Day 14. 16.4.16. Havana, Cuba to San José, Costa Rica. LSCT day # 10. Go Tours (GT) day # 1.

Awake early, before dawn, tried to shower, water was cold, then ran out – luckily I had just washed the soap off. This is not an unusual occurrence. When we were having breaky the boys were working with the tanks to rectify the ‘issue.’

Coming back to Havana and Casa Alta - Habana, was like coming home. The girls and boys were incredibly welcoming and friendly.

My room for our second stay, was Suzie's room last time.

Bathroom.

Amazingly high ceilings, beautiful old original shutters.

The boys bundled our luggage down 3 flights of stairs and into the van. Then hugs and photos all around – Harrold, Alex, Dennis and Rodney, and even our man with the pigeons next door popped into a pic at the end. We had watched him release his pigeons while we were having breaky and he gave us a wave several times.

Dennis, Rodney, Harrold.

Dennis, Rodney, Harrold, Alex.

...and with pigeon man in the shot now, as he just happened along the street and we recognised him.

We were off to Jose San Marti airport with Cuban pesos and time to burn. We were early and only the second group in check-in line.

We looked around the shops, Margot changed her money back and then we sailed through customs and into the departure lounge, which had shitty shops, but that didn’t stop us finding a way to get rid of those final pesos.

The plane boarded late but was still ready to depart pretty much on time. It was  a nice new looking plane – COPA Airlines 737-800.

Jose San Marti Airport, as we were taxiing out.

Out over the Cuban Coastline.

Always love flying above the clouds.

Coming into Panama.

We deplaned in Panama and into transit, it was like coming back into the real world with very American shops, neon lights and such a change from Cuba. A short layover, then onto a smaller plan, time change in Panama and another in Costa Rica.

Pretty easy into Costa Rica. Customs was so laid back as to be horizontal, they didn’t even collect mine and Suzie’s forms!

Luggage carousel was hassle free. We moved outside to be met by Carlos, our new Van driver.

Driving into and through downtown San Jose is a bit of assault on the senses after Cuba. There were just so many vehicles on the roads and at 6.00pm on a Saturday, the drivers seemed nutty too. Car ownership must be high here, in Cuba it was about16%.

Once in Downtown San Jose, it was mayhem, traffic, pedestrians all going everywhere all at once. Doesn’t look nice at all, lots of razor wire/broken bottles on walls/fences.

Finally, after being detoured, Carlos needed to ask a taxi driver for directions to the Hotel Presidente. Thankfully the Hotel was lovely. We checked in, and then met a little later for a drink in lobby and some access to wi-fi, which led to our most unsociable night to date as we each connected with the outside world. 

Dinner in the Hotel Restaurant, we weren’t game to brave the streets. I had a  delicious tenderloin steak. We are now two hours behind Cuba, so it seems quite late and we’ve had a pretty long day.

Tomorrow we start our “Go Tours Costa Rica Tour.”

The huge bronze type relief on the wall of the restaurant. Suzie on the iPad.

I loved the quirky bits and pieces around the hotel.

I reckon this has been our unstated motto.

The computer desk in foreground and sitting area in background. 

One of the national symbols of Costa Rica is the Ox Cart, they are no longer in use. But this stylised wheel, looked good.

Entry area with trendy red spiral staircase.

Sitting area.

Cool use of old library card type drawers, with plants in them.

Their encouragement to lure us to the city did not work tonight.

The room after I had landed.

Bathroom, including, the undies already up to dry.