by Jillian Dodd
“Hi, I’m Camille!”
He greets me with a warm, white-toothed smile. “Hola. My name is Diego. I’m your tour guide.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I say, and he leads me over to belt two. I spot my purple bag, and as it moves by I grab onto it. Diego has to help me a little, but I manage to get the thing onto the ground, and soon enough he is leading me out the door.
“Have you been to Costa Rica before?” he asks as we wait for our car to pull up.
“No, I haven’t. But I’m so excited to be here. It was sort of a last minute thing, but I can’t wait for all the different activities.” I smile. I’m so excited. Okay, maybe I said that already.
“I’m glad. Costa Rica is a beautiful country, and I think you’ll have a wonderful time.”
“So, is the photographer meeting us here? I wasn’t exactly sure about the details,” I ask, trying to make a little conversation.
“No. Adam got in earlier today and is already at the lodge. You will get to meet him and Manuel, another guide, very soon. Manuel is leading a group that will be staying at the lodge tonight, and you will be partnered up with them for certain activities during your time here.”
“That sounds like fun.” I notice a rickety looking van-bus thing pull up to the curb in front of us. I’m a little taken aback and extremely underwhelmed. I was expecting something a little more, um, grand, but apparently this is it because Diego takes my bag around to the back and ushers me to get onto the bus. I’m greeted by another tanned face.
“Welcome to Costa Rica. My name is Manuel. I will be your driver for your stay here. It’s wonderful to meet you.” He’s younger than Diego, and his hair is much longer. He has a prominent jaw and model-like, high cheekbones. And his smile is contagious.
“Hi, I’m Camille. It’s great to meet you, as well.”
When I get onto the bus, I realize I’m not the only one on it. There is a family already seated. I pass by four adults and one child as I make my way back to an empty seat. It’s really hot outside, but all the windows are cracked open and there is nice breeze flowing through.
The little boy who was sitting a few rows up comes walking down the aisle, taking a seat next to me. “I’m Jimmy. I’m on an adventure with my mom and dad and my papa and my aunt. Are you on an adventure, too?”
He is so stinking cute. “I am. I get to explore Costa Rica for a magazine and write an article about my adventure. Isn’t that cool?”
“It is. Papa, come meet—what’s your name?”
“Camille.”
“Come meet Camille.”
His grandfather turns around. “Well, hello there, Camille,” he says in a deep, booming voice. “I’m Earl, Earl Johnson. It’s wonderful to meet you, miss.” He has a sun hat resting on his knee and wears a light cotton shirt.
“And you,” I reply, smiling. “Where are you from?”
“We’re from Texas,” the little boy shouts, although I could have guessed where he was from based on his adorable accent.
“Really? I’ve never been to Texas. I’m from New York.”
Diego interrupts our conversation, getting our attention from the front of the bus. “Hello everyone, I just wanted to introduce myself one more time. My name is Diego, and I will be one of your tour guides during your stay here in Costa Rica. We have a forty-minute drive to Atenas, which is where the lodge is located. I wanted to give you a little background information on my great country.” I quickly get my notepad out of my backpack as he starts speaking. “Costa Rica is called home by over four million people. We also have over sixty volcanoes, six of which are still active.”
The boy whispers to me, “I can’t wait to go hike the volcano. We might even get to see lava shoot out everywhere!”
His grandpa turns around to hush him, but I notice he’s quietly chuckling to himself.
I take a moment to glance out the window. The sun has just set, but there is enough light to make out a gorgeous countryside rife with tropical plants and rolling hills covered in fog. As we travel further away from the city, I can’t help but think about the contrast between the rickety little fiesta bus and the pristine looking landscape.
I’m pulled out of my thoughts by Diego’s voice. “Costa Rica is home to over five percent of the world’s biodiversity, and a quarter of our land is protected as wildlife refuges, parks, and reserves.” I jot those stats in my notebook, thinking ahead to the article I will write. I picture seeing my name on the byline. It’s like a dream come true.
“Monkeys are the most common mammal in Costa Rica and the four most common species are howler, spider, squirrel, and white-faced. The second most common mammal is the bat. Rice and beans are staples in our diet.”
Jimmy’s grandpa whispers back to us, “All this talk of food is making me hungry. We might have to get ourselves a snack once we get to the lodge.” The little boy agrees. Their connection is clear, and it warms my heart. The little boy leaves me to sit on his grandpa’s lap.
“Females are called Ticas and males Ticos. Oh, and one final thing before we get to the lodge,” Diego says as a wood-framed building comes into view. “We have a saying here in Costa Rica. It’s Pura Vida. Simply translated, it means pure life, but it is so much more profound than that. It’s a philosophy that encourages one to appreciate life’s simple treasures and live life to the fullest.”
We slow to a stop and everyone starts to stand up. I get introduced to Jimmy’s mother, Vivianne, his aunt Nancy, and his father, Floyd.
I take in the view as I hop off the bus. If this lodge in any indication, Costa Rica must be quite beautiful.
Adam
I’m floating alone in the pool when I see dust clouds rise from below, where the bend in the road is, shortly followed by Diego’s rickety little bus barreling to a stop in front of the lodge. A family exits and then she walks out. It’s easy to spot Camille, because she’s wearing a big floppy hat and sky-high wedges. I wonder if she knows how ridiculous she looks.
Apparently, she doesn’t, because she looks very happy as she laughs at something the small boy standing next to her said. His face is glowing with a wide smile, and even though he appears to only be about nine, he obviously has a crush on her.
It’s not like me to dislike someone based on the way they dress, but I can’t help it. Just look at her. She has no idea what she is in for. As Manuel starts unloading bags, I easily spot the one that must be hers. It’s a huge roller bag that looks stuffed to the brim. I can’t help but chuckle to myself as I watch her struggle to roll it across the gravel drive.
It must weigh a ton.
Everyone else grabs their small bags and carries them easily up the stairs to the lodge. Camille stands there, staring at the stairs like she’s being forced to climb Devil’s Tower with no rope. She’s looking back and forth between her bag and the stairs.
I watch as she gets a determined look on her face, wobbles a little, but drags the suitcase up a few of the stairs. I’m actually impressed she makes it that far before Diego comes up and grabs the bag from her. Surprisingly, she doesn’t seem to want his help. I notice a little spunk in her. Interesting.
But then Diego points in my direction. Oh bloody hell, no. Why did he have to do that? With the sunset you can barely see me hiding out in the dark water, and I’d hoped to keep it that way.
I slowly sink down as far as I can into the water, but I see her head whip around, and she throws a wave and grin in my direction. I wave a finger back at her. Not the middle finger I wanted to give Diego for pointing me out, just a little pathetic wave. She looks like she is about to head toward me but, thankfully, Diego ushers her forward and up into the lodge.
I decide to get out of the pool. Maybe if I switch to the hot tub, she won’t find me. As I ease my body into the warm water, my muscles instantly relax. It feels wonderful. I arrived in Costa Rica just after lunch and was able to get some great shots of the lush property surrounding the lodge. My trip wasn’t long since I flew in from Be
lize. I decided to come down to Central America a day early to get in extra photos for my portfolio. I even met up with a local photographer in Belmopan that my dad has worked with before, and camped with him in the jungle for a night. It was an amazing experience.
I lay my head back against the cool stone and remind myself again why I took this job.
Camille
I take in the interior of the large, wooden structure comprising the lodge. It’s gorgeous, even though it is rugged. It reminds me of a jungle lodge—like something Jane and Tarzan might have lived in if they were in Central America and not Africa. I can just picture the headline, Camille’s Gone Wild!
I giggle at myself and the play on words.
I make my way through the front door and pass an intricately carved wooden bench made from a tree trunk. Wood beams highlight the vaulted ceilings, and even the walls are covered in wood. But it’s not the kind of cheap wood paneling you see in horror movies where they’re out in the middle of nowhere in an old lodge and about to get hacked to pieces. This wood is different, it’s glossy and lighter. It makes the room feel open and bright, not old and terrifying.
Diego hands me back my bag, and I follow him into a large, open reception area with comfy seating along with an open kitchen surrounded by dining tables. As we pass the kitchen, the staff greets us with holas and pura vidas. I smile widely back, comforted by their warmth.
“Tomorrow morning, we want to be ready to go around eight,” Diego says as he leads me to a door down the hallway.
“Okay, sounds good.”
“This is your room. Adam is in this one across the hall from you.” He motions toward a door. “Dinner is ready for you now. You can unpack, but don’t forget we are only staying a night. Tomorrow we will head out to the coast.”
“Sounds perfect. Thank you.” I walk into my room. It has two twin beds with a wooden nightstand between them. Hanging over the beds is white mesh netting. I place my suitcase on the extra bed and quickly use the restroom. It isn’t anything special, certainly not five-star, but it’s very clean.
I head out of my room as my stomach growls. The kitchen has a long buffet filled with pots of food. I take in the amazing smell, wondering what it is. I quickly discover the pots are filled with rice, beans, and vegetables. I grab a plate and serve myself an extra-large helping of rice along with a few veggies and beans then go take a seat next to Jimmy and Earl.
“Are you two as hungry as I am?” I ask. Although I’m kind of a picky eater and don’t usually eat beans, I decide to embrace the Costa Rican food culture. When I take a bite, I find myself pleasantly surprised. It’s delicious.
“Yes. Me and Papa were hungry,” Jimmy exclaims, nodding his head enthusiastically. The rest of his family joins us at the table after filling their plates.
“That pool out there looks wonderful,” Vivianne says, taking a bite of her food. “I think I’m going to take Jimmy out for a swim before bed if anyone would like to join us.”
“That sounds amazing. Diego said they even have a hot tub.”
After I’ve finished eating, I run back into my room, throw on one of the six bathing suits I brought with me, and pin my curly hair up so it won’t get wet. I throw a towel around my waist and head out of my room. Jimmy sprints past me, zooming out the front door and down the stairs.
“Jimmy! Slow down! You’re going to hurt yourself,” Vivianne exclaims from behind me. Jimmy pauses briefly, but doesn’t really slow down. He gets to the pool before us and leaps in, yelling out, “Cannonball!”
I let out a little laugh even though his mother looks like she could have a stroke. I quickly spot the guy who Diego pointed to. He’s sitting in the hot tub with his eyes closed, looking like he could be asleep. I’m not sure what to think of him. He’s sort of a mess. Shaggy brown hair and thick scruff. Regardless, I bound over.
When he opens his eyes, beautiful blue irises meet my gaze.
Adam
I’m woken up by a scream and a large splash of water. The first thing I see when I open my eyes are shapely legs moving in my direction. I allow my gaze to move further up her body, taking in her cutout one-piece and her bouncy brown hair pulled up off of her delicate face.
Annoying or not, she is even prettier than she looked in her videos.
“Hi, I’m Camille. It’s so nice to meet you.” She’s at the edge of the hot tub now and steps down into the water, across from me.
“Hey, I’m Adam,” I say in reply. My voice is curt sounding, causing her smile to fade, so I add, “How was your trip?”
“It was great. It was so hard not having my phone on the plane to pass the time. But it’s fine. I read. So I heard you got here earlier today, where are you from?” she questions.
“I live in London but flew in from Belize. Was there shooting for a day.”
“Belize, really? It sounds so exotic,” she says, her eyes brightening.
Somewhat liking the attention, I reply back. “Yeah, it was actually amazing. Belize’s jungle is pristine, and I got some great photos of the wildlife at the reserve. Unfortunately, I didn’t get any photos of jaguars. I did find some tracks of one, though.”
She gives me a beaming smile.
“Maybe you can show me the photos once they’re ready. Wow, is this place gorgeous or what?” She spins in the water taking in the view. It’s a clear night and the moon and stars are shining bright, illuminating the lush palms. “I can’t believe how tropical this place is. I never expected it to be so lush and pretty.”
I was thinking the same thing about her. I guess traveling with her won’t be all that bad.
“It is breathtaking,” I agree. “Wait till you see it in the morning.”
“I can’t wait. It’s going to be so fun having you take my photo all the time. I promise to always be camera ready,” she says, messing with her hair.
“Oh, I’m sure you will be,” I state flatly, trying not to roll my eyes. “Well, it’s been a long day, and I better head in. I have an early morning. I want to get some photos of the sun rising over the hills. Goodnight,” I say, rising out of the hot tub.
When I stand, I notice her eyes scanning my body. As the realization hits that she just got caught checking me out, a flush spreads over her cheeks. She quickly gets out of the water, too.
“Well, goodnight then, um, I’ll see you in the morning.”
As I excuse myself, she sits down on the edge of the pool and splashes water at the little kid.
Camille
After Adam ditched me, I played in the water with Jimmy for a little bit then retired to my room. I dry off, slide into my pajamas, and attempt to get into bed.
But this netting situation is really complicated, and I sort of get tangled up. By the time I make it onto the bed, I am flustered and annoyed.
I try to go to sleep, but it’s hot, so I kick off the thin white sheet covering me.
“Ugh,” I groan, as a bead of sweat trickles down my neck and into my chest. I’m never going to sleep with it being this hot. I feel disgusting already.
This is ridiculous. I get up, searching my room for the thermostat to turn down the air-conditioning. When I can’t find a control anywhere, I decide to peek out the small window that looks into the hallway. Upon seeing it’s empty, I decide maybe what I need is water. I tiptoe out of my room to the kitchen, making sure to be quiet. A large jug of bottled water and colored glasses line the shelves. I pour myself a cup and sit in the kitchen for a moment drinking it, but I don’t feel any cooler.
Maybe Adam is still up.
I’m sure he is. There’s no way he could be sleeping in this heat. Or maybe he is sleeping because he knows where the magical thermostat is.
I stand on my tiptoes and peek through the window into his room. He’s lying on the bed and looks asleep. Great. Well—maybe he isn’t really asleep. I decide to check, so I open his door, walk toward his bed, and move the stupid white net out of the way. I get it balled up into my hand, hook it onto the bedpost, and
then lean down over him, tapping on his shoulder.
“Psst, Adam. Hey, are you awake?”
He doesn’t answer, but he does stir, rolling in my direction.
“Hello,” I say, bringing my voice up a notch and tapping him a little harder. All of the sudden his eyes flutter open, and he practically flies out of the bed.
“Bloody hell! You about gave me a heart attack,” he says, trying to catch his breath.
“Sorry, I wasn’t sure if you were up. I’m trying to find out where the AC is in here. I am so hot. And I can’t sleep when I’m hot. How can you sleep with it this hot? Maybe you’re cold-blooded or something. I mean, obviously, I know that’s not a real thing, but maybe your orientation runs cold. Like I think that’s the right word. What I mean is you stay cool easier. But I don’t, so I must be—”
“Please, stop talking! They don’t have air conditioning here. Are you insane?”
“No, I am not insane. There’s no reason to be so rude. And why wouldn’t I expect air conditioning? It’s freaking hot as Hades here,” I fume.
His face softens. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap, but there isn’t any here. Try laying down on top of the sheets or putting on something lighter.” He smirks at me. “Or better yet, try sleeping naked. You will fall asleep. Goodnight.” He grabs his pillow, slams his head into it, and turns his back toward me, apparently ending our conversation.
“Sorry to have bothered you,” I say in my coldest tone. Why does he have to be such a jerk? I thought this trip was going to be fun. Now I kind of want to go home.
I get back to my room, lie on top of the covers, and try to calm myself down. What nerve! I hate him.
I grab my video camera and start recording my journal for the day.
“Oh my gosh. It’s my first day here, and I hate it! I’m in a hotel room, covered by netting because I will probably get eaten alive by God knows what if I don’t, and it’s about a hundred degrees here. And there is no air conditioning. What kind of hotel doesn’t offer this basic amenity? And don’t get me started on the freaking photographer I was assigned. Did they really need to pick someone who’s such a jerk? He’s rude, his hair is a mess, and he has this ridiculous scruff. And he thinks he’s so cool. He went on and on about being in Belize tracking jaguars. Please. That sort of thing will not impress a girl. I mean, okay, so even though he is not my type, he did have a nice tan chest. Not that I would have noticed if he hadn’t practically put it in my face when he got out of the hot tub. And he got mad at me when I woke him up to ask about the AC. And then he told me if I was hot I should try sleeping naked. Of course, he knows full well there’s a window looking into my room. He’s probably hoping I do, so he can creep on me. Regardless of him and the lack of air conditioning, this place is amazing. I probably won’t sleep, but at least I will be surrounded by gorgeousness, which may or may not include Adam’s blue eyes. The end. Goodnight.”
