Where To Now? – Page 2

Oh Have I Been Lazy

Yawn…

Oh how I needed this. I haven’t really done anything but go get milk. It has been good to just sito on my ass and not try to decide what route I will take tomorrow, or find another place to stay, or learn hot the taps in the shower work. On the other hand, I haven’t had to think about cooking supper in over four months, and have had to lean a whole kitchen, as well as exercise a long unused part of my cranium.

I am glad there is a weight set here. I have grown a little tire of looking at my skinny ass in the mirror. Driving just doesn’t keep you in shape like building scaffolding does. I ache like a bugger right now.

The water problems continue to curse me wherever I go. Read more “Oh Have I Been Lazy” →

Where To Now?

Boquete, Panama

I just love this place.

Here’s a repeat of me going through the border backwards.

Panama (Not Busted)

Ok, so now I am in Alajuela. I drove all day to get here, the worst of it being getting back to the Pan-AM highway. I gassed up in Liberia, got money, and continued along after picking up a hitch-hiker that helped me with speed traps and conversation.

Costa Rica is definitely nice country. For much of the drive the trees sort of draped over both sides of the highway like an old country road leading to your uncles’ cabin. Of course, this being the major road, it was heavy with traffic, and for the most part of the day, mostly heading the other way. After a while, this road climbs back up into the mountains towards a plateau where most of the population of the country lives. You could feel the heat dissipate as you climbed, and it was a good think too, as the traffic got worse and worse the closer I got. It was a slow steady crawl up the two lane black-top, and came to a complete stop for 20 minutes or so as it was reduced to one lane for road repairs. Yes, they actually do that here. I was luck enough to have stopped in a spot of shade for that event. Read more “Panama (Not Busted)” →

Where To Now?

Alejela (I think that’s how you spell it)

I arrived here around three in the afternoon and it is nice to be up at a higher altitude one again. It is cooler, the wind has dissipated somewhat, and I know it will be cool at night.

Venturing anywhere off the Pan-Am highway is an exercise in pain as the roads here are terrible anywhere else. There is no excuse for this with all the money rolling in here from the tourism industry, and it is a bit annoying gas there are many nice places to see, but I just can’t get to them. Nicaragua does a better fob of it will less tourism.

I can’t believe sometimes that I am this close to Panama. I somehow thought it only a dream, but here I am. Will post some pics later.

Where To Now?

A Little in Reverse

I am now in Costa Rica. Firstly, let me say this border crossing was the most bothersome in that it was so busy, and due to this iT also had all the accompanying “vultures” waiting to swarm you upon arrival.

I have found that when crossing the borders it is best to be dressed properly ie. pants and a decent shirt. It is bloody hot here now. Even at 10 o’clock, when I arrived at the border, it was about 30 C or so, so I was wearing shorts. Planning to change in my car as I had done before, I stopped just before the border to change, but apparently it wasn’t far enough away.

I had my shorts around my ankles and no underwear on when I looked up and saw 6 or 7 “camberos”, people who change money at the border, running to/at my car to get first bid. This is not a welcome sight (even with your pants on). I am so glad I still had the car running, as I just threw it in reverse and peeled away from them. You should have seen the looks on their faces. It was hilarious, as though they had never seen someone do THAT before. They just looked at me stunned for a moment, had a little discussion and a laugh, and sent one guy over instead. Read more “A Little in Reverse” →