Day 1

Please try not to get used to daily updates, I happen to have free access right now so I will be able to get some info up the next few days.

It has been raining all day today, but it´s a tropical, warm rain and it apparently does stop sometimes. Even San Jose is wrapped in rain forest. Everything has moss growing on it and the people are totally cool. My spanish is much better than I remembered and getting better every moment.

Last night I was sitting aroung in bean bags drinking Imperial Cervezas and chatting with a couple from Canada, a dude from Alaska, five people from Sweden, and a guy from India. Not to mention the local Tico´s. Everyone here for the same reasons...to get away and to do it bohemian style. Dennis and Kay from Marina Del Rey via San Francisco and Canada, cool people on a mission to live life off the freeway.

Today I spent $2 on ham and eggs with toast and coffee for breakfast, then I spent $3 for a lunch plate of carne, rice, beans, and veggies. Cigarettes are $1.50 a pack!!!! Things are wow cheap. Everyone is totally nice. I mean, people on the street will actually all say hello to you with a smile. Try that in L.A. and beware of the consequences. Impressed so far I am.

Anyway, this seems to be everything I expected and more and it has only been one day. So much more to come...yeah. I´ll be back to post as the experiences begin to pile up. One more night in San Jose and then I am off to the rain forest to canoe down a river for some time.

If you are curious as to the towns or perhaps wanted to look at a map, I am heading north from San Jose through to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui. Then it´s into the National Park as I make my way east to the coast. I will stay in Tortuguero for a while once I make it to the coast. Ciao for now!!