The car attendant dropped us at TICA bus and we bid him goodbye with thanks. We entered a more crowded terminal than before and checked in for our next leg of the journey. That was done quickly and we found the waiting room. We were given customs and immigration forms to fill out in the waiting area because we would be crossing from Nicaragua to Costa Rica. Soon it was the appointed time for loading the bus and we filed up the stairs and back to our assigned seats for the next leg of our journey. This segment was scheduled to begin at noon and the expected arrival time in the capital of Costa Rica was between 9 and 10 p.m. Based upon the expected arrival times on the previous leg, we were not hopeful that we would make it at the first time and even not for the second.
We began our journey on a very full bus and any empty seats were soon filled by successive stops along the highway. We continued on our journey for two or three hours and came to the frontier between the two countries. There were formalities that we had to do both in leaving one country and entering the next. This was the first time that we would have to queue up for immigration in any country since leaving Guatemala. There were several lines. I selected the first one and John, Don and Nance selected the next one. I got through without any problem but each of the others was asked to provide evidence of a return ticket after entering Costa Rica. I suspect my attendant was just forgetting to follow his checklist in dealing with the foreigners.
We were soon on the bus again but before gaining speed on the highway we were sent through a mechanism that appeared to be much like a spray wash for cars. Apparently Costa Rica did not want any unwanted bugs or germs from where we had been.
The journey continued during daylight hours and into the dark of night. The highways were better here in Costa Rica and did not have as much pedestrian traffic or local bus services starting and stopping frequently ahead of us. But my estimate for speed might have been a good solid average of 45 mph due to two-lane roads and cautious drivers. I did not have much hope for an early arrival in San Jose but when we approached the city lights and finally arrived within sight of the TICA bus station, I was encouraged. Our coach pulled into the station at precisely 9:12 p.m.
We had enjoyed a more than adequate stay at the TICA hotel in the previous city and made reservations for our first night in San Jose. We checked into the front desk and enjoyed yet another night thanks to TICA bus. Tomorrow we would make arrangements for the final outbound leg of our journey south. Onward to Jacó where our friends David and Pam live and work. Tomorrow will be a new day!
We began our journey on a very full bus and any empty seats were soon filled by successive stops along the highway. We continued on our journey for two or three hours and came to the frontier between the two countries. There were formalities that we had to do both in leaving one country and entering the next. This was the first time that we would have to queue up for immigration in any country since leaving Guatemala. There were several lines. I selected the first one and John, Don and Nance selected the next one. I got through without any problem but each of the others was asked to provide evidence of a return ticket after entering Costa Rica. I suspect my attendant was just forgetting to follow his checklist in dealing with the foreigners.
We were soon on the bus again but before gaining speed on the highway we were sent through a mechanism that appeared to be much like a spray wash for cars. Apparently Costa Rica did not want any unwanted bugs or germs from where we had been.
The journey continued during daylight hours and into the dark of night. The highways were better here in Costa Rica and did not have as much pedestrian traffic or local bus services starting and stopping frequently ahead of us. But my estimate for speed might have been a good solid average of 45 mph due to two-lane roads and cautious drivers. I did not have much hope for an early arrival in San Jose but when we approached the city lights and finally arrived within sight of the TICA bus station, I was encouraged. Our coach pulled into the station at precisely 9:12 p.m.
We had enjoyed a more than adequate stay at the TICA hotel in the previous city and made reservations for our first night in San Jose. We checked into the front desk and enjoyed yet another night thanks to TICA bus. Tomorrow we would make arrangements for the final outbound leg of our journey south. Onward to Jacó where our friends David and Pam live and work. Tomorrow will be a new day!
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