Pura Vida

I arrived in Costa Rica on Monday night around 10:30 p.m. When I arrived at the hostel - that Brandon so lovingly found for me while I was sitting on the plane in Atlanta - I checked in and then went to my assigned room. All the lights were out and everyone was asleep - which was a bit of a disappointment for me, as I was EXCITED TO BE IN COSTA RICA and wanted to talk to someone! ... I couldn't get to sleep, as there were motorcycles going UPPP and doowwwn the streets with people hooping and screaming. Then, I woke up at 5 a.m. when my roommate left. I said, "Yea right" and promptly went back to sleep. Then, the hostel owner came in around 8:00 to inform me that coffee and breakfast was available... okay. I'm in Costa Rica, I can get up and enjoy the day...

I had my breakfast and met a cool couple from the U.S. We talked for a good 30 minutes about traveling and life. Then I called my Mama Tica, who housed me when I was here 7 years ago, got a taxi to her house and walked around town with her collecting money from shop owners for the elderly bingo session she's volunteering for this Sunday. Nidia is way cool. She speaks Spanish really slowly and makes sure I understand. For dinner, we had arroz con pollo y vegetales and then I laid down and watched "27 Dresses" and "Star of the Family."

Nadia woke me up with pancakes this morning and helped me get a bus from San Juaquin de Flores - where she lives - to San Jose. Once in town, I walked with my way-too-heavy-backpack to the bus stop for Escazu, getting directions from four different shop workers and a bus driver along the way. I got to Escazu and walked to the park and then in the direction of a supposed hotel, then I stopped at an internet cafe (all with my way-too-heavy-backpack and flip flops), where a really nice guy helped me call a hostel and then a taxi. The hostel was in a different town, so I decided, instead, to stop at the Yoga Institute which I was accepted to. ... I am scheduled for an orientation session tomorrow, but wanted to stop by today to make sure it was legit and that I would prefer to go there instead of to the beach. ... they were pretty weirded out that I stopped by unannounced... and I was weirded out by the police with guns drawn arresting people next door... They helped me - somewhat reluctantly - find a place to stay, and I ended up here, at the House of Connections guesthouse.

It's beautiful, with big, open rooms, friendly people and lots of windows. It's been pretty interesting so far. When I first arrived, I was offered a sarong, free calls to the U.S. and free wifi, as well as earplugs and a face mask to sleep in! Vicky, the owner is from the U.S. and was very accommodating with the price and room. They also offer a Self Help library for your reading pleasure.

As I said, tomorrow, I go to an orientation for a yoga/meditation retreat. I had to write an essay and fill out some questionnaires to get admitted, so I hope it's worth all the fuss. But, if not, I'll just junk it and take a bus to the nearest beach. Either way, I'm ready to go!

Pura Vida