The only way this was going to be possible, was, was by running. So I Did, Just that!

I’ve heard about this Caribbean side,
  this Caribbean side of Costa Rica.
Oh how I’ve heard about this Caribbean side of Costa Rica.

Several weeks back,
  well now,
several months back,
one of my roommates and I decided to go to Puerto Viejo for holy week.  
Well,
just cause we made a decision,  
didn’t necessarily mean society agreed with it.
Meria and I sat at the kitchen table one Saturday morning
calling every hostel in the entire Puerto Viejo area.
Everywhere was booked.
And those that weren’t,
costs a week’s salary just for a night.
So,
of course,
that wasn’t happening.  

So I listened to the signs
and made other plans
As life has a way of doing so,
all worked out
just the way it should.

This just meant the Caribbean coast,
would be explored,
at a later time in my Costa Rica living.

That later time came just a few weeks after the intended date.
No one else’s schedule matched up with that of mine,
but after learning the ropes of traveling solo,
from previous adventures,
I knew I was going to make it happen
either way.

Friday came,
and I said
I was going.
I found a hostel about seven km outside of Puerto Viejo
in a quaint place called Punta Uva.  
I made arrangements to leave after class Saturday
hoping to catch the two o’clock bus.
Landing me in my destination close to five hours later.
That sounded just right.

What this plan actually looked like,
was quite entertaining
the whole way through

Let me explain…

I woke Saturday morning.
To the rain coming down so thick I questioned how I was going to get to class.
Skateboarding was out of the question.
It was walking time.
Which meant,
my time to get from the bus stop to my house
then back to a different bus stop after class
was even tighter.
Now,
that I only had two feet,
instead of four wheels
AND two feet.

So I got up.
Went about my morning.
Bags packed in the corner of my room.
Food waiting in the fridge for the weekend get-away.
I contemplated for some time.
Should I go?
Is it going to rain the whole time?
Should I go?
Are you crazy?
Ah,
no need to answer that last question.
I’ve known the answer for far too long now.

Ashley,
just wait and see.
Go to class.
See how the weather is when you get out
and decide from there.
Okay,
thanks for the pep talk.  

So I did just that.

I went to class.
It rained.
And rained.
And rained some more.  
And then it cleared up.
And blue sky’s came.

Okay,
Ashley. 
We’re going.
You got this.
Man,
did I made a commitment.

So here it goes.

I got out of class at 12 in the afternoon.
Waited for the bus for about 15 minutes.
Took the bus for about 35 minutes.
It dropped me off at the center of town.  
This brought me close to one o’clock.
My bus was at two.
Off the bus.
Shoes off.
Hair pulled back.

The only way this was going to be possible,
was,
was by running,
So,
I did
just that.

So I ran
I ran through the chaotic streets of downtown San Jose on a Saturday afternoon.
I ran along the main road of Paseo Colon.  
I ran through my neighborhood.
And into my front door.
I was dripping with sweat.
Out of breathe.
But making good timing.
This led me to about 1:15.

I got this.
Man, do I have this.

Into the shower.
Dress on.
Converse laced up.
Bandana on my head.
Food out of the fridge.
Backpack on my back.
Let’s go.

Ran towards the middle of town
to the bus stop.  
Ran.
And ran.  
And ran.
And there I was.
Arriving with 15 minutes to spare.
Went right up to the ticket window.
Got my ticket.
Walked into the snack shop.
Got my coffee.
And it was time to load the bus.

There I was,
window seat.
The best seat.
Of course.
With no one sitting next to me!
Golden.

Here we go!

I talk to everyone.
Yes, I talk to everyone.

I sat my happy little massive bag of food,
coffee in my hand,
music in my ears
self
onto my seat.

And before I knew it,
I was talking to the man in front of me
and
the woman to the right of me.
Each,
with
very different stories.

The hours of travel went by.
Shared between hanging my head out of the window.
Letting rain subtly splash on my face.
Listening to music.
Coloring.
And engaging in conversations.

Nighttime presented itself.
And some time later,
I was being dropped off at the center of Puerto Viejo.
The first hour or so in this town,
consisted of me walking around with one of my bus mates
trying to find her a place to stay for the evening.
Once that commenced,
I excitedly called myself a cab
and off I was to Punta Uva.

I arrived at this vibrant, homey place – Walaba Hostel.
Where I was greeted by a dreaded couple and their young son.
I paid.
Got the down low.
And went up to my home for the weekend.

The first evening was simply spent making a peanut butter and banana wrap
and enjoying some wine on the balcony.
While being entertained by the sounds of the creatures moving around in the dark beyond my human vision.  

I woke early the next morning.
Walked up the gravel road,
made a quick right,
15 more steps
and found myself on the damp morning sand.
I engaged in my favorite practice of yoga,
on the beach,
of course,
just shortly after the sun had risen itself.

I returned back to the hostel.
To get ready for the day.
And upon my return,
the rain decided to join.
And did it overstay its welcome.  
The rain latest for about four hours.

But,
as it goes,
it all happens for a reason.
It gave me an opportunity to communicate with my family,
read a book,
meet a delightful woman just finishing a volunteer expedition,
and a lovely couple on a month long adventure throughout Costa Rica.
I hopped in the rental car of this lovely couple
and went up the street
to the only open coffee shop
and talked about life            
and adventures
and happiness
and our journeys.  
How, was it beautiful. 

The rain cleared.
The sun was ready to play.
I jumped on my wheels for the weekend.
A bike I had rented.

And wow,
are there words?

I spent the afternoon.
Riding up and down this main road.
Lined,
on both my right and left
with trees
of trees
luscious trees.
Fresh.  
Vibrant.
Absolutely radiant trees.

My hands were seldom on the handlebars. 
My camera remained in my bag. 
And how did I sing. 
How did I sing. 
As loud as I possibly could. 

And this singing wasn’t to songs that were already in existence, 
these were songs I made up. 
Made up for hours.  

The purity.
The happiness.
The euphoria.  
The ultimate freedom.
The feeling of being protected.
The motivation.
The inspiration.
The subtleness.
The knowing.
The protection.

It was all so incredibly beautiful.

This,
these feelings,
continued throughout my day. 

I found myself,
close to sunset.
Went to the local store.
Grabbed my favorite sunset essentials.
Bamboo, a rum and coke pre-mixed drink.
And Cocians, the most amazing Costa Rican coconut cookies.
And headed towards the beach. 

Along the way,
I ran into the lovely woman whom I had spoken with earlier in the morning while waiting out the rain.
Her story,
was truly inspiring.
Absolutely encouraging.
In her 50’s,
and literally starting life over.
Recently divorced.  
A survivor of cancer.
Daughters in college.
She was so happy.
So incredibly happy,
positive
and filled with so much gratitude.

We watched the sun settle together.
Talking more about love
and life
and adventures
and our stories
and the reality of really making anything possible. 

Shortly after,
I went back to my home for the weekend.
To shower.
And settle in for the evening .
With my drink and coloring book.
Yes, I know
How old am I?
A coloring book is an essential for me when traveling.
Absolutely therapeutic.  
I settled into a hammock,
music coming from my phone.
So much happiness within.
And my coloring book to the right.

Just moments later,
the incredible couple I spent coffee with that morning
invited me to their private little home.
We spent the whole night,
Communicating.
Laughing.
Connecting.
Sharing. 

It was most definitely
as if I had know them before.
The conversations were endless.
There was so much to be said.
So much that could be said.
We truly enjoyed each other’s company.
Or at least I truly enjoyed theirs.

We said good night.
And that was the end of that day.

I woke early the next morning as my alarm went off
Reminding me to go engage in my practice on the beach.
Guess what I did?
I turned my alarm off.
I slept in until my body was ready to wake.
And man,
did it feel good.    

Before I knew it.
It was time to go to the Jaguar Rescue Center.
No, there wasn’t a jaguar there.
But there were most definitely incredible animals.
A home created specifically for saved animals from around Costa Rica.

Each with a story.
Each with a home built just for them.
Each with a recovery plan.
What an incredibly thoughtful,
animals come first
kind of environment.  

And. 
So the rest of that day was spent playing in the sand. 
On the beach. 
Saying goodbye to my wheels and home for the weekend. 

And then trekking along the main road. 
7 km into town to catch my evening bus. 

I spent the ride back to San Jose. 
Head out the window, 
camera around my neck.
Observing. 
Taking in. 
Being in complete awe. 
And inspiration. 
From the weekend that I had just experienced. .

Yes, 
this is yet, 
another weekend adventure 
Shared amongst the universes creations, 
with new smiling faces 
and discovery within. 

As always, thanks for sharing my journey with me!