Golfito, Costa Rica

February 29-30, 2016

Crossing the border from Panama was pretty uneventful, after I made an unexpected round trip back to David to retrieve the camera and wallet I forgot in the lockers that is. If my head wasn't attached... Luckily for me I remembered before crossing international borders, and it was only an hour ride back to David instead of 5.

It was an ugly, hot dusty border town, but easy enough to get stamped in and out, no questions asked. A couple buses later I pulled into Golfito. It's a little banana port on the coast, and was the favorite stop of a Coast Guard friend who did a tour there. So I decided to see what it had to offer.

I got settled in my little hostel cottage, then caught a bus into 'town' to find an ATM for local currency. The town stretches 5km along a little road, and the driver was nice enough to drop me right in front of the bank at the far end of town. (That's one thing, cross the border and the Ticos are instantly way friendlier than Panameños)

I walked back along the water towards my friend's favorite restaurant, and was treated to an incredible sunset over the bay.

It continued until after I sat to eat.

I had the greatest chicken parmesan, mashed potatos and veggies. Then I watched the downpour that started up. A taxi back to my hostel, and it was well deserved bedtime.

That night I got a proper Costa Rican welcome in the form of a scorpion on the bathroom wall at 2am. He just sat there not moving, but I still had bad scorpion dreams for the rest of the night. There is no picture since I really wasn't too keen on going back to play photographer.

The next day I went to town again, wandered and used internet. I also found the post office and sent home a box that I'd been carrying with me for weeks with my pottery and other souvenirs. It was a relief to get that sent off.

This little guy was hanging out in the field during breakfast. He is an agouti.

They're funny little guys, and I think their back legs were built a little too big for their bodies.

Walking through town this sign cracked me up. I think he's supposed to be a worker with a shovel, but I thought it looked more like caveman with spear. 'Caution Neanderthal crossing'

The sunset was spectacular again that night.

And the next day I headed for San Jose, not to see the capital but because it was a good central place to get my bearings before jumping off again towards La Fortuna and Volcan Arenal.

Verdict for Golfito: not much to do there, but its spectacular right around 5:30. Go for a day or two.