Success

Eagerly anticipating my return to the blogosphere? Me neither. However, I am happy to report that I had a fantabulous time in Jaco. And achieved my two objectives: one-getting out of The Ciudad and two-not getting robbed.

Jaco is like the Cleveland of Costa Rica. It's the closest beach to San Jose, so everyone has to go there on weekend trips, but everyone complains about it. Growing up in Pittburgh, as I did, everyone complained about Cleveland too. I, however, had family in Cleveland and often enjoyed going there. From the Galaria to the Cathedral to the Airshow and the Flats, Cleveland was actually not a bad little town to spend time in. Jaco is the same. It's a small, cute, convenient beach town. Yes, it's a black sand beach and not pristine white, and Yes the surf is rougher there than elsewhere. But, compared with The Ciudad? No contest.

In a little over 24 hours, I enjoyed the wonders of :
1. air conditioning
2. all the filtered water I cared to drink
3. iced coffee
4. a real mango smoothee
5. watching the US national team crush the Ticos in Soccer 3-0
6. being called a bitch in spanish in a bar for rooting for the US National team as they crushed the Ticos
7. eating pizza, twice!
8. two for one beers. Pilsen insead of Imperial (Costa Rica's answer to Iron City Beer)
9. a high pressure, hot water shower
10. two! days without rice and beans
11. not witnessing or being the victim of a robbery
12. speaking english!
13. reading a snotty Jane Austen novel
14. not talking about my work
15. sunshine!

God, I love leaving The Ciudad. On the trip I even had my first experience ever in Costa Rica of accidentally getting somewhere more efficiently. When I bought the tickets for the bus to Jaco, I didn't notice that I'd accidentally (ok, I just took the tickets they gave me) bought tickets (for the exact same price as the regular bus of 1,160 colones, or about $3) on the express bus! And it was so expressy, we got to Jaco in two hours instead of three. I took a nap for most of the trip, so I can't besure, but I think this bus may have driven through some sort of portal in Orotina. Because I've driven to Jaco before, and it took a lot more than 2 hours.

Anyway, it was a great trip! And only 10.5 weeks left in Ciudad Colon!!! Woo-hoo!