trial and error

waiting for the boat
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So we had breakfast with Alex and watched birds in his privet jungle. He also showed us all sorts of exotic woods that he salvages from local places or people.

Made it to the dock. The cab ride from his place to downtown is only a buck. The town is tiny and there is almost no turists. Basically now we are in the real Costa Rica. The old guy at the dock told us that there is no boat to Trinidad today us the motor is broken. We were kinda disappointed and started walking back to the center. But then he called us again and said that yes it's going to come at 1:30 I couldn't figure how he magically knew it, it's not like he had a cell phone and called a guy. Anyway we had some time and walked back to the center (only 2 blocks really). And used the internet until we had to go back.

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Waited for the boat and almost missed it. It's not like it's getting announced or something. Locals just know the guy and they go and put their stuff in the little 10 person boat and the boat leaves... And so it's almost left without us.

Most people on the boat were Nicaraguan workers going home. The boat ride took 3 hours, the guy had to slow down often as the motor was broken. We saw some birds and a crocodile! It was pretty small tho' I don't think it could eat a person.

Got to Trinidad Lodge around 5. The old lady told us to wait at the bar. And we had some beers. The place is totally surreal. It's at the end of the world (or it seems like it) across the river is Nicaragua. I'll upload some pics when I can. It's just crazy...

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Talked to the boat driver and another guy about our plan. They looked at us like we are crazy. They said that nobody goes there because the river San Juan belongs to Nicaragia, and they charge Ticos 20 bucks to enter. They said they would take us for 250 dollars. Well that was too much, and we decided to come back the next day. The boat was leaving back to Poerto Viejo at 5 in the morning (oh god).

We had the best dinner ever (I never had chicken that tasted like that, I have a suspition that they killed it especially for us.) We talked with another guest and Russ played pool with locals.