The TicoMobile

The directions and addresses in Costa Rica are all based on landmarks and if you don't know these landmarks, you'll be totally lost. Most of the streets don't have names and the ones that do have names are not marked with signs. A typical example of directions would be "go past the Burger King, turn right to get on the highway, go under three bridges, take the exit where the dog died and take the second left after the Coca Cola bus stop" That doesn't seem so crazy, right? Except how the heck are you supposed to know where the dog died and the Coca Cola Plant is not there anymore. Combine that with the one-way streets, enough potholes to make you want to cry, motorcyclists and cyclists that basically have no rules on the road and the car drivers are just as crazy... AAAARRGGHHHHH
So, what does this give us the great idea to do?? RENT A CAR!!!
When we considered the cost , we realized it would be pricey... Not to mention that the locals recognize a rental and you can't leave anything of value in your car for risk of a break-in. However, Rocky would only be here for 12 days (really 10 days of fun) so having our own means of transportation would allow us to see and do a great deal more than relying on public transportation.

Max said he had a Tico friend who would rent us a car for half the price we'd pay at a rental company. We decided to go for it and ended up with "The TicoMobile." This was a metallic, electric blue, 1992 Nissan Sentra with an a/c system that only works on full blast! haha Really, it was great. It's 4 cylinder, great on gas, 4 door and best of all it had local plates. AND we're off!!!

Thank goodness we had a gps system that we borrowed. Otherwise, we'd never find our way around. The first night we had the car, we hit a pot hole and got two flat tires. In the dark. On a busy road. In a country where neither of us spoke the local language. Fortunately, we found a very kind Tico guy, Fabian, who helped us with everything and took us to a tire shop and we got everything taken care of. Whew.... what a night!!

Next stop: Volcano Arenal!