More People!

Judy. When we decided to come to Costa Rica, we were aware of the fact that we’d not have many opportunities to meet people, which, as you know, is a big part of our travels. The only Servas hosts we’d located were in San Jose, and we weren’t going there. So this trip was about the diversity of animals we’d see, and we were not disappointed. 

 Then we went to the Osa Peninsula and Drake Bay. Our hosts at Casa Horizonte, Yami and Pedro, were so open and willing to talk to us—despite the fact that Yami’s English is far better than our Spanish, she let us stumble through so that we’d have a chance to practice. In return, we spoke English with her 13-year-old daughter Gloriana. When we weren’t out exploring, we found ourselves sitting on the verandah chatting about the area, about their hotel business, and about Gloriana’s frustration with learning online instead of with her friends. 

Yami, Pedro, and Gloriana

 When we took the Corcovado National Park tour, we found ourselves with the friendliest group ever, beginning when we saw dolphins on the trip over, and the young Spanish woman shouted, “I’ve got videos if anyone wants me to send them!” Over the next few hours, we all really bonded: Anna and Monique, two young medical students from Barcelona; Judith, a therapist working with refugees in Vienna; and a young French couple taking a year to travel from Mexico to Chile. Even Roy our guide, joined in the fun. All of us love travel, and Ted and I found ourselves truly impressed by the charitable work of the women and the free spirit of the French couple. By the time lunch was over, we’d formed a WhatsApp group, promising to keep in touch. Anna had gotten my phone number, and since we hadn’t exchanged last names yet, put “Corcovado” as my last name so she’d remember where we met. The whole group had a great laugh over that, and my new name became “Judy Corcovado”.   

Monique and Anna

 (Anna and Monique, I think I gave you the wrong phone number for my WhatsApp account. Please email me at this address and I’ll give you the right one.) 

 After we left Drake Bay, we stopped at an archaeological site to see pre-Columbian stone spheres, and learn something about the indigenous people. A young Polish woman was taking photographs—turns out she just finished her PHD in mechanical engineering and was interested in the spheres and how they got there. We also learned that she’s from near Bialystok, where our friends Robert and Ann live! 

We were headed back to Uvita to pick up our big suitcase and drive up to Guanacaste when we spotted a hitchhiker on the side of the road. As we passed him, Ted said, “He looks like Stefan. Would you mind if we picked him up?” For the next two days Chris from Dresden, Germany, rode with us north toward Tamarindo. Turns out he’s a Scout and is just finishing his mechanical engineering degree. Chris, who’s only 23, has traveled extensively, and we never seemed to stop sharing stories. 

Chris, who looks like a young Stefan, and Ted

 On the evening we arrived in Atlanta, tired and hungry, we decided to eat at an airport restaurant. A few tables down from us sat a group of women having a great time—seems like it was the birthday of one of the women, and her friends had all flown in to celebrate. They were starting right there at TGI Fridays. On a whim, I walked down and said, “Y’all are having too much fun! Any chance you’ll celebrate with me on my birthday?” Immediately, I had five new acquaintances offering to come back in August. We chatted briefly, then they insisted I join them for a group photo. I gotta tell you: It made coming back to the US a lot more palatable. 

Sharon and friends let me play!

 Thank goodness we can’t get away from amazing people.