Trip went like clockwork. Beautiful morning and we both were up at the crack of 0800, off by
0900. The ride was gorgeous along the hills next to the Terraba River, then into the hills on
the other side to where we looked out across the central valley. Ran into a few rain squalls on
the way, but nothing tortuous. We had some really good pizza in San Vito, after just a two and
a half hour drive. Slightly longer than to Pasa Canoa like you and I went. Problem is..from
there you have to drive on this rocky rough road to the border, which it appears they have
gone to great efforts to keep a secret. Not a road sign anywhere leading to it, but since
Rama had just ridden the bus that way he sorta knew where to go..after just one mistake
causing a few miles of back-tracking. The border experience was very different than at Pasa
Canoa. No lines...and in fact hardly anyone around at all. Just one little office for CR and one
for Panama about 50 yards apart. Each office had one guy at a desk who did the passport
checking/stamping. Rama explained that I just wanted to be stamped in and out today, and it
seemed to be of no concern to the guys at either office, and they just did it..no bribes
necessary.
THEN..there was this Dutch family of four with all sorts of bags and whatnot..even a
stroller..who were trying to figure out how to get on with their journey from there..which was
pretty much in the middle of nowhere. I offered, if they thought they could somehow cram
themselves and all their stuff in my car, I'd give em ride back to San Vito where they could
better get to where they were heading. It looked impossible, but they did it and off we went.
He gave me and Rama a six pack of beer as thanks after we deposited them safe and sound.
We had just gotten into the first beer after smoking a joint and eating a Valium when
we came across a road block that wasn't there on the way in. I passed my beer to
Rama and pulled calmly up to be interrogated by the five armed policia. I made a
point of not breathing in his general direction, and even though Rama had a little
trouble finding his passport while holding two open beers and a hiding a bag of
weed, he did it and we passed through unmolested, smiles and waves all
around...and off we went INTO THE MYSTIC as Van Morrison may have put it. .
I took a few cellpics..all pretty disappointing. I wasn't much in a photographing
mood. I will send one of the Dutch Family stuffing my car with themselves. It's at
least sort of interesting and helps illustrate the story.
It rained like hell on parts of the ride home, but we still found time to stop at a bar for a rum
and coke. I am testing the foot, as you may have gathered. Got home just after dark, and I'm
good to go for another three months...all in all it was a lot cheaper than the Pasa Canoa
route..no overnights..no bribes..etc etc etc. We did have to dodge a few rock slides long the
Terraba, but managed to avoid any catastrophic calamities.
Rama was good company on the ride and we had many chuckles along the way. He also
helped immensely at the border where there were non of my usual "expediters" to help me
and relieve me of some excess dinero in the process.
Meatloaf sandwich..yum. I think I'll cook that other piece of fish and make a fish sand out of
it..maybe some French fries too....
It's been rainy at night here so I haven't seen anything of the full moon at all.
I've been off antibiotics for over a week. Just taking them uric acid reducers and some
diuretics now.
80 Gonzbucks a month does seem a lot for that iPHONE. My cellphone is only $18 a month,
but I also have the home phone..about 15..and the internet....25 now with the faster
connection...which is really a separate issue. That cellphone really pisses me off when I'm
trying to take pics with it though, cause it seems there is no way to hit the buttons just right to
get things to do quite what I want. fucker.
well..nite nite..been a busy day and I'm ready for the couch..not much in the mood for cooking
now..hmmm.
Tom..out.
0900. The ride was gorgeous along the hills next to the Terraba River, then into the hills on
the other side to where we looked out across the central valley. Ran into a few rain squalls on
the way, but nothing tortuous. We had some really good pizza in San Vito, after just a two and
a half hour drive. Slightly longer than to Pasa Canoa like you and I went. Problem is..from
there you have to drive on this rocky rough road to the border, which it appears they have
gone to great efforts to keep a secret. Not a road sign anywhere leading to it, but since
Rama had just ridden the bus that way he sorta knew where to go..after just one mistake
causing a few miles of back-tracking. The border experience was very different than at Pasa
Canoa. No lines...and in fact hardly anyone around at all. Just one little office for CR and one
for Panama about 50 yards apart. Each office had one guy at a desk who did the passport
checking/stamping. Rama explained that I just wanted to be stamped in and out today, and it
seemed to be of no concern to the guys at either office, and they just did it..no bribes
necessary.
THEN..there was this Dutch family of four with all sorts of bags and whatnot..even a
stroller..who were trying to figure out how to get on with their journey from there..which was
pretty much in the middle of nowhere. I offered, if they thought they could somehow cram
themselves and all their stuff in my car, I'd give em ride back to San Vito where they could
better get to where they were heading. It looked impossible, but they did it and off we went.
He gave me and Rama a six pack of beer as thanks after we deposited them safe and sound.
We had just gotten into the first beer after smoking a joint and eating a Valium when
we came across a road block that wasn't there on the way in. I passed my beer to
Rama and pulled calmly up to be interrogated by the five armed policia. I made a
point of not breathing in his general direction, and even though Rama had a little
trouble finding his passport while holding two open beers and a hiding a bag of
weed, he did it and we passed through unmolested, smiles and waves all
around...and off we went INTO THE MYSTIC as Van Morrison may have put it. .
I took a few cellpics..all pretty disappointing. I wasn't much in a photographing
mood. I will send one of the Dutch Family stuffing my car with themselves. It's at
least sort of interesting and helps illustrate the story.
It rained like hell on parts of the ride home, but we still found time to stop at a bar for a rum
and coke. I am testing the foot, as you may have gathered. Got home just after dark, and I'm
good to go for another three months...all in all it was a lot cheaper than the Pasa Canoa
route..no overnights..no bribes..etc etc etc. We did have to dodge a few rock slides long the
Terraba, but managed to avoid any catastrophic calamities.
Rama was good company on the ride and we had many chuckles along the way. He also
helped immensely at the border where there were non of my usual "expediters" to help me
and relieve me of some excess dinero in the process.
Meatloaf sandwich..yum. I think I'll cook that other piece of fish and make a fish sand out of
it..maybe some French fries too....
It's been rainy at night here so I haven't seen anything of the full moon at all.
I've been off antibiotics for over a week. Just taking them uric acid reducers and some
diuretics now.
80 Gonzbucks a month does seem a lot for that iPHONE. My cellphone is only $18 a month,
but I also have the home phone..about 15..and the internet....25 now with the faster
connection...which is really a separate issue. That cellphone really pisses me off when I'm
trying to take pics with it though, cause it seems there is no way to hit the buttons just right to
get things to do quite what I want. fucker.
well..nite nite..been a busy day and I'm ready for the couch..not much in the mood for cooking
now..hmmm.
Tom..out.
Jungle Journal, 4-30-2010 by tsdaly
SAN VITO ROAD TRIP
Copied from an e-mail to David L. Brown
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Dutch Family squeezes into the back of my little Geo Tracker.
I'd like to add this little anecdote from our ride with the Dutch Family: At one point the wife asked me how I
came to live in Costa Rica and I told her I had been on my way to Argentina when they took me off the plane
in San Jose and put me in jail for the last few years till I recently escaped. It was very quiet for a moment
there till Rama and I broke out laughing. We deposited them safe and sound in San Vito and were on our
way home.
came to live in Costa Rica and I told her I had been on my way to Argentina when they took me off the plane
in San Jose and put me in jail for the last few years till I recently escaped. It was very quiet for a moment
there till Rama and I broke out laughing. We deposited them safe and sound in San Vito and were on our
way home.
Into the Mystic,
by Van Morrison
by Van Morrison
click play button to hear the song
Hark, now hear the sailors cry
Smell the sea and feel the sky
Let your soul and spirit fly into
the mystic
And when that fog horn blows I
will be coming home
And when that fog horn blows I
want to hear it
I don't have to fear it
I want to rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days
of old
Then magnificently we will
float into the mystic
And when that fog horn blows
you know I will be coming
home
And when that fog horn
whistle blows I got to hear it
I don't have to fear it
I want to rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days
of old
And together we will float into
the mystic
Come on girl...
Smell the sea and feel the sky
Let your soul and spirit fly into
the mystic
And when that fog horn blows I
will be coming home
And when that fog horn blows I
want to hear it
I don't have to fear it
I want to rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days
of old
Then magnificently we will
float into the mystic
And when that fog horn blows
you know I will be coming
home
And when that fog horn
whistle blows I got to hear it
I don't have to fear it
I want to rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days
of old
And together we will float into
the mystic
Come on girl...