Now in Central America going across borders is always a process but this border was a real treat. First you drive down this alley, your luggage is unloaded as the shuttle bus does not go across the border – then, get in line, go into what can only be called a rusty tin shelter and paid our $8. Exit fee which I knew about, got my receipt, now, climb some crumbling cement stairs, I have now got a porter to deal with the luggage. get in line, for about an hour to get my receipt from the exit fee and my passport stamped to leave Costa Rica. Now the fun begins, one must walk across an old train bridge to get to Panama, ok problem is the metal on the rails is fatigued and there are soft spots and actual holes to fall through into the river below. On either side of the track are planks 8” x 2” except some are missing, some are too soft to walk on and there is only a railing in some places. Now I am good with heights under most condition but by 100 of 300 feet I was in full panic mode. I survived because I am writing this notation in my blog. get in line, now it is time to pay the $3.00 entrance fee to get into Panama, good they put a sticker into my pass passport, I think great, just find the next shuttle, Wrong. get in line, now I must go through immigration and get the official stamp from Panama to actually get in the country, did I mention, this time I had to go down even more crumbly cement stairs? Now where is that shuttle, my porter senses my exhaustion and guides me to a larger bus now filled with everyone from bus 1 &2 plus several random families with crying children. Ok no problem we are almost their the worst is behind us – what? 3 miles up the road the military police stop us to check our passports and exit and entrance receipts of everyone on the bus, what is this a make work project. All is well and we are again on our way. An hour later we reach the port and catch our 16 passenger water taxi and head out to those open choppy waters with rain, not my favorite boat ride, ½ hour later I spot my son and daughter-in-law, on the dock. Thanks for being their Dan and Marj, looking back over the day I wouldn’t change too much. However, when I become wealthy enough to become a philanthropist I will replace all of those boards even the good ones.
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 02:38:04 +0000
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