2019: Costa Rica

Nov 14, 2019: Homestay at Adriana’s, Orosi.  

• I am surprised that my Español is sounding so good - especially after ignoring it for many months.  I can relax with the knowledge that I have learned enough to get along pretty well.  

• Not sure about this weekend - probably will bus around the area without rushing it.  Still nervous about any serious travel plans with the rain still around.  Hoping it diminishes in a week or two.

• Emergency in the middle of last night: had to pee badly, and bathroom was occupied.  Solution: pee in a senior diaper.  Woo woo!

• Catch bus to Volcano Irazu in Cartago ~ 8:45 coming from San Jose.  Return bus leaves Irazu at noon, returning to Cartago ~ 1 PM.

• Bus for Lankester Gardens: get off before Paraiso, walk 800 m.

• Turrialba: Spanish by the River; Monumento Nacional Arqueológico Guayabo (oropendolas)

• Instituto Estelar, Liberia (lots of activities)

• Rain: 4 - 5 PM

• Just met son Oscar, dad Relando, other son Thomas, dog Furia.  We will have a family outing this Saturday in his new Chevy.  He speaks Italian and Portuguese (!), and is a law student.

Nov 16, 2019: Homestay at Adriana’s, Orosi. 

• Morning car trip to Volcan Irazu (clear enough - at times - to see the blue lake in the crater); Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Limpia Concepción (a 1693 stone church once home to a miraculous painting of the Virgin, but all that is left of the town of Ujarrás, damaged by an 1833 flood and then abandoned); and Lago de Cachí (an artificial lake created by a dam, but lovely nonetheless).  Got nailed paying for a full tank of gas (around $50) by Thomas.  Pretty sneaky.  Still, a nice family outing, with great weather.  In fact, still no rain now, at 4 PM.

• From Mocoa Colombia you can head to Pasto (COP $ 35,000, six hours) on the Trampolin de la Muerte (Trampoline of Death)–one of the most dangerous and spectacular roads on the continent, and on to Ecuador.

• Ayahuasca: Arkana Spiritual Center, Libertad, Peruvian Amazon: Iquitos to Nauta (Road, 2 hr), Nauta to Libertad (boat, 1-2 hr): 7 days, $1800 (?)

• Leticia (Colombia) to Iquitos (Peru) by boat ($70).  There are no roads out of Iquitos into Peru. You have to fly or continue by river to Pucallpa (five to seven days), from where you can go overland to Lima via Tingo Maria and Huánuco (get off for Huaraz?)

• Rainy season in Amazon begins in January: forget the Amazon for now!

• No rain today (first time)!

• OK: next stop, Santa Elena: San Jose (Empresarios Unidos: calle 16, Avenida 12)  > Puntarenas: 2 hr, every 15 min; Puntarenas > Santa Elena: 2 hr, 3 x day