Well Winter Break came before I knew it and my girls and I were off to Drake Bay. It's in the southern part of Costa Rica and is supposed to hold a whole lot of wildlife and such. Well the start was a little, shall we say, shaky...we arrived at the airport and all was good. We checked in and then the dude made ME step on the scale! You know you're riding in a small plane when they also have to weigh the passengers! So we go to actually get on the plane and they recheck our passports and such and then we're put into the "waiting area." Well, three of us got through fine and then I noticed the fourth wasn't coming. "Maybe she went to the bathroom???" So I peaked my head out of the area and looked around. Nadie. Then, my phone rings. I pick up to hear nothing but hysterics...I go back out to the main room and immediately this large dude goes, "You need to go get on the plane. I will not have it wait any longer." And I'm like, "Chill out dude, no one has even boarded yet. By the way, nice to meet you too." Through a lot screaming and tears, I finally realize that they are saying she is in the country illegally. You are only allowed to be in CR for 3 months and then you need to leave. I have a work Visa so I'm fine. My friend is new this year and had yet to receive her Visa...I try to explain what's going on when the man takes my passport and tries to find something wrong with it. He finds and old stamp and I hear him say something along the lines of, "She's illegal too." To which I, slightly snottily, respond, "Yeah, but if you look at my VISA, you'll see I'm legal!" So, long story short, they assured me my friend would be able to get on the 11:00 flight and I HAD to get on the plane. Me and the other 2 girls arrive in Drake Bay and I check my phone. I received texts such as: "I hate this Fing country. I wish they would have just deported me." And "I almost got arrested." Apparently being snotty to the immigration people isn't the best idea...BUT, she arrived and we were reunited once again!
We took a day tour snorkeling and Joanne went scuba diving. I got to snorkel with sharks! There were two white tips chillin at the bottom of the ocean right above us. Twas very cool...not as scary as I thought it would be. The next day we were planning on going to Corcovado National Park. We awoke to rain, lots of rain. "Do we still go?" "Ummm, why not!?" So we got into the boat and set off. It was an amazing hour long boat ride filled with giant rain drops pelting us in our faces. So the hike was, shall we say, slightly muddy and very wet. We did get to see a tapir though! I was about 3 feet away from her while she was taking a nap. She woke up and looked at me. Then I thought, "Hmm, if she gets up and charges, I'm toast." Luckily, the rain let up and our boat ride back was much more tranquilo.
After our lovely vacay, it was time to pack up for the States. For once, my trip home went as planned and I arrived in NoDak at the butt crack of dawn on Christmas Eve. I got to chill with the fam for Christmas and then head to MN to see my friends for New Years. Now, it wouldn't be a true trip back for me without any problems. I was planning on driving back to ND on New Years Day to catch my flight the following day...enter the snow. The highway was closed. Go figure. After many, many calls and trying to figure out all my possibilities, I ended up book and emergency flight to Bismarck. Meaning, my mother's car was left in Minneapolis. Nothing like adding a little extra adventure to an otherwise smooth vacation! Luckily, in the end, it all worked out! Pura Vida!!!
We took a day tour snorkeling and Joanne went scuba diving. I got to snorkel with sharks! There were two white tips chillin at the bottom of the ocean right above us. Twas very cool...not as scary as I thought it would be. The next day we were planning on going to Corcovado National Park. We awoke to rain, lots of rain. "Do we still go?" "Ummm, why not!?" So we got into the boat and set off. It was an amazing hour long boat ride filled with giant rain drops pelting us in our faces. So the hike was, shall we say, slightly muddy and very wet. We did get to see a tapir though! I was about 3 feet away from her while she was taking a nap. She woke up and looked at me. Then I thought, "Hmm, if she gets up and charges, I'm toast." Luckily, the rain let up and our boat ride back was much more tranquilo.
After our lovely vacay, it was time to pack up for the States. For once, my trip home went as planned and I arrived in NoDak at the butt crack of dawn on Christmas Eve. I got to chill with the fam for Christmas and then head to MN to see my friends for New Years. Now, it wouldn't be a true trip back for me without any problems. I was planning on driving back to ND on New Years Day to catch my flight the following day...enter the snow. The highway was closed. Go figure. After many, many calls and trying to figure out all my possibilities, I ended up book and emergency flight to Bismarck. Meaning, my mother's car was left in Minneapolis. Nothing like adding a little extra adventure to an otherwise smooth vacation! Luckily, in the end, it all worked out! Pura Vida!!!
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