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Quepos, Costa Rica
9° 26' N 84° 9' W
Dec 10, 2005 23:39
Distance 179km

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Idiots

Text written in: English

Noah and I knew from the start that we would have to learn a lot about the whole travelling thing before we got really good at it, we would make mistakes, spend too much money, etc, etc....
well we really understand that better today than we did two days ago. on friday Noah and I both have made enough rookie mistakes for the whole weekend, but dont take my word for it, let me elaborate.
On friday morning, Noah and I decided to head to PuntArenas from Monteverde to spend the afternoon and evening and then head on to the beautiful beach of Manuel Antonio on saturday, but when we stepped off the bus in Puntarena we had abosultely no clue what we were going to do, no clue where we were, and because it was only 9:30 am nowhere to go. So we did what any wise traveller would do, we started walking in a random direction (actually not totally random) I reasoned that if we headed toward the water, hotels would sure to be close by. After walking in the scorching heat of the Costarican pacific coast, in a rather tourist unfriendly town, for a good hour and a half, Noah and I broke down and decided to ask directions to an internet cafe, there we could find a hotel online and then we could enjoy our day. ABSOLUTELY no luck finding a decent hotel in puntarenas (the city not the province, i dare you to try). eventually we left the internet cafe more discouraged than ever, but at least with a goal in mind, we were going to leave puntarenas (nothing against the place, its just not a great place for two american tourists). We made our way to the bus station, which we had found on our original walkabout two hours previous, and by luck a bus to Quepos was about to leave. Saved by dumb luck.
       Next Noah and I reached the city of Quepos and eventually the small beach front of Manuel Antonio, which is breathtaking. we were happy and safe but que the next mistake. After a badly needed dip in the ocean, noah and I were hanging our wet stuff outside the room to dry. Noah warned me to bring my suit inside the room so that it would not be stolen but I was obstinate: besides i said, even if it does get stolen its not that valuable, I can always get another one. when we returned from dinner, low and behold no bathing suit. Now I have to buy another one, which will be more difficult than it sounds, when I asked for talleres mas grande que 30 (sizes bigger than 30) I was told that they didnt have the really big sizes in their store. Oh well I have athletic shorts.
       Finnally though the multiple mistakes that Noah and I made last night may make our parents cringe with fear, we must relate this little bit. Last night noah and I wanted to enjoy the nightlife in manuel antonio, so I asked the hotel manager,  and he gave me an answer which i didnt quite understand and promptly ignored. Instead Noah and I followed the people staying the in room next to us to a fun bar about 6 km away. We had a good time there chatting with some austrians who pretended to enjoy my constant repition of vashabenzigengizacht (what did you say? (in german)), and listened to some lively music. when we decided to head home, we were faced with a decision, walk 6 km or pay the cabbie we talked to at the front of the bar  who offered to give us a ride for 4 dollars total. Disgusted at the offer ( our ride out to the bar had only been 2 dollars total) and filled with some inebriated bravado, Noah and I decided to walk the 6m. During the walk down the hilly highway between Manuel antonio and quepos, noah and I saw a sloth hanging from a power line, stumbled into a canadian couple's party (who own a business in costa rica even though they arent allowed to work here: in fact the whole thing seems quite ridiculous, in costa rica a foreigner can own a business but they cannot work inthe country itself) that was interesting, and then finnally decided after about 1 km that 6 km was way too far to walk and accepted a  lively cab ride for 3.50$. After a raucous car ride, (screaming along to music with several drunk costaricans is fun), noah and I arrived back at our hotel to find that the bar which the hotel owner had mentioned was literally 50 yards from our room. However, despite all of the mistakes that we have made, we have not had any serious regrets, and in point of fact our mistakes have enriched our trip. So we will try not to be so dismissive, cheap, our without any clue about where we are in the future, but we will not be scared to embrace the fact that we know nothing, and that will lead us into some interesting situations.