Day 45: PART II - Signs, signs, nowhere are there signs...

Maps of Costa Rica are deceiving since a place that looks relatively close can be several hours away. After five hours of driving to the airport, we didn’t realize we were in for another five hour trek to the volcano. Maybe it shouldn’t have taken that long but we were missing some critical components for travelling in the right directions – signs. Without ‘em, it’s very easy to take unnecessary detours and unknowingly backtrack. I guess I can’t say there aren’t any signs. There are plenty of unnecessary signs. When there’s only one road and it can only turn left, a sign will point you left. BUT, when you get to a fork in the road, or a four way intersection, there are no signs to be found for miles and miles. Or if you’re lucky enough to see one, you can bet on it pointing in a direction that isn’t quite clear. If Costa Rica would grant me one wish, I’d say screw the paving the roads, please add more signage throughout the country (accurately placed too).

We finally made it through the signless, maze-like roads up mountains, through more clouds and fog that made visibility next to impossible and pulled into La Fortuna after the sun went to bed. We needed to find a place to do the same. After another less than reliable review of a hotel in the area, we went with Pura Vida Hotel. While I have a list of requirements for our hotel stays (i.e. hot water, real windows, clean bed, electricity), we needed one more thing: wifi. Today was the cutoff for the potential Cut Off.

As promised, Matt brought beard trimmers (although they were glazed with toothpaste from a suitcase mishap) and some single blade razors. What a brother-in-law. 58 votes later, they won’t be getting used. With only two lousy votes more than me, Mike gets to keep the beard. And Matt also let his beard tag along for trip too.

All the driving (and flying) induced travel exhaustion and we went to bed right after dinner with the only vision of this invisible volcano being in our heads since it was hidden behind curtains of clouds and darkness.

Beard Brothers