San Jose

I didn’t really need to go to San Jose, but it was a chance for some QT with Nicole, I think at a time when she needed the support and for a quick change of scenery for me. With bagel breakfast in hand and road snacks packed, the bus came at 9:30 and we headed out for our Aventura de Gringa. I got a window seat! But, I shared, so Nic could soak up the breeze and views, too.

San Jose itself really doesn’t have too much to offer, but the ride is worth the trip. The scenes change from moment to moment. First we hit a wall of clouds, literally a wall. It’s like driving in the sky. So white it looked like canvas waiting to be painted on. I thought…what is the picture I am currently painting for myself? (ah, for me to know and you to find out, na na na).

Then, greenness so green it looked like stained glass. Here I thought, how fragile the world and those of us in it can be, but amidst the craziness of life or the harshness of the elements against us, some of us manage to keep our shine. The blades of grass stood straight and tall, crystal-like, bracing for the impending rains.

Juanca’s apartment is so cute and provided the perfect setting for a little dressup fun. Nicole wore red feathered lights on her head, looking so Pocohontas with her long locks. I wore a black leather cap that probably looks best with assless chaps – couldn’t find those though and the brown suede pants with alligator print probably wouldn’t match.

After the movie (see earlier post to hear how bad Mirrors is) we went to Fusion. The bar where Nicole started her life in Costa Rica. I thought that one day when I’m recalling my early days here my bars will be Byblos and Bambu Jam. Her memories of her first friends, her first excursions, her first family here, were told with such fondness and pride. Fondness for the fun and relationships she made and pride in how far she’s come in just one year. As I listened I hopde that I too will look back one day with similar sweetness and confidence.

Monday am started with a big, not needed, fattening breakfast of sweets. The donut we ate, warm caramel dripping from inside, was worth the extra kilos on my hips though. Talk about sweetness…

We then made it to the embassy. Weird to be treated special, like I’m more than I am, more than all the other people in line – US citizens get to bypass the line and go right in. I mean, I get it, it’s the US Embassy and I’m a US citizen, but still weird to act like you’re more important than someone else. But, cool, we didn’t have too much time and true, I am deserving of my rights as a US citizen.

Once inside the preferential treatment stopped. Buzzkill. Here we were ready to be “helped” by embassy workers that are there to “help” US citizens. Well, man with pin dick (pardon me mama and fascha) wasn’t too friendly to Nicole. Nothing but questions and just plain, unnecessary rudeness came over his microphone. Why? Why are people mean for no reason? It reminded me of meetings at work where people flex their muscle. Why? So you can be in charge, you can exercise your “power”, you can boost your ego a little bit? Not necessary people. If you want to be a ‘bagodoosh’ (i.e. duchebag) then don’t come near me. I’m 86ing bagodooshes from my world.

Long story short we left without the passport. A little agitated we went to get our return bus tickets. Of course we were just BEHIND the guy that bought the last ticket to Quepos. So, we purchased seats for the 2:30 instead and headed for lunch. The soda looked cute and had cool tables. Those big, I’m-eating-out-of-a-tree type tables. Unfortunately, lunch wasn’t as good. Nicole’s words when her plate arrived displaying chicken on the bone with skin on were “I think I’m going to throw up.” So, since I’m not a bagodoosh, I traded my carne for her chicken.

After lunch we visited a local bookstore to kill some time. It was so nice to actually have time to peruse and just hang in the bookstore. In my other life I had to squeeze in a trip to Barnes and Noble already knowing my intended item. Here, the beach girls, seemingly a couple of fish a bit out of water in the big city – tan, clad in flops and tanks - leisurely thumbed through books, Spanish and English, at their own pace.

The bus home left at 2:30. We arrived at the terminal ready to go. A day and a half in the hustle and bustle was plenty. Especially since I had just nearly been run down by an angry Tico that musn’t have liked my flip flop stride across the busy street. It was nice to walk in the crowd for a bit, feel a bit more energy, pass by people who are too busy to care about what you’re doing. But, it was time for the ‘gringas de la playa’ to retreat back to Quepos/Manuel Antonio, where everybody knows our names.

That’s so ‘Cheers’ I know, a perfect prelude to my next trip…home…The Bridge/Boston…now vemos my people. You have been missed.