Day 25 - August 1, 2008

August 1, 2008

Our last day of school. I need to get money for David and for lunch so before class, I walk down to the ATM to get money out. I put in my card, ask for my money and the cajero automatico (ATM) takes my card because apparently it expired yesterday!!!! What am I going to do?! I walk home and think of my options.

I send the kids to class and go to the bank to try to get my card back. The bank that took my card is Banco Popular (why am I not surprised) and it is in the middle of town. I get there a few minutes before 8am and find out the bank doesn't open until 9am. I walk to the where the taxis are and take one to class.
Note: I thought I had no money at all but Leehia reminded me there was some money in Kasondra's suitcase we brought back from our last trip. Yeah! So I had a little over 5,000 colones or $10.

I went to class until 9am and then took a taxi back to the bank. When I went in, the manager told me that he would have my card at 2pm because the ATM is across town and they need to go retrieve it. I am about to cry (but don't). I am walking back to the taxi line when I see a Western Union sign. I go in and tell the guy about my problem and ask him how I can get some money. He tells me that someone in the US can go to a Western Union with cash and I can receive it immediately. They just need to tell them my name and that I am in Costa Rica. Bueno! I walk over to the internet cafe and call mom, of course! Mom saves the day and goes directly to the Western Union and sends me $200.00. I call to confirm before I head back to the Western Union in Turrialba and she says everything is done. I go back to the guy and he tries to find the wire. He can't find it anywhere. He lets me call mom and she has the transaction number. We are able to find it that way. The problem was that the guy at the Western Union in CA put my name as Melissa Kathleen Perez and in Costa Rica the last name is the 2nd name, so my last name is Kathleen. Anyway, I received the cash and went back in a taxi to class.

Class was fairly short as this took a while and they let us out a little early because we were graduating and receiving our certificate. After that, we walked to Betty's for our last meal in Turrialba and the kids (Jenna) actually caught on the the cats in the cage. We took pictures with Betty and took a taxi home to finish packing.

Packing went fairly smoothly and at 2pm, I had to go over to Banco Popular and try to get my card back. The manager remember me and it was very easy. I don't know why I actually need it because it is expired but, oh well. After, I went to the store and bought a birthday present for Jimena, Leehia's granddaughter whose birthday was 2 days before and went to a flower shop to buy an arrangement for Leehia. As I walked back to the house, David pulled up. Perfect timing. David loaded our bags into the van and I took a picture of the kids with Leehia. Off to San Jose and the Marriott!

We made really good time considering there is a huge fiesta happening in Cartago...a pilgrimage that happens every year. People walk from all over Costa Rica (some days, even weeks) to Cartago and the Basilica there. It is all over the news. Anyway, we arrived at the Marriott and we are very pleasantly surprised. It is VERY nice! There is carpet in the rooms, hot water and water pressure, nice linens, air conditioning, internet access, TV and phone. Kasondra was so happy she actually started crying.

We ordered room service for dinner (yes, room service) and enjoyed relaxing in the room. Everyone was in bed by 9pm. We are going to relax at the hotel tomorrow, enjoy the swimming pool and just try to take a break. Our flight leaves at 8:55am on Sunday so we'll need to be up early. I guess everyday is just another adventure. I can't believe I came to a foreign country and didn't look to see when my ATM card expired!