Hello shadow my old friend

Okay I have no idea why I put that headline. I guess that I just needed something to make you hooked! To make you open my blog and maybe read sentence or two. Or the whole thing even though, right now, I have no idea what I am going to write. Or I just wanted to tell how much I love shadow 'cause it's so hot in here that sometimes I feel I'm just melting away.

This is supposed to be a travel blog, yeah? So why don't I feel like I'm travelling? I don't feel like I'm in a different country trying to get new experiences.. Fiiiiiine I do know why I feel like this, just needed to make more powerful point on it by asking about it from you guys first. So should I answer it or not? I mean I know the answer already, it's not like you guys (if there even is any "you guys" reading this) need it, right? Fine fine fine (sorry I'm horrible horrible writer), the reason I don't feel the way I "should" feel is because I have normal daily rhythm. Every morning I wake up, go to work and come back home. On the weekends I go somewhere but it feels more like "I do something on the weekend" than "I go travelling". Or I'm just a crazy person (but that I knew already). But I guess this is just good thing. It means I'm not just on a "holiday" but I am also really living here.

It's been long time since the last post so this one is going to cover whole September and be longer than...Longer than.. I don't know.. Longer than something that's super long! (so feel free to stop reading when you get super bored)

So what have I done...
Oh yeah!
First weekend (in September) I spent doing nothing at all and I liked it. Finally I had time to charge my batteries and relax (all those bus rides to different places take way more energy than I realized). So my plan for the weekend was just netflix and chill (in the innocent way, you know) and might I say I did my plan perfectly! Well almost... Dammit my plan was so easy but couldn't do even that well.. Nooooo I just had to break my plans and have a life. I just had to go to San José with my friend. But it was nice; we went to a museum, walked around, ate, walked, walked and walked a bit more. And in the end I told him that my plan B in life..okay plan C is to become a crazy cat lady. Own 81 cats and live in small island and do nothing else than feed my cats all day long (isn't that a lovely picture).
But in the end I did end up charging my batteries 'cause on Friday and Sunday I did nothing else than netflix and chill (boooyah I'm a great planner hah)

Next weekend me and my friend Caddie went to Jacó because we wanted to take sun, sing some karaoke and dance like there is no tomorrow! And Jacó was perfect place to do all that and plus it's so close to San José. And let me just tell you that if you ever end up in Jacó, go eat in "Bien Muchachos"! The chicken pesto quesadilla is to die for <3 It's so good that I could just eat that for the rest of my life. The restaurant was so good that we went there every day haha. But of course I tried different foods and all of them are so good. Recommended indeed! (but if you go there and don't like it, please don't blame me hah)
Saturday we took a crocodile tour and because it's slow season here right now we got ourselves a private tour just because there was no other tourists that wanted to take the tour that day (score!). It was nice boat ride where we saw soooo many crocodiles and one point the tour guy went to the water to feed the animal (crazy guy).
Don't know what else to say about this weekend than that it was a blast!

Next weekend we went to Tortuguero. We had to take two buses and motorboat ride to get there but it really is worth it. The boat ride is so beautiful and relaxing. I really liked Tortuguero. It's super small place with no cars. The only thing I didn't like was that there were no banks or ATMs so when you go there remember to take money from the ATM before you go 'cause you won't be able to get any untill you leave the place. Yeah you could use your card on some places.. I just don't like to pay with card.
Friday night we took a turtle walk tour and oh boy that was awesome! I knew that (sea)turtles are big but when I saw them with my own eyes, I couldn't believe they really were that big! Way over one meter long and so huge. Unfortunately it wasn't allowed to take pictures but I will always remember that experience.
Rest of the weekend we just relaxed and again danced like there is no tomorrow. Perfect weekend yet again.

Last weekend was Caddie's last weekend here in Costa Rica and we wanted to...well.. have perfect last weekend for her. We went to Puerto Viejo for the beaches and night life.
Our hostel/hotel was perfect! This was the best place we've been here in Costa Rica. "Hotel Pura Vida" and let me tell you, it really was pura vida. The staff is super nice, it's located in really good place and the rooms are so beautiful. And there's perfect breakfast place called "Bread&Chocolate" just two minute walk from the hotel (go there!). Perfect.
Saturday we rented bicycles (just 3000colónes/day) and biked through all the beaches till Playa Manzanillo. It was quite long ride but worth it. Enjoyed the beaches, sun, ocean and beautiful landscape.
The weekend was full of perfect things; food, weather and full of laughter.

This weeks Thursday we went out in San Pedro because it was Caddie's last full night here and it was a blast! The only "bad" thing was that the club was so packed! Couldn't almost move around. But the music was so good that in the end I didn't care about all those people hah.
Yesterday we went to Museo de los niños and it was cool! Sometimes we might have been a bit childish so it was good place for us hahah. And I kept thinking that one day it would be so nice to bring my own children there (I know I'm young, I shouldn't think about kids now but I can't help it hah). But end of the day I had to say goodbye to my friend and that wasn't funny at all.

All I can say now to Caddie is thank you for these two months; I couldn't have found better friend to travel and hang out with me in here. Your flight back to Germany already left today but my journey here still continues. Let's see what I end up doing next!

Of course there are things that have happened during the week but then this post would end up being longer than thing that's longer than the super long thing so I will end it here. And of course I have to have something to tell when I go back to Finland. It's no good to tell everything here and have no stories to tell when I go back home. So see ya later alligator!

I miss hot showers

You know the feeling when you have to wake up in the morning but don't want to? But then you realise you can go stand into hot shower and let that amazing hot water run through your body making you feel all warm and fuzzy? Or before putting your yammies on, you hop into nice and hot shower to wash all that sweat and stress you got that day? Yeah... I miss that feeling. The feeling when the water is so hot it feels like your skin is melting off, the feeling when you just know that every drop of sweat is leaving your body and you feel so relaxed and happy. It's funny how you miss certain things only after you don't have them anymore. Now I sound like I haven't had any hot showers here.. Well that's true hah. Yeah I've had maybe couple warm showers and the rest are...well...not so warm. I sound now like spoiled little princess but what can I say, I like my showers nice and hot.

Okay I guess that's enough about my showers hah..

So last week I started my volunteer work in an orphanage. It's a bit weird not be able to talk with the kids because I don't know Spanish that well yet... But I guess you don't need to know how to speak when playing tag or pushing the kids in the swing.
It's sad to think that it's not a daycare center; to go home and know that the kids will stay there because they have nowhere else to go, no one else to take care of them, no mom, no dad, no one. It's so good to see the kids all happy and laughing but... Then to remember that they aren't supposed to be there.. That they are there because their parents didn't want them. Found from the streets having nothing. Taken away from their parents because they were assaulted. But at least they have the people in the orphanage who takes care of them. Who give love and food. Who gives roof on top of their heads. Reads them a good night story. Hugs them. Make them feel loved and wanted. I'm so happy to be part of something that make the kids happy.

I could write million sentences about how amazing all the children are but it's too sad to say all those amazing things and then realise that they aren't wanted by their parents..ARGH! Happy thoughts, happy thoughts, happy thoughts...

So I've had three weekends here already and every weekend I've travelled somewhere and done some tour thingy. Fist weekend I spent in La Fortuna. Did a Volcan Arenal tour and went to hot springs (wohoo hot water! haha). Second weekend I spent in Manuel Antonio. Heaven on earth! Spent Saturday just laying on beautiful beach and getting my tan on. Heaven. Buuuuut after that day I might have been more red than brown (oopsie). And in the evening me and my friends went dancing. Last weekend I was in Monteverde. The weather was nice and cool (other weekends had been way too hot so this weather was so welcomed). On Saturday went zip lining (sitting normally and like superman)! So awesome! Even though it rained it didn't ruin the experience. End of the zip lining was Tarzan swing: 40meter free fall and then the rope catches you and you swing like Tarzan. That was the best thing in the whole zip lining thingy! I wish I could have done it over and over again.

I've loved all the travelling but spent way too much money doing that.. Now all I can think of is "save money, save money, save money, you are going to be here still 16 weeks..saaaaave!" Well next weekend I'm gonna take it easy and just stay at my host family. And sleep. Gonna sleep so much. Just sleep. Nothing else. Okay maybe netflix. 'Cause netflix is life.

And now some awesome pics

Volcán Arenal

View from my hostel in Manuel Antonio

Perezoso <3

Crickets (?)

Manuel Antonio

Night out in Quepos

Don't have any pics from Monteverde 'cause all the zip lining pics are on CD.. Will put some here when I get them on my laptop! Good night for now and Hasta Luego!

When in doubt, just nod and smile

I don't really know when exactly I should write a new post; everyday, once a week, when I have done something special or just when I feel like it. So I decided just write when I feel like it, even though I have really nothing to say. It is quite easy to write a full page of something and really not say anything. As you can see I just wrote three sentences that have no meaning to this post whatsoever (now four).

Okay, fine let's talk about my trip..

So I arrived to Costa Rica last Saturday. The flight from Miami was over two hours late because of the rain. RAIN. I mean come on! It wasn't that bad. At least not to me. But well what do I know. I'm not expert on when planes can fly and when not.

Let me just say that if you ever plan on going to Costa Rica, arrange your transportation from the airport to wherever you are going beforehand because when you go outside of the airport it is crazy! There are so many taxi drivers just yelling "Taxi? Taxi? Taxi? Taxi?", over and over again. They just come to your face and you feel so overwhelmed by all the people and yelling that it is hard to find what you are looking for. It took me few minutes before I found the person who was picking me up and driving me to my host family. (Or sure you can just take a taxi)

So my driver took me to my host family. And they are super nice retired couple (Mary and Danilo). It's just that...well.. they only speak Spanish. Yeah they do know maybe couple words in English but that's it. So it really is just me nodding and smiling when they say something to me. Luckily I understand something. And when I say something I mean... well I think I know as much Spanish as they know English. I did take private Spanish lessons in Finland but well.. Let's just say I should have listened my teacher when he said I need to remember to study on my own.

On Sunday I went for a walk with my host family and during the walk the mom asked me what is my religion. I am catholic so I said that and the next thing I know I am attending a mass. I know church isn't the place that should make you laugh (and it didn't!) but it is a bit funny just to stand there and have no idea what they are talking or singing about (yeah yeah I am a horrible human being for almost laughing in the church).
I didn't really do anything for the rest of the day. Just watched Netflix and tried to stay awake (jetlag). Oh I must say that I do love the American netflix! So much more choices! But at the same time it takes twice as much time to pick up something to watch. And yes I know what you are thinking "You are in Costa Rica and you are spending your time on netflix?".. Please don't judge me, it was my first evening and I had (still have) jetlag. And I am boring and lazy. And netflix is life.

So today I had my first day of school (Spanish lessons) and I ended up in the group that knows the least Spanish (no surprise in there). Got myself local sim-card and I got to know new people. Mary took me to school and picked me up but from tomorrow onwards I need to know how to do it on my own. I do hope I won't get lost..

Hasta luego!

Let there be first blog post

Okay, so.. This will be my very first blog about anything (and probably the last). I have no idea if I am any good at writing and there will be many spelling mistakes. Just stating the facts before you end up thinking that you just wasted your time on something boring and wondering why I did not give you heads up. So here is the heads up, this blog will probably suck. Or maybe for some reason you just realized how amusing and oh so funny I am and you will continue reading and waiting for more of my wittiness. Or not.

Yeah, so the reason why I started this.. Next Saturday (6th of August) I will travel to Costa Rica to do some volunteer work (aka getting myself some good karma... Yes yes I know I am horrible human being thinking like that). I will not be there for long (going to be back in Finland 19th of December) but I hope I am able to help as much as I can and that I will make lots of good memories.

I am not going to do volunteer work the whole time (oh no I am not THAT good of a person). Last five weeks I am going to travel around Costa Rica (and maybe other places). I hope at least someone will be bored and have nothing else to do than to read my blog. Lets see how many times will I mess up putting pictures here or something else hah..

What else can I say than LET THE JOURNEY BEGIN! (on Saturday..)

P.s. What to do now that I have already packed my stuff..