Costa Rica... the epilogue

Since the drive to La Fortuna turned out to be much longer than we expected we decided to stay our last night in San Jose to be closer to the airport.... First mistake.
San Jose is full of one way streets, tons of pedestrians that don't care if they have the right of way or not and buildings with no addresses. Nobody knows what street is which- they give directions like this "Take a left and go a few streets past McDonald's and then turn right when you see the purple fence"... I shit you not.

(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49229184/ns/world_news-americas/#.UHDAx5jA8Qo)

We had booked a fairly cheap room in a new hotel... second mistake. No one knew the new hotel so we spent the better part of an hour or two trying to find the room. Once inside it wasn't bad- but we were in the nice part of the ghetto... how would I eat?? Answer? Armando made friends with the security guard and he escorted us to a yummy restaurant and had his friend, a cab driver, come pick us up at a certain time.... Bless their hearts
We woke up at 5:00am to be ready and at the airport- got stuck in traffic jam (caused by a man whose car died and was PUSHING IT DOWN THE FREEWAY, not onto the shoulder- but down the freaking road like it was such a fabulous idea) and ended up getting to the airport an hour and a half before our flight.
Getting all our stuff up to the counter, the woman asks if we paid the 'exit tax'..... Say what?! WTF is that lady?? You see, Costa Ricans charge you a tax to exit their country- $28 per person to be exact... whatever. So I leave Mondo filling out paperwork as I run to the other side of the airport to pay the damn tax. When I get back we wait in line to check-in. As we get to the counter the guy BS's with us for ten minutes before he looks at our tickets and says "You are late, we aren't boarding anymore"
Cue the freakout.....3......2.....1.....
He claims that we have to be at the airport 3 hours early for our flight and are not going to be allowed to board. Much pleading and begging ensues... meanwhile a couple from Canada, a woman from Texas and a Grandma/Mom/Daughter trio come up behind us at the counter... They are given the same story- we can't get home.
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG story short... We are told we can change flights and go to Miami in 6 hours then fly to Dallas then fly to SLC.... for a fee.
Meanwhile the couple from Canada and the Grandma must have sunshine and rainbows shining out of their butts because by some fluke that no one to this day can explain to me, are allowed onto the plane... When we tried to get an explanation from the supervisor, Mery, from American Airlines, she told her collegue, in Spanish, "Get them out of here", stepped around us and walked away. As God as my witness if I ever run into Mery again I am going to snatch her ponytail off of her pretty little head.
So after eating in the little cafeteria and reading two different books in two different tourist shops we board for  Miami.
Even more BS in Miami from the American Airlines family, but eventually I nag the man into giving us a free room for the night, we would have just slept in the airport if not. At least we are in America. I can call my work and tell them, Oops, I'm not going to make it in tonight and let everyone else know that we are alive.
So finally 30 hours after we were supposed to be home, we finally stepped onto Utah soil... The best feeling ever. Vacations are great but nothing is as good as home.

The complaint process is still ongoing with American Airlines... I will keep you updated if .... 1. We ever get an apology from anyone, 2. Get any sort of reimbursement for the ridiculous amount of money we paid to change flights or 3. I ever find Mery again... watch yo' back!