Sep 21, 2011 | root_ks8kzico

Exploring Costa Rica - post-program

Read day 12 here. Well, it’s 4:20 and I’m awake so I decide to walk down to the reception area for a last goodbye for some of my new buddies. Special hugs for the “Back of the Bus Buddies.” My flight doesn’t leave until around noon so I have a bit of time to repack, again and for the last time. After a quick breakfast in the small hotel dining room it’s time to meet outside the reception area for a short ride to Juan Santamaria International Airport. I give a last goodbye to Pedro and Didier – thanks for the great adventure guys! As soon as we enter the airport we are directed to a long counter where we get in line to pay our departure tax before leaving Costa Rica. We are also given a short form to fill out that we hand in at check in. My check in process was spent mostly standing in line and once I made it to the counter it took just a few minutes. After that, on to the Security area where the lines were still pretty short since it wasn’t even 9:30 yet. After I’m done with Security it’s on to find my gate. The airport is easy to navigate and most of the staff speaks English so even if you get a bit lost they can point you in the right direction. I find my gate and then wander back to the closest gift shop to make some last minute purchases – I can’t go home without some of that wonderful smelling Costa Rican coffee. My flight leaves on time and I arrive back in Orlando at a little after 5:00pm local time. I stop at Immigration get my passport stamped, stop and get my luggage, and then it’s a short stop at Customs. In under an hour I’m walking to my car with my husband! Thank you Jet Blue for two wonderfully uneventful flights! By 8:00 I’m home and I take enough time to empty all of the dirty clothes out of my suitcase but I leave the rest for the weekend. Tomorrow it’s back to work after a wonderful adventure to a place that has special place in my heart. Anyone interested in all of the details of this particular Road Scholar program can click on the link below to view all pertinent information.