My final day in Costa Rica

The round trip in Costa Rica ended yesterday, but I had one more day before I’m flying to California. I decided to use it as much as possible and booked a trip to a nearby volcano. 

I need to explain something before I go on. I need to explain what it means to travel with Intrepid. Intrepid trips are like back packing on your own, but you get help to arrange transport (often public) and accommodation (simpler hotels, hostels or camping). People travelling with Intrepid are mostly travel freaks that want to really experience the countries that they visit and want to avoid luxury hotels and tourist traps. My group the last 10 days has been like that. We have enjoyed living in simpler hotels (still very good, but not luxurious) and we all agree on what it means to be a responsible traveller.

Today, on the volcano tour, I met a totally different type of travellers. There were a couple of things that got to me:

·         One woman was looking for bull fights. This is forbidden by law, but she still wanted to see one. I think that is just WRONG!!!

·         One woman wanted to try the meat from some sort of big Ginny pig. The meat is supposed to be delicious, but you are forbidden to hunt this animal. Still she wanted to find out where she could eat it. Again  - so WRONG!!!!

This type of traveller really gets to me. L So that took some fun out of the day.

The volcano trip was also very touristic. For example we went to a Zoo (which is a typical tourist trap). I like to see the animals in their real surrounding. Animals in cages make me feel sad. The only good thing with this is that I could make some nice photos of birds, frogs and butterflies that can be hard to do out in the jungle. But even when I’m looking at these pictures it feels like I’m cheating.

The guide was also quite boring. It is a difference between a guide that likes “his/hers subject” or one that just states what is said on the official information. This guide was just stating the obvious and couldn’t add anything extra about what we saw and experienced. He was just rabbling facts someone taught him. The amazing thing with him was that he always said everything in 2 languages: Spanish and English. It sounded funny when he almost spoke the 2 languages at the same time, but it is worth my admiration.

BUT – I got to see an active volcano and that made up for the rest of the day. So all in all it was quite ok. I would have preferred a volcano trip without the zoo, more engaged guide and with a different kind of travellers. You can’t win them all and I had a fantastic trip before this.

Now I’m off to California. It is going to be an interesting flight. I’m flying from San José, Costa Rica to first Houston, then Phoenix and finally to San Francisco. The first 2 legs I’m flying with Continental Airlines and the last one with United Airlines. It is a flight that has increased chances for some problems, either with luggage or delays. But I’m might be lucky and since I’m staying with my sister I will be fine.