I was thinking of a way to say that this is an unexpected thing to be in the middle of the city, and for some reason I was going to make some riff on 

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Parque Chirripo has the highest peak in Costa Rica, and usually takes about two days to summit and climb back down (time I did not have). Fastest round-trip has been just over 3 hours.  Aha; like I was gonna do that!

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A conversation, in Spanish, translated to English.

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Note to self: Don't be scared to constantly ask chofers and ticket staff whether each new bus arrival is the bus I need to take.

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Totally recommend Playa Hermosa!! (Notice the two exclamation points for emphasis.)  I had a great time at Villa Huétares, a hotel with cheaper prices than the surrounding 4 and 5 star stays.  Cable T.V., A/C, pool, and jacuzzi.  Perfect!  The owners were also grea,  offering to take me to nearest ATM machine (dumb me who only had $4 didn't take out money in Liberia before where there had been several banks).  Miriam (my German traveling companion I had met in Liberia) and I also went with their family (including the owners' son (Daniel) and the American homestay girl Emily) to tour beaches on the day of my 22nd birthday.  We rode kayaks in the sea and horses on the beach (no, not naked).

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My first blog entry related my awesome encounters with Latin Lovers.  Why not continue the theme with a more detailed update?  I missed my early morning bus this past Monday; the snooze button doesn't work on my cheap travel alarm, unfortunately.  So I ended up in La Fortuna realizing that I had to wait 7 hours to catch the next bus to Tilaran.   With my heavy backpack that screamed "tourist" (sometimes I can blend in given my half-Hispanic background), I decided to try to get a cell phone. Unfortunately, pre-paid cell phones do not exist here.  While waiting, I met an old man who started talking to me about Costa Rica and his past.  Let's call him Don Nacho for now (mmm; I could use some tasty guac and chips).  He told me he was also on his way to Tilaran and he would show me around the town.  Given the fact that I lacked friends during my first week in CR, I thought why not.

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I have no idea why I am so scared of dogs.  Many are cute.  They stick out their tongues, run around and play catch.  But you never know when a dog will not be one of the nice ones.  At least I know most people will not bite me (except for that three-year-old who had yet to learn that words are better than teeth).

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