A room with a view...

The anticipated journey began.

We were eager to get to Costa Rica, and so approximately one and a half hour before the scheduled arrival time we began getting together our bags from the overhead storage and lining up near the emergency entrance door. For some reason the flight attendants looked to us with fear, but some of the other passengers decided they were no worse, and began to prepare their bags as well.

JUST KIDDING! It never happened, but we had a great big laugh about that possibility.

We were excitedly chatting about all the possible activities that Costa Rica has to offer. Things we´ve only read or only heard about from our peers. The onlookers from neighboring passport control lines were eagerly eavesdropping on our conversation. Although once in a while there was a look of confusion as every one of us would inadvertently drop-in a russian word or two or three into the conversation.

V´s orange was sadly confiscated at Customs, however the extra Cherry Hill bought sandwiches have made it through, only to be thrown out a little while later because we were anticipatingly deciding where could a group of 8 go to eat in San Jose on a Monday night at 9 o'clock in the evening.

The young lady at the front desk was most helpful in recommending a local food place nearby. She was also apprehensively laughing at our jokes. It must be a culture thing.

On a swift ride to San Jose´s busiest 24-hour joint, Tapia, the cab ride was a $2 fare (2 cabs, 8 people, roughly 0.50 cents a person and that is with a generous tip.) Our food, a classic midnight snacker was full of fries, plantaines, a burger, fish nuggets, sandwich special with everything on earth on it, a grilled chicken with rice and beans (supposedly the localest) and a mountain of colorful ice cream scoops decorated with fruit. Let´s not forget a round or two of Imperial beer. All in all the almost midnight snack was a success for a whopping 33,420 of local currency (a value approximated at $8/person).

The night was complete as we pretended for a second that we were in Mexico, roughly in the late 90s. Annie Lenox, Smashing Pumpkins, Robbie Williams and TATU filled the sound background from a local music channel. S was hurriedly cutting limes with a plastic knife on top of a plastic bag, after S2 and J1 had mysteriously obtained them and salt. J2´s purchase of tequila at the duty free back in JFK did not go to waste.

This morning I woke up to a lovely view of a simple garden enclosed for the viewing pleasure of the patrons of this cozy (=tiny) room. I suspect, however, that other patrons in other rooms have similar views. Hotel Grano de Oro is lovely, but in an isolated location. The staff is super friendly and helpful. We will be here again on our last night in Costa Rica, with plans to dine at the best restaurant in San Jose.

Today off to the hot springs and the volcano!