We're here!

Well we finally made it to Costa Rica yesterday morning at 5am. When we finally got off the plane, we weren't even sure if we were in another country. The airport was brand new and there was a Cinnabon at our gate to greet us. Yay for the proliferation of U.S. chain food. You're welcome world.

We breezed through customs and immigration, but our first impression of Costa Rica wasn't a very good one. As soon as we stepped outside the doors, we were mobbed by taxi drivers wanting to take us. Our heads were spinning and we were very annoyed. We hoped it wouldn't be a sign of things to come. We finally got a good guy that breezed us to the bus stop we needed to get to catch our bus to Monteverde.

So we get to the bus stop and there are people just standing around. Come to find out a bridge on the road to Monteverde had been washed out and they were discussing how they would get us there. So, after a tense hour of waiting, they load us up and we head out. So we're thinking they must have an alternative route to get us there. Come to find out on the way there that there is no alternative route. They're taking us to the bridge, where we must cross by foot (somehow)over to another bus waiting for us on the other side.

After 4 hours of driving, we come to a stop and we grab our things and begin the walk they tell us is only about 3km away. Three km later we make it the bridge. There is a 50 ft gap from the end of the bridge to the other side of the road. It was all pretty exciting. So we jokingly wonder how we're going to get across and then realize that there is a 3ft strip on the left side that people are crossing. Nice! We think, this won't be bad at all! Once we make it across we start looking for the bus. We start walking thinking it'll be just around the corner. And then around the next corner...and the next... About 7 hot, sweaty, bag-laden km later we finally come to a rest area where our bus is to meet us. It was like the Bataan death march! But we made it and were no worse for the wear.

We load up and head for the town of Monteverde - Santa Elena. It's a nice little tourist town but not too gawdy and and not full of annoying hawkers and leeches like other tourist places can be. But we walk around the small town, eat at this cool little treehouse restaurant and then go find a hotel to take a shower and a nap. We end up staying at this cool place called Arco Iris in Santa Elena.

We wake up and it's dark outside and our cell phones don't work so we have no idea what time it is. We figure it's 2 or 3am because we were exhausted and figured we slept right through dinner. Turns out it was only 7pm. I need to buy a watch...

We go eat some authentic Costa Rican hamburgers and french fries, wander about town a bit more than decide to turn in early and try to plan the rest of our trip.