The past 24 hours have been the worst of the entire trip.

Yesterday morning we were up early as usual for a long day of traveling. The game plan was simple, grab a quick breakfast, drive out of Osa in the hardcore taxi SUVs, meet our bus and luggage (the trip to Osa was pretty rugged and so not all our bags could be brought along. Bags were consolidated while others were left behind.), buy a few snacks to hold us until lunch, get lunch around 2 at the McDonald's in San Jose, and then get to La Selva for dinner time. This, however, is NOT what happened.

One of the taxis broke down on the way to the bus which delayed us. But when we did finally get to our bus with our meager snacks, we found that the bus hadn't picked up our luggage in Las Cruces as was prearranged. We therefore had to drive 3 hours back up the mountains to Las Cruces to recover the forgotten luggage. Robert changed plans and told us that instead of getting to San Jose for lunch, we'd be hitting the city more around dinner time so we'd stop for more snacks after Las Cruces and grab dinner at McDonalds in San Jose. THIS HOWEVER DID NOT HAPPEN. After picking up the luggage Robert changed the plan again. His new and IMPROVED plan was to bypass San Jose since it was 2 hours out of the way and not stop for food or bathroom breaks until we reached La Selva approximately 8 hours later. Needless to say, we were outraged. But the biggest insult came around 6, when we arrived in, you guessed it, San Jose which was apparently not out of the way but rather smack dab in the middle of our route! We literally had to drive straight through it. It's dinner time, we're all starving, agitated, and in desperate need of a bathroom break but do we stop? No. We pass 4 McDonalds while driving through the city and the bus was filled with wails and moans. But did we stop? Were we ever fed? Did our meager snacks meant to last only until 2 ever get replenished? No, no, and NO. We were essentially denied food and water for an entire day for what? We had no plans for the night! Our plan was to arrive a sleep!

I didn't eat so as to avoid getting thirsty (and besides I only had a packet of cookies and some Nutella). I didn't drink anything so that I wouldn't have to pee (no bathroom break for 8 hours). I am now super dehydrated and feeling terribly nauseous. I have never been so upset with Robert. He was irrational and brutal in the face of a minor delay.

To make matters worse, it has not stopped raining here in La Selva which means no birding. And it's not just raining, it's torrential down pour. I have spent the morning feeling dizzy and sick, standing in the rain, setting up nets. I hope it clears up because I would really like to end this trip on a high note. The birding here is supposed to be dynamite and I'd really like to experience that. I would much rather spend my last two days in Costa Rica enjoying myself and catching birds than sitting inside, feeling sick, and watching the rain. The trip just can't end like this.

Also, to put your minds at ease, I am super hydrating today. The dizzyness and nausea should be gone my tomorrow.

I admit, I am feeling rather homesick after the Hell we went through yesterday and being soaked and sick today.