There are a lot of things I love about Costa Rica. I love the plants and animals, the people I meet, and how ridiculously cheap everything is. But what I love most is that when you ask, Costa Rica delivers. I wanted an adventure, and an adventure is surely what I have gotten.
On Thursday morning, I went to the bus station with Jacki as planned, but found out that for whatever reason we couldn't get tickets for the morning bus - either it wasn't running or it was sold out, we're not sure. So I decided to take the 4:00 PM one and go by myself, stay overnight at the Flutterby House in Uvita, then go back in the morning.
I got on the 4:00 bus, getting to my old house in Coronado just before 7. I packed my suitcase, and at 7:30 a taxi came to pick me up and take me to Uvita. The rain was coming down pretty hard, and by the time we got to Uvita, the roads were starting to flood. Finally, the taxi driver said that he couldn't go any farther. I explained that I needed to get to the hostel because I had nowhere else to say, and he said that I could come sleep at his house. Of course, my common sense said not to go home with a strange man I had just met, and we were only about a 5 minute walk from the hostel, so I said that I would walk the rest of the way. I only had clothes and books in my suitcase, so I asked if I could come pick it up from him in the morning - he owns a fish market on the way to the bus stop. He said that would be fine, and I went on my way.
When I got out of the taxi, the water was just above my ankles. But as I kept walking, it got pregressively deeper until it was above my knees. Then, the ground under me gave out without warning and before I knew it I was completely underwater, being pulled away by a current. I grabbed onto the first thing I could find, I think it was a big rock, and pulled myself out of the current and back onto my feet. At that point I realized that going any farther would be a death wish - I hadn't crossed the bridge over the river yet.
I started backtracking until I passed a house with lights on and a lady standing in the doorway waving at me, and I waded up to the front door. I explained that I was from the United States but couldn't get to the place where I was staying because of the water. She handed me a towel and brought me into her bedroom, telling me that I could stay the night there and she would sleep in her children's bedroom. (Costa Rican hospitality - amazing.) It wasn't until she had left that I looked down and realized several things: 1) I was wet and filthy. My previously white shorts and tank top were now dark brown. I had no change of clothes. 2) My cell phone, iPod, and camera (yeah, my big Canon Rebel T1i) were waterlogged and most likely kaputt. 3) The last person to see me was the taxi driver, who had dropped me off on a dark, flooded street. The Flutterby House was expecting me, and had given me the phone number of the taxi, so would probably call him when I didn't show up. I had no way of calling anyone to tell them where I was and that I was okay. 4) There was blood all over the floor. I lifted up my feet and saw that the bottoms were completely cut up. I vaguely remembered stepping on something sharp but couldn't really remember. But I was so exhausted that I didn't even care, so I laid down and fell right asleep.
I woke up a few hours later. It was still dark and my feet were hurting very badly, and I knew that I needed to do something to clean them up. I looked outside and saw that the rain had stopped and the streets were all clear. I left some money for the family on my pillow, and set off in the direction of the Flutterby House. Ten minutes and a lot of limping later, I was outside the gate. I rang the bell, and the dogs took care of the rest - a very groggy Neil showed up two minutes later. He took one look at me and asked what had happened. I told him, and he called for Pam, who got me a clean towel and sheets and some disinfectant. I took a hot shower and went right up to bed... it was 2:30.
Since then, I have been staying at the Flutterby House. It turns out that Thursday night was one of the worst rainfalls they've had all year. The supports for the bridge up to Dominical were washed away, and between all the landslides and fallen trees we can't leave Uvita. They're hoping that there will be a way to get to San Jose by tomorrow, if it doesn't rain too much more, and even then it's just a maybe. There's a slight chance that if it keeps raining too badly I'll be stuck here for days or even weeks. We bandaged up my feet pretty well but it's very difficult to walk, and the less I do so the faster it will heal. If I can get to San Jose tomorrow, I will take the opportunity... and then from there will be able to get back home to San Isidro.
Time will tell.......
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