So, I did something that isn't recommended of American girls in a different country. I hitchhiked. Alone. With strangers. In unknown lands. And I survived and had a blast doing it.
See, this is my "I love being spontaneous and getting into situations where I have to do things like walk 10 miles in killer heat and hitchhike..." face.
I hadn't really been planning on hitch hiking. I actually hadn't been planning on going anywhere in the first place. See, it went like this...
I loved Santa Teresa/Playa Carmen. From the second I got to the town, I loved it. I'm not sure what it is about certain places that make me fall in love so fast, or decide that I hate it there, but there was something about the chill, surfing atmosphere that I loved.
Unfortunately, true to our nature in the life of travel, Bethy and I had drastically different views of the place, and she hated it. She didn't give me a reason, but when you are grumpy from traveling, you don't need a reason.
So early morning after spending one night in Santa Teresa, we jumped on the quad and headed back through the bumpy/dusty/hilly country side to Montezuma. The whole ride I was trying to be happy and positive and in my "everything happens for a reason" mindset, but secretly I was frustrated and angry and wishing I could stay there longer. I hadn't even gotten to say goodbye to my new friends! But, despite the harsh feelings, I knew that it was what it was and I might as well make the best of it and just spend another day at the waterfalls...alone.
But then a funny thing happened. I arrived at the house, and realized that I really didn't want to spend another day at the waterfalls. And I realized that I really wanted to go back to Santa Teresa. And then I realized that I had two days before we had to leave for San Jose, and determination crept into my mind.
The problem was...I had no idea how to get back there. The buses were limited, and I had no vehicles or friends that had them. I started to get frustrated. I started asking everyone I could how I could get there, but no one was really helpful. I finally talked to the owner of the house (Kim) and she sympathized with me, and to help make me feel better she invited me to come spend time with her, her daughter, and her daughters friends. At that point I was just feeling a little down, still determined, but unsure how to cover the 22 kilometers across dusty lands to the beautiful paradise across the desert. But I figured, I would rather spend time with people than alone at the waterfalls, so I agreed.
At this point there was only a small possibility that I would be able to get back to Santa Teresa, so I grabbed my backpack still packed from the night before but didn't bother to repack or grab other necessities.
I went with Kim down into town and met several 20 something girls who were having a little too much fun enjoying Costa Rican cerveza. Right away, Kim shared that I wanted to get back to Santa Teresa, and miracle of miracles, they knew of a bus that was going to a town halfway, Cobano, leaving in about ten minutes. Win. I quickly thanked them and took off for the bus stop.
Once there, I did a quick mind scan of what I had in my bag - camera, swimming clothes, sarong, dress, toothbrush, a full waterbottle...uh money? I started searching in my bag and realized that I didn't have my passport, drivers license, or a debit card because I'd given it to Beth the night before for safe keeping. I did have a bag of change and about $30, give or take a few thousand colones.
I stood there contemplating if it was worth it. With $30 I would just have enough for a bus or two, the hostel, and a little food. Definitely not enough for surfing like I had hoped, and if for some reason police caught me without my passport, I would be in big trouble.
There was no way I would have time to run back to the house before the bus came, and this was my last chance. I stood there, then decided against leaving without my things and started walking away. Then I went back.
The bus came, and I stood, still considering options as people climbed on the bus. Then I followed them.
Fifteen minutes later the bus arrived in Cobano. A taxi driver tried to convince me to take the cab, and didn't believe me when I told him I didn't have $16 for the ride. I looked around for a bus, but found out there wasn't one going for an hour or so.
So I started walking. About a half mile into my journey a work truck with an older couple in front and about five workers in back pulled up beside me and motioned me in. I hopped in the back among farmer's curious eyes.
I felt pretty lucky to have gotten a safe ride so quickly, but about two kilometers later there was a split in the road and I said goodbye and thanked my driver.
So I started walking again. The sign said 12 kilometers to Santa Teresa. The road was long, curvy, hilly, hot, and super super dusty.
But as I walked, I started enjoying everything around me. My only company were occasional birds and floppy eared cows in fields along the road.
Every so often I would pass a small house, but didn't see a single person. For the most part though, all that I saw were pretty fields of flowers and dried up grass.
As I walked I kept my eyes open for a possible ride, but most of the vehicles were work trucks, taxis, or sketchy cars going way too slow. I avoided eye contact and kept walking, thankful that I had started my trip with a full bottle of water.
After walking for several miles, a tourist on a four wheeler passed by. At first he seemed hesitant, but I guess he decided that I was harmless and offered me a ride. He happened to be going to Santa Teresa as well and ended up staying at the same hostel!
As we drove, we had nice conversations about travel, and tried not to breathe in the incredible dust. I also thanked him countless times, because as we raced over the bumpy gravel roads, I realized how long 12 kilometers really is and how long it would have taken me to walk.
We finally arrived at the beautiful town, and right away I was so glad that I had risked the travels.
My friends (whom I hadn't gotten to say goodbye to) were excited and greeted me with, "heeey! You left! ...and you're back!" After catching up and reviewing the last few hours for a bit, I headed to the beach and spent the afternoon and sunset swimming in the perfect waves and watching the breathtaking sunset.
When I finally pulled myself away from the beach, I headed back to the hostel where we sat around talking, joking, and laughing, for awhile. All of our little group except one were in the same dorm room, and I have come to appreciate hostel dorms soo much. It's one of the best ways to meet people that you can really relate to.
After dinner where they all insisted on sharing their food with me because I didn't have enough money, and constantly talking about my cows and horse and organic farming and raw milk laws (because for some reason farm life is very fascinating :)) and everything else under the sun, we went back to the hostel and talked and joked until 11:00pm when the hostel kicks us out and turns the lights off because we're being too loud.
That didn't stop us though. After lights out, everyone at the hostel who doesn't want to go to bed (most people) head out to the beach where we make a bonfire and sit around for hours discussing life and travels and how so few people from home really understand us or care about our adventures. But the beautiful thing was, that we all completely understood each other. We sat under the stars, talking, listening to the crashing waves, dancing a little bit to the music that was playing from a loud boom box that someone from the hostel had brought out, and falling in love with people who had been strangers a few hours earlier.
When we finally headed in for the night, I stopped in the steet and just looked at the town that was so quiet and peaceful compared to the fun energy of the day.
The next morning, our group of six headed out to the beach for swimming and surfing! Even though i've been on countless beaches in the last year, and have gotten coutless offers from locals to teach me to surf, I had never really had the desire to try. This time though, it looked so like so much fun on the perfect waves that I couldn't resist when my friend Pablo from Holland offered to teach me. And the best part, he is a real surf instructor!
So, I got to learn how to surf from an awesome friend who really knows what he is doing! I had such an incredible time and did so much better than I thought I would. He told me I had a perfect first lesson and did so well. Definitely going to be surfing again as soon as possible!
After hours on the beach and the ocean and getting an awful, ridiculously painful sunburn, we went back to the hostel and just chilled, enjoying being around such awesome people in such an awesome place!
At four that afternoon, (after countless discussions on how I was going to get back with such little money and such an awful bus system (and they kept begging me to stay longer and "take the next bus,") and I definitely did not want to walk or hitchhike again (once a week is more than enough. And it was literally the hottest day of my life - no way I was walking any distance!)) I said goodbye to my friends, got a bus to Cobano, and by an awesome unlikely chance the timing was perfect to catch another bus to Montezuma, and thanks to a key deposit at the hostel I had $4 to spend on buses, and they only cost $2! :)
(A new friend and I. Love this girl!!)
At 4:00 am the next morning, Beth and I headed back to San Jose where we hung out with some pigeons for the afternoon!
I know I'm weird, but these pigeons are so cool!
Currently, we are staying with some friends until we figure out our next plans. At the moment, I haven't the slightest clue what those might be. Definitely a good way to keep life interesting. :)
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