A dull grey day in San José

by Eve Mattinson (United Kingdom (Great Britain))

A leap into the unknown Costa Rica

I once read - if you’ve been in San José three days you’ve been there too long. Obviously not the most flattering description of the dull grey premises which now surrounded my every turn. Only five left, from the community of eighteen who had journeyed down through Central America and experienced a whole region of the world together. Forming formidable friendship is unavoidable when being thrown into the chaos of a group tour, spending everyday and night in the company of like minded people who have also lurched across the oceans, escaping their world of shelter and convention to explore a place which by reputation was not safe to be explored. However as we had trekked from the beaches of Playa de Carmen, to the plots held by Honduran cowboys and through the white waves of El Salvador, to name a few. We had crossed no treacherous territory and no criminal element had we encountered. “Let’s go have a look at the market” said Andrew, one of the eldest of the original crew. At thirty three, his faded auburn hair had seen better days and his skin was worn with the marks of time, but his genuine kindness had not been altered. We marched up the main avenue all a little on edge due to stories we’d been told about how dangerous the city is. No one had much to say and no one dared speak of the impending destiny which would take place that day, as no one had the emotional stamina to go through what they already had three times that morning. As we walked though the market we looked at different things but no one was taking it in just using it as a distraction. Anyway I definitely wasn’t, I kept my sunglasses on as armour to disguise the fact I was desperately fighting back tears. Back in the courtyard a few slices of peanut butter toast and card games later, it ticked on until three o’clock which was time for Andrew to leave. This time it was Andrew’s turn to use the illusion of sunglasses as his voice cracked and he got in the Uber he took a picture of us four teary eyes waving as he drove pull away. Ilaria was the next to go as the clock rolled round to 5pm. She wasn’t the person I’d formed the closest attachment to – she was effortlessly stunning with thick dark hair and a thin tanned structure. She always appeared to be silently judging everyone, maybe I was over thinking but maybe I wasn’t. Still, as her Uber pulled off I still wept as I had the others. A couple more card games later and slices of peanut butter toast passed it was time; Georgia and Indiana had to leave me alone in the big wide world, just as how I had started this trip. When I first met Indiana my first thought was not was we are going to be great friends. My first thought was who let this drippy blonde girl out of her house on her on, let alone to the other side of the world unsupervised. I then met Georgia who initially appeared to be a carer like figure, but soon I realised there was not much difference in the level of common sense between the two. However these girls reaffirmed my beliefs that everyone comes into your life for a reason and that they are either a blessing or a lesson. These girls were most certainly a blessing in every way imaginable. They have taught me how to relax in any situation (although I don’t think I’ll ever be as relaxed as when Indie lost her card and started to run out of money less the half way through the trip.) They have also taught me always, work on your relationship with yourself. As Indie would say; you are the only person who you live with forever, make sure it’s someone you love. As I hugged them goodbye I knew whatever happened I would remember these girls forever. But now for me it was time to carrying on my adventure, to go solo and to take a leap into the unknown.