Costa Rican Jungle Adventure: 28. Return from the Galapagos

I have written a post for each day of my trip to the Galapagos as it was so amazing I felt it warranted the detail, but Im sure that I wasnt able to convey just how amazing! I felt really priveleged to be able to go to the Galapagos and grateful for the extra time. It really is a very special place. If you ever get the opportunity, definitely go!

It was a long day travelling to return from the Galapagos on Saturday 19 March, starting with breakfast with Andrew at 7am, a taxi pickup at 8am to get to Baltra for a 11.30am flight. Continuing on my saga from not being picked up yesterday, despite the fact that both Andrew and I were both going to Baltra and catching flights only half an hour apart, the tour company organised separate taxis for us to the airport. Despite thinking we would be okay going together, we thought it simplest to just adhere to the company's arrangements. I went earlier and was relieved when I saw Andrew arrive about an hour later.

Quito

Somehow we ended up on the same flight. Andrew was staying in Quito the night and I was heading straight through. I had a flight at 6.50pm to San Jose, through Bogota (Colombia). As I got to the airport early I could not check in until 4pm. I sat with my luggage in a cafe and watched the guys that worked the ‘wrap your luggage in plastic’ stand. They were doing quite a good trade and I was feeling like I wanted to chain myself to the machine to stop them doing it. I couldn’t believe how much plastic they used to do this. I am also dubious about how effective it is in any case. But I am someone who doesn’t lock their suitcase most of the time, so perhaps not the best judge. The other reason I was reluctant to make a stand against this practice is that I doubt my travel agent would speak to me anymore, given the amount of changes he had to make already for this trip. I can just imagine his response when I emailed him and said, er Alban, can you change my flight as Ive been arrested for being a public nuisance...:)!

The rest of the trip home seemed to go quite well. The staff at Bogota Airport seemed very organised and the transfer went smoothly. I had been wondering why I bothered getting my yellow fever injection that was insisted on but now it was starting to be questioned...once in Quito, and now again in Bogota. I arrived in San Jose about 11.30pm. Unfortunately my bag had decided to overnight in Bogota, so I was advised when I arrived in San Jose. The airline actually called my name and asked me to report to baggage office! I knew that it wasnt going to be good news!

So it had been a long day, my period had come back, my bag hadn’t arrived...needless to say I felt like a drink. When I arrived at the Hampton Inn at the airport where I stayed regularly if I had a late arrival, the shape of my day must have been obvious. I arrived late, I bought a box of tampons from the hotel shop. When I asked if there was a mini bar in the room (as I couldn’t remember) and was told no, the disappointment must have showed. Can I get a drink delivered to my room I asked...ah no but you could go to the casino and have a drink...no I reply, too tired for that. Suddenly the lady checking me in says...was it your birthday recently? I said yes and she said, I would like to give you a bottle of white wine from the hotel for your birthday. So happily I went to my room with bottle, glass and opener in hand!

Arriving at Quepos

After a good nights sleep, aided by some of the wine I got up and had breakfast and got ready to catch my flight to Quepos. I arrived back about 11.30am and Holly was there to pick me up. We headed to a local favourite in Manuel Antonio, Cafe Milagro, to catch up as I had been away for almost 3 weeks including Drake Bay and the Galapagos. We stayed for a few drinks and something to eat. It was just one of those afternoons where you could settle in and get really messy. We managed to control ourselves and took ourselves home to continue catching up and celebrating my birthday some more.

The week that followed was spent catching up on doing yoga, PT, going to the beach (yes the usual) and getting ready to go to Bocas del Toro in Panama next Sunday (March 27). My friend from the States was visiting this week with his kids and after several emails we planned to catch up on Friday night. It was nice to meet his kids (aged 18 and 20) who are very cool. We had a great catch up over drinks and dinner, then spent the rest of the evening together. As I have no photos that relate directly to this post I have added in some random shots mostly from the Galapagos.