in transit to arenal

I took my first hot shower in six weeks today. God, it was orgasmic. I feel so clean. It doesn't matter than I'm hungover, I feel absolutely fantastic.

Last night we went bar hopping in San Isidro. It was exhilarating! We started off at our hotel bar and threw back a few beers and a shot of tequila each. Oh -- as a side note -- the owner of our farm is back in Costa Rica for the week, that's why we get some time off. He is insane, but in the best way. That is a whole separate entry in itself. Well, we bought him a shot and a beer and chatted away for awhile. I ordered a filet mignon wrapped in bacon and smothered in mushrooms for under $10. I love this place.

After dinner, we went to a few more bars. We started off at this one called Vaqueros (cowboys in English). It was really seedy -- we were the only girls and by far the only people under forty. I made a joke to Liz that it was probably only for men seeing as everyone there was ogling us. The napkin holders were these plexiglass squares that had cutouts of women from soft core porn magazines taped in them. it was hilarious. Our napkin broad was blonde and buxom with her hands spread across her breasts and a seashell string bikini bottom. After we finished our pilsens, Liz went to use the bathroom. To her surprise, there weren't separate bathrooms. There wasn't even a door. There was only a tiled wall with a drain in the floor that served as a urinal. I guess my initial guess, despite my jesting, had been more accurate than I anticipated. We got out of there real fast. Later we went to another bar. I don't remember the name, but there was an inside bar and an outside section. We started inside. I had two shots of tequila, a shot of johnny walker black, and then johnny walker red on ice. I don't remember what Liz drank. I'm surprised I even remember my own name. Outside, we ordered more beers. Again, we were the only two women at the bar. There were at least twenty other Tico guys crowded around it. We were two gringa girls throwing back costa rican beer and smoking marlboros... we attracted a lot of attention. I've never been a smoker, but how can you pass up the opportunity to smoke a cigarette while sitting at a bar? I had trouble finishing one, but it still felt great. As we stumbled back to the hotel, I stopped at this place and ordered french fries. God. It was definitely a day of excess. I passed out once I got home.

Anyway -- back to my shower. It was like seeing God in the face of that filthy green tile. I haven't felt this clean since the first few days of August. I even put on makeup today. Strange. I feel like a completely different person.

Now Liz and I are having heaping bowls of fresh fruit to cure our hangovers (papaya, banana, apple, pineapple, and yogurt) and playing on the internets while we wait for our bus to San Jose. From there, we're going to take a bus to La Fortuna de San Carlos (most awesome name for a city EVER! I wonder if there is a story behind it...) where Volcan Arenal is.

I'll probably update periodically over the next few days because I'll be in civilization. Arenal, here we come!