Costa Rica Unplugged: Day 2

This morning we hit the road towards Tortuguero on the Caribbean side. But not before making a pit stop for lunch amongst poisonous tiny red frogs.

Sacred tree.

Be jelly: eggs, gallo pinto, sausage, plantains, and always delicious fruit. Oh, how we starved!

We thought this was where we were going to go rafting. Estupid Americains.  

Jackie spotted them. They were an inch long, maybe two.

After touring the grounds, we were back on the road again. Tortuguero, land of the turtles (which we saw none of, the only disappointing part of our trip), is on the Northern Caribbean coast by Tortuguero National Park. According to Wikipedia, "The village is situated on a sand bar island, separated from the mainland by Tortuguero River and bordering the Caribbean Sea. Tortuguero is renowned for its navigable canals that run through the rainforest in the national park, and has such earned the nickname of 'Central America's Amazon'." 

I had to look it up when I returned because I never understood its exact location. And boy did Wikipedia get it right. I've never been in a jungle but it sure felt like it. The itinerary read "forest" and our guide calmly said, "We'll be on a boat for an hour to get to the next destination," but we really had no clue where we were going. 

The city streets of San Jose led us to the Amazon-like Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo. In the blink of an eye, we were swallowed by green-- walls of vegetation, trees with vines, plants with giant leaves, thick mist, and clouds. The next minute, our breathtaking views were interrupted by the gravel underneath the rugged terrain tires of our bus. The driver slowed to a crawl. There were many potholes caused by previous rain that it was possible our shuttle could fall over. It swayed from side to side like the tram at Universal Studios passing through Earthquake or Jaws. That's why Jackie freaked out, because she was sitting next to the window watching the battle between our driver and the road taking place. I told her not to worry, that we were so close to the ground that nothing would happen if the bus did tip over. But for some weird reason, she feared this phenomenon more than a falling plane. She said she trusted pilots to maneuver their crafts to safety but she believed drivers had no control over their vehicles. Our guide, sitting a row ahead and across from us, overheard our conversation and tried calming my sister by saying, "Just enjoy what we call a Costa Rican massage." And that's exactly what I tried to do.

The road, pre-Costa Rican massage. No sidewalks. Vehicles and people just graze each other.

Plantains.

If I could, I would have sat back and taken it all in for what it was. But the ride was rough so I had to pull my head away from the headrest. Jackie, on the other hand, couldn't even breathe, especially when we came face to face with a flooded section of the road; she even checked her heart rate on her new Samsung 5 (show off). Our driver stopped to assess the situation and I hoped we wouldn't have to turn back. Jackie, though, hoped the driver wouldn't have to drive across the water fearing the current would take us with it. But there were officers or road crew members at each overflowed crossing (there were two or three) giving the OK. They guided our driver while Jackie held back tears. 

That's us, crossing the river, I mean road.  

An older shuttle emerging from the river. Just like Universal Studios, I tell ya.

More water up ahead.

Yep. It was third-world country stuff. My sister lent me a book a few months back that she read for grad school titled Mudbound by Hillary Jordan. The story takes place on a Mississippi farm in 1946 where families get stranded in town because the water level rises and they can't cross the bridge. Getting to Tortuguero felt a lot like that. 

After an hour of a free Costa Rican massage, we finally saw the actual river. Our guide stood up with worry in his eyes saying to himself, "The water is high." He had claimed earlier that the road we had traveled on had been completely inundated the past couple of days due to thunderstorms. He got off the bus and I wondered if it was going to be too dangerous to make it to our two-night stay in the rain forest. But he returned quickly with directions to take our bags to the boat for the next 60-minute ride. I expected to find a medium-sized Carnival cruise ship for 25 passengers and our 12-day trip luggage. But what I saw was only slightly bigger than a canoe. And that's where my first hint of panic presented itself. I wasn't  confident we'd arrive to our hotel dry. I looked around the loading zone and the area was covered with tourists awaiting their next adventure just like us. That sight didn't leave me any choice but to trust the boat taxis. That is what they did for a living, rain or shine. All I could do was hope that they wouldn't risk their lives for a colon, their version of a dollar. When our suitcases were in place, the guide recommended we use the restroom for a buck a piece before embarking on what started as one of the scariest trips of my life. 

It cost 500 colones to use "luxury" bathrooms: toilet, toilet paper, and a waste basket for the paper (You're not allowed to flush TP due to weak plumbing in most places). As we washed our hands, we heard rumbling outside the facility. We made our way through the crowd buying snacks at the on-site store when Jackie and I noticed the hazy view of our boat. That's when we realized that the rain had started pouring. Jackie had left her rain coat in her suitcase but I kept mine because I had planned on using it as a pillow on the shuttle. So I pulled the hoodie over my head and we took off down the rocky walkway to the taxi boat. To our surprise, most of our party was already waiting under the refuge of the boat's roof and plastic windows like the ones on my Jeep. I took the "window seat" in front of the luggage compartment with Jackie by my side. I quickly replaced my backpack with a life jacket, took a sigh of relief, and stupidly looked over the edge of the boat. The water was about five inches away from devouring our canoe.

Why are we riding in this thing, I screamed inside my head. How deep is this water? And, Will this life jacket even work?

Before I had time to voice my concerns out loud, the boat started moving. The guy in front of me touched the water without leaning over much and I freaked out. As the taxi reversed the water craft, it mimicked the tilting our shuttle had done just half an hour before. That's when I let out a scream thinking the water was going to take us down. But the boat bounced back up. Jackie laughed at me. Karma was no joke. 

Everything happened so fast-- bus, restroom, storm, boat, river, forest. I took several minutes to regain my composure and catch my breath because I was focused on 1) my survival plan should we go overboard, 2) being drenched, and 3) feeling hot and muggy and sticky. When I finally let everything go, I was able to enjoy what turned into the ride of a lifetime...

The view through plastic windows.

The boat.

Too close for comfort.

Me, not freaking out at all. 

Rain gone, windows up.  

Tortuguero river.

The first monkey sight!

Village locals.

After thirty minutes, the narrow river widened. The humid air turned cool and we rolled the windows up. That helped us ride calmly and quietly as we took in the incomparable scenery. 

We were greeted at Pachina Lodge thirty minutes later with a papaya drink to relieve all of our troubles. To my disappointment, I wasn't spiked. That made it easier to conclude that papaya and I were not meant to be friends. I set my glass on the counter at the outdoor bar while we were told our room numbers. We were then released until our afternoon boat ride.  

Home for the next two days. 

My cot. It reminded me of the displays at the California missions where the priests used to sleep.  

There were no windows, only screens and curtains. There was a newlywed couple in our group. I told Jackie I felt sorry for them. 

Cabin...fully loaded.

Jackie and I took advantage of our down-time by exploring the grounds. These were a few of the things we encountered.

Huge spider outside our room.

Groundskeeper pointed out this porcupine asleep on a tree.

The win-all FIFA World Cup Game. 

This lizard/salamander thing.

Beautiful walkways.

It felt like I was walking through my mom's backyard. 

Real blue crabs under cabins!!!

Another lizard.

This prehistoric, dinosaur looking thing stood up and took off running.

This one was about a foot long, I kid you not.

Polly.

My greatest find... 

He was about three feet long. I couldn't tell who was more scared, me or him.

Since our tour guide promised wine and appetizers on our afternoon trip, the entire gang was ready to go at the assigned time. We sailed in a larger boat that took us up the river to the Caribbean Sea while our guide pointed out creatures that can only call Costa Rica home.

Salud!

What ya'll been waiting for.........a toucan!

The Caribbean Sea, not as pretty as we thought it would be.

People chillin'.

Waterfront homes.

Bird...like out of a Dr. Seuss book. 

Another lizard. Can you spot him?

Pretty bird. Check out those feathers.

We were back at the lodge in an hour's time. The guide promised to take us to the local bar that night so we ran off and got dolled up. Showering was pretty pointless in Costa Rica. Because you were constantly sweaty, you never felt clean. That applied to clothes too. Everything in your suitcase was damp regardless whether it had touched water or not; jeans clung to your skin as if you were walking with them underwater. But we still made the effort. Our group met for dinner in the buffet hall at 6:30pm and we sat with new friends. At 8pm, a group of American girls invited us to watch their jump rope competition practice. Since we had an hour and a half to kill before our taxi arrived, we followed the rest of the stranded guests to the covered area by the pool to support the lucky teens who were too young to appreciate the beautiful country they were visiting.

The thunder rolled in before the girls even started jumping. Lightning served as their spotlight. The turtle-shaped pool looked like it was going to overflow. But the girls jumped through it. They did amazing tricks.

The performance ended but the storm did not. Some of us were afraid to leave the patio for the bar where a larger part of our group waited for the taxi still an hour away. When the rain subsided, Jackie and I made a run for it. Luckily, the rain ceased completely right before our departure. We were so excited to immerse in the Costa Rican culture!

The group was divided in two due to the size of the boat. I was on the first ride. When we reached the mainland, a few girls were afraid to step inside the bar without our guide because it looked sketchy. But Jackie, another girl, and I put on our tough L.A. girl pants and walked straight in. It was dark, as it should have been. The dance floor was empty except for a large dog asleep in the middle of the room while the speakers blasted bachata. The few people that were there were gathered around the bar. There appeared to be another tour group occupying a few tables near the dog. We headed towards the drinks where I was deprived of a margarita and even rum and coke. They only sold Costa Rica's beer, Imperial. I was ready to dance immediately but no one else would. I had to wait until the alcohol entered their bloodstreams and then we stole the floor until one in the morning.

The club view in the daytime. Not so scary anymore.

This was taken post-drunk-American-white-girl-teaching-everyone-to-dance and pre-vomit-in-every-toilet-and-sink discovery. And I still wouldn't change a thing!

As suspected, our trip did not stay dull for long. Day two encompassed, in my opinion, everything that Costa Rica has to offer-- unpredictable weather, unpaved roads, rivers, humidity, monkeys, parrots, Top 40s, and Imperial. I felt like I had experienced it all already but luckily I hadn't...

Costa Rica Unplugged: Day 1

Day 1 started with a fight. I knew it would happen, just not so soon. My OCD and punctuality was bound to clash with Jackie's procrastination and notorious tardiness.

Because we missed the initial meeting the night before, I wanted to be ten minutes early to breakfast so we could meet our tour guide and the rest of the gang. But she had no such plan. When my ten minutes of cushion time turned into five, I lost all patience. I grabbed my CamelBak and headed downstairs to breakfast on my own.

I was halfway though my gallo pinto (beans and rice mixed together) when Jackie made an appearance. She set her stuff down at my table and filled her plate at the buffet. When she sat down, we started chatting as if she hadn't told me off in our room. And that was just perfectly fine with me. What was the point of lingering on a spat when we were in FREAKIN' COSTA RICA!!!

A fellow tour member pointed out our guide and we waved him down. In no time, 24 of us from all over the world (California, N.Y., Washington D.C., England, Germany, Canada, Missouri, Connecticut, Australia, and New Zealand) were off to explore the capital of San Jose in the rain.

Church view from our shuttle.

This woman was singing and playing the maracas to her hearts' content.

El mercado, the market. Totally resembles my hometown's El Mercadito.

Souvenirs. 

Farm workers depicted in front of a bank to acknowledge their contribution to the country.

Oldest post office still in operation. 

Teatro Nacional. National Theater. 

Oldest hotel in Costa Rica.

Colones, their currency.

After learning that stop signs mean nothing, tailgating is a must, and honking is a given on city streets, we headed to Volcán Poás about an hour away. There, the weather turned icy cold, with rain and wind that cut our eyes. But the views were spectacular. Our guide said we were lucky that the crater wasn't covered with fog.

Coffee plantations on the way.

Short walk.

Mini waterfall.

Description of plant above.

Volcán Poás. It measures one mile in diameter. 

Did I capture the cold???

Another walk to a lagoon.

Squirrels were very friendly there. They walked up to you and if they could, they would have asked you for food. They looked different too, with a reddish tail instead of the grey I'm used to seeing in So Cal. 

Breathtaking.

Our bus driver pointed out this armadillo as we loaded into the bus. Jackie told him to bring it to us and he did. 

Then our driver spotted a sloth as we were headed to lunch. He pulled over and allowed us to get off so we could capture him. In pictures, that is.

Day 1 concluded with a tour of an ox cart factory. The ox cart is a symbol of this central american country. The factory still runs the good ol' fashion way-- on water power. 

Detail on a bench.

The making of a wheel in process.

The main wheel, water-powered.

Artist hard at work. Hence the price tag :/

Mini ox cart model.

Largest ox cart in the world, according to their Guinness World record. 

Angel statue atop a church.

Jackie and I weren't very impressed with our first day there. We thought it was a little slow in the city and I was disappointed we hadn't gone inside the Teatro Nacional or the contemporary art museum. We enjoyed the volcano park and started checking off our souvenir list at the factory, but for the most part, it was pretty mellow. I told Jackie, this just means it's going to get better and better with every passing day...

Costa Rica-- Check!

I just got back from a vacation of a lifetime in Costa Rica with my sister. It was the first time we traveled internationally, not counting Mexico, and it was the perfect choice that will definitely be hard to top. Costa Rica's rain forest was initially what attracted us to it; I promise P!NK getting married there had nothing to do with it. The tour description consisted of hikes, rafting, horseback riding, zip lining, and walks through the city. If you know me, you know I love the outdoors, which is why booking this trip was an easy decision. And then there was the whole we-already-know-the-language thing, so getting by would be a piece of cake. 

I was nervous, I will admit, the weeks leading to our departure, but then again, I get nervous if I'm going to Disneyland, so it might not be saying much. I was mostly worried about the flight, and this was before the horrendous plane crashes making the news. But I had my Lady Of Loreto, Patroness of Aviators and Air Travelers pendant protecting me along with a Guardian Angel my friend lent me. I knew I was going to be safe--the chances of something bad happening were greater on the road than in the air anyway-- once I was in Costa Rica. 

A 20'x10'x12' suitcase and one carry-on each later, we were headed out the door. Thankfully my mom didn't accompany us to the airport because she would've shed buckets as if we were never ever coming back (but that possibility is always there no matter what we do and where we go). After a minor scare at the American Airlines booth where they couldn't find our reservations, we were on our way to the most adventurous thing I'd ever done. But not before a pit stop at Friday's inside the terminal: Jackie and I were determined to kick off our vacation correctly.

As close as I'm going to get to Miami for a while (layover).

We had a four course meal! Drinks, boneless wings, a burger, and that delectable sweetness displayed above. Our layover was four hours, but between landing, searching for food, eating, and boarding again, all we had were 50 minutes to spare. 

Jackie spotted one of our tour companions at the airport. We got to know each other waiting for our luggage. My suitcase was the last to take a ride on the conveyor belt. First I panicked thinking it was lost, but then my mind did what it does best and started wandering. How did celebrities do this all the time, traveling for hours, living out of bags? Did they also have to wait around for their luggage? Probably not. I have to say, I was pretty disappointed with the Ellen DeGeneres endorsed airline. Unlike Southwest, they charge for checked bags and only provide liquids on the plane, no peanuts. I was afraid our flight would be delayed because they don't have good reviews but I couldn't complain about their punctuality. We arrived to San Jose, Costa Rica as scheduled and I guess that's what really counts.

When all of our bags were in our possession and checked with customs, the taxi game began. Since there wasn't a driver holding up our names at the exit, we had to determine which taxi was legit for our 20 minute ride to the hotel. We failed. Unlike the rest of the taxis parked alongside the curb, the guy we chose was stationed inside the parking lot. He had to pay like every body else to get out. His red taxi didn't have the yellow triangle our brochure said it should. But we were three girls and knew we could take him if need be. Jackie, though, mesmerized him right away with her Spanish. She interrogated him without being aware of it. Was he a real taxi? How long had he been a driver? Was he from Costa Rica? Had he traveled? Turned out he has a sister in Santa Barbara.

You're damn right I took of pic of his "license." I think I texted it as soon as  I could to my friend. Can never be too cautious. 

The only consolation we had was that our driver charged us the same amount as the real taxis our smarter companions took. We found this out the next day when our group met in the lobby the next morning at 6:30am for our twelve day adventure...

The Pros and Cons of My Single Life

Pro: I do what I want

Long gone are the days of Friday Night Boxing and Saturday or Sunday movie dates, whether they'd be in or out. If I want to go hiking, I go hiking. If I want to go dancing, I go dancing. And if I want to stay in, I stay in. I don't have to "check in" with my significant other to coordinate our schedules. There are no more compromises. I decide what to do, where to do it, and when.

Con: I have to conjure up someone to do what I want with me

I no longer have the luxury of relying on a boyfriend to accompany me to work events, friend's parties, family gatherings, or clubbing. Now I have to determine who I can drag with me on different excursions. Will my sister be up for it? Will my friend Susanna be available? Should I just gather up the balls and go by myself? I know it shouldn't be a big deal going to the movies alone or eating sushi by a window unaccompanied since I shop in the singular form all the time. So why am I so hesitant? What am I scared of? I already eat dinner by my lonesome self most weeknights. And I miss the serenity of my Gilmore Girls playing in the background when I have dinner at my parent's who constantly bark at each other. Wouldn't my party of one be peaceful too? It could be but it wouldn't because deep down, despite what I desperately want to believe, I would care about what people thought. Unlike grabbing a quick bite for lunch, people would think I was a loser for not having absolutely anybody to hang out with at dinnertime. Also, my introvert self would be in constant fear of being approached and bothered. Unless my kitchen is devoid of mac and cheese, I guess it'll be just be me, Lorelai, and Rory for another while.

Pro: I am a better driver
Driving to the mountains, the beach, museums, national parks, and missions has made me less fearful of taking on the streets, freeways, and highways of Southern California. If I miss an exit, I just turn around, no big deal. Also, heading home late from these adventures is making me get used to being behind the wheel at night, something I tried avoiding before (although I'm always on the look out for drunk drivers coming in the opposite direction). In addition, I have taken up parallel parking and backing up into a spot and am getting quite good, if I do say so myself.

Con: I am always the designated driver

Instead of playing rock-paper-scissors with a boyfriend to figure out who'll be the one having a few drinks that evening, I now play eenie minnie miney mo with my cars. Deciding which car to drive depends on the task, although sometimes it comes down to choosing the one with gas. If the outing consists of drinking, I start early and am limited to one cocktail because, sadly, there's no one else to hand over the keys to at the end of the night. 

My baby, my best friend, my faithful companion. #IHeartRubi  

Pro: I no longer live on a schedule

I used to be so anal about my routine when I was in a relationship: work, gym, dinner, shower, sleep. Adding anything to this list, like running an errand or doing laundry, would turn me into a monster. But I did it so that, by the end of the week, I would have time to spend with my boyfriend. Well, so much for that. I have since taken off my Super Woman cape. First of all, I try my best not to freak out if I can't make it to Curves because I have to go to Target or Food 4 Less instead. And if I get invited to happy hour and I really want to go, I no longer contemplate the repercussions of missing a workout. I just go. I won't lie, I will try to make up the lost day but at least I now choose to have a few laughs over working towards a flat stomach that is never going to happen. 

Con: I get less sleep

Because I now take salsa lessons in the middle of the week and sometimes even close the place down or head out to nature late in the afternoon on a whim, I find myself getting home later than I ever had. I've walked in to the house as my dad prepared to go to work at three in the morning and arrived at my apartment as a neighbor headed out to do the same before the sun rose. On those crazy nights, the ringing in my ears is a sweet lullaby and my eight hours of beauty sleep are reduced to less than six. There is one rule I live by and that is not to take out my crankiness on my students. 

 Night owl me.

Pro: I'm living life

Like most relationships, I think, I fell in a rut with my boyfriend. Going out meant picking up groceries, dinner, and a movie before heading back to my place. If I went shopping with my mom and she found a dress she thought I should buy I said, "What for? I don't go out anymore." But being single means that I seize every invitation I receive to put myself out there again. I know some friends include me in their lunch dates because they pity me while others are as lonely as I am. Either way, if I'm in the mood and think it might be a good opportunity to find Mr. Right, I gladly accept. Having plans requires fun clothing and I've been filling my closet pretty nicely. I still shop on a budget ($15 max for a shirt/blouse unless I really, really like it) but I have allowed myself a little more sex appeal and a lot more color. I'm confident if I think I look good and I know this trait will attract people whether I'm standing at the top of a mountain, staring at a painting, or hitting the dance floor. 

Con: My credit card bill is twice as much as it used to be

My shopping comes out of my checking account. If there are no funds, there is no buying. But I put my gas and grocery bills on my credit card because I get cash back. And that bill has significantly increased since being single due to a healthier diet and regular adventures. Eating well costs more but I like the results I've seen paired with my exercise regime. And, well, driving around in a 4x4 doesn't come cheap but it is tons of fun. 

Fashion + Location = Priceless Memories

Pro: I know what I want

I've been asked by males and females, "What are you looking for in a guy?" It took me a couple of months, but I think I figured it out. I want someone who is smart, loyal, honest, ambitious, funny, and hard working. I learned to identify Red Flags the hard way and will no longer tolerate anyone who plants a seed of doubt in my mind or turns on my intuition.

Con: He doesn't exist

I know the perfect man doesn't exist. I wanted someone tall who could dance and it didn't work out. So I have let go of the physical characteristics and capability requirements and am simply relying on a man's heart to conquer mine.

The one perfect man on this planet is unfortunately taken :(