Lazy start with coffee in a “Nicas” café overlooking locals gathering in a courtyard (only men), for a political debate of some kind. Packed our bags and checked out by about nine. Walking with the bikes along the cobbled road passed many colourful Spanish colonial casas owned mainly by foreigners. Stopped for an obligatory ice-cream on the main park outside cathedral. Tried to get multi-tool replacement for the stolen one. Managed to only find a cheap and nasty set of allen keys (will have to do the trick). Hopped on to an American school bus, just to return to the point where we were two days ago (did not want to cycle the same route twice). The bus patiently waited to fill itself with passengers for over an hour in the roasting hot sun - we were constantly barraged by refreshment sellers walking from front to back, trying to offload their over-priced wares - although the pineapple patties were lovely. One young boy, Gustavo (aged 12 selling cordials in a plastic bag with a straw) decided to sit with us for 20 mins before finally leaving and asking us for 5 peso.
Rivas town was mega busy, stocked up on a huge selection of fruit and passing tired looking old casas (colonial houses), we left for the border crossing to Costa Rica. Had to ask for directions from the traffic police (no road signs as usual), and headed against the wind towards frontier. Around 15 km from Rivas we arrived at a big road junction and threw a coin on where to go. We turned right and cycled for the beach resort of “San Juan del Sur”. A bit of a climb uphill and a few breaks (taking it easy), and shock horror we bumped into a fellow touring cyclist! Originally from Bristol, on a route from Alaska to not sure where, had a chat and we arrived in the resort together. Couldn’t find accommodation, but had a drink and another chat about Rohloff gear hubs and quality/merits of various equipment. He has done already 1.5 year on route and his Rolhoff was 8 years old with serious mileage (a good advert). He said he’s doing the same route as we intend to in Costa Rica so we are bound to see each other again.
San Juan had a surfing competition and massive music festival on the go so no accommodation at all in town. Couple of beers on the beach followed by an intensive search for a roof over our heads came with a chance of putting up our tent in the central patio of a guest house for the bargain price of 6 us dollars - perfect! Showered and unpacked, we headed for sunset on the beach front. Beach front bars followed by a lavish ice cream. The town was heaving with action but the majority of the people were on the nearby beach where the main concert was taking place. Headed home to sleep just as the entertainment was really kicking off - 6 a.m. starts and cycling during the heat of the day aren’t the best recipe for late nightlife!
Rivas town was mega busy, stocked up on a huge selection of fruit and passing tired looking old casas (colonial houses), we left for the border crossing to Costa Rica. Had to ask for directions from the traffic police (no road signs as usual), and headed against the wind towards frontier. Around 15 km from Rivas we arrived at a big road junction and threw a coin on where to go. We turned right and cycled for the beach resort of “San Juan del Sur”. A bit of a climb uphill and a few breaks (taking it easy), and shock horror we bumped into a fellow touring cyclist! Originally from Bristol, on a route from Alaska to not sure where, had a chat and we arrived in the resort together. Couldn’t find accommodation, but had a drink and another chat about Rohloff gear hubs and quality/merits of various equipment. He has done already 1.5 year on route and his Rolhoff was 8 years old with serious mileage (a good advert). He said he’s doing the same route as we intend to in Costa Rica so we are bound to see each other again.
San Juan had a surfing competition and massive music festival on the go so no accommodation at all in town. Couple of beers on the beach followed by an intensive search for a roof over our heads came with a chance of putting up our tent in the central patio of a guest house for the bargain price of 6 us dollars - perfect! Showered and unpacked, we headed for sunset on the beach front. Beach front bars followed by a lavish ice cream. The town was heaving with action but the majority of the people were on the nearby beach where the main concert was taking place. Headed home to sleep just as the entertainment was really kicking off - 6 a.m. starts and cycling during the heat of the day aren’t the best recipe for late nightlife!