Our day started pretty early at 4am, and I didn't get much sleep either cause I was just too excited. Jeremy's mom was nice enough to wake up early and take us to the airport at 5am. We got to the airport fairly early and got our first taste of flying first class. There was a pretty big line for American Airlines, but First Class passengers got their own line. Bam! I felt a little bad actually because essentially we cut in front of everyone. Plus we looked a little odd, I had a 30 lb pack on my back, and my day bag on the front of me, oh and my camera bag...we definitely didnt fit the profile of someone flying first class!
We were a little bummed to find out Sac International didnt have a First Class lounge that we could hang out in. Our flight was delayed about a 1/2 hour before we were finally able to board, the first ones on mind you! I absolutely loved our flight attendants, they were so much nicer up there then in coach. We were given some coffee/OJ before we even took off, then hot towels! I heart hot towels!
This is another reason why I hate Sacramento...they dont serve hot breakfasts in First Class! I guess its a Sacramento thing. BUT, we were given cereal, milk, OJ, and a hot muffin. It was a little weird to be using actual silverware and a glass, instead of the usual spork in Coach.
After breakfast we hung out and played some pig dice (dont ask), and took a nap in the lounge seats! Ahhh there was so much leg room and so comfy! We arrived in Dallas Fort Worth and wondered around for a while before boarding on our (again late) flight to San Jose. Man, what a difference between First Class and Coach, I was starting to miss First Class! I was tired anyway, so the flight was chalk full of hours of crossword puzzles, sleeping and watching the new Sleeping Beauty movie with Julia Roberts.
We arrived in San Jose over an hour late, because we left Dallas a little late. I was convinced our driver, who was supposed to meet us there, would've checked that we were running late, and would know to stay. He didnt. Arriving in San Jose was a overwhelming to say the least!!! Not only were we hit with the humidity (even at 10pm) but there are taxi drivers literally in your face wanting to give you a ride. Now, there are places in Europe that are like that, but nothing prepared me for this!
I read about how taxi drivers would pretend to call the hotel you were supposed to go to, and the person on the other line (usually a friend) would say they were booked, and would take you to a place they would get commission to, or worse...rob you. Well, Jeremy and I stood out like a sore thumb with our four backpacks, so of course we had everyone all over us. I knew not to engage them, and just to tell them no, Jeremy on the other hand....did not. We finally found Pablo (who seemed legit for Costa Rican standards) who sure enough whipped out his phone and called the place we were staying at. I looked at Jeremy and and gave him the this-doesnt-seem-right stare. Even though Jeremy talked to the other person on the phone, we werent actually sure if that were the hotel he called. We hung up the phone and called the hotel ourselves and Jeremy said it sounded like the same person, and he also said the taxi driver we were with was legit, so we took him.
Now, before I left I bought the Lonely Planet's Costa Rica (a life saver btw), and it said make sure you get in the red taxi's with the yellow triangle on the side. He drove up in a Toyota Carolla! I was starting to get nervous....I dont know if Jeremy was, but I was! He didnt speak too much English, but what I understood was that the highway was closed, and we needed to take side streets to get around it....I started to get really nervous. We were driving around town and before we knew it, he started backing up in front of this gate to an industrial complex. I was seriously nervous, it was almost right out of a movie, I could totally picture a gang of guys opening the gate real quick, Pablo backing in, and them robbing us leaving us naked to wonder around the streets of Costa Rica. This was not a great start to our trip! We were relieved to find out he had just missed the turn! Sigh
We finally made it to Casa del Parque, our hostel for the night. We were met by Thomas, who was super nice and helped us to our room. We booked this hostel for two nights during our whole trip, the first night and last night. Originally I had planned the trip to stay in San Jose for multiple nights, but were told by a friend to only stay over night (and were glad we did). Nothing against the hostel, it was amazing...super clean, nice staff, and comfy rooms, San Jose on the other hand was a dump! By that time, it was late and we didnt do much other than go to bed...needless to say I slept like a rock.
This is another reason why I hate Sacramento...they dont serve hot breakfasts in First Class! I guess its a Sacramento thing. BUT, we were given cereal, milk, OJ, and a hot muffin. It was a little weird to be using actual silverware and a glass, instead of the usual spork in Coach.
After breakfast we hung out and played some pig dice (dont ask), and took a nap in the lounge seats! Ahhh there was so much leg room and so comfy! We arrived in Dallas Fort Worth and wondered around for a while before boarding on our (again late) flight to San Jose. Man, what a difference between First Class and Coach, I was starting to miss First Class! I was tired anyway, so the flight was chalk full of hours of crossword puzzles, sleeping and watching the new Sleeping Beauty movie with Julia Roberts.We arrived in San Jose over an hour late, because we left Dallas a little late. I was convinced our driver, who was supposed to meet us there, would've checked that we were running late, and would know to stay. He didnt. Arriving in San Jose was a overwhelming to say the least!!! Not only were we hit with the humidity (even at 10pm) but there are taxi drivers literally in your face wanting to give you a ride. Now, there are places in Europe that are like that, but nothing prepared me for this!
I read about how taxi drivers would pretend to call the hotel you were supposed to go to, and the person on the other line (usually a friend) would say they were booked, and would take you to a place they would get commission to, or worse...rob you. Well, Jeremy and I stood out like a sore thumb with our four backpacks, so of course we had everyone all over us. I knew not to engage them, and just to tell them no, Jeremy on the other hand....did not. We finally found Pablo (who seemed legit for Costa Rican standards) who sure enough whipped out his phone and called the place we were staying at. I looked at Jeremy and and gave him the this-doesnt-seem-right stare. Even though Jeremy talked to the other person on the phone, we werent actually sure if that were the hotel he called. We hung up the phone and called the hotel ourselves and Jeremy said it sounded like the same person, and he also said the taxi driver we were with was legit, so we took him.
Now, before I left I bought the Lonely Planet's Costa Rica (a life saver btw), and it said make sure you get in the red taxi's with the yellow triangle on the side. He drove up in a Toyota Carolla! I was starting to get nervous....I dont know if Jeremy was, but I was! He didnt speak too much English, but what I understood was that the highway was closed, and we needed to take side streets to get around it....I started to get really nervous. We were driving around town and before we knew it, he started backing up in front of this gate to an industrial complex. I was seriously nervous, it was almost right out of a movie, I could totally picture a gang of guys opening the gate real quick, Pablo backing in, and them robbing us leaving us naked to wonder around the streets of Costa Rica. This was not a great start to our trip! We were relieved to find out he had just missed the turn! Sigh
We finally made it to Casa del Parque, our hostel for the night. We were met by Thomas, who was super nice and helped us to our room. We booked this hostel for two nights during our whole trip, the first night and last night. Originally I had planned the trip to stay in San Jose for multiple nights, but were told by a friend to only stay over night (and were glad we did). Nothing against the hostel, it was amazing...super clean, nice staff, and comfy rooms, San Jose on the other hand was a dump! By that time, it was late and we didnt do much other than go to bed...needless to say I slept like a rock.
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