21st - 22nd August 2008: So, the sad day dawns that I have to leave Carate Jungle Camp, the Osa and all my newfound friends (I´ll be back....). Have a final game of yuker (totally the wrong spelling I expect) and prediatably Team Pants (a.k.a Dana and Greg) beat us to a pulp. Console myself with pancakes before Greg and I catch the morning Collectivo back to Puerto Jiminez. I wonder if I would be missed if I just stayed here forever....

We get to PJ, head to the water taxi to take us to Golfito and say goodbye to Lia, our lovely Field Coordinator. We go straight to the bus station to buy our tickets to San Jose and find out we can get a bus that afternoon. Spend an hour or so in a cool little restaurant eating delicious food before getting on the bus. Smooth roads and the best seats on the bus (at the back, where the cool kids sit of course) mean that we´re back in good old San Jose before too long. I think we both feel a little shell-shocked at being back in civilisation. Real walls and everything. All the little luxuries I didn´t think I could live without before, like hot water, electricity etc., suddenly don´t seem so important anymore. But I´ll be honest...a pillow that doesn´t smell of mould does make a nice change!

The next day we wander around San Jose, visit the mercado, eat some more delicious food and then stop off at a bar in the afternoon. I am introduced to the wonder of Cuba Libre (rum and coke to you) in a can! What delights. It would be rude not to sample a few....

Head to Jazz Cafe in the evening, a band called Mal Pais (which is also a place in Costa Rica) are playing, Greg has seen them before and he isn´t lying when he says they are very good indeed! While away a few happy hours watching them before heading back to the hostel in the early morning. I still have to pack...

After planning on waiting up at 3.30am in time to get to the airport, I instead wake up at 6, and everything quickly turns into a mad panic to pack, collect my clothes which were being washed and are still drying , find a taxi and get to the airport in time. Aaargh. Greg saves me by maintaining some calm, magically finding a taxi and waving me off. Thank you! Of course I make my flight and jump the huge queue at check in, but think I will perhaps leave a little more time in future! (or maybe not drink the night before a flight - have I learnt nothing from Cuba?!)

So, it´s off to Ecuador (via Miami - which is American Airlines idea of a via point but not mine) to meet Mum and start the next part of the trip. It has alot to live up to!