You meet some interesting people along the road and even more interesting people in panama let me tell you.. We had read online Simon was an old guy and waits at the place where the bus stop is for San Jose Costa Rica.. He just keeps his eyes on people's bags, shows them where the shop is and gives out general info about panama, (even though your leaving) to earn tips.. Now rule 1 of bus travel is never let your bags out of sight even on the bus and leaving my bad with Simon wouldn't happen.. We hadn't been out the chicken bus from boca less than 30seconds when this guy came over, "hey guys you off to San Jose..?? It's this way but you gotta wait like an hour and half.. Why not get yourself a drink or food in the cafe across the road just there and il watch your bag" thanks Simon but were take our bags with us.. After food we had about 30mins to wait so we decided to go wait, and check out Simon, Simon of course had us line up against this wall, bags behind us while he spoke of all things great in panama.. Ben needed a battery for his phone, of course Simon knew where to get one, I needed snacks of course Simon knew where they where, he turned out to be one of the real nice guys on the road.. Il never forget the smile on his face when Ben told him we had read about his services online, he was made up.. What I'm on the Internet.?! Wow must be my family from New York City.. No no it's just travel folk that sharing your work on travel sites and stuff.. He was made up, and grinning like jimmy savile on a top of the pops reunion, Simon told all his friends that passed, the local police officer came by he told him, everyone in the cafe he told them, even the bus driver when he arrived late.. One of his friends George was offering words of wisdom for a few cents, I offered a few of my own but "never fart in a space suit" and "don't eat yellow snow" where not what he was looking for.. So we paid Simon in the last of our panama cash a few quid really and left as he waved us off smiling at his Internet success.. He walked away grinning and shaking his head, as if to say "wow I'm on the Internet all round the world"... Real nice guy..
The border of panama/costa rica demands proof of onward travels, well we didn't have it and fears of rejection where approaching.. I had sent myself a made up email with details from Costa Rica to Nicaragua, with a link and bus booking that couldn't be accessed one because it was fake and two because iPod needs wifi.. I kept my kool, and when Ben was asked for onward travel I stepped in.. Smiling like Simon I said good morning, the guy wasn't having it, "we have our email for onward travel here, we leave San Jose in a week and head to Rivas Nicaragua (of course all lies) on tica bus, this is our booking.. He took the iPod, read the email, and as I hoped didn't look to see the sender was myself.. After a few minutes he handed it back and stamped the passports.. Ben and I where grinning like Simon.. What a blag..haha
We jumped back on the bus and headed to San Jose, it was raining pretty hard but stopped when we arrived.. We made the mistake of taking what seemed a decent taxi from the bus stop to our hostel.. The driving turned out to be the devil himself, not wanting our souls, but $22 for a 10block taxi ride, oh it's all on meter so I can't rip you off like some the other guys do blah blah blah blah... His meter went faster than a gang of kids running from a burning bin..!! We paid and had a very bad taste in our mouths.. The hostel turned out to be one the nicest we been in, Ben decided to do some couch surfing duties, and I stayed at the hostel.. We had agreed one night which turned into two nights, I didn't go anywhere, it was too nice in hostel and i didn't wanna meet the devil again.. We booked our onward tickets funny enough with tica bus and moved onto Rivas the next day.. But that can wait or next time:
Rivas taxi negotiations, the devils barber, and the two volcano island..
Peace out much love Micky xxx