Playa del Coco, Costa Rica to San Jorge, Nicaragua
December 9, 2009

Horse cart in Nicaragua (typical)
Shawn and Isa
Campsite at Hotel California San Jorge
Typical pasture scene in Guanacosta Costa Rica
We left Playa del Coco this morning after a great dinner at Mariscos Milanese last night. It was further than walking distance permitted so we took a taxi. If you remember the owner helped me with the generator. A stop off in Liberia to try to find a map of Nicaragua (no such luck) and another stop off at Citi Bank to try to cash a check (no such luck after 30 minutes of waiting) . Even our Citi Bank Master Card was no good in Costa Rica it must be Visa. Well when I get back to the US I may have to change my plans for banking if I am going to travel to other foreign countries. I went to Citi Bank because they are an international bank (so I thought), but they operate more like national banks in with just an international name.
Getting thru customs and immigration was again a two hour process and lots of running between buildings. But, we have learned to be patient and so it went the way of all our border crossings in Central America. Wait in line lots of papers to stamp, wait in another line, stamp more papers and fill out more forms. Now you are out of one country. Same thing to enter the next country.
We offered a ride to two people at the border and brought them to San Blas. One Shawn from Minniapolis and the Isa other from Colon, Germany.
We drove only about 135 miles today but with the borders and stops we took from 8:00 AM till 4:00 PM to do this. It did not help getting lost several times also. What do you think of this small narrow road Bev, I think this cow trail will be ok. No don’t worry about the horse drawn carts on the road. I think that this is doable.
Finally we are in the Hotel California parking area which is really a large grass covered field with lots of trees and really very pretty. We should have the place all to ourselves I think and it is very quiet. Tomorrow I will check on moving further north and we may try to stay near the border area with Honduras. This is my least favorite border to cross and so I want to leave a whole day to do it in.
Well all is well, the generator is working fine now, the microwave is working fine now and the repair on the water tank storage area is doing fine. Life is GOOD!