Enga mellom fjella

Day 14 ...in Quepos.

Quepos is the gateway to Manuel Antonio, the national park, the beaches, the robber-monkeys...

ME?

I'm staying in the hostel. Don't feel well and not up to the hassle and hostility of druggies and dá-me-money. A bit of a fever... 99.2 ...but that is high for me. And it's "warm and humid" on a tropical beach. Duh...

So I feel like shit.

Went to look at the ocean. Avoided a young crazy guy. Seems like the crazies own the waterfront and there may be police everywhere... but not there.

Ate ceviche de pianguas (conch? ceviche is raw fish/shrimp/conch/squid... prepared in lemon/lime with cilantro, onion...). Finally. I got the last portion. They don't always have it. ¢2.300 ($4.50). [For comparison: good fish like corvina or roble is ¢4.500/kilo while pianguas is ¢8.000/kilo] The owner was sick too... oh well, how much sicker can I get? (Don't answer; I don't want to know; know all too well.)

Took photo of Swiss flag hanging from the ceiling here at the Wide Mouth Frog. ($12/night dormitory, breakfast included ...pinto and it even has a pool ...and free coffee, kitchen to cook, very nice atmosphere). Sent pic to Stefan in Switzerland as this is where I met him 6 months ago. Meeting great people is one of the joys of traveling. Staying with backpackers means you will meet all types!

So, I'm sitting with coffee. Will remember to drink milk or water and not just coffee. Have no appetite. After weighing myself at Marlene's that isn't a bad thing.

So, maybe I'll save some money? Prolly not. Prices are high in Quepos. $3 for a milkshake may not impress foreigners but poor Costa Ricans make about $2/hour as opposed to poor Montanans at $8/hour. In North American prices it would be more comparable to $12 for a milkshake... food is not cheap. Fruits are though ...and rice.

Hmmm... what else? Lots! But I don't want to spend hours on this. My trip this morning started at 7 and ended at 10. The bus is slow due to multiple stops and winding mountain roads. Cost me ¢2.015 ($4). Maybe I'm just a tad tired?

Anyhoo... I'll be in touch.

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