Last Day in Costa Rica

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Trip Start Feb 23, 2009 Trip End Mar 14, 2009

  San Jose, Costa Rica
Monday, February 23, 2009

I left Puntarenas on the last Sunday night of carnival. The bus station was full of people trying to get back to San Jose and it was a complete disorder. Alex waited with me and I tried everything I could not to cry in front of 200 people. I was unsuccessful and bawled for about 30 minutes. I was ready to leave but it still was a bittersweet goodbye; not knowing if I would ever see Alejandro again or Costa Rica again for that matter. As the bus pulled away I instantly stopped crying because now my trip was beginning and I had bigger things to worry about. I was traveling all by myself through Central America. I was excited and nervous.

The bus pulled into the station in San Jose around midnight. The indirect bus that leaves Puntarenas at 9:00pm goes into Esparza and Alajuela so it takes forever!! At the station I hopped in a cab over to the Tica Bus station that is supposedly open 24 hours.... when I pulled up it certainly looked closed to me. The cab driver recommended I go and hang out at the gas station close by and wait until my bus check in time 2:00am. So there I was still in CR in the middle of the night at the gas station freezing my buns off. I did feel more comfortable because there were 2 security guards and an attendant. After I finished a book and a cup of coffee with my new friends I grabbed another cab (not a good idea to even walk 2 blocks in downtown San Jose, sola in the middle of the night) to the Tica Bus station. Come to find out the Tica Bus station is open 24 hours and they were just napping waiting for the next bus to roll in from Panama. 

I took the overnight executive bus to Managua, Nicaragua. A great way to go and worth the extra $5; they provide pillows, blankets, a snack, coffee and a nice attendant to assist through the border. I arrived to Managua at 10 am the following morning after the 8 hour bus ride I was tired and a little bummed about leaving Costa Rica. I exited the bus station and took and right, I had heard that there were several cheap hotels right next to the bus station.    

I chose Casa Venegas and cute little place with private rooms and Internet access. It was perfect and just what I needed to relax and get ready for the next morning and the next bus ride to San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

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