The beginning of this adventure in Puerto Viejo
Trip Start
Jun 24, 2009
1
2
8
Trip End
Ongoing
Puerto Viejo, Province of Limon, Costa Rica
Thursday, June 25, 2009
As usual for me when I travel, the first night I was in bed eearrrrrly - like 7:30pm! What a wuss! Getting old ain't for sissies, for real! And so, as a result of my early night, I awoke at 4:30am...decided, heck, I am getting up and going out to see if I can capture the sunrise - that is if I can figure out where the heck east is, LOL. I was a bit apprehensive about heading out alone in the dark - CR is known for petty theft - but I knew the sun would be rising soon and others would be about. Plus, I am an explorer! Also, in addition to reading about personal safety, much like you read about for Jamaica, the experienced folks just told me to use common sense and I would be fine. So I think the safety issue is exactly what it is ANYWHERE in the world. Use common sense and always watch eveerything and every place around you.
So I grabbed a beat up looking daypack, put my camera in it (by the way, I replaced the loud NIKON logo strap with a plain black one - don't want to advertise what I'm packin', hee hee), and headed out the door.
I walked down the unpaved road towards the beach, which is two blockes away.
The quiet of the morning was only interrupted by the sounds of crowing roosters, heavy construction and other big delivery trucks going by, and people greeting eachother first thing that morning in a different language than at home. The morning smells were similar to what I am used to in Jamaica; smoldering wood, breakfasts cooking and the occasional wiff of diesel exhaust, mixed in with the aroma of the sea. In addition, there are jungle sounds I haven't ever heard - bird screeches, chirping, lush vegetation smells. It is very earthy here. The humidity is definitely heavier here; but that is to be expected in locations of the world where the rainforest meets the sea.
It was cloudy from the storm that blew through the previous night, but I could see some inkling of blue sky within the dark clouds when the sun began to rise. As I walked around the town of still mostly asleep Puerto Viejo, I began to see the shops and restaurants, as well as other signs that have that familiar Jamaican feel to it - colors of red, green and gold, words interspersed such as Rasta, Irie, natural, etc. There are lots of Bob Marley references here in poster swith his image, quotes from his music painted on walls and the same fabric sarongs I see along the beach at the vendor stalls in Negril.
I did manage to capture the sunrise with my camera as I also took time to just get the feel of this place. It is taking me awhile to settle....even as I write this update.
So after the sun was fully up, I decided to find some coffee and stopped at a corner restaurant bar. It is called, "Pan Pay" and the european owner hah dogs on property too, so as you know, I am a big dog lover and miss my three at home - including my beloved Rottweiler, named "Reggae".
Over the coffee, I decided that I would take the public bus 25 km north to Cahuita, where I would find the only sloth rescue anywhere in the world. So I headed back to my room down the block, got my camera rain gear cuz it was looking like rain - and made my way to the MEPE ("Mep-ay") ticket office. I purchased my ticket for 700c (about $1.50US) and asked in broken spanglish where the bus stop was located. After a few hand gestures, smiles, "si's" and "no's", I was pointed to a concrete block with a small zinc roof struture over head and told to await the bus heading north to Limon. I had been told to ask the driver to stop at Aviarios and he'd let me off. Oooookay.....I hope the driver speaks english!
So I got to the bus stop and awaited the ride to my next adventure. Good thing for zinc roof and my umbrella - ella ella, cuz as I awaitied the arrival of the bus it began to rain....
