Back to Paradiso...!

This week so far has been a  great learning experience!

On March 15th I left the USA, starting from Ohio, stopping in New Jersey (and had a quick visit with my prima and her esposo!), and landed in Panama.

PANAMA! This was the first time I arrived in Panama, saw the city, heard the people speaking and survived a car ride on the highway, to arrive at a port and meet again my special someone.
The airport was not what I expected, after my previous experience with international airports. It was not very close to the city, but it was not short on taxis, luggage or arriving flights...! Thankfully my luggage arrived without any problems and I jumped in a taxi to make my way to Colón. The accent in Panama is very different...it reminds me a lot of the islands, of the Carribean. At first I had a very hard time understanding...!!   The highways are pretty nice, that is they are all well-made and maintained similar to the highways in the USA, and they are a step up from the Pan-Am that goes through CR, which is often only two lane. Impressive...the driving though, had me clutching my seat. The style of driving was very much come and go and get in as you please, which resulted in some scary moments. The important part is that I arrived in one piece...!
What a great feeling to arrive and be able to give E a hug! I am able to travel with him for a few days, and this week he has a Spanish speaking group so I am able to make myself useful there.
Panama is so cheap..! We made a pit-stop at a large grocery store and also a mall, and the prices are SO LOW in comparison to Costa Rica! Maybe it would be better to live there, haha! Cost of living is prety enviable. We visited Colón, Amador, Panama City and Isla Coiba...! Coiba was beautiful, and I can understand why it is one of E's favorite places to visit...additionally it is a National Park and there are plenty of hiking trails, birds to see and snorkeling to do, which makes it very attractive too.

COSTA RICA! Today we arrive in Costa Rica and have some time to run errands, check emails, and later today we leave again for a different part of the country. I feel like I have come home!! The language, the sun, the food, the good company...I missed Costa Rica.

PURA VIDA!