La llegada

It is really amazing how far one can travel in 3 hours and 39 minutes.

Conservación de la naturaleza es nuestro consolidación. Costa Rica's motto lined the walk way from the airplane to the terminal. It is the first thing you see, if you take the time, even before the signs for baggage claim, "reclamo de equipaje". The terminal was small but open and filled with light from huge windows. The air was warm and filled with soft guitar music from a man in the corner--a stark juxtaposition from the loud, sterile Hartsfield Jackson terminal. The one noticeable consistency was the groups of people in brightly colored T-shirts, most of them were church mission groups.

I stepped outside with my bag and was approached by a man with a white button up shirt and glasses asking me if I need a taxi. Going against advice given to me not to accept the first person I nodded and asked how much to San Pedro. The ride was longer than I had expected, 40 minutes through clogged, pot-whole filled streets. It began to rain half way. We passed the Universidad de Costa Rica with an impressive mosaic mural. I can't wait to explore that area.

We arrived at Mary's house, Mary standing out front looking some what solum. She kissed me hello and I paid the driver 40 USD. Mary chastised me for giving him a three dollar tip. "Nunco das la propina," ella dijo. "Siempre esta incluye." Mary's sister, Gigi (one of the 5 girls and 3 boys in their family) greeted me at the door. She's taking a 5 month long vacation here after quitting her job as a therapist in a youth rehabilitation center in Washington state where she lives with her husband.

Dinner was quite enjoyable. Mary, Gigi, Catalina, a high school spanish teacher from Chicago, who's staying in a room upstairs, and me. We discussed US immigration and then Gigi told us riveting tales of taking knives away from delinquent 15 year old boys.

Tomorrow morning I'm going to church with Mary and then she's going to show me the bus route into San Jose.

It's raining again. It's humid here, but the air is much cooler than in Atlanta. I've got on socks and a sweatshirt.

I'm so excited to be here. Tomorrow I will bring my camera so you can see how beautiful it is. Off to bed now. Buenas noches.