Puerto Jimenez, Osa Peninsula

A grueling journey out of Panama and across the frontera via the scorching pueblo de Neily would take us to un tresoro ecologico, Peninsula Osa, en el Golfito Dulce, el Mar Caribe.
The bus dropped us a la lancha del barco, o barquiiiiiiiiito! We negotiated for a long narrow boat, more of a glorified canoe with an engine to take us across the Golfito Dulce out to the Osa Peninsula, avoiding the extra four hours to go around by bus.
Choppy waves ahead, a setting sun in the west, and a heavy rainstorm chasing us from the north, we nestled under a large blue tarp with all of our packs stored in the front. A stunning German couple joined us, sharing the costs. Mark and Vera, a professor of statistics and law student respectively. They were funny, athletic and engaging--excellent linguists. Germans that travel internationally are typically well versed in multiple languages, especially English.
We managed to stay ahead of the rain, but the boat was an adventure in wondering when it would just flip over in the waves crashing over the bow.
A taxi took us to Iguana Iguana Pension. Nasty! The insects had taken up residence. Noone was there to greet us, and the rains came crashing down. Finally the cantine across driveway opened up... a sign of life.
Two adorable black and white rabbits, evidently tame, entertained us in their hopping antics.
Dinner at Restaurante Carolina introduced us to the Casado, typical dish of Costa Rica. The Casado, litterally meaning "married", brings together rice and beans, platacones (fried plantain bananas) or fries, a meat choice (fish, beef, or chicken) or vegetables, and a small cabbage salad.
Exhausted, I didn`t care that a trail of ants were making their way from the window sill onto the floor and beyond. The next day Lorraine and I would come home to a message that Steve and Dale had "moved us to a new hostel!"