21.12.2019 Juanilama - San José

It's pouring like crazy tonight. The rain is pounding on the roof. I already have visions that we won't be able to leave here because the roads are impassable. The rain is so loud that I can hardly hear the roosters crowing. All the better.

At 7 o'clock we have breakfast and as always here in the village, it's very delicious. There are tomatoes, cucumber, pineapple, the obligatory rice and beans, eggs, and a dumpling with chicken. Luckily, there is one of us in every house who speaks Spanish. Tatiana in the other house and me in this house. The family here has been welcoming guests for 15 years, two to three times a week during high season and once or twice during low season. The families take turns preparing the meals.

We learn that there is a great waterfall here that we unfortunately did not see (40 minutes walk in the forest). There are also children's groups that dance folklore. There is also a ranch for sleeping and eating by groups. There have been up to 60 people here.

The good soul of this house tells us that there is no alcohol in the village. If visitors want to drink alcohol, they have to bring it themselves.

A few women in the village also make soap. They look very beautiful. I buy two. 5 US$/soap.

Elena, our host, tells us that her grandson, who lives with her (the mother lives in San José and visits every two weeks), is already counting the days until Christmas. I explain to her the tradition with our Christmas chocolate calendars. But I also let her know that you can also make them yourself and fill them with small gifts. She is excited about the idea and we search for photos on the internet. She wants to make such a calendar for next year.

At 8 o'clock we then leave in the rain and arrive in San José after a longer traffic jam due to construction work. It's not raining anymore!

Now it's time to say goodbye. We are now going our separate ways again. It was a very pleasant group, but Esteban was the best. He deserves a huge compliment. Always friendly and helpful, competent, conscientious, funny, and also very athletic. He gave us helpful tips for mountain biking on technically demanding terrain and was always concerned about our safety.

I'm riding with three girls from the group who also need to go to the city center to my hotel. Again Hotel Casa Leon.

I get a different room than last time, but also very nice. I spread out my clothes and shoes. Everything is damp from the climate in the rainforest, or wet from cycling in the rain.
The nice thing is that I'm staying here for three days and don't have to pack my suitcase every morning.

Since it's not too late yet, I go to the National Museum. It's a very nice museum about the history of Costa Rica, very modern, well done, and informative.

Afterwards, I go to "my" pizzeria, get something at the bakery and the fruit vendor on the street, and go back to the hotel.