Om our last day in Costa Rica, Dylan and I awoke earlier than Aidan and Karen and went to get breakfast. Unlike the first morning at Hotel Robledal where food was set out buffet style, this morning food was made to order. It was Costa Rican Mother’s Day and there were decorations all around the patio seating area. I had fresh fruit (pineapple, and papaya), gallo pinto (rice and beans) and scrambled eggs. The hotel appeared deserted on this holiday which I found out was a holiday that most people have off of work. Aidan and Karen joined us a little later.
After breakfast we loaded the rental car, and set out to return it, which meant driving through Alajuela. Again the GPS tried to send us down the road with the guards. I ignored it, went the opposite direction (the correct direction) and was eventually lead to the rental car place, but not before a little scare. There is a very usual series of intersections, lane merges, and yields departing the highway for the main road into Alajuela. I misjudged one of these, and a large truck decided to change into my lane while entering the turn lane. As a result I found myself being squeezed between the truck, and a motorcycle. To avoid the motorcycle, I “hugged” very close to the truck which made Karen scream thinking we were about to impact. As I was aware of all aspects of the situation, I was not startled or surprised. It all worked out OK.
We arrived at the rental car office, where Karen saw (and we took a picture of an ENORMOUS grasshopper. We were then taken to the airport. We arrived a little more than 2 hours before our flight. WE had plenty of time to check our bags, pay the exit tax, and clear security. We arrived at our gate with plenty of time to spare… then when it was time, we said goodbye to Costa Rica and boarded our flight.