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I have reached the Caribbean coast in Costa Rica. I leave the heavy trafficked road that ends in the port town of Limón and turn right when I see a turquoise horizon. I breathe out the previous pollution and breathe in the present air of the sea on a more isolated road between palm trees and jungle trees. It feels peaceful. I am already looking ahead towards the following country when I see two guys on a bicycle  as I look back in my rear view mirror. I have seen them coming for a while, but I do not see what is coming. When they are alongside me, the first kick hits me. I sway down in the ditch. Then another kick hits me. I fall off the bike. So does my handlebar bag.

The isolated road between palm trees and jungle trees now feels baleful. I scream when the two guys are trying to separate me from the bike I am partly laying on and I scream even louder when I finally can see a car approaching on the road. The man in the car stops, one of the guys cycles away, the other guy runs away. He takes my handlebar bag with him. I am still there in the ditch, upset but unharmed. My bicycle and my other bags are still there with me.

I no longer have essential things such as a passport, but I have essentials such as people. I can get up and get on my bike thanks to the Costa Rican man who stopped his car. I can continue to cycle to an American guy who invites me to safety in his home. I can get a cup of tea and comfort from a British couple who also lends me money to get through the weekend. I can not only rise from the ditch, but start to get back on track with the help of my parents in Sweden and the Swedish consulate in San José. We are pulling it together, applying for a temporary passport, sending money abroad, canceling the credit card, filing a police report, contacting the insurance company and ordering new radio equipment. I am still however, searching for a new camera and the peacefulness that I felt on the road before it was kicked down.

Peace

/Hanna

Comments

  1. Feyzullah Yilmaz Wednesday, August 25, 2010, at 11:43 AM

    that’s so sad to hear hanna. hope things will be alright soon. take good care.

  2. Lainie Liberti Wednesday, August 25, 2010, at 12:00 PM

    Oh Hanna.. Shit!
    Ok, I have friends in CR, please let me know if you need someplace to stay while you get back on track. I am so devastated to hear this, but wondering what good can come out of it, in the great scheme of things. Let me know what you need and I’ll put out a call for help. Please let me know what we can do. We’ll be in CR in about a month or so, passing through but hoping the chance to see you again materializes. Let me know what I can do..

  3. Hanna Wednesday, August 25, 2010, at 1:25 PM

    Thank you both of you. I have all the help I could wish for and have a lovely local cyclist family to stay with in the city until my new passport and credit card arrives. Yes, it will all be alright soon.

  4. Anna Wednesday, August 25, 2010, at 4:14 PM

    Älskade Hanna! Så arg o ledsen jag blir! Inte så mkt över passet o kameran osv men för övergreppet på dig! SÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ glad för alla medmänniskor som finns till hands för dig och alla andra i knipa!
    Jag hoppas verkligen du hittar lugnet och känner tryggheten på cykelvägen snart igen! Tänker på dig och skickar all världens omtanke och värme åt ditt håll! Puss och kram! Och fortsätt skrik när du hamnar i knipa! KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM

  5. Anna Wednesday, August 25, 2010, at 4:15 PM

    OM (inte NÄR) du hamnar i knipa! Nu har du fått din dos ju!

  6. Nancy Wednesday, August 25, 2010, at 10:11 PM

    Hanna,

    Matthew and I just hate it for you! We are glad that it wasn’t worse than it was, but it is still so bad. I’m glad you are with good people who are helping you recover.

    Thinking of you,

    Nancy

    Panajachel

  7. hanna Thursday, August 26, 2010, at 10:08 AM

    Tack Anna. Ja, nu har jag fått min dos och hoppas kunna använda rösten till att cykelsjunga mig förbi fågelkvitter och fladdrande fjärilar resten av resan.

    Thank you Nancy and Matthew for your thoughts. Good people are always the best cure and I am looking forward to getting back on the bike. Challenge everything.

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