Just a quick update to say we’re still alive and well in Costa Rica and will be heading home on Monday.
The trip has been great but different than what we expected. It’s a far richer country than we anticipated and, alas, everything here has been packaged for tourism. Americans are absolutely everywhere which is a bit of a disappointment, and some of the locals seem annoyed at being compelled into the tourist trade. Yet far more people have been very friendly and gracious, and I find that my Spanish (as rusty as it is) is very warmly received. One waiter asked me if I spoke Spanish and when I said yes, a little, he smiled really big and said, “Finally, somebody who speaks Spanish!”
We have had our adventures. Amy got pulled over (whether she was actually speeding or not is debatable) and had to pay the cop the roadside fine/bribe, and we got a flat tire at the beach—we’re about 85% sure somebody at the beach did it and was hanging around to offer “help,” which we’d read and heard is a common criminal tactic. A guy was suspiciously hanging around when we got back to the car, and there was a scooter that left the beach area the same time we did and seemed to be following us. We drove on it until we got back to the hotel, which can’t be good for the car but hey, that’s why you get full insurance.
More stories and pictures to follow next week. And we are (or at least I am) absolutely gutted to be missing classic Packers games. Go Pack Go!
Current Mood: On vacation! | 
3 Comments
Trent,
Help, Help! I’m trying to start a blog and I want to know how you allow comments at the bottom of each of your postings. Do you use blogspot the google blog mechanism?
Jim
Glad you’ll be home safe and sound on Monday. The Packer game would have frustrated you. In my opinion, it was that typical Pack game where they had the ability to do so much, but didn’t. I thought Brett looked cold and stiff, but Dad disagreed. In any case, they didn’t look like that hard-nosed, get-the-job-done team that they seemed to be the week before. Don’t know whether is was the bitter cold (-24 wind chill) or not. Even though the Giants didn’t look wonderful either, at least their passing game was on and I think that’s what killed the Packers in the end. Anyway, I’m sure you’ll get everyone’s opinion on what went wrong. Welcome home!
Hi Jim!
I don’t, but Todd and Stephanie do use the Google/blogspot. You might want to try them, and I assume you have their email addresses! :)
Alas, I did catch the second half of the Packers game and I have to say, they fully and completely deserved to lose. It was disappointing since NY gave them chances to steal the game, but it was one of their worst performances of the season. Too bad, but they certainly overachieved this year and you have to be proud.