Berta’s Travel Shenanigans

And our slightly dysfunctional Raleigh-staff ‘family’ is back on the booze (after 10, thats right, 10 weeks of sobriety!)…and regretting every minute of the accompanying hangover – something that was not missed in any way, shape, or form.  Having waited patiently for two staff members to return from dropping the rest of the venturers off in San Jose, the beers were cracked open @ 7pm.  A nice meal and heavy alcohol consumption at Turritico we made it to a local bar – but not after losing a few members to return to field base to vom in the staffroom, pass out in the toilets, and draw on each other’s faces. 

Despite these and other dramas, must say I had an absolutely amazing week being part of what was deemed the Raleigh Re-Tox tour.  After wrapping up our time in Turrialba with a ‘bad taste’ party (yes, there was a child prostitute, a member of KKK, and I went as a pregnant-by-a project manager Raleigh venturer) we headed to Cahuita, which is a really chilled town on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica.  A few good meals, yummy pina coladas and margaritas, and chicken-fighting in the pool really brought the staff group together as we took to unwinding after a crazy 3 months working with Raleigh.  Also on the list was a few trips (via random local with a truck) to Puerto Viejo, which is about 20 minutes from Cahuita and is a bit of a bigger spot- we went and visited the (former) venturers who were staying at a really cool hostel called Rockin J’s … full of hammocks for $5 a night, not a bad spot if you’re up for partying. 

After 3 days, and into my second day of my massive 2-day hangover, we had to say good-bye to some of our family members (and Costa Rica, just for now) with 12 of us heading to Panama via Sixola – and talk about a sketchy border crossing!  Literally, having to make a 10 minute walk across a dodgy bridge with wooden planks…not conducive for those afraid of heights!  After paying my $5 ‘entry fee’ for being Canadian and, luckily, no one being busted for overstaying their 3-month Costa Rica visas, we all chilled out in Changinola.  We waited for a few hours for a boat to take us to the Bocas Islands – specifically, heading to Isla Colon where Bocas Town (the main area of the islands) is located.  Most interesting was the locals waving to us on the dock as we set off, having completely overloaded the boat with the 12 of us, our luggage, and other people – their faces screamed “good effin luck – hope you don’t sink” and was thus very reassuring.  Hmmm, worth the $8?! 

Despite this, we successfully navigated the waters and the trip from the mainland was amazing and parts reminded me very much of being on PEI, heading out on the boat away from the Charlottetown harbour – tear ;-p.  The shores were dotted with houses on stilts and mangroves.  And of course, the gorgeous Caribbean water and its range of colour from dark blue to torquoise to a clear baby blue.  VERY NICE (insert Borat accent here).  We landed on Bocas – or, like I prefer to say, the group of us descended upon the town – and headed to Casa Max’s.  A decent hotel for relatively cheap if you are staying as a group (e.g. triple room with own bathroom and ‘hot’ showers: $36). 

Ah, thanks to the muggy heat the hammocks are calling me so I will resume/finish the rest of the Bocas account at a future, relatively soon, date…

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