So we arrived in San Jose, Costa Rica around 7pm. Not knowing where exactly our hostel was we opted to grab the first cab we saw and directed them to our hostel. Little did we know it was just about 3 blocks away (if that). Woops! Whatever...parents, we were trying to be responsible and efficient. Well, just our luck this one time it was unnecessary. Regardless, we arrived to Galileo Hostel located in the safe and residential neighborhood of La Sabana just west of downtown. This place is a world/country/city/community of its own. As a matter of fact, you really don't need to leave this place if you didn't care what was outside - actually, it seems many don't. There are people from all around the world that reside here. In fact it's rather difficult to decipher who works here and who just stays here. The place is run by a guy from Boston who quit his job of 6 years on Wall St to come open this backpacker haven. It appears that San Jose serves as a hub for exploring the surrounding area of the city, so many guests don't feel the need to do much of anything here besides relax in the hostel bar which is open 24 hours. It's beautifully decorated, and for only being open for two years there are a whole lot of chachskis covering every surface and wall. Upon arrival we got an extensive tour from the owner and his trainee (apparently they just hired a lot of new staff...hmmm), which was clearly an in depth and well thought out schpiel to inaugurate new guests into the world that is Galileo.
Kat set out to gather tips from the staff about what places there are to go out and see live music around this area. He begrudgingly offered up a few suggestions, shocked that anyone would ever want or need to leave this little universe. Once again we battle with the backpacker's world and identity, confused as to why all these people are here and what they are doing? What are we doing...good question? Do we all decide that the only way we could all meet is to spend lots and lots of time in Central America? With all the Canadian backpackers that we meet, it would have just been easier to meet somewhere on our home turf...why Costa Rica?
Either way we ended up going to a place down the street where locals flock to. Little did we know it is the Costa Rican form of "Johnny Rockets." Hilarious menu with descriptions in English saying, "Now this is a sandwich! Roast beef, ham, cheese, mayo, ketchup...What more could you ask for!?" After giggling at the selection for a while, wondering why we were told by both the staff and Lonely Planet to come here, we ordered a Roast beef sandwich, a burger (also with ham!), and fries (which I swear are the same "coated fries" that we carried at Sava's!). It wasn't bad, and it was about 8 dollars total. Meh, we left full so no worries.
We also accomplished a lot of other important things today. We spent a lot of time thinking, planning, & mapping our upcoming crossover to South America. We figured out our time in Colombia (about 2-ish weeks), and kinda Ecuador, in addition to making a big plan by purchasing flights from Lima, Peru to Montevideo, Uruguay. Not ideal to fly during our trip since we wanted to be on land the whole way, but we have figured out a good route that makes sense for our rendezvous with Jeffery in Uruguay and our week in Buenos Aires. It's gonna be awesome!! Jeff, we are so pumped to hang with you down south. It is going to be so dang incredible, words cannot explain. (This is Sophie by the way, just so ya know.) We also are in the process of figuring out our trip to Huaraz, Peru where we are planning on doing a 4 day trek through the Peruvian Andes - holy canoli!!! This is supposed to be the mother of all treks, hikes, through the most insane parts of Peru. Eek! Before that we are going to be hiking a volcano in the Zona Cafetera in Colombia. We are so outdoorsey, none of you knew! Actually, part of this trip has really brought out a huge love of the outdoors that this city gal never knew she had. We've met so many people that spend certain seasons of the year working outdoors in order to spend the rest of the year traveling in various places that either resemble or totally contrast the places where they're from. It's really awesome and inspiring. It makes me feel that I can shift my interest to include wilderness somehow, and I'd be happy. Perhaps a hunting trip up north with the cousins and uncles will be in order soon to get a good fix for it all.
For now we are just chilling at Galileo though. Tomorrow we take a bus to Cartago, a nearby town with the Lankester Gardens, which house hundreds of orchids species. We are currently waiting for an email back from a small craft brewery in Cartago which makes some of the only micro-brews in Central America. We hope to go to the brewery, hang out, talk to the guys that run it. Who knows! Then on Sunday after a chat with the parents we take a bus to Puerto Viejo for some hardcore chillen!!
Much love from Costa Rica. Viva la pura vida!!
Sophisticated Koala
Your post made me think of a dinner in japan about 1/2 way through my time when I was desperate for American food- I just wanted a freakin' burger. No more rice!! So...my friend Scott and I wandered through this random town we had driven to to check out the local sites and wandered into the "American Restaurant"- should have been a tip off honestly that they called it that. Because it was a freakin' hibachi place. That's what this little town called American- some dude doing tricks with his knife and grilling our food in front of us. Never did get that stupid burger....
ReplyDeleteI forgot you were going to Montevideo. I took Dukies there a few years ago. If you need "touristy" things to do, I'm sure I still have the intinerary.
big hugs and kisses from stateside!
I've found myself wondering the very same thing you two ask: what is up with all these aimless backpackers? It's one thing if they're doing something locally, but then there are these ones who have no plans it seems other than to hangout with fellow backpackers, usually from their own country. It's an interesting existence. I hope you two find what you're looking for!
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