-like mixed Blue Hawaiian. (DELICIOUS) The day ended after dinner there. We crashed. early. I never knew a day could feel like it had more than 24 hours in it - and as if I had been awake for that many and more.
Saturday, I woke up and Meira and I crossed to go shopping. Bought a few things, then went back across to our place to layout a little bit, attempt to read/study a little bit, and also attempt to tan. Well, I found my cozy spot on the wooden floor of the place, with my reading packet in hand. (In the middle of the deck, was a circle opening like a swimming pool-but the water was the ocean. And there was a wooden-made plank to act as a diving board) Just as I oiled up and opened my reading package, two boys climb the steps to jump. Without giving me time enough to even move, they cannon-balled into the water, soaking my reading packet and everything else I had by my side. How considerate of them.
We relaxed a bit. It rained a bit. We ate a bit. Then we dressed up for ladies night at our hostel. (Oh, did I mention that this place played NON-STOP music, TERRIBLE music, starting at 9am and ending around 2am. All day, all night. No wonder I didnt get much reading done that weekend.) After the party, we crashed, woke up the next morning to pouring rain. Slept and relaxed all of that day. blah blah blah slept and woke up monday to start our journey home.
This entry is a bit ridiculously long. I need to learn to not ramble so much about stupid things.
Monday, we got on a ferry boat again - it was pouring rain. THANK GOODNESS this boat had a tarp on all sides so we did NOT get wet. We arrived to the mainland, and boarded a van which would take us to the boarder. After crossing the boarder, we arrived to the office to get our passports stamped with a new Visa. The man told us he would not stamp our visas/we could not cross to head back to San Jose because we did not bring any travel information. Thanks alot man from travel agency at school for NOT telling us we needed that! After a long discussion and arguing from 14 girls, and after the fat man who refused to let us across got up for a minute, his co-worker stamped us and let us cross.
We crossed, and were told that because of a problem with the roads -the highway being closed-the vans coming to get us were going to be an hour and a half late. We were a half hour early. Great. 2 hours of nothing to do.
We passed the time by sitting in the tiny restaurant right across the boarder. We buoght playing cards for $.85 and played cards for a good while, grabbed something to eat, and after about 1 hour 45 minutes, the first van arrived. Cool. but where's the other? 'We didnt drive together, so im not sure where he is, he should be here in about 20 minutes' we were told by the first driver. Great. It started pouring. Even more fantastic! Finally the 2nd bus arrived and we boarded for what would be a 5 and a half hour drive back to San Jose.
We arrived in the evening, I ate a delicious dinner, and proceeded to stay up all night studying for this big midterm I had the next afternoon.
This week has been exhausting.
There, you have the story including almost all of the mis-haps we came across in our journey to, and through, Bocas del Torro, Panama.
-Britt
wow, what an adventure. Glad you lived through it to tell about it. Seeing the fish, through the hole in the shower would have been kind of cool. As long as my razor didn't fall through the hole.
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