We spent another several hours today trying to get across the Nicaragua-Costa Rica border.  I had no idea that leaving Nicaragua would be such an ordeal.  Most of the countries so far have just given us a quick exit stamp and then we were on our way to the real challenge, which was always entering the next country.  This time, however, leaving Nicaragua required the help of two kids acting as transmitadors and was much more involved than entering Costa Rica would ultimately be.  It actually took longer to leave Nicaragua than it did to enter it back at corrupt Los Manos.  In contrast, entering Costa Rica was relatively straightforward, and the only fee involved was mandatory insurance for $15 per motorcycle.  Unfortunately, entering Costa Rica took several hours longer than it should have because the computers went down and they could not issue our temporary vehicle import permits.

We are staying in a hostel in the village of La Cruz de Guanacaste not far from the border.  It got dark fast and started to rain heavily shortly after we crossed the border, but from what I´ve seen so far it looks like Costa Rica is more lush and forested than Honduras or Nicaragua.  In the morning we plan on getting Ted a new rear tire in the small city of Liberia and then heading to the Nicoya peninsula where we intend to explore until we find a deserted idyllic beach upon which to set up camp.  Apparently there is an abudance of such places.