There are no words for today. Only memories.

So you think my travels are all amazing and wonderful and you maybe wish you could trade places with me sometimes? Let me tell you a story. A story of a man just trying to go from point A in country X to point B in country Y.

Our story begins last night in Boquete. After a festive bbq at the hostel he was staying at , our hero went out for a few beers with some Germans (you can always find Germans while traveling). A few beers turned into a few more and then the always dangerous "OK, one more round." The man figured that it was only 12:30 he was fine. "If I go to bed now...I can get 5 hours of sleep...more than enough to sit on the bus all day tomorrow," he said.

But then upon returning to the hostel, the man found the owner of the establishment sitting in the lobby drinking "the finest rum Guatemala makes! $80 a bottle! You have to have a glass with me!"

"OK," our hero replied, "but make it small! I'm still leaving in the morning! I have places to be and things to see!"

A very interesting conversation ensued about life choices and work and how running a hostel/tour company supposedly turns out $18k of profit per month. "I'm in the wrong business!" our hero declared.

Finally at 1:30...it was time for bed. "4.5 hours of sleep...that still works."

Up at 6, the man boarded a bus for David at 6:20. One hour to get to the destination, and hopefully in that time a decision about where in Costa Rica he would go.

Hmm-ing and haw-ing...he still did not have a plan when he arrived in David. So he spent a few minutes doing some more thinking and decided to punt on his decision.

"I'll book a ticket just to the border...and from there I can go anywhere. I'll have more time to decide on where to start my time in Costa Rica."

So he got on the minibus and rode to the border. Along the way he found his inspiration. A route was planned with minimal backtracking and a couple nice stops. He would get through the border and find another bus. It would all come up millhouse for our hero.

The border was hot. 90 degrees and 90% humidity. There were cars and trucks and busses all over. The man found the line to exit Panama through their immigration and started walking to the end of it. Then he kept walking. And kept walking. And walked more still. And then a little more after that until finally he found the end of the line. It was almost completely wrapped around the building!

"it's OK. It's the weekend before Xmas. Of course it is busy. This'll take a few hours, but that's OK."

So he waited. And he waited. At first the line moved a bit. He moved almost half the length of the building. Progress!

"Maybe 2 more hours," he thought.

But then the line stopped. It moved about 1 person per half hour. And before long the man had stood in line in the sun for 5 hours. The last last 3 of which he had not moved a step!

He had not moved because the line was not being policed at all. Many people were jumping ahead to stand with someone they thought they recognized or even just because.

He had not moved because the immigration officials were stamping one passport every five minutes.

He spotted some other gringos and went to share some pain and frustration with them. They told him to cut in line and stand with them. He declined. Trying to be a good person. And he returned to his place in line.

After another hour of not moving he decided to take them up on their offer. He had seen too many unfamiliar faces step in front of him. "Karma-wise this is bad, but sorry, I'm not sorry."

Another hour of not moving from his now more advanced line position and some drama occurred at the head of the line. Some people became frustrated when a traveler tried to cut in right at the front and partially because he was white, he got caught because he stuck out.

Finally the guards began to police the line. They forced everyone into single file and the line began to move! Our hero was far enough from the front to get called out for cheating part of the line.

Movement! Finally! After another hour (about 7.5 in total) the man was able to get a stamp to exit Panama!

Now he had to go stand in line to enter Costa Rica.

Thankfully this line was only about an hour in total length. Much faster and continually moving.

While in line, it began to rain. Then it began to Rain. And finally, when he had officially entered Costa Rica, it began to RAIN.

It was now about 4 PM (5 PM in Panama) and all our hero wanted was to get north. His plan for the day was scrapped, but he could get in position for the next day. He searched for the bus station and information with his new gringo friends. Running this way and that in the RAIN. Getting soaked and finally getting some answers. The bus station was back by the Panama immigration building and the bus stop was by the Costa Rican building. So he marched in the rain the few hundred yards to discover there was a bus having north that was leaving in 10 minutes!

"hooray! That gives me enough time to get the ticket and walk back to the stop without getting the chance to eat anything for the first time today!"

But Latin America gives just as it takes away. The bus was late! So he went back into the rain and found a sandwich and a granola bar!

He then was waiting to load his luggage onto the bus when he was told his bag had to go through customs first and he should hurry because the bus driver is finally ready to go.

So be entered the customs bullpen and the official asked if he was on the 4:30 bus. Upon answering yes, the official said "OK, go on through. No search needed."

So now our hero sits on a bus. Bound for a town he was only planning on paying through, but now will likely be overnighting in. A small stop before a national park on the beach.

"What a day?! I'm halfway between laughing and crying. So much went so poorly, but in the end...it all works out. Sort of."