Twas a Very Long Day

I´m not sure what´s happening with this keyboard, so I´m typing this in HTML format. We´ll see what happens. Day 2 Thursday: 28-6-12 No specific time, I´ve had to write this over several opportunities. I´m honestly not sure where to begin. I feel like starting where I am and working backwards but I really hate when people tell stories like that. Movies that are done in this way, drive me bonkers. So, I´ll back it up to the very beginning and start where I left off last night. I definitely called it quits way too early last night. Here´s what happened... We were supposed to leave Portland at 11:52 pm. We boarded on time and the cap`n continually gave us updates alluding to the fact that we were right on time. Around the time of departure there was an announcement about the lavatories, as I had mentioned. So, this apparently held us up quite a bit, because around 12:30 we begin taxi-ing the runway. YES! Only to get another announcement that the buggage was loaded incorrectly. Turns out, we are loaded illegally so we´re returning to the gate to re-pack the plane. Oh, joy of joys! TO keep the masses calm during this time we were offered a live taping of an Adele concert. BONUS! I was certainly tuned in to channel 2 for that one. Finally, at 1:30 we departed for Houston. We arrive in Houston around 7:30 or 8 in the morning. I have no clue of what time is, or means, anymore. I´m headed for Costa Rica. Watches? No. That´s all Jason. The airplane delay actually worked out better for us, I think, because we didn´t have to sit around the airport all morning with nothing to do. Now, the race was on to get some cash and grab some breakfast. We decided on Einstein´s Bagels, which turned out to be a hilariously ironic name. Our thoughts were that bagels are quick, and we can eat them on the go. As it turns out, my plain bagel with plain cream cheese, literally takes 10 minutes to get. Or, perhaps it coule be that the Einstein worker, had incorrectly written my name when she asked for it. I said, Judy, she wrote, Duby. She got fifty percent of the letter sounds in the correct places! So, who knows how long they may have been calling my name. I mean, i respond to a lot of things, but Duby! Duby! definitely isn´t one of them. Shortly, thereafter, we boarded and were off. The excitement was really building! Although, we had no idea what lay ahead... As we touch down in San Jose, we are exhausted. I mean, exhausted. We have been awake for way too many hours (again, I´m not really keeping track) but I know I´m running on sheer adrenaline. And, even that is dwindling. The United flight staff announces that the SJO airport has not sent them any paperwork for customs, or entering the country, so we´ll have to ask someone when we get on the ground and get off of the plane. I´m already stressing that because I can barely speak in English, let alone navigate anything in Spanish. Luckily, as we got off the plane there was an official handing out the paperwork we needed. Great, save for we haven´t been confronted with this before so it takes us awhile to locate the pertinent information on our passports...as the form is largely in Spanish. Then, we decide now would be a good time to stop and ask the information guy about taxis and transportation to Manuel Antonio. We then head to the security check point that allows one to enter Costa Rica. At first, we are moving through the line at a reasonable pace and then after about 20 minutes we notice we have not moved an inch. Time lapse...an hour passes us by. I feel nauseous and faint and I have no idea why, but I´m guessing its because I haven´t slept well in the past however many hours, 30 maybe? All we know at this point is, that the bus we are supposed to catch leaves from San Jose at 2:30 and it´s fast approaching 2, and we´re not moving in this line that is full of people! After some asking around and eavesdropping, we learn that the system the country uses is down. No one knows how long it will take to fix. Awesome. Well, there´s nothing we can do, so we try to distract ourselves with conversation and people watching. This does not make the time pass any faster. Luckily, the system was fixed before it hit 2 oclock. We got moving along quite nicely. We are able to get through without any problems, pick up our checked bag, and head toward the customs luggage scanner, whereupon we find ourselves in another line but we notice the people in front of us are handing the customs official some type of form. Some type of form that we don´t have. When we get to the front of the line, the official explains that we should have gotten this on our flight, but we tell him we weren´t- given anything so he points us to the table where we can acquire the form. So we head back to the table, fill out the form to the best of our knowledge, and get back in line. The couple in front of us gets to the front of the line and, again, they explain that they weren´t given the form on their flight to the very same offical. Well, what do you think that official did? If you guessed, he sent them back to the table to get the correct form and to return with it filled out, you are wrong. Dead wrong. Nope, he just waved them through. It´s okay, he says. What!? I look back at Jason, and I´m pretty sure his jaw hit the floor. Whatever, we make it through their scanners, knife and all, and make our way to the exit. At the exit stands about 50 people with signs with names on it, and people shouting, asking if you want to rent a car, or need a taxi. It is very overwhelming. Yes, we need a taxi! Right away, someone ushers us off with an older gentleman. Everything about his taxi looks legit. He has the symbol and picture ID posted inside. And, he has a meter! This is important. We manage to piece together that we are going to Tracopa station to get a bus to Manuel Antonio. He does not think this is correct, but radios into someone else who tells him that this is actually fine. I´m just thinking we aren´t even going to make it to Tracopa with the way this guy is driving. My sister, nephews, and sister in law may recall our taxi ride to the airport in LA last summer. It was worse than that. We were passing cars and squeezing in between cars with mere inches, centimeters to spare. He was racing down the road, motorcycles passing us by and of course there are no working seatbelts. That´d just be silly. Well, I think Jason´s worked. We were driving like it was the Daytona 500. We did make it to Tracopa, and thinking back on that ride, I laugh, because I thought that was dicey and it was absolutely nothing compared to what the bus ride was like. We were able to secure seats to Quepos via Tracopa station at 3 pm. This is later than we had planned but it´s okay. We can easily take a bus from Quepos to our hostel. Our bus is not a direct route, however, meaning that we can stop at any and all bus stations between here and Quepos, which is 150 or so km. This little trip takes us four hours. This little trip takes place on a 2 lane, windy, steep road. Somewhat like Green Springs, but sharper turns and much, much steeper...also a much longer duration. The buses are crazy, they are passing each other, there is oncoming traffic, and no one even bats an eye. I am boggled, boggled, about why there aren´t more auto fatalities here. At one point, we careened around a corner and all that could be seen was the steep drop off down into the jungle. My sister, brother, and nephews may remember the simulated ride of King Kong 3D at Universal. The view from the bus triggered my memory of that ride, except that it was really happening, and we could very well end up over the side of the jungle walls. It was at that point that I decided now would be a great time to try to get some sleep. So my sleeping patter of 20 or 30 minutes here and there continues. We get off the bus in Quepos and grab a taxi that takes us directly to our hostel. I´m still so conufsed about the currency exchange. But, I don´t really care, I just want to be checked in and start relaxing, because this first leg of the trip has been anything but restful. The hostel is quite cozy, shall we say. But they have a pool, and a restaurant, so once we´ve dropped off our stuff in the private room. We meet our server, Freddie, who converses with us in Spanish that finally I can understand. He was very kind and hospitable and helpful! We had a great time trying to talk with him during dinner. We also saw one lizard, a frog and a house cat that apparently roams the premises. Jason and I regaled our efforst at dinner and thought about how our trip could have been much worse. After dinner, we decided we must head to bed because we would have more logistics to figure out in the morning. Only to find, back in our room, that our liquids bags have exploded. Ay yay yay. So, we stay up to clean that up. We are deliriously tired, which is great news for sleeping in a sleep sack! It´s time to turn in, now. Who knows what tomorrow holds, but may the odds be forever in our favor... Buenas noches, Judy

Costa Rica Dreamin´

Wednesday: 27-6-12
10:57 pm

Quote of the day:  Dude, all I want to do is lay in a hammock and listen to 90`s music. (Quote inspired by listening to Real McCoy on Pandora) The problem is I won´t have an internet connection in the hammock.

The fastest way to earn entry into my journal-blog is to forget that tonight is the night you are supposed to take Jason and I to the airport.  I arrived at my sister´s house in the early evening.  She greeted me with a mojito and conversation on the deck.  It was the perfect way to unwind and relax, to begin my mental preparations for the long night ahead.  She prepared us a feast of fish tacos, chips, salsa, guacamole and...more mojitos.  It was a nice, fun way to get us into the Costa Rican mood.  Before we knew it, it was time to load up and head into teh city to catch our ride to the airport.  Jason had arranged for one of his friends to take us to the airport around 9:30.  We arrived a bit early to his house, around 8:30, to find no one was home.  There was no sign of life, yet we rang the doorbell anyway.  Nothing.  I assured Jason it was okay because we were so early.  I suggested we get some ice cream at this delicious place around the corner called Salt & Straw.  Jason agreed to this proposition so we made our way towards the ice cream shop.  As we neared the store, it was plain to see everyone else that lived in Portland also had decided that a Wednesday evening at 8:44 would be a great time to get ice cream.  Clearly, we were not going to wait in that line.  I mean we had time, but not that much time.  We decided to park and walk to a promising sounding place called Tonelli´s Donuts and Cream.  Afterall, if their selection of ice cream was substandard, they, at least, had donuts.  The ice cream selection was just fine.  After our sweet treat, we returned to the Jason´s friend´s house and Jason tried to call him.  Again, nothing.  Jason was quickly approaching panic mode.  I made futile attempts at help since I didn´t know anyone´s phone number except for Nicki´s and I´m sure she was working.  Oh well, she got a frantic message from me anyway.  She never called back though.  Rude.  Jason quickly thought of a new plan and called another friend as we were quickly approaching 9:30 and had decided we must try to be to the airport at 10:00, for our midnight flight.  The new friend was more than willing to oblige Jason and was on his way when Jason thought he saw a light on in the house and thought, I´m going to try the doorball one more time.  Lo and behold, who answered the door but his friend that was supposed to take us!  Here´s how THAT convo went:
      Jake:  Oh, hey man what´s up?
      Jason:  (Casually glances at watch) Oh, nothing much, I guess we´ve got some time before we head to the airport...
     Jake:  Oh...today´s Wednesday isnt it?
HAHA, Jason quickly called his other friend back to tell him we no longer needed his services.

-Sidenote:  I am writing this via the airplane, as we are waiting to take off.  They just dimmed the lights and I´m seriously considering how much longer I will be able to keep my peepers open.  Not long is my guess.  We are nearing midnight....

Okay, back to the story at hand.  We finally arrive at the airport and step up to get our boarding passes.  Of course, silly me, I booked my ticket under Judy and my passport, is, of course, under Judith.  So, we have to have a United representative confirm my identity.  I greatly look forward to getting hassled about that at every airport between here and there.  Then, came security.  What a special little treat that is, right?  My security stop actually wasn´t so bad and yes, I got a trip through the full-body scanner!  Woohoo.  The real intriguing part of this miracle of flight is the people.  Let me paint you a picture of the guy in front of me.  Male.  Young, probably early 20`s.  Blond, tussled hair.  Red plaid shirt, unbuttoned just enough to give us a sneak peek of his tribal chest tattoo.  Overalls, tucked into his cowboy boots.  His luggage consists of a green, military style backpack and a trumpet.  A trumpet?  I want to know his story, instantly.  I´m so fascinated.  As we are passing through security, however, he gets stopped, because in that green Army backpack he had, you´ll never guess it, too much organic peanut butter.  Of course he did.  It turns out, this is not an acceptable carry on item.  The security officials sadly inform him that they have to take it, but they do offer for him to check it.  He considers this momentarily then decides he can do without. 
Jason and I know not what to do withourselves until we board, so we head to Laurelwood Brewery.  Here, more interesting people.  This was a people-watching paradise.  In the span of about 15 minutes, we watched two strangers converse, laugh and make their newfound ¨friendship¨official by becoming Facebook friends.  They made unofficial plans to meet up at Bonnaroo next year, and exchanged email addresses.  Wow.  Then, we watched a guy get cut-off as he apparently kept ordering more drinks and then denying that he did so when the bartender showed up with his drink.  Then, came the time, we had been eagerly awaiting, boarding.  Naturally, I´m still irrationally concerned about my carry on not being accepted even though Jason´s pack is clearly larger than mine and he´s not worried about it at all.  We measured mine before we left my sister´s and it met requirements but still, I worry.  As we are waiting to board, we get approached by a United official.  Of course, I´m thinking that they are going to check my bag.  But, no, instead they want to know if we´d be willing to sit in the emergency aisle.  After about 10 seconds of deliberation and realizing we will have more leg room, we agree.  As I sit here and write, yes, we´re still on the runway, I´m fairly certain we just heard drilling on the underside of the plane.  The pilot just announced that one of the lavatories isn´t working except Jason, nor I, know what direction ¨fore¨or äft¨is so hopefully I fall asleep soon and can make it through the 3.5 hour flight to Houston. 

I can´t believe it.  We´re on our way to Costa Rica!!!

Things I learned today:
1.  Peanut butter is considered a liquid, or must adhere to the same regulations as a liguid, when flying.  Keep your peanut butter at home.  It really is best.
2.  Always call-text-email your friend who is responsible for your transportation to the airport on the day, or morning of needed transportation. 

12 hours to San Jose!  EEK! 
Night yàll.
Judy

Por Fin!

Hey all,
Just a quick note to let you know, we are safe and sound. I have tons to write but do not have the time now as we are on our way to Manuel Antonio.  Many a good stories exists, so please stay tuned.  This note is mainly so my mom will be able to sleep tonight.  I know she has been awake for probably 48 hours by now!  Go to sleep, mama! 

Abrazos,
Judy & Jason

Tico Time 2012

So, probably the most exciting thing I’ve done since December is happening.  It’s going down.  Like in two days.  My cousin, Jason, and I are headed to Costa Rica, for not 5, 6, or even 8 days.  We are going for 14 days.  Yes, count them.  14!  This is by far the longest trip I’ve ever taken, and here’s how it came to be.

Right around the time of spring break, I was overcome with a serious case of wanderlust.  I was going stir crazy at work and had dealt with numerous changes throughout the school year, from my career, to my personal life, to my family, everything was changing, but yet felt completely the same.  I knew I was going crazy and that I had to do something to mix it up a bit.  So, one night while taking a bath at my parent’s house in Klamath Falls, I began dreaming.  Klamath Falls is a great place for dreaming, especially when you want to dream about going somewhere else!  I began thinking about possible options for travel.  I had really wanted to make it to Australia to see one of my good friends, but the airfare was outrageous, and it seemed like something I probably should have been planning for about a year in advance.  Unfortunately, as much as I love planning, I never really have the foresight to plan that far in advance, especially where money is concerned!  (Read: Worst budgeter ever!  I’m getting better though…I think..) So, then I began thinking about South/Central America.  I had heard from other traveling friends that these countries could be relatively inexpensive.  Right away, I thought, who could go with me?  And, the answer, of course, was my cousin Jason.  What makes Jason great, is that he is the very opposite of me.  He is completely logical, rational, and very ruled by the “left brain.”  I’m completely illogical, irrational, and strongly ruled by the “right brain.”  Now, that said, I don’t think being illogical or irrational are necessarily bad things.  That’s for another blog.  The point is, Jason is my balance.  Where he worries, I do not, where I worry, he is not.  See, Jason thinks about things like malaria medicine, and vaccinations, currency exchange, and transportation, whereas I think about beaches, and swimsuits, hiking, tree houses and sloths!  It’s a great combination, if you ask me.  Also, Jason’s riotously funny, so that helps. 

I decided I had to ask him to see if there was even the possibility of being able to go.  So, I shot him a text, asking him if there was any chance that he’d consider going to South/Central America with me for two weeks.  His response, in a typical logical fashion, was, “When?...but OF COURSE!”  I don’t think he anticipated me responding with, “I’m thinking July.”  Somehow, he acquiesced to this, I think, in part, because he didn’t believe it would happen in a million years, at the very least it would not happen this summer.  I spent the rest of my Spring break looking up places and activities to do in Costa Rica, and texting Jason what I had found.  It wasn’t until about three days of these texts that Jason asked, “Wait, are we seriously doing this?”  I was appalled, of course we are!  And, thus, a dream of Costa Rica was born.

Now, I’ve been incredibly diligent about not using the word “plan.”  Because, you see, we have in all actuality done very little “planning.”  I have a real issue with the idea of having a strict itinerary with specific activities because that ties me down.  It’s like having to commit to something and well, I think we all know how I deal with that!  But, then, there’s the stress of not having anything planned out which almost forces one to want to join one of those tour groups where everything is set up for you and you just pay some exorbitant amount of money to have other people stress for you.  That sounds lovely, in theory, but I’ve traveled outside of the country with groups before, and I know what happens when I don’t get to go do, or see, what I want to go do and see.  My reaction to being restricted in these types of environments have manifested in sneaking out, leaving the group, and taking “risks” to get whatever I was after.  I wanted something different for this trip. You know, I wanted it to be very Eat, Pray, Love…and all of that.  Now, Jason, being the opposite of me, I think is wondering half the time why we don’t have more details pinned down.  But, in the end, I think we are both at a place where we can agree, in not having things planned to the nth degree will make it that much more of an adventure!

In regards to our “plans,” we have bought plane tickets.  Yup, that’s the plan.  And, our passports aren’t outdated.  And, we both have Hep A shots.  That’s pretty much the extent of it.  Jason has been a fiend about reading information on Costa Rica via the interweb.  I’m not sure how many hours a day he spends but I get lots of ridiculous, random texts throughout the day about  all of the interesting tid-bits and trivia about Costa Rica. According to the internet if you go to Costa Rica you will get held up at knife point, eaten alive by malaria carrying mosquitoes, pick up ear parasites (that actually came from Karen Liska), contract flesh eating bacteria, fall off a zip line, or get gobbled up by sharks.  Also, beach towns are highly promiscuous places and we should definitely, at all costs, stay out of hotels/motels.  Jason and I, through various friends, have been put in touch with mutual friends that live in Costa Rica, though we’ve had some difficulty in actually communicating with said mutual friends.  See, in Costa Rica, the people are known as Ticos.  Ticos basically operate on their own time.  Jason has wondered, if the people in Costa Rica actually own watches (or calendars) there.  We had emailed several places asking questions about travel, and/or room rates, etc, and still, to this day have not heard back.  Jason was trying to get in touch with one guy, who responded minimally to his first email and said something like, “give me a week and I’ll get back to you” and I think Jason finally heard back from him at the end of last week.  (It was longer than a week, in US time)  Once Jason finally connected with this surf-dude named Kevin, he assured Jason that “Everything will be chill…”  It’s likely Kevin spends some time being high.  No judgment.  He’s on, what J and I now call, “Tico Time.”  Our trip has officially been dubbed, “Tico Time 2012.”  I’m just hoping there isn’t much lag time in switching from US time to Tico Time…

We have eagerly counted down the days since purchasing our flights, and we are closing in on the 48 hour mark!  It’s been a crazy time just thinking, and researching, and dreaming, but it’s all about to collide with reality.  So weird!  I’m pretty sure it’s not really going to hit me until I’m sitting on that United plane at midnight on Wednesday.  It is my aim to bring our travels to my friends and family, as much as I can (as much as I have internet access) and hope you’ll leave us your comments, or just enjoy the read.  I have a feeling this trip will be one to commemorate!  Let the great adventure begin!!!

Pura Vida!