September 29: Molly and I walked a marathon today. We went to school, San Jose, dance class, and to drinks with our mafia friend. Nothing to entirely interesting, just another day in our classy home base, Heredia.
September 30: Rapidly practicing my evolving packing talents, I scurried out the door for one of the best weekends of my life. The ride to San Jose was joyfully used to learn new Spanish slang and listen to the Spanish "ginger" jokes by fellow bus travelers.
We arrived in Quepos, a small po-dunk town at the bottom of a luscious mountain that thrones the gringo land of Manuel Antonio. In celebration of Richard's twentieth birthday we walked down the rainy road to a little restaurant called Rafael's Terraza for Arroz con Camerones y Margaritas Fresas. Feliz Complianous Richard! Intending to go out for some birthday dancing and live music, we went back to the hostel to rest for a bit. Sadly, but thankfully, we never left the hostel. Richard and I took 'resting' literally by sharing a hammock for a nap. Unfortunately, Richard is not very good at sharing hammocks; therefore sending me quickly to the ground mid-siesta.
Big surprise. We met some wonderful new friends in our hostel. Conrad is the owner and pretty much a young American runaway who sought adventure and business in the lush land of Manuel Antonio. We also met a few beautiful European ladies: Sarah and some other names that I cannot pronounce. Sarah joined us for most of our adventures the rest of the weekend. There was a few Belgium men that joined us the last night that Molly enjoyed. Can I just say that I love her pink cheeks and witty comments that comes from my best friends mouth when she walks into a room full of tight briefs and European men.
October 1: Woke up early to journey down to the best national park in all the world. Depressingly expensive and worth almost every penny. I wanted to inform you that telling the ticket administrator that you are a national resident doesn't work when you have red hair and tower over the man.
Within moments of entering the National Park I was able to award myself with the fist sloth spotting. Who needs a tour guide? They are over rated and expensive. All you need is to pay attention or just follow behind the other tour groups and pretend you are suppose to be with the rest of the gringos. We found many other entertaining creatures along the pathways: lizards, rasta bugs, toucans, frogs, woodpeckers, Capuchin monkeys, squirrel monkeys, hermit crabs, and many other fascinating animals.
We walked all along the paths to locations that held colonies of Capuchin Monkeys that Molly and I decided was a brilliant idea to feed. We handed out Ritz like an ice cream truck on a hot summer afternoon in Boise's residential. The only problem with this brilliant idea is that it is actually really stupid. Rule of the Jungle #1: When you feed one, they all expect the same.
We hiked up to the top of the park to witness a fantastic scene of the Pacific Ocean caressing the wharfs used for the Jurassic Park trilogy. Then we went to the main beach for some swimming, sunbathing, and exercise. Yes, exercise. It is rather exhausting to be chased around by hungry monkeys and to swim out to sunken ships. Molly straight up got robbed of her banana by a fearless monkey. We jumped into the ocean for body surfing and a game of chicken. Team Scout and Poseidon vs. Miss Ranger and Dundee! Terrific match and successful turnout for my team.
Dehydrated and sunburnt, we bussed our butts back to the hostel for some hammock naps and sunset watching. Then we invited Conrad to join us for a game of poker until he escorted us to the best dancing destinations in Quepos. Ladies night at Ripubliq welcomed us with open arms and booty shaking salsa. Molly didn't even have time to walk into the facility before a Tico led her to the dance floor. We arrived a little early so it took the awkward stage to pass as the foxy ladies awaited the men to gain their egos and courage. We anticipated our invitation like high school girls at a homecoming dance.
Finally, good o' Conrad stepped it up and offered an invitation. We danced for hours to Barbra Strystan and Black Eyed Peas under the strobe light. Can I just say that I thoroughly enjoy the flashing of strobes because I look so much cooler when I practice my new moves. Spencer decided to embrace Molly by attempting sexy salsa with me. Didn't work. Instead he forfeited, slapped her butt, and was followed into the bathroom by Molly's partner who initiated a shank threat. And Molly got her chance to show off her Spongebob move to Party Anthem that she has so determinedly practiced for weeks.
At an all time high, we decided to depart from the club for a quick trip to the beach for a night swimming adventure! We piled into the back of a truck and four-wheeled down a long, bumpy path to the beach. Conrad enjoyably created a whirlpool of cookies and spin outs on the sand that sent us screaming down the beach. We bailed over the truck bed and took off for a freedom run down the beach.
I want to record this evening as one of the best I have ever lived. I want to describe to you how the night got from the best to 'words cannot explain.' The run down the beach ended when Richard disappeared right before my eyes into the depths of a six inch river that ran into the near ocean. Molly proceeded to follow Richard moments after, then Spencer, and I stopped just in time to witness the entire event and laugh so hard I almost peed my pants. Why are face-plants so satisfying to the soul?
Bucket List check off: Skinny Dip in the Ocean. We ran into the water to encounter a life changing moment. The Ocean glew. Yes glew, as in: sparkled, illuminated, twinkled.There is a secret season in Costa Rica where bio-luminescent algae migrate to the coast. When the algae is disrupted, they spark. With every splash, dip, and dive, we sparkled like fairies. I fully believe that this was the closest I will ever be to having Avatar as a reality.
Conrad invited a friend, Dawna, who is a fellow hotel owner in Manuel Antonio. Dawna graciously welcomed us into her Mango Moon Hotel. Because it is the off season the Mango Moon didn't have a single reservation nor inhibitor. An empty hotel is much more fun than a full hotel. We took a dip in the pool to wash off the sea water and glowing vegetation. I encountered a frog the size of a tether ball. Above our pool, a colony of Capuchin monkeys investigated our evening until the sun began to lighten the night sky.
October 2: Waking up to the same sun that I fell asleep to is not the greatest. But worse than the same sun would be my allergic reaction. I am allergic to something in Manuel Antonio that causes full body hives that looks similar to the terrible slideshows your sex-ed teacher uses to scare you out of any one night stand. I have never scrounged up my belongings faster than this morning. Spencer carried a message from the front desk that our mandatory check out was in ten minutes. So we crammed everything into our packs and hung out on the lobby deck until our bus came. On the bus ride home I was able to hang out, nap, and have a rock out ipod party with Richard. Nothing like lip singing and air guitar solos in public transit with your best friend.
October 3: Hives, Hives, and more Hives. I ran to the pharmacy with Molly, barefoot and squirmy. I impatiently purchased Calamine and power walked to the closest bench in the public park across the street. In the park I used my receipt as an applicator for spreading the itch relief all over my body. I had multiple double takes from the locals as the unstable gringa applies pink fluids all over her limbs.
Pink, puffy, and poor, I waited in the bank for over an hour to pull out American currency. Apparently, Panama doesn't have its own currency so I needed to re-exchange my money back to USD. Costa Rican banks work much like our DMVs so in the US. I claimed my #C470 at the same time the automatize voice chimed in to tell me that they 'are now serving #C400 at window #6.' Fan-freaking-tastic. Okay, I am done. No more complaining. Do you want to know why? Because I am going on a week long adventure to Panama! Hasta Luego!
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