Our first Couch Surfing Experience

We left San Jose this morning before breakfast and headed to Escazu to meet up with the guy Ryan might get work from and to take Flip Flop to the veterinarian. (To put it a nice way in the last day or so she has been having stomach problems that hasn’t been coming out so pretty at the other end; plus we figured since she is a stray we should get her checked out.)

Flip Flop sitting on the dash on the way to the vet

Flip Flop watching traffic in San Jose

Even though Escazu is only 7 km west of San Jose it took us about an 1 ½ hours to find our way there. Forty-five minutes of it was trying to navigate out of the city with all the streets with no numbers, no signs and constant one-way. I swear we drove in circles. Anyways once we finally got out of the city we were on the road back to the airport. Supposedly according to our “not so good” labeled map there was an exit to a cross inter-section on this highway that went to Escazu. We miss this too. Eventually we doubled back and found the signs for Escazu.

First thing we did when we got into town was look for a veterinarian. Ryan looked one up in the phone book that spoke English. We drove around again in “circles” because of the no street numbers or street signs but at last found it. The doctor did a quick, brief exam of Flip Flop and said she was definitely sick but curable with a few medicines. He gave us a few minutes to discuss it and we sadly decided it would be too expensive to keep her. The vet said he would take care of her and might know someone who will pay for the medicine and adopt her. So that was that, GOOD BYE Flip Flop, We Love YOU!!!

Flip Flop

Later in the day we met up with the guy who Ryan is suppose to work for. We followed him to his hotel and discuss the potential work. Needless to say at the end of this meeting Ryan and I were both a bit apprehensive. Not so sure it is going to work out. He and the “work” is definitely not what we expected or hoped for.

Anyways, back to a few days ago when we decided to come to Escazu. It is a local suburb to the city so we figured there would not be many hostels and it would be a good opportunity to try couch surfing. We put 4 request out to couch surfing hosts. The responses we got were: “No, sorry I am out of town”, “No I don’t have room in my place right now”, “No, I already have people staying with me” and one “Yes, I would happy to have you guys stay with me”. Yeah! The “yes” response came from a guy named Marlon. He is a native Costa Rican, born and raised in Escazu. He lives with his family- mother, father and one sister (20 yrs.). He is 25 years old and is an English major at the University of Costa Rica. He says he is studying English cause he wants to be an interpreter or a translator but mostly an interpreter.

Marlon and his family have been very accommodating and friendly. He gave us his room to sleep in while he sleeps on a mattress in his sister’s room. Last night we had dinner with his family then went out to a local bar to meet up with two of his friends, Jorge and Alejandra.

Jorge, Marlon & Ryan

Over a couple beers we talked about what its like growing up in Costa Rica, their jobs, their friends, the crazy non-labeled or numbered streets in Costa Rica and Escazu, the possibility of us working in Costa Rica, our travels so far and about how badly the three of them want to go to the Metallic concert in San Jose in March but the tickets were sold out in half a day. It was good conversation, good company and a good time.

Marlon, Ryan, Debb, Jorge at the bar

written by

ryan & debbrial on November 18, 2009 from Escazu, Costa Rica

from the travel blog: Us Discovering the Latin Americas

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