And here's our room at the Balmoral Hotel in San Jose -- and even CNN on TV! Another quote from my online journal: Next morning at 4:00 am we're head back for the bus station. Off to Costa Rica, another 12 hour journey. When we finally arrived in San Jose (the capital city) we lucked into a great hotel (okay, maybe a 3 star) right in the downtown pedestrian district. Costa Rica seemed much safer, very clean (eco-tourism is their big thing), and hardly any guns visible. Check in and shower. Go down to the beautiful restaurant for supper. Just before my order arrives I see a huge commotion outside the door. I get up to look, and see about 12 guys surrounding and kicking a guy who's lying on the ground in their midst. One of the guys is bleeding from his hand and his back -- apparently the bleeder has been stabbed by the guy on the ground who tried to rob him, and he did it in broad daylight! Too bad for him he was in a crowded public area and he got thrown down. He was in pretty rough shape himself by the time the cops showed up to arrest him. As I wander back to my table, our waiter, who's been watching the whole thing, reassures me, saying, "Don't worry, it happens all the time!" Sue and I had a great 4 or 5 days in Costa Rica. We relaxed, read books, watched CNN and HBO, and ate and shopped.