I finally made it to Nicaragua. First it looked like we are good in Time. It took us 4 1/2 hours to the Nicaraguan border, or better the end of the queu. The biggest problem were parking cars and the drivers. Drivers of both direction wanted to get through a road which was basically a one lane road because of the parking trucks. After about two hours we made to the costa rican border control. We got our assports back, only to be collected again with the border tax (8 USD for Germans). Then again queuing and finally the nicaraguan border control) In the meantime it was just before nine in the evening (we got to the boarder at five). Everybody has to take out their belongings and take it to customs, were a buzzer decided whether your bags will be checked in detail. The other formalities were done by the bus drivers. After it was already late, I went for the proposal of a taxi driver to bring me to San Juan del Sur for 20 USD. It was just a bit more than from Rivas and it worried that it takes long for the bus and that I may get not a taxi in Rivas (probably for no reason) or some of the other passengers will be stucked at customs. It took as again a while to get away from the border (the same scene, both directions wanting to go through a one lane road simoultanesly) and finally we got checked by the police. The bus passed while we waited to be checked. the check itself was a joke, just my passport and that was it. After a muchas gracias we continued and arrived at about ten in San Juan del Sur, I got a bed in a Hostel and went to bed, but not befor having a short talk to other travellers whichwent over the boarder the day before. It took them nine (!) hours, but they went with local busses till the end of the pedestrian queu (which was more than a kilometre) took a taxi between the two control points (about 2 km). So it paid of to take the Ticabus all the way from san Jose which was ca 20 USD (local busses would be probably the half or even less).

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Yesterday I had a brilliant night. It started at about 2 o´clock in the afternoon, when I came back to the hostel from surfing. The drinkmates from the night before already opened th first beers, but I could withstand but justed relaxed. This was proofed to be a wise decision. At about 5 ´clock a joined the drinking circus and played drinking c ard games (everybody picks a card turn by turn and the card basically decides who has to drink). At 8 o´clock a life band played cover songs. Just before I managed to get some food which was again a 3* Menu and that in a hostel (which meant budget prices). I choosed the Marlin with mashed potatoes in light sauce. The Marlin was fresh, the mashed potatoes homemade and the sauce just delicious with grat and strong flavours (of which I only can name Rosemary).
So I when I finished the plate,m the band started and since many had already forglued (I don¨t know if you say so in english, but whatr I wanna say that most were already at party alcohol level). So it was already a good party when the owner of the place came in and ordered for himself a giant margaritha (which was about a liter in a giant cocktail glas). All others got free shoots directly in the mouth and some orderd also giant drinks. I stayed strictly at beer and that seemed to pay off today. Further details are more or less roumors, because I can¨t exactly remember. What I can was dancing with the prettiest girl (that is not a roumor but was testified by many (sucessless) others) in the bar to sublimes What I got and it was really close. Ok I remember a bit more, but that is nothing I have to describe here in detail.
The morning was surprisingly easy – no headaches, no hangover, but a morning surf with just one other guy. The waves were kind of heavy and you had to be really quick (what I wasn´t most of the time). Although I surfed the first time with the shortboard and had som adjustment issues.
After the surf I packed and watched the massacre of the party with lots of Hangovers and still strange articulation (believe me, normally this person can speak english but in the morning it was finglish, which I didn´t understood.

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Since three days I enjoy the caribean side of costa rica. The Journey took a bit longer than expected, since I got suck in the traffic and it took me 10 hours to drive (and a ferry ride) for max. 200km. But we had good entertainment on board of the ferry and everybody was relaxed although we had to wait long for the montezuma – san jose bus (which justed came across on its way to montezuma when I arrived at the ferry terminal. The first ferry was fully completed so I had to wait for about three hours. The highway (which ist just a windy countryside road by german perspective) was packag either, so I couldn”t make it to the bus terminal in time to book my busride to nicaragua. so I stayed a night in san jose and was lucky since the staff at the casa yose hostel had their christmas party and so we all had a good time with rum cola, beers, music and dancing. After about two hours of tough partying the car in the most futyherst in the driveway had to leave, so it was time for the “operacion sequenciell”, which meant eight cars moving out and back again. Some drivers couldn”t barely stand, but everything went fine and also my car got a space on the drivewaywhich made me more relaxed since it was a no parking area in front and the lonely planet said a care parked in no parking area will be towed quickly. But at night, its probably a bit different and no other than me cared aboput at all (I guess that is my german influence).

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Seit 5 Tagen bin ich in Playa Hermosa (dem auf der Nicoya Peninsula in der Naehe von Mal Pais / St. Theresa. Dort ist es recht ruhig, so besteht der tag aus surfen, chillen auif der schoenen Veranda mit Blick in den tropischen garten und auf das Meer. Es ist einfach traumhaft und ohne Mobilfunkempfang. Von daher erhole ich mich praechtig. Das Internet hier ist so langsam und instabil, dass ich hier keine Versuche mit Photos machen moechte (vielmehr ist dies bereits der dritte Versuch ueberhaupt was zu schreiben). Ich schmiede gerade Plaene fuer die weitere Reise:

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So this is my first blog from Costa Rica. I’m sitting in the Pagea hostel in San Jose and use the free Internet. The Journey went fint, but nevertheless I’m exhausted. Just two hours sleep the night before, due to last minute work that hast to be done, packing and the nervousity of thinking you’ve forgot something. And I do forget the international driving licence. Since I wnated to have the opportunity to rent a car this might caiuse some trouble.

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