CostaRica - Blogabond

San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

A group of four boys was suddenly decided to visit Nicaragua.
We went from Playa del Coco to our first destination of San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua.The group was happy boys of various nationalities, ages and origin.
Indian guy born in Tanzania with USA passports, Tico with USA passport, a Serb with old blue passport and Me,Myself&I; , Serb with a new red passports.
The first challenge was crossing the border Penas Blancas.
There are plenty of money changers on either side of the border, along with hordes of "tour guides" that offer to lead you through the crossing, as well as carry your luggage for a small fee.
After some negotiation, we decided to accept the best offer.
The offer was 30 USD per person including car.
Later I found out at the border that U.S. citizens pay 7 USD, the car is 22 USD.For Serbian citizens, I didn`t found tariff.Although I tried!
When we crossed the border was the actual swine flu. (I'm writing a year later).
Of course we had to go to the doctor.

Here's how it seemed.
On the border there is a bus station.It was a big crowd because there was a holiday and Nicos were returning home from Costa Rica.

Bus station

After a while our" travel guide" came back and said:"We have a problem"!
"Customs officers can not find Serbia.".
I immediately remembered the story about a girl who had a problem with passport in Dubai.
http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.naslovi.net%2F2008-10-11%2Fb92%2Fproblemi-sa-novim-pasosem%2F860924&sl=sr&tl=enHa ha ha party begins!
My friend Issa came up with a newspaper headline:"Indian, Tico and two Serbian terrorists arrested in Nicaragua"
"Travel guide" said:
"Customs officers just called Manaqua to get an official report.
Yugoslavia was on the list but Serbia doesn`t exist!"
Funniest thing is that my friend Louie, had old passport which is valid for officials from Nicaragua.

Crossing the border Costa Rica-Nicaragua with new Serbian passport

Photo taken from the Serbian newspaper,in right hand new one-Serbia and in left hand old one-Yugoslavia.

The tourist guide is removed and promised to return soon with new information.
We continue to make joke and we expect to hear a new story of our " guide".
We did not have long waiting.Here he comes!
"Everything is fine but you have to add 40 USD more, for non USA citizens."-he said.
And we paid.
Again Americans fared better!
Poor Serbian guys...
No more obstacles-Nicaragua here we comes!

written by

garisha on June 5, 2010 from San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

from the travel blog: Nicaragua

tagged Border, CostaRica, Passport and Nicaragua

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Jaco, Costa Rica

Last night while having dinner at the Ocean Waves restaurant here at the Copacabana Hotel there was a pretty good rain storm. I thought it didn't rain in Costa Rica in January? Any way what a great time! The food was great, I had the nachos and the beer was cheap about $2 a bottle. I met some great Ticas here at the bar and they had live music by the Mojados. You would of thought the downpour would of spoiled the party but the stage is covered and and the music went on in the rian! Tonight is live blues here with the Mouse in the Toaster Blues Band and tomorrow is the Tica Body Painting Party with the classic rock band BenJammin. All right here on the patio just off the beach and the Ocean side stage.

Heredia, Costa Rica

Costa Rica Tourism and mernos not easy when nothing is unknown to the destination, the first thing I did was ask in the forums Costa Rica which was the best time to travel, the answer was in the holidays, then ask other things such as: price, cost of living, home prices, hotels etc ... It was a huge Surprise and is that Costa Rica has similar prices to those of New York or Paris, for me I'm American Center was a low blow but it's all about knowing the country, however if Ticos living on $ 400 dollars a month I could do with $ 1500.

Public holidays in Costa Rica are the best for me, largely because they are free and there are many free party unlike sights like lemon where only look abroad, well the bus ride cost me $ 100 from El Salvador to San Jose from there take the train to run in all this tour spend about $ 50 to stay in a House located in San Rafael de [[Costa-Rica/Heredia]] who rents for $ 550 for one month and with internet, water, electricity included. When you arrive in Costa Rica ask how it came to places the locals no taxis or guides. Spent in Costa Rica entire month of independence from the 5th to the 27th of September and I think it's one of the best holidays in Costa Rica I have to accept

The first two weeks went out running, watching parades and meeting people around normally and last 2 weeks trip by bus to Manuel Antonio National Park and [[Costa-Rica/Quepos]] a public visit to Manuel Antonio, I stayed one night in nationalparkbackpacker antonino manuel, I work for a travel Agency making your skins a little publicity, his name is www.allabouttailormadetravel.com/Costarica Costa Rica holidays now and they charge only stay on coast rich 2500 euros for 7 days without airfare O_O ... On my journey I came out to $ 1200 dollars 900 euros 1 month all inclusive. clear this had contacts in [[Costa-Rica/Heredia]].

written by

iamscroote1989 on September 19, 2012 from Heredia, Costa Rica

from the travel blog: first time in Costa Rica from El salvador travel

tagged CostaRica, TravelHeredia and ElSalvador

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Crossing the border Costa Rica-Nicaragua with new Serbian passport

San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

Great Food, Live Music and Ticas in Body Paint!

Jaco, Costa Rica

first time in Costa Rica from El salvador travel

Heredia, Costa Rica

Heading South?