So that was it, really. Not a lot else to write about. This morning the Borealis was docked in Puerta Caldera, Costa Rica and from our balcony we could see an attractive small beach nearby, and little shops and other buildings.
We got up at eight o’clock and got showered and dressed before making our way to The View for our final breakfast on board. I enjoyed the full English, after which we wandered around on the deck at the stern; the weather was already proving to be a scorcher today. We could hear the announcements for those who were booked on excursions to make their way to the gangway on Deck 2 to disembark.
We returned to our suite and collected our carry-on bags, jackets and anything else we’d need for our flight home. After looking all around 7063 to ensure we hadn’t forgotten anything, we left the suite for the final time and made our way to the Card Room on deck 5, where we would be able to leave our stuff until one o’clock.
Going out on deck afterwards, we pondered whether or not to spend some time ashore. However, it was already very hot and humid and we figured we would end up all hot, bothered and sweaty in our clean clothes; not particularly comfortable for the 10-hour flight.
At 11.30am we decided to go and do the trivia quiz in the Morning Light, and enjoy a cold beer while we were in there. When we arrived, we saw Lesley sitting on her own, reading. Apparently Alan had gone off on an excursion on his own; Lesley hadn’t felt up to it. We asked if she wanted to join our quiz team for the last time, and she agreed. We scored a respectable 15/20, not enough to win but not a bad score for three of us. 🙂
It brought us nicely up to lunchtime, and we went into the Borealis Restaurant for waiter service. I enjoyed a starter and a main course; we didn’t know when our next meal would be so we made the most of it! Afterwards, we had to return to the card room to collect our jackets and carry-on bags.
Then it was just a matter of waiting around until all passengers for the British Airways flight to London Gatwick were called to disembark. Shouldering our rucksacks, we made our way to Deck 2 where our cards were scanned for the last time, then we trudged down the gangplank to where the airport shuttle buses waited nearby. After identifying our suitcases and watching while they were loaded onto the coach, we took our seats and were surprised when we were told it was a two-hour ride to San José airport!
All we could do, en route, was look out of the window at the lush tropical countryside and the little rickety buildings and dwellings; they all looked bit faded and dog-eared, a bit like an old postcard that’s been left in the sun for too long. Nonetheless it was an attractive country, and we wished we could have spent some time here – we were glad we had already visited in 2007.
Eventually we arrived at the airport, and checked in. There was only one lane open at Security, so it caused a bit of a bottle neck, but we had plenty of time before our overnight flight. It was the first long-haul flight we’d had since October 2019, and I was not looking forward to it, particularly because of my bad knee. For this reason I’d requested an aisle seat at check-in.
I decided my journey would be more comfortable if I purchased some compression flight socks and a supporting neck pillow and sleep-mask, so we went to the shop where they charged an extortionate price for these necessities.
Soon our flight was called, and we boarded BA2236 and settled in our seats after stashing our bags in the overhead locker. Once everyone was seated, the aircraft taxied to the runway and took to the skies in the early evening dusk.
Another fabulous cruise had come to an end, but we didn’t have long to wait until the next one! 🙂