San Jose and Farewells

This morning is the end of the g-adventures tour so we must return to San Jose. Fortunately we do not need to leave until 11.30 so a lazy morning by the pool which has given me time to write up my blog for the past two days. It’s very easy to fall behind once rum punch enters the picture!

Our route back followed much of the same road that we had travelled from Monteverde. We drove through large oil palm plantations and back over the crocodile bridge. From the coast road, we caught a glimpse of the long stretch of beach front at Puntarenas.

When we were on the coffee tour Deinor bought a fluffy toy sloth, which was to be a prize in a quiz to raise funds for the Planeterra Project. The coffee co-operative that we visited was one of their projects. Planeterra is a non-profit organization committed to helping local communities earn an income from tourism. To enter the quiz we needed to make voluntary donations to Planeterra. The questions were all about Costa Rica and we all scored well so it turns out we had been paying attention when we were told things.

Deinor had timed our departure so that we would get back to San Jose before the 16.00 school pick up rush hour, which indeed we did. We checked back into the Radisson which is a good ‘end and start trip’ hotel. We had time to shower then met in the bar for farewell drinks before heading off to a local restaurant. Deinor led the way – it was not quite as close as he had suggested but not too far. The walk turned out to be fairly hazardous as several metal manhole covers on our route had been stolen to sell as scrap metal. Large 2ft square holes dotted the side walk and people stood in front of each hole to protect anyone not paying attention from falling down them! The walk was less than scenic and we appeared to be walking through an industrial area before suddenly encountering fairy lights and an attractive family run restaurant.

The food was excellent. I ordered a steak on Deinor’s recommendation and it was a good choice.

Bob thought it was only fair that Deinor did a quiz too. He posed challenging questions like ‘Who was the only person writing a blog?’, ‘Who had a limp?’ and ‘Who had spotted a hundred plus birds and could identify them all?’

It was then back to the hotel to share a nightcap, hug each other and say our farewells. Tomorrow everyone else goes home, but I continue solo down to the Osa Peninsula with an early 05.30 taxi to the airport.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the group tour, so many experiences and the company was great. I think that we were very lucky that all our group bonded so well. I am sure that is not always the case.