Hola Amigos y Bambinos!

Yep i arrived in San Jose, Costa Rica yesterday after a mammoth flight from Heathrow to Miami then Miami to San Jose...left at 9.45am and got to San Jose by 21.00, although CR are 6 hours behind UK!! Got picked up from the airport with 2 other travellers who were from Toronto Canada...Guy who collected us was called Francisco from 'Costa Rica Backpackers'. Accommodation is okay but i have nothing to compare it to other than Treyarnon Youth Hostel in West Cornwall - simply no comparison as Alice will back up i'm sure! Anyway, back to the hostel. It's located in the heart of San Jose and there seems to be a good mix of English, American and Eastern Europeans here oh and obviously the local staff!!

First person i've properly got on with is a guy called 'Charlie' who comes from North London and is sound as a pound and has done his fair share of travelling and has family in every corner of the globe it seems...interesting guy. We went into the city centre together today for lunch and to explore a couple of the sights which weren't really that impressive really....other than a couple of interestng buildings..'i know...the boring planner is already coming out in me'....including a surf shop with a big curling wave extending from the fascia - definate no brainer approval for a Bournemouth shopfront...and a big Park called 'Park Central National', where supposedly parrots are seen, although we just saw rain and trees...nice to see green areas though!! People are on the whole friendly especailly the staff at CRBP but roads are soooo busy and hectic....they literally mow you down if you don't move sharpish..we had a near miss....glad i have travel insurance!! Came back to the hostel a couple of hours ago after being drenched in the heaviest downpour i have ever been in.....ended up getting a taxi but Hostel was only about 2mins walk by then....taxi driver didn't have a clue where it was or for that fact what day it is but we eventually arrived for the price of 500 CR colones, which is about 50p!! Weather was awesome this morning though when i woke at 7.30am with glorious sunshine so we sat out in the gardened area, which includes hammocks, outdoor kitchen, swimming pool and table football etc.....the outdoor facilites are by far better than the furnishings in the hostel itself!! My room is just next to the hostel reception area so i hear all the bell buzzing and conversations, which made for a prity s***ty sleep.....feel ok now though after a decent lunch. ...only person in dorm which is cool!! Still don't know if i'm being too security contious or paranoid but there's no harm in taking extra pre-cautions....safe is damn small though and only just get day sack in it and i also have surfboard in room with me!!

A nyway not up to much tonight other than maybe sending some email and chilling in lounge, which has nice tv and sofas.....free internet to which is a bonus!! Nice to get all your messages of support....honestly they are much appreciated and i will hopefully see some more interesting sights when i head to the West Coast to see Tamarindo and hopefully get involved with the surf!! Leave San Jose thurs so will try and get some good pics and blog of Tamarindo to you at some point over weekend!!

Take it easy one and all and keep those messages flowing. Much love and miss you all.

Oodles

16.26pm on 06/11/2007..