27/12/09 - day 18.

after a very sticky nights sleep, got up at 5.10 and fumbled around in the dark hoping i had everyting packed. forgot my apples, left a pair of shorts behind, lost a padlock and a pen. lesson here is, dont pack your stuff up in the dark. put the light on even if it means waking up every other b***** in the dorm at least this way you wont lose your favourite, most comfortable pair of shorts you´ve ever owned.

walked with chris (geezer in the dorm) who was catching same bus as me to the bus stop, and got there around 5.45 for the "6AM SHARP" bus. at 6.30 the bus turned up and at 6.45 we left santa teresa. after 2 hours on the bus, 1 on the ferry and another couple on the bus, we got to san jose. wasnt a great journey - a rotund blob of a tico kid fell asleep on my shoulder on the first bus then on the 2nd, a drunk/bum came on the bus with a solitary can of beer (this was at like 10am), sat next to me, asked me every 20 mins or so what the time was and then proceeded to offer me and the other passengers around him his warm can of skanky beer.

i walked from the bus terminal to another bus terminal to get ANOTHER bus to Alajuela which was where i was spending the next couple of nights. this was only like 40 mins away thank god. bus dropped me off at the airport and i had to get a cab to the hostel, Hostel Maleku. Really nice homely place, warm showers, free internet, cable tv and comfy sofas.

i showered and went for some food, (had the now classic rice and chicken) then wandered into town. the town was really nice too, as alajuela is not too big but big enough to have lots of shops, places to eat, parks etc. i think cos it was a sunday afternoon, there were loads of couples and families sitting in the main park where there was also a big market selling various nick-nacks of crap nobody needs as well as food vendors. i had meat on a stick. i was surprised the food stalls were practically empty given the amount of people in the area but all became clear when i walked 1 block further along and was met with the sight of a McDonalds which literally had people queueing out of the door and down the street. couldnt believe it.

went back to the hostel, found out arsenal had beaten villa 3-0, was extremely happy about this, then watched the 40 year old virgin with a few other guests in the hostel. afterwards some american guys put an NFL game on which they tried explaining to me but i remained baffled despite their attempts! stayed up and had a beer with the other guests for a bit and went to bed about 10pm.