Foreign Country Fails

Getting around on your own with limited knowledge of the language inevitably leads to awkward situations. To wit: parked in the short term lot at the airport, returned with the Venables and was unable to get out, the gate didn’t have a place to pay, and of course wouldn’t open. Backed up, drove around, no one spoke English or seemed to understand our problem. Finally, it turns out you pay at a station outside the lot then you can scan your ticket and the gate will open. Next we went to city Mall to eat lunch. Having learned in CR you pay for parking at a separate pay station outside the lot, I did that, only to have the gate again fail to open. ??? Backed up, found someone in a uniform, who, through my broken spanish was able to ask and understand that you have 15 minutes after paying to make it to the gate in your car. We had tarried a little more than 15. Had to pay a second time to get out. Lastly, the next day, after seeing the volcano we ate lunch and the waiter made a point of telling us “you are at table 31”. So what I thought. We finished eating, the staff cleared away our dishes and we sat there. Eventually everyone left but me, waiting for the check. Finally I corralled a waiter and asked for my check, in spanish he said “you’re table 31”. Right, I said. “Pagar al caja” he said and pointed to a counter. Our check was with the cashier at the counter. No other problems, just reading traffic signs, finding the speed limit signs which seemed few and far between and searching for non-existent street signs. But then there’s still 2 days left.