Costa Rica

I am once again intoxicated by travel. After a one year hiatus I am on the road again and overwhelmed by the sites, smells, some of them not so good, and charm of the people in glorious Costa Rica. My journey began on the morning of the 27th of February, 2012. I am now in San Jose, Costa Rica for two nights shopping, gambling, and a little party making, before I head off to the land of the Revolution.

By Central American standards San Jose is a nice capital city. But make no mistake. There ain't much to do or see. Most people stay here on their way to or from somewhere else, usually in Costa Rica, just like I am. I entertained the idea of transiting to Cuba via the traditional routes, Mexico and Jamaica when I stumbled on a great business fare rate on Taca to San Jose which flies direct to Havana. Not much more than a Coach class ticket going this way if booked well in advance.

I was not expecting much from Taca. But I was pleasantly surprised. The flights were on time, comfortable and the staff hospitable. I had to change planes in San Salvador which was easy peasy. I got a look at Salvador from the window and now want to add it to my list. To the left of the plane were wide expansive beaches, while to the right are ominous looking volcanoes covered by dense jungle. I am even considering trying to spend a day there on my way back to get that ever so important new passport stamp. It was hot...and humid. But that's ok. I can do hot and humid.

Arriving in San Jose was a breeze. I never ever check luggage anymore no matter where I go. Too many lost bags and wasted hours. I travel with a large backpack where I carry my most important belongings; the cameras and electronics, and boy are there lots of them. I have to find a way to simplify it for the next time. I was considering the Mac Book Air but its just a waste of dough. So I still lug around my 5 year old Mac Book which I just super charged with a new hard drive and double the memory in anticipation of loading and editing a ton of photos on this trip.

The flight from LA to San Salvador was 4 and a half hours. The connection to San Jose is less than an hour. There is a direct flight but it's a red eye and only allows you 5 hours sleep which you gets you into San Jose at the butt crack of dawn, way before your hotel will let you in.

After considerable research I found a delightful small private Hotel with an older facade that contains a newly minted and massive sports bar complete with at least 8 monitors. Arriving on a Monday I found the place pretty quiet which was fine by me. I finally checked into my room around 10 p.m. I rented the suite which is a very very comfortable room. While its an older building the rooms have all the amenities you need. Ass kicking AC. Two plasma screen TV's; one in each room, a bar, a jacuzzi and an incredibly comfortable King Bed.

I didn't need all of this but for the price I got it for, it was a steal. A comparable room at your local Marriott would probably run close to 400 bux. Here? 139.00. Hotel Dunn Inn. Its in a rough part of town but its not a biggy. You just taxi at night. You aren't doing much here anyways. Free wifi, internet station a restaurant and a sports bar. I will be back.

San Jose is an odd town. There is a bit of a creepy element here. Very old dudes come here looking for very young girls. You see a bit of that. There are a handful of casinos so when I got unpacked I rolled to one of the local casinos, threw down a couple of coronas and promptly lost 100 bux at the tables.

Woke up today with a pretty stiff headache from the jet lag and the party making, but it was worth it. Had a blast. Made new friends as I always do on the road and headed off today to see what I could see and it wasn't much. There is a beautiful Beaux Arte Opera house built in the 1800s that might as well be in Vienna; an astonishing building. I took a tour and dozens of photos. I wandered the streets and parks and took in the warmth of the Costa Rican people. There is one museum which I ran through in about 30 minutes. Uninspiring.

This evening I treated myself to some nice local cuisine before getting lambasted at the blackjack tables again for an hour or so before calling it a night. It's Havana in the morning and I am giddy with excitement.

Yes I said giddy. As always, excuse the typos, crappy grammar and fragments.

Micky in Cuba 2012

For those of you who have come to know me post - college, you wouldn't know me by my ridiculous college nickname given to me for no apparent reason and has no real significance. However since the name Micky evokes memories of my earlier more jovial years, I prefer the pseudonym when I head off for one of my not so adventurous adventures.

After a one year hiatus, in thanks to a vicious South American nasty bug I picked up last year, I have shy'd away from the road since March of last year. I have finally overcome the fear of losing bowel control with no warning at any time, day or night, in a scary third world country where toilet paper can alternatively be used to sand down 2x4's,and with very little time to respond. Got the picture? Wasn't pretty.

I tepidly step back into the travel arena in two weeks when I depart for Havana via Costa Rica. I am travelling on a journalistic license so you can all stop with the whole, "you're gonna go to jail" bit. Got it handled. Actually there is no true travel ban for Cuba. The ban is a monetary one. An American cannot spend money in Cuba. So in theory, if you packed all your own food, slept on the beach and flew on in on a non-Cuban airlines, in theory you'd be good. That doesn't sound like much fun so I am travelling as a free lance journalist.

Its been over a decade since I have been here. When I was here last I went with two college buddies who shall go nameless since at that time we went through the back door. Oh screw it, it was Lodgen and Fleishman. A good time was had by all but this will be an altogether different kind of trip. No Mojitos. No Cigars. Just the pursuit of photographic joy. Who said bullshit???!! I heard that.

I have two weeks before I depart for San Jose Costa Rica. Using Taca Air and got a nice business class rate. Why do I have a feeling Business Class on Taca means an extra water, 2 more inches of leg room and extra rice? Oh well the rate was good and the flight to Costa Rica is direct non-stop. Taca also flies round trip to Havana as do many of the Central American airlines. Anything but Cubana Air, my one and only near death travel experience. More on that latter.

I will be attempting to post blogs and photos from Cuba but don't expect to be able to get much out due to reports of slow connectivity. Keep an eye out after 2/27. Adios Suckas!