Costa Rica part 3: Guanacaste

So after a few weeks in Monteverde, I made my way West to Flamingo Beach, where my sister joined me for 2 more weeks of Spanish classes. She stayed with a family, while this time I stayed at the campus apartments.

Well, I stayed there part of the time...the first three days I ran away to Playa Matapalo, where my cousin (Nikki) and mom were residing for the week.

We drank just a little tequila...and proceeded to Coco Beach the next day, via taxi. We ate ceviche and drank happy hour bloody marys, then attempted to take a water taxi back. ....it stormed the whole way, we got soaked, the waves were larger than our little speed boat, there was lightening... But we made it!

Once I returned to Playa Flamingo, my sister and I went on a snorkeling booze cruise (sounds dangerous, right?)

Since all the apartment dwellers ate breakfast together in the mornings, I made friends with the guy that normally worked the front desk--he was also into art and graphics and had a fancy camera.

In the afternoons, I went to the surrounding beaches with random classmates--my favorite being Playa Conchal.

When the time came to return home, my sister and I boarded a bus to San Jose. While she was tired and didn't want to go adventuring, I walked a dark road for a quarter mile and came upon a brightly lit soccer game. Across the street was an outdoor sports bar that was having karaoke. I made myself at home and enjoyed one last Costa Rican experience.

Well, almost the last. The following morning, we woke up at 4:00 to get to the airport for our 7:00 flight. But it got delayed to 10, then 2pm, then it was cancelled--which nothing (flight board, e-mail, staff...) indicated. Once we asked, they wanted us to spend another night. We argued a bit and they finally stuffed us on a plane to Charlotte rather than Dallas.

We finally made it to Denver at midnight.

Now, it was time for an American adventure.