Nicaragua to Monteverde in Costa Rica

Another extra early start so we coukd catch the ferry back to the mainland. Today the sun was shining and the sea was calm so it was a pleasant trip. 

Into a new van we piled and drove to the Nicaragua border where we easily emigrated and had passports stamped. Carrying bags a short distance we joined the queues to get into Costa Rica. 

Yay there are advantages to be the eldest on the trip. Deb and I got priority treatment in the ‘elderly’ queue and zoomed through immigration and straight to our bus waiting with air-con blaring. It was stinking hot. 

After stopping at a shopping centre for lunch our trip resumed over gravel winding hilly roads till eventually we arrived at a coffee shop which was also the tour agency. Longing for a decent coffee I was first in line and as soon as they passed my flat watery looking espresso over the counter I wanted to cry. It tasted as wishy washy as it looked. 

Having heard what was on offer for activities for tomorrow I was ready to call stop, let me out, I’m going home. I need to learn to fully understand what trips I sign up for. I was excited that this trip offered no planned group activities and days at our leisure which I would normally spend in towns, villages or cities just hanging and checking the place out, choosing quaint restaurants or grabbing street food. That has been virtually impossible this place as we were often remote from anywhere and even our restaurants were en masse. I was dying to get away. 

I checked out the itinerary for the next place and it seems we are close to town so that made me feel better. 

10 hours after we left this morning we arrived way up in the hills at Monteverde. The views on the way up were stunning. Its a bustling town with shops, cafes, restaurants and lots of tourists. The hotel is reasonably close to the town so I relaxed a bit more. 

Tonight, again en masse, we went into town for a dinner. From a recommendation from a fellow dinner I got a chicken dish that came with fried plantain, beans and a salad. I wasn’t 100% convinced that the ‘chicken’ was ‘chicken’ as the shape was weird, the meat very dark and the taste bore no resemblance to chicken. But it was nice. The highlight was the plantain which was delicious and even better with a little salt and a drizzle of olive oil. Even the skin was yummy. 

Some of the others have gone out drinking. I’m in my cute little chalet room listening to Wellington style wind whip through the trees outside. 

One day closer to the Panama Canal.