March 29, 2012
Today we were invited to breakfast by some people that David had originally met on the beach. They are a couple from Switzerland that has lived here in Costa Rica for a year and a half. David had met Claudio on the beach and then Elke and their daughter Mia later when they offered him a ride home from one of his many walks. At that time they said we should come over some time so they could practice their English.
Elke has her own catering business that she is trying to grow, so I thought that eating at their house would be a good idea. Not only does she cook meals, but she bakes breads and makes her own jams, chutneys, sauces and other delicious things.
Since they live in Panica and it is about 3km away, Claudio offered to pick us up. We had a very enjoyable time, eating and telling stories. Sometimes we would say something and then Elke would have to say it in German so that Claudio could understand. Other times I would use some Spanish to explain what was being said….I felt very international.
The highlight of the morning is when Mia found a baby gecko on one of her toys and then both men and Mia get out their cameras and start taking pictures of it sitting on a coffee cup. This went on for awhile until Mia knocked it into the coffee. It was then set free on a bush but I laughed to think of a caffeine crazed baby gecko running madly back and forth on the branches. Later I told David, isn’t it wonderful being in such a laid back place that the highlight of the day is an inch long lizard;-))
David has offered to help Elke with a brochure for her business, so we are planning on seeing them next week. On the way back to the house Claudio asked David if he were a priest or pastor. He said no, we are Christians.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
March 27, 2012
March 27, 2012
When going to the bathroom meets the Wild Kingdom!!!
I am not sure if I have gone into any detail about our bathroom situation. So here is more information than you probably want to know. As I told you before, the house we are staying in is two stories. The ground floor is unfinished…there are walls separating what would be 2 bedrooms and a bathroom from an open living kitchen floor plan. There is a stone sink in what would be the kitchen area and a sink, toilet and shower in the bathroom. It was absolutely disgusting when we first saw it, but my amazing husband has swept and re-swept and mopped the floors as well as he could without an actual mop. So it is now clear of debris and we can walk in without too much problem. You may wonder why we would even bother as the stairs are on the outside and we do not have to go through this space to get upstairs. The reason is, the upstairs bathroom is usable for #1 only (told you this was TMI) Anything more serious must be done in the downstairs bathroom, which means a daily trip downstairs.
Well this morning my husband comes back upstairs and makes the statement that I should be glad that he was the one to go downstairs to the bathroom first. I just look at him and wonder what else could he have found down there? So far we have about 8 bats that live down there that like to do fly bys when we enter, we have a small frog that has been living under the bathroom sink, of course there is a gecko of two. And a couple of days ago I had been totally freaked out by a huge tarantula sitting in the middle of the living area floor. I kept looking around the corner of the wall while I was busy in the bathroom to make sure it wasn’t coming for me. And finally ran upstairs to tell the husband. Like the good man he is, he went downstairs and killed it and found another smaller one in the bathroom and dispatched it as well. I wish he had not told me about the second one as it had been in the bathroom with me just moments before.
Anyway, back to this morning. David had his light with him and saw something roundish under the bathroom sink. At first he thought it might be a scrunchie but could not imagine where one would have come from. He got the broom and poked at it and it turned out to be a 2 foot long snake. Well not knowing the snakes in these parts, he felt snakecide the better option. So with what he had with him, a broom and dustpan and rake he manfully took on the snake and dispatched it. I am sure pictures will be on his facebook eventually.
We have had critters in the upstairs bathroom as well. There is a big hairy spider that runs like a crab and super fast that David killed, termites that run up and down the walls but not as many as when we first got there, and a big roach was found last night. Something had been eating on it…we are going with the option that one of our many gecko friends had been snacking…do not want to imagine anything else could take it on.
I want to end this section of the Wild Kingdom by thanking my husband for being so great through this whole time. He has killed for me and I have never loved him more.
PS Just found out from a guy who has lived here a couple of years that was not a tarantula. But a spider that can jump about 10 feet is very aggressive and its poison can kill a horse. It doesn’t usually kill people but you hurt like crazy and get very, very sick from its bite. Glad I did not know that then as I was about 10 feet away when I kept looking at it from around the corner and David said it had jumped straight up several feet when he went after it with the broom. This was information that both of us wish we had not learned until after we had left Costa Rica.
When going to the bathroom meets the Wild Kingdom!!!
I am not sure if I have gone into any detail about our bathroom situation. So here is more information than you probably want to know. As I told you before, the house we are staying in is two stories. The ground floor is unfinished…there are walls separating what would be 2 bedrooms and a bathroom from an open living kitchen floor plan. There is a stone sink in what would be the kitchen area and a sink, toilet and shower in the bathroom. It was absolutely disgusting when we first saw it, but my amazing husband has swept and re-swept and mopped the floors as well as he could without an actual mop. So it is now clear of debris and we can walk in without too much problem. You may wonder why we would even bother as the stairs are on the outside and we do not have to go through this space to get upstairs. The reason is, the upstairs bathroom is usable for #1 only (told you this was TMI) Anything more serious must be done in the downstairs bathroom, which means a daily trip downstairs.
Well this morning my husband comes back upstairs and makes the statement that I should be glad that he was the one to go downstairs to the bathroom first. I just look at him and wonder what else could he have found down there? So far we have about 8 bats that live down there that like to do fly bys when we enter, we have a small frog that has been living under the bathroom sink, of course there is a gecko of two. And a couple of days ago I had been totally freaked out by a huge tarantula sitting in the middle of the living area floor. I kept looking around the corner of the wall while I was busy in the bathroom to make sure it wasn’t coming for me. And finally ran upstairs to tell the husband. Like the good man he is, he went downstairs and killed it and found another smaller one in the bathroom and dispatched it as well. I wish he had not told me about the second one as it had been in the bathroom with me just moments before.
Anyway, back to this morning. David had his light with him and saw something roundish under the bathroom sink. At first he thought it might be a scrunchie but could not imagine where one would have come from. He got the broom and poked at it and it turned out to be a 2 foot long snake. Well not knowing the snakes in these parts, he felt snakecide the better option. So with what he had with him, a broom and dustpan and rake he manfully took on the snake and dispatched it. I am sure pictures will be on his facebook eventually.
We have had critters in the upstairs bathroom as well. There is a big hairy spider that runs like a crab and super fast that David killed, termites that run up and down the walls but not as many as when we first got there, and a big roach was found last night. Something had been eating on it…we are going with the option that one of our many gecko friends had been snacking…do not want to imagine anything else could take it on.
I want to end this section of the Wild Kingdom by thanking my husband for being so great through this whole time. He has killed for me and I have never loved him more.
PS Just found out from a guy who has lived here a couple of years that was not a tarantula. But a spider that can jump about 10 feet is very aggressive and its poison can kill a horse. It doesn’t usually kill people but you hurt like crazy and get very, very sick from its bite. Glad I did not know that then as I was about 10 feet away when I kept looking at it from around the corner and David said it had jumped straight up several feet when he went after it with the broom. This was information that both of us wish we had not learned until after we had left Costa Rica.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Weekend trip...4
Weekend trip ….4
We enjoyed the rest of our Sunday, watched one of the Dvd’s, in Spanish. You haven’t lived until you watched John Carter in Spanish. I told David we would have to watch it over and over until we understood what was being said. Still have not done that…maybe manana.
On Monday we enjoyed our breakfast again in the garden and then we walked over to the Coca Cola bus station to figure out where it was we would need to go. I am glad we did, as the place is very confusing and I would hate to wander around with baggage. It ended up being a row of buses across from an indoor Mercado. The Mercados are crazy, they are a maze of one vendor after another selling everything under the sun. But we noticed that there were several cooked food vendors, so we thought when we came back we could get some food for the road.
We walked back to the hotel, got packed up and then spent some time on the internet before we had to check out. And then we headed off down the road to pass some time before we had to be back at the bus. The first thing I wanted to do was go back to the Batido place and get something refreshing to drink. I opted for the mango, papaya, banana and David got one that was supposed to be good for the heart and included avocado. Both were very good.
We then walked down the promenade for a few blocks and when we came to a fountain we stopped and sat. We were in the sun and at first that was quite comfortable, but soon we felt like we might burn if we sat there too much longer so we moved to the shady side. I ended up sitting next to a fellow that was well dressed but soon became very apparent that he was also quite drunk. He decided he was going to talk to me even though I told him I did not speak Spanish…so instead he started singing to me. I told David it was time to move on.
We went to a McDonald’s and got some French fries to snack on…plus it gave us a place to sit. David asked me what time it was and I told him 12:27. We sat and chatted for quite a while and he asked again what time it was…12:27 I said ….then oh no, my watch has stopped. It was about 1 and our bus was leaving at 2. We decided it was time to move on.
If we thought the streets were busy on the weekend, there was no comparison to the traffic on Monday. It was crazy busy but fortunately most of our walk was down the Central Avenida which is only foot traffic, but there is cross-traffic at each calle, so a traffic light each block. But definitely much better sidewalks than most of the streets have. We finally got to the Mercado and buy a couple of apples and then look for some food we can take on the bus. We get a couple of empanadas, one cheese and one bean and a cheeseburger and a horchata. By now it is about 20-30 minutes before our bus leaves so we walk across the street and sit by our bus.
We had an accident with the horchata aat the bus stop. When I put the straw in, somehow I pierced the bottom and horchata got all over us. So we were sweet and sticky and gritty for our trip back to Tambor.
The bus, although not air-conditioned was fairly new, so the seats were more comfortable than most. We had a good ride to the ferry. This time we only had to get off the bus and walk on the ferry…no taxi…no luggage…it was quite pleasant. While we crossed we were able to watch the sunset. David has put up pics and some are simply gorgeous.
We made it back to Tambor a little after 7. The bus driver did not stop until we were on the far side of Tambor, so we had to walk about 10 minutes or so to get back to the house.
All in all, San Jose was a much needed break. We have come back with a much better attitude than when we left. We cannot believe that now we only have 3 weeks until we go home. The first couple of days we thought we would never last and now it seems so short until we leave.
End of trip
We enjoyed the rest of our Sunday, watched one of the Dvd’s, in Spanish. You haven’t lived until you watched John Carter in Spanish. I told David we would have to watch it over and over until we understood what was being said. Still have not done that…maybe manana.
On Monday we enjoyed our breakfast again in the garden and then we walked over to the Coca Cola bus station to figure out where it was we would need to go. I am glad we did, as the place is very confusing and I would hate to wander around with baggage. It ended up being a row of buses across from an indoor Mercado. The Mercados are crazy, they are a maze of one vendor after another selling everything under the sun. But we noticed that there were several cooked food vendors, so we thought when we came back we could get some food for the road.
We walked back to the hotel, got packed up and then spent some time on the internet before we had to check out. And then we headed off down the road to pass some time before we had to be back at the bus. The first thing I wanted to do was go back to the Batido place and get something refreshing to drink. I opted for the mango, papaya, banana and David got one that was supposed to be good for the heart and included avocado. Both were very good.
We then walked down the promenade for a few blocks and when we came to a fountain we stopped and sat. We were in the sun and at first that was quite comfortable, but soon we felt like we might burn if we sat there too much longer so we moved to the shady side. I ended up sitting next to a fellow that was well dressed but soon became very apparent that he was also quite drunk. He decided he was going to talk to me even though I told him I did not speak Spanish…so instead he started singing to me. I told David it was time to move on.
We went to a McDonald’s and got some French fries to snack on…plus it gave us a place to sit. David asked me what time it was and I told him 12:27. We sat and chatted for quite a while and he asked again what time it was…12:27 I said ….then oh no, my watch has stopped. It was about 1 and our bus was leaving at 2. We decided it was time to move on.
If we thought the streets were busy on the weekend, there was no comparison to the traffic on Monday. It was crazy busy but fortunately most of our walk was down the Central Avenida which is only foot traffic, but there is cross-traffic at each calle, so a traffic light each block. But definitely much better sidewalks than most of the streets have. We finally got to the Mercado and buy a couple of apples and then look for some food we can take on the bus. We get a couple of empanadas, one cheese and one bean and a cheeseburger and a horchata. By now it is about 20-30 minutes before our bus leaves so we walk across the street and sit by our bus.
We had an accident with the horchata aat the bus stop. When I put the straw in, somehow I pierced the bottom and horchata got all over us. So we were sweet and sticky and gritty for our trip back to Tambor.
The bus, although not air-conditioned was fairly new, so the seats were more comfortable than most. We had a good ride to the ferry. This time we only had to get off the bus and walk on the ferry…no taxi…no luggage…it was quite pleasant. While we crossed we were able to watch the sunset. David has put up pics and some are simply gorgeous.
We made it back to Tambor a little after 7. The bus driver did not stop until we were on the far side of Tambor, so we had to walk about 10 minutes or so to get back to the house.
All in all, San Jose was a much needed break. We have come back with a much better attitude than when we left. We cannot believe that now we only have 3 weeks until we go home. The first couple of days we thought we would never last and now it seems so short until we leave.
End of trip
Weekend trip...3
Weekend trip…3
Well we go back to the Cannon store just before they close and find out that it was not the battery but the charger that was not working. So we now have an extra battery and a charger that works.
We do a little walking around and enjoy some of the sights of downtown San Jose. There is a park nearby where they have some vendors set up and I check out the jewelry and find some things for a couple of my girls. Not going to tell you what here because then it won’t be a surprise when we get home. David also takes some pics of a couple of young men practicing their tricks. There are also skateboarders and bicycle tricks being done on a street that has been cordoned off. Just like being back home.
That evening we ask for a place to eat that is within walking distance and are directed to the Don Carlos hotel down the street. We enjoy some dinner and wander around the various garden areas of the hotel before heading back to our room. We then watch Godfather 2 with Spanish subtitles…what a hoot. It’s been years since we had seen this movie and it was funny when they would speak in Italian and then the Spanish subtitle would come up.
We had asked Guillermo if he knew of a church nearby as it was Sunday in the morning. He said he would do some research and let us know in the morning. After a warm shower we went downstairs for our breakfast. The lady that had let us in the day before comes out to us in the garden and strikes up a conversation. She said she had heard we were Christians and that she is also. She speaks slower than most so I am able to actually have a conversation with her. She was very sweet and told me that she would pray for us when we were out walking around that we would be safe.
Guillermo then tells us of a church that is about half a mile away and ends by telling us it is next to the McDonald’s so we won’t miss it. Cracks us up…no address…just what it is near. We do find the church and truly enjoy our visit there. It is an Episcopal church and their first service is in English and then the next one is in Spanish. We did not know what time they would start so we are about an half an hour late, but that did not seem to bother anyone.
We stayed afterwards and enjoyed speaking with several of the parishioners. Reminded me of all the times I had gone to church with my sister over the years. She would have loved this church. The priest was a crack up and had some very interesting facial expressions when some ladies were up giving some of the upcoming events and sharing a letter about sisters.
We then went and walked around the shopping district and got some lunch. We ended up eating at Taco Bell because David thought that would be fun to do. But we also did have a batido while we walked around, so we didn’t completely succumb to American food. Bought some more souvenirs and had fun looking in store windows and people watching. My husband even bought a couple of dvds on the sidewalk.
End of part 3
Well we go back to the Cannon store just before they close and find out that it was not the battery but the charger that was not working. So we now have an extra battery and a charger that works.
We do a little walking around and enjoy some of the sights of downtown San Jose. There is a park nearby where they have some vendors set up and I check out the jewelry and find some things for a couple of my girls. Not going to tell you what here because then it won’t be a surprise when we get home. David also takes some pics of a couple of young men practicing their tricks. There are also skateboarders and bicycle tricks being done on a street that has been cordoned off. Just like being back home.
That evening we ask for a place to eat that is within walking distance and are directed to the Don Carlos hotel down the street. We enjoy some dinner and wander around the various garden areas of the hotel before heading back to our room. We then watch Godfather 2 with Spanish subtitles…what a hoot. It’s been years since we had seen this movie and it was funny when they would speak in Italian and then the Spanish subtitle would come up.
We had asked Guillermo if he knew of a church nearby as it was Sunday in the morning. He said he would do some research and let us know in the morning. After a warm shower we went downstairs for our breakfast. The lady that had let us in the day before comes out to us in the garden and strikes up a conversation. She said she had heard we were Christians and that she is also. She speaks slower than most so I am able to actually have a conversation with her. She was very sweet and told me that she would pray for us when we were out walking around that we would be safe.
Guillermo then tells us of a church that is about half a mile away and ends by telling us it is next to the McDonald’s so we won’t miss it. Cracks us up…no address…just what it is near. We do find the church and truly enjoy our visit there. It is an Episcopal church and their first service is in English and then the next one is in Spanish. We did not know what time they would start so we are about an half an hour late, but that did not seem to bother anyone.
We stayed afterwards and enjoyed speaking with several of the parishioners. Reminded me of all the times I had gone to church with my sister over the years. She would have loved this church. The priest was a crack up and had some very interesting facial expressions when some ladies were up giving some of the upcoming events and sharing a letter about sisters.
We then went and walked around the shopping district and got some lunch. We ended up eating at Taco Bell because David thought that would be fun to do. But we also did have a batido while we walked around, so we didn’t completely succumb to American food. Bought some more souvenirs and had fun looking in store windows and people watching. My husband even bought a couple of dvds on the sidewalk.
End of part 3
Thursday, March 22, 2012
March 20, 2012
March 20, 2012
A very interesting question was posed to me a couple of days ago. We were being told a story about a young lady that had come to Costa Rica with a potential boyfriend. He was serious, but she was not about the relationship. He had brought her down to meet some family and enjoy some time at the beach. During her stay she became enamored with a local Tico beach bum. Eventually she and the young man break up during the stay. After they go back to the states, she drops out of college, gets on a plane and come back to Costa Rica. After a few weeks or months she is back in the U.S. and pregnant. The question was: What makes girls so swept off their feet by the young Tico men? Why would they throw their life away for one?
It made me think of Hosea. Gomer was not too much different from this young lady. She had a man that was serious about her and willing to devote his life to her, but instead she chose to go looking for the party guy that would sweep her off her feet. Unfortunately, he would also leave her in the dust when he was ready to move on. We say we want security and love and a good home but when faced with the temptation to be exciting and excited for a time we will throw it all away. Then we are left with the guilt and shame of what we have done. Now we need the excitement so we will not feel those negative emotions. It becomes such a vicious cycle and we see no way out….at least no way out for us. Others, yes, but never for us. After all, our sin is special…no one can be as bad as we are…on one hand but on the other hand we always justify ourselves by saying…at least we are not as bad as…. We are very schizo at how we look at our sin.
The problem: Our eyes are on ourselves
The solution: Get our eyes on Jesus!!!
Sounds simple, well it is. But living it out daily is the challenge.
A very interesting question was posed to me a couple of days ago. We were being told a story about a young lady that had come to Costa Rica with a potential boyfriend. He was serious, but she was not about the relationship. He had brought her down to meet some family and enjoy some time at the beach. During her stay she became enamored with a local Tico beach bum. Eventually she and the young man break up during the stay. After they go back to the states, she drops out of college, gets on a plane and come back to Costa Rica. After a few weeks or months she is back in the U.S. and pregnant. The question was: What makes girls so swept off their feet by the young Tico men? Why would they throw their life away for one?
It made me think of Hosea. Gomer was not too much different from this young lady. She had a man that was serious about her and willing to devote his life to her, but instead she chose to go looking for the party guy that would sweep her off her feet. Unfortunately, he would also leave her in the dust when he was ready to move on. We say we want security and love and a good home but when faced with the temptation to be exciting and excited for a time we will throw it all away. Then we are left with the guilt and shame of what we have done. Now we need the excitement so we will not feel those negative emotions. It becomes such a vicious cycle and we see no way out….at least no way out for us. Others, yes, but never for us. After all, our sin is special…no one can be as bad as we are…on one hand but on the other hand we always justify ourselves by saying…at least we are not as bad as…. We are very schizo at how we look at our sin.
The problem: Our eyes are on ourselves
The solution: Get our eyes on Jesus!!!
Sounds simple, well it is. But living it out daily is the challenge.
Weekend trip...2
March 22, 2012
Part 2
Well we got to San Jose and spent an hour or so finding our hotel and the Cannon store. San Jose is a very interesting city, it has no addresses, or at least no one uses the addresses they do have. They have a grid system that could make finding places fairly easy, if only they used it. Avenidas run east/west and calles run north/south. And then the evens are on one side of Central and the odds on the other side for both Avenidas and Calles. This means there are 4 zones just like those wonderful quadrants we learned in Algebra oh so many years ago. So our hotel was on Avenida 9 Calle 5y7, which means it is on Ave 9 somewhere between 5 and 7 in the northeast quadrant. The only problem is that there are no street signs. Once in a while a corner may have the name of the street up on a building, but that is very hit and miss. The traffic is crazy and most of the downtown streets are one way, so driving around looking for an address is almost impossible.
We parked in a lot and asked the attendant where we were and how to get to where we wanted to go. He did not even know the names of the corner where he was working. He knew the calle was 2 but was unsure as to the avenida on the other side of the lot. In fact another attendant came over and the two of them proceeded to argue about the number of the avenida. It was hilarious.
We went east out of the lot down the unknown avenida knowing that we at least needed to head in that direction. We finally saw a building with a sign on the corner but it only had the calle sign. We kept walking because we still knew we had not reached 5 yet. Then we came to a couple of policemen and Mike asked for our address from them. They actually knew where we were and gave us directions. We had 2 blocks to go north and 2 east. We got to Avenida 9 and Calle 5 and proceeded down the street to find the hotel. Now this was not what we would consider a hotel. It melted in with the other buildings, in fact I passed the building and then looked back before I was able to see the sign. There was a small gate on the street and then you went up some steps that ran parallel to the street. At the top there was a gate on an open door. We rang the bell and someone came and let us in.
The lady informed us that we were in the right place but the manager had stepped out and would be back in a few minutes. We looked around the downstairs and at the garden area where they served breakfast. The place was very quaint. It looked like it maybe had been a large house at one time and then chopped up into rooms. It had 2 stories and something on street level that we never saw. When Denis came back he got us registered and showed us our room upstairs. The room was small but it had a bed and private bathroom, so I was happy.
We then asked Denis for help to find the Cannon Store. He actually was able to print out a map and showed us how many streets we would have to walk south and west. We then left saying we would be back in awhile with our luggage, but we needed to get to the store before they closed at 1:00.
We only missed the store by one block but were able to remedy that rather quickly. We got to the right street but could not see a sign for the store. But when the traffic and buses moved we realized we were across the street from it. It is funny, from the outside it is very hard to tell one store from another, but once we stepped up and walked through the door it was obvious we were in a camera store.
We got David the new battery and headed back to the parking lot to get our luggage. We now felt like we had the layout of the city figured out and were able to find the truck with very little difficulty. Since Mike had to go in the general direction of the hotel to leave he said he would drive us over and drop us off nearby. We only had taken a rolling backpack and rolling computer bag, so that was no problem.
We go into the hotel and up to our room. David plugs in his new battery to charge and I unpack. David wanted to see if the battery would charge. It was a little before noon by this time. When we went downstairs, Denis offered us some coffee or tea. We both opt for tea and go and sit in the garden area and relax. We both loved the garden, it is on a hill with 3 or 4 tables scattered around. It is walled and has some beautiful plants and flowers and feels a hundred miles away from the big city.
Around 12:30 we go and check the battery and find out that what the recharger says and what the camera says when the battery is in it are two different things. We know that we have to hurry back to the store before it closes. So off we go again to the Cannon store.
End part 2
Part 2
Well we got to San Jose and spent an hour or so finding our hotel and the Cannon store. San Jose is a very interesting city, it has no addresses, or at least no one uses the addresses they do have. They have a grid system that could make finding places fairly easy, if only they used it. Avenidas run east/west and calles run north/south. And then the evens are on one side of Central and the odds on the other side for both Avenidas and Calles. This means there are 4 zones just like those wonderful quadrants we learned in Algebra oh so many years ago. So our hotel was on Avenida 9 Calle 5y7, which means it is on Ave 9 somewhere between 5 and 7 in the northeast quadrant. The only problem is that there are no street signs. Once in a while a corner may have the name of the street up on a building, but that is very hit and miss. The traffic is crazy and most of the downtown streets are one way, so driving around looking for an address is almost impossible.
We parked in a lot and asked the attendant where we were and how to get to where we wanted to go. He did not even know the names of the corner where he was working. He knew the calle was 2 but was unsure as to the avenida on the other side of the lot. In fact another attendant came over and the two of them proceeded to argue about the number of the avenida. It was hilarious.
We went east out of the lot down the unknown avenida knowing that we at least needed to head in that direction. We finally saw a building with a sign on the corner but it only had the calle sign. We kept walking because we still knew we had not reached 5 yet. Then we came to a couple of policemen and Mike asked for our address from them. They actually knew where we were and gave us directions. We had 2 blocks to go north and 2 east. We got to Avenida 9 and Calle 5 and proceeded down the street to find the hotel. Now this was not what we would consider a hotel. It melted in with the other buildings, in fact I passed the building and then looked back before I was able to see the sign. There was a small gate on the street and then you went up some steps that ran parallel to the street. At the top there was a gate on an open door. We rang the bell and someone came and let us in.
The lady informed us that we were in the right place but the manager had stepped out and would be back in a few minutes. We looked around the downstairs and at the garden area where they served breakfast. The place was very quaint. It looked like it maybe had been a large house at one time and then chopped up into rooms. It had 2 stories and something on street level that we never saw. When Denis came back he got us registered and showed us our room upstairs. The room was small but it had a bed and private bathroom, so I was happy.
We then asked Denis for help to find the Cannon Store. He actually was able to print out a map and showed us how many streets we would have to walk south and west. We then left saying we would be back in awhile with our luggage, but we needed to get to the store before they closed at 1:00.
We only missed the store by one block but were able to remedy that rather quickly. We got to the right street but could not see a sign for the store. But when the traffic and buses moved we realized we were across the street from it. It is funny, from the outside it is very hard to tell one store from another, but once we stepped up and walked through the door it was obvious we were in a camera store.
We got David the new battery and headed back to the parking lot to get our luggage. We now felt like we had the layout of the city figured out and were able to find the truck with very little difficulty. Since Mike had to go in the general direction of the hotel to leave he said he would drive us over and drop us off nearby. We only had taken a rolling backpack and rolling computer bag, so that was no problem.
We go into the hotel and up to our room. David plugs in his new battery to charge and I unpack. David wanted to see if the battery would charge. It was a little before noon by this time. When we went downstairs, Denis offered us some coffee or tea. We both opt for tea and go and sit in the garden area and relax. We both loved the garden, it is on a hill with 3 or 4 tables scattered around. It is walled and has some beautiful plants and flowers and feels a hundred miles away from the big city.
Around 12:30 we go and check the battery and find out that what the recharger says and what the camera says when the battery is in it are two different things. We know that we have to hurry back to the store before it closes. So off we go again to the Cannon store.
End part 2
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Weekend trip...1
We just had an amazing weekend for our halfway point in our trip to Costa Rica. We were hanging out at a little restaurant that has Wifi. We had gone for café con leche for me and a batido for David. While there Mike, who we had gone to Tango Mar with came down for breakfast. We get talking and David had told him previously that his camera battery seemed to be no good and the only place he might find a new one was in San Jose. Well he tells us that he is going to San Jose in the morning, do we want to go with?
Our immediate response is YES that would be fantastic. We then spend the next hour or so looking for a store in San Jose that sells Cannon products. We call and they have the battery. We then find a reasonably priced hotel that is nearby. Finally after the arrangements are made we go home so I can do my laundry.
The next morning we are picked up at 6:30 and are on our way. After we have gone for about an hour, we learn that Mike’s license plates are a number that cannot go into the city on Friday. He then says he can stop on the outskirts of town and then we can take the bus the rest of the way or we can go to Tamarindo, the opposite direction for the night and stay in his penthouse condo overlooking the beach for the night. We tell him we are flexible and will do whatever is best for him, but inside I am yelling…Beach Condo!!!
Well, he had business he wanted to take care of in Tamarindo, so we call our hotel and they graciously change our reservations for a day later arrival. We got to see a lot more of the Nicoya Peninsula and hear some of Mike’s story. The condo’s view was outrageous. He gave us the Master, which was upstairs as he usually stays in one of the bedrooms on the main floor. We were probably one of the highest vantage points in the whole city. We could see for miles. David did try and take a couple of pics but the camera was not responding…hence our trip in the first place.
Mike went and had lunch with his attorney and did business. We played on the internet and watched the ocean and snuck in a little nap. When Mike came back he asked if we wanted to go see some of the beaches farther north and off the beaten path. Of course we did. All I can say is we were on “roads” that only my son Josh would have driven on. My main concern was keeping my head far enough from the side of the truck so I did not bash out my brains. But we saw some absolutely gorgeous beaches. We went to about 5 or 6 and then returned to Tamarindo via a more civilized route.
We watched the sun set over the ocean from our balcony and were able to sleep in an air-conditioned room on a king sized bed. We laughed at the difference between where we had been just the day before. I thought of Paul saying I have learned to be content in whatever state I am in. I sure was content in this state but knew I would be just as happy when we returned to Tambor.
The next morning we left early and made our way to San Jose.
End of part 1
Our immediate response is YES that would be fantastic. We then spend the next hour or so looking for a store in San Jose that sells Cannon products. We call and they have the battery. We then find a reasonably priced hotel that is nearby. Finally after the arrangements are made we go home so I can do my laundry.
The next morning we are picked up at 6:30 and are on our way. After we have gone for about an hour, we learn that Mike’s license plates are a number that cannot go into the city on Friday. He then says he can stop on the outskirts of town and then we can take the bus the rest of the way or we can go to Tamarindo, the opposite direction for the night and stay in his penthouse condo overlooking the beach for the night. We tell him we are flexible and will do whatever is best for him, but inside I am yelling…Beach Condo!!!
Well, he had business he wanted to take care of in Tamarindo, so we call our hotel and they graciously change our reservations for a day later arrival. We got to see a lot more of the Nicoya Peninsula and hear some of Mike’s story. The condo’s view was outrageous. He gave us the Master, which was upstairs as he usually stays in one of the bedrooms on the main floor. We were probably one of the highest vantage points in the whole city. We could see for miles. David did try and take a couple of pics but the camera was not responding…hence our trip in the first place.
Mike went and had lunch with his attorney and did business. We played on the internet and watched the ocean and snuck in a little nap. When Mike came back he asked if we wanted to go see some of the beaches farther north and off the beaten path. Of course we did. All I can say is we were on “roads” that only my son Josh would have driven on. My main concern was keeping my head far enough from the side of the truck so I did not bash out my brains. But we saw some absolutely gorgeous beaches. We went to about 5 or 6 and then returned to Tamarindo via a more civilized route.
We watched the sun set over the ocean from our balcony and were able to sleep in an air-conditioned room on a king sized bed. We laughed at the difference between where we had been just the day before. I thought of Paul saying I have learned to be content in whatever state I am in. I sure was content in this state but knew I would be just as happy when we returned to Tambor.
The next morning we left early and made our way to San Jose.
End of part 1
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