Antigua to San José, Costa Rica
It's a fly day today.
I'm off to a lazy relaxed start of a day. I will have to pack this morning and check out by 11. I'll leave my bag here at the hostel for few hours to do more walking around town.
Sometime it's OK to slow down, sit on a park bench, have a coffee in a small Cafe, enjoy a few tacos have a beer and just take it all in.
We made it to airport without incident. Very early. I was nervous about taking a later shuttle and still getting here on time. Not a problem, I will find things to occupy my time.
Getting through security and immigration was a breeze. I am now in the departure lounge. Still 3 hours before boarding. I am a masochist.
For experienced low budget and backpacking travelers, my posts will seem boring. Been there done that type of stuff. For others, my writings will also put you to sleep. What I am attempting to do is share with you not only the highlights of my travels, but also the "shit happens" experiences that occur. Not everything goes as planned. So then you find yourself in a "now what" situation. You have to think on your feet and find an option 2.
Closer to boarding time, my name again in called over the PA. Document check. This time a bit more serious. At the podium they tell me I have to have a departure reservation to be allowed to board on the flight to San José, Costa Rica.
I head back to my seat in the boarding lounge and quickly buy a refundable ticket out of San José to Lima, Peru. Ticket verification in had, I head back to the podium. All is good and I am cleared to board the flight.
I arrived in San José on time around 11 pm. Off the plane and through customs before 11:30. Outside of baggage claim I started looking for my name on a placard for the ride I had prearranced. (Arriving this late, I didn't want to take a chance with an airport taxi.) I walked the whole line of drivers with placards. Up and down, up and down again, none with my name. Luckily the airport has some free internet. I sent several WhatsApp messages to the company with whom I had prearranged and prepaid transportation to my hostal. No answer. I don't have any local currency. So, the B plan is to find and ATM (I hate getting money at the airports, they have famously bad exchange rates and inflated transaction fees.) to get some money so I can pay for a taxi. I head up 2 flights of stairs in the departure area, I found at ATM. Unsuccessfull at first because I was asking for the wrong amounts of money. The exchange rate here in Costa Rica is about 500 Colon to 1 usd. I was trying to withdraw like 1000 Colon, 2 usd. Not intentionally. Finally I asked the person at the next machine what the exchange rate was and figured out I was not asking for enough money. The next attempt worked.
Cash in hand, I head back downstairs to get a taxi and what do I find. The driver with my name on his placard. He was over a half hour late arriving at the airport.
After about a 25 minute ride we arrive at my hostal. It is now at least 2 hours past my bedtime and I am tired. At the desk, the attendant lets me know there are no low bunks available, but they will move me tomorrow. The upper bunks are more of a challenge for me know. I really have to be careful so I don't end up sprawled on the hard floor.
Formalities taken care of, I stow my stuff and immediately go to bed. Good night! See you in the morning.
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