Tuesday the 11th of september was the day I was leaving for a nice 3 week holiday to Costa Rica and Panama. I had decided to make this trip not so long before. Luckely, unlike the year before, when I did not manage to get a plane ticket in november, this year all went well. At this tuesday, I arrived at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam to receive my plane ticket from the travelorganisation. Unfortunately, my ticket was not there. Hmmm, was was starting a bit to worry. We went to the desk of the airline company, Martinair and they checked the flight list. My name was there, so they simply wrote a ticket for me. It has been a long time since I flew on a handwritten planeticket...
Plane was not packed. We left almost in time for Miami and San Jose (Costa Rica). Flight was allright, I chatted a bit with a spanish girl sitting next to me, she was also going on a round trip through Costa Rica.. Shortly before we were expected to start the landing in Miami International Airport, we got the message from the pilot that we were not able to land there. The airport was closed, the entire airspace above the United States was closed. So, landing was not possible. The reason given for this was some plain accidents, according to the pilot. The pilot had been ordered to go to the Bermuda's.
Everbody on the plane was calm. We didn't know what was going on in the USA. After landing at Bermuda Airport we got the news from our captain. Some planes had been highjacked and crashed into the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washinton. A huge shock went through the plane. Some spanish passengers who didn't get the message immediately (because the news was first said in Dutch) were shocked by the Dutch reaction. I immediately expleined the spanish girl sitting beside me what the captain just said. After explaining her the situation, I almost got tears in my eye's. I was shocked by the words or the sentence I just had spoken. It was so unreal. Later we got a bit more information. News about the Twin Towers collapsing, the news of a fourth plane crashing and a fifth plane (which was not right we later found out). In the plane, everyone started to talk with each other while the airport was stating to fill with lots of planes from Europe. All Amercan planes were parked at a remote place on the airport. The plane door was opened so we had the chance to get some fresh air. Temperature in the plane was getting got...
Luckely after waiting for an hour and a half, we got the news from Amsterdam, that we were going to the Dominican Republic because leaving for Miami would not been possible in the near future. And at the Dominican Republic we could spend the night and leave with a new crew to our destination. Flying home was luckely not an option, since the crew would have past their airhoure-schedule. After arrival at the Puerto Plata Airport, we got the news that we would not spend the night here. A crew of Martinair was on the island and will take us later to San Jose. Good news under these circumstances. We were released from the plane and could leave for an hour for the airport restaurant. Here, we got the possibility to call home and let them know that we were allright. After a fresh beer, we went back to the plane and prepared our self for the next trip. Taking of went quickly and San Jose was coming up. The atmosphere in the plane was weird. No one really know what was the impact of all the things going on in the rest of the world. We, mostly people from the Netherlands, Germany, France, the United States and Spain were going on holiday (a few were going home). Having a holiday when these things are going on is strange to imagine. But, the general idea was, when things go realy wrong, maybe Costa Rica is one of the safest places on earth.

Arrival at San Jose
Arrival at San Jose International Airport was at 18:00 hours local time. Only 2 hours later then our original schedule. (We saved some time because the stop in Miamia was banned). Luggage and passport checks went quickly. Outside was our guide wating with the bus. We were welcomed and headed quickly for our Hotel in downtown San Jose. Hotel was an international one, Hotel Europe, place for many tourists. Once at the rooms, we alle went to the television sets, to check out what was going on in the world. We saw the horrible pictures from earlier in the day. Really shocking...
After freshen up we (19 persons) headed for a dinner in a nice little restaurant around the corner, in the pedestrian district, the News Cafe. A nice small restaurant where the serve great food (and great coffee). Here, I had my first delicious fishmeal, a baked tilapias fish. After dinner, we all headed to our rooms to follow the news and to call home. After a good night sleep, I got up early. Didn't manage to sleep a lot after all the things from the day before. Went outside to eat something and had a good coffee at the (only outside terrace in San Jose center) place in front of the National Theatre. Spoke to some retired Americans who were living here. The were shocked and discussed all possibillities. Around ten I met my group in the hotel for an information meeting for the coming trip we were going to have. A trip guide, Sylvia Disco introduced herself and we told every one what we expected from this trip, why we've chosen this trip and wheater we have done more off this group round trips. For me, it's the first time travelling which a group for such a long time.... After all kinds a hints and tips for the next travel, we went outside to spend the day on ourselves. Firts stop for most of us was the money counter. Best place to get money out of the wall is to head for a local Banco de San Jose. They have good AIM teller machines. I went out with some persons from our group, but decided quickly I wanted to spend it differently. Didn't want to discuss every next step. So, I went walking through the city. Had a great time watching the latino people... schoolkids wearing schooluniforms.
The weather was nice, a bit clouded, but the temperature was above 25 degrees celcius. I just walked around with my Lonely Planet guide in my hand. Decided after lunch (in a 'fast food restaurant to spend time with the locals') to visit the National Museum. The 'Museo Nacional'is housed in the Bella Vista Fortress, the old army headquaters. Here, you can see some Costa Rican archaeology, some jade and gold, colonial furniture and costume, colonial and relious art. Nice for a opener for this country to find out something of its past. Curious thing is that in 1948, the goverment had abolished it's army. The beautiful Bella Vista Military Headquarters became the National Museum. Since this year, Costa Rica has stayed one of the most stable and wealtiest countries in Central America. A symbol for this peacefull act is the 'broken-gun' or 'gebroken geweertje' as it is called in Dutch. It's the symbol for the Dutch anti-militarism.
In front of the Museo, childeren were rehearsing for the National Parade, on september the 15th. Funny to see these kids doing there best. After this, I wanted to go to the Jade museum, which is in a building of an large insurance company. Too bad, is was, due to new remodeling, closed till october 28th, 2001. Close behind it, I discoverd, was the Parque Zoologico Simon Bolivar. So, I decided, why have alook there. The zoo was almost deserted. Hardly any visitors. Got a huge rainshower. But luckely, as I was told, always carry an umbrella with you when you go outside. As, you should do with sunprotectioncream. So, I didn't got wet that much. Saw some great monkey's, jaguars, sloughs and snakes. Too bad, most of the animals are in too small cages. In this area of San Jose, some post colonial houses are still around, some are now used as 'bed-and-breakfast' places or hostels. Would be great to spend a few days in there. At around 6 o'clock, I headed back to the hotel, did some shopping (water and some light snacks) and took a short rest before meeting the group and have dinner together. After dinner, I headed for my bed. Tomorrow we'll leave early to go with the bus to the Pacific coast, heading for Quepos.