Life isn't measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

We had such a treat this morning! Sitting on the deck, relaxing, when Michael noticed a sloth walking across the yard beside ours. We watched him climb a tree and very persistently coax a big leaf over with his long claws to transfer himself to another tree. Impossible! We wondered how (and why) he would attempt it...the leaf shredded whenever he tried to clutch it, and it was a long reach. He knew what he was doing...(how?!) It took him about 10 minutes to get a grip on the leaf just right. Then he sloooowly shifted his weight so he was balanced and resting. Once his motion stopped, he sloooowly turned and made his way up the tree. Unbelievable! We wondered if he'd gone to the top of that tree just to look around because he very presently came down to cross our front entrance. We sat two feet away from him, videotaping his pilgrimmage. He stopped and regarded us, but showed no sign of distress or irritation. This quality actually makes sloths vulnerable to predators. They are actually faster than commonly believed, when they choose to be, and they do have long, sharp claws and teeth, but they are no match for the attack of a dog.
Sloths go to the ground to go to the bathroom about once a week, digging a hole and covering it afterwards. They go to the same spot each time and are vulnerable to predation while doing so. Nobody knows why they do this, although they will pee from up in the tree if its raining.
We are so grateful to have experienced this moment!

Pain is inevitable...

...but misery is optional. We cannot avoid pain, but we can avoid joy.-Tim hansel

Not so tired today-it was bothering me I've almost slept a week away! I've decided I'm investing in my health and well-being and that is never a waste. So, I've just enjoyed the sleep...and the fact I've have absolutely nothing to do...
In the evening, we walked down the road to a little Tico restaurante. Lovely people -little one in a playpen, kitten playing at your feet, great home-cooking, nice atmosphere. Met a man dining there from Oregon, Bob, who is a blueberry farmer at this stage of his life. He stays in different parts of Costa Rica each year for a few months. Leaves his wife at home because she doesn't want to travel. Fascinating man who entertained us with a wealth of stories from a lifetime of embracing!
So nice to go to a restaurant and "have dinner" with the other patrons, the staff, and the chef. Gabriel ordered a Coca cola and the owner even ran to the store to get him one rather than telling him they were out. This is the "flavour" of dining out almost everwhere we go. We love it!

Trip to the Doctor

Michael and the kids took me to the Clinica medica today. Traveled in by bus, would've fallen off my bike I'm so dizzy. Slept on the bus.
When you go to the doctor in Puerto Viejo, there is a sign that says to ring the bell and wait three minutes. the door was opened immediately on our ring by a man in jeans and a polo shirt. The doctor. Three minutes later his daughter, the receptionist, came in the front door. She explained they live behind the clinic and the bell sounds there and then they come to see patients. Things are laid back here.
The doctor asked what he could do for me. i said I thought I may have an inner ear infection. He asked about my symptoms. When I told him I was struggling with vertigo, he became puzzled. Said it wasn't a common symptom...I was thinking...huh? Um...I'd heard the Costa Rican medical system was exceptional...
He asked me to describe the vertigo and the rest of my symptoms. Suddenly he began to grin..."I thought you said urinary infection!" We had a great laugh!
He gave me a prescription with instructions for the pharmacia to give me a discount, and sent me on my way with instructions to come back if I wasn't feeling better by the next day after taking them.
Slept on the bus on the way home...just can't stay awake for long.
the silver lining of this sleepy cloud? He gave me the "locale" price of $40.00; half what it would've cost a "tourist"! LOL!

Felize Navidad!! Merry Christmas!!

It is so strange to celebrate Christmas without our traditions and the snow we're used to. Today, we miss our family the most. Other years' we'd have arrived home from a candlelight service, stuffed stockings and wrapped last minute gifts. We'd be preparing for our big family breakfast in the morning. Opening one gift (always from Grandma) and reading the Christmas story before everyone tucks in for the night.
Tomorrow would be noise and activity-grandkids running around, and present opening that lasts for hours because there are so many of us, and we do it youngest to oldest, one gift at a time. At least Mikaira doesn't torture us by being the absolute slowest gift opener in the world anymore. Not kidding...We finally resorted to ammending the tradition where she was concerned and letting others go ahead while she was opening hers. We have videos of Mikaira picking away at the tape... gone on to someone else... panning back on Mikaira-now untying the ribbon...on to someone else...Mikaira, starting on the other side of the package...
After a day together, we'd be traveling to my mom's to get together with her and my siblings and their families for a huge spread usually single-handedly prepared by her. It would be loud and chaotic all day long: when my dad was alive, he would sit in the midst of it, grinning at everyone and you'd just know he had turned his hearing aids down!
We were so very glad we had our family Christmas before we left. Gathering family to celebrate that which we value is good tradition. It was different than what we've built all these years, but then, so is our family; it's expanded three-fold and grown in so many directions since we began them. This stage in our lives affords us the freedom to evaluate our contribution. Traditions are so vital to the bonds and values of a family, especially when children are young. Yet holding too tightly to one way that no longer serves that end can get you mired... We've learned to question our "expectations". Moves you forward in life...a good place to be!
Most of our children are grown with spouses and children of their own. Our two youngest are in a different place than their siblings when they were young. Different traditions, different opportunity-by virtue of birth order. Such is the rhythm of life...Passing the mantle to the parents' of our grandchildren to forge the identities of their cores together as family, we're deeply content to support and honour them in that. And tickled to create new Grandma and Granpa traditions that deepen those roots.
I slept most of this Christmas eve and sent everyone off to the beach. Slept most of the day yesterday too. So, so tired and really dizzy. If I move my head, the room spins. I feel a bit better and get up, and a half hour later can't keep my eyes open....Roused myself to go to a Christmas eve potluck at the Concrete Jungle, which was very enjoyable, but honestly, couldn't wait to get back to bed.
Kids are tucked and off I go again...nite, nite!

SURF'S UP!!

Gabriel woke up this morning upset with the rain. Michael and the kids are scheduled for surfing lessons today...He prayed all morning for sun and it burst forth just as we decided we would risk it. Waiting for the bus, and hoping it would be on time today, we were so happy to see Janet drive up in her little electric golf cart. She was off to Purto Viejo and offered us a ride! Perfect! Mucho, mucho gracious!!

We arrived at surf school on time and everyone got measured up for their boards.
Gabriel, the instructor, and Gabriel, our little student, became fast friends. Our Gabriel is the second youngest student he's taught.
                                                      Douglas, another instructor, joined us to ensure everyone's safety in the ocean-the waves were high today.We walked through town to Playa Negra (Black Beach-so named because of the volcanic ash colouring the sand) and surf school began.

They began with learning how to protect their heads should a board bounce up and hit them in a hard wave. Then they learned the proper stance on a board.


Teacher Gabriel was fantastic! He gave a very motivational talk about "I can't" not being in his vocabulary and negative thoughts or words are not allowed.They had to lie down on their boards and jump up to take the stance on the instructor's signal.



He called young Gabriel "goofy foot". This bothered Gabriel a bit and asked why the instructor said he had a "funny foot". It took a bit of explaining to assure him it just meant he put his left foot on the back of the board rather than his right like most do. The "goofy foot" stance seems to work for him-he was declared a natural!
We think it's so much easier when you're short and don't have so far to fall, and young, so don't think in terms of "everything that could go wrong" (or what could get broken).

Allie did fantastically too! A little apprehensive at first but willing to giive it a whirl! She made it to shore standing on most runs, even her firsts!
Michael was determined to surf  and did a great job as well! He it with the s embraced it with the same tenacity that he approaches almost everything in life. Oh, the JOY, to experience riding that wave! He was in heaven and you could see the pleasure in every ride!



 
Now, if I can figure out how to work you-tube...got great footage!
A lesson was $45.00 per person for three hours. Money really well spent!! Our Christmas gift to the kids!
Hmmm...wonder where you can buy a cheap surf board? We'd have to re-sell it when we leave, not much chance of surfing in Saskatchewan...
Great, great fun was had by all!!

"Your friends will know you better in the first minute they meet you than your acquaintances will know you in a thousand years."

Trip into town today. The Jungle Internet is here so we can do our banking online and keep up with the necessities. We stopped in to see Genovie and have a little visit-she is so precious! Went looking for the shop of a woman we met at the potluck the other night. She and her husband have sparked an affinity with both Michael and I. How often does that happen?! Sometimes you meet people who just "fit" with who you are and impact you just in meeting them...Reflection says I am abundantly blessed with signifiant people like this in my life-and long-term through so, so many mountains as well as valleys. For the, I am so thankful!!! They make my life rich!!!

Esta es una parado de bus? (Is this the bus stop?)

Took the early bus into Puerto Viejo all by myself this morning! This may not seem like a big deal, but to me it's an impressive accomplishment-capable, acclimated, integrating. The 12:45 bus from Manzanillo we know from experience comes sometime before 1:10... so it would only stand to reason the 8:30 bus should come sometime before 9:00... There are no real bus stops from here to Puerto Viejo...you just stand on the road and indicate you want the bus to stop. At 8:50 I was beginning to wonder if there was a bus coming today, debated going home to get my bike, and decided to trust the "system". So...I started walking...was halfway to Cocles when the bus came around the bend. Whew! Flagged it down and hopped on. I told the driver, in Spanish, where I wanted to go (had lots of time to practise), and gave him exact change for my fare. That was easy....
I went by myself this morning so I could spend some time at the Jungle Internet (Calle 215, by the flea market). Finally, Internet that is mostly reliable. Immersed myself for hours in typing out the blog pages we've already written. Oh well, I won't keep complaining about ee pad issues-it's a great little piece of equipment but doesn't suit the purposes we thought it would....Michael and the kids came in by later bus-I begged for one more hour! Feels like a huge load off my shoulders to get this onto the blog.
Michael and the kids went off shopping for new bike locks (we lost them the other night at the Concrete Jungle), a few more groceries-you have to replenish often when you shop by bicycle- and a BLANKET!! Ah, the little things...maybe now we will sleep!
At this point we were all starving so went to the Flip Flop Diner for "burgers"-wouldn't order that, if I were you...neat place though, we will go back, just order something a little more "authentic"...
I went back to the Jungle Internet for an hour while Michael and the kids went to DeeLite gellato parlour-Yum! Home-made Italian icecream and yogurts! This place is always packed, and that speaks for itself!
Back at the bus terminal, Mikaira called from Canada. We got to talk to Cadence, our granddaughter, who is house sitting for us with her parents. Cadence likes "Grandma's potty" and uses it most of the time. We all know she is capable-shades of her mother's "rebellion" at the same age...Her little sister, Aria, has cut her first tooth! How wonderful to talk to them! Miss you guys!
We zoomed home on the 4:15 bus (I call it the 4:30 bus and plan accordingly, haven't missed it yet...) to meet Doug and Sybille and their girls for appetizers before going for supper at Pura Gula Restaurante (the one we love so much). We raced home to change and grab our flashlights.Gabriel stopped to watch, in awe, as an entire league of army ants paraded by- they stretched on for about 3 metres! We, of course, warned him to be careful not to get too close,as little platoons broke away and simulaneously attacked Allie's, Michael's and my sandaled feet, leaving his face, which was pretty close, completely intact. It was an incredible sight to behold-next time we could take Gabriel's lead and wear runners.
We had a beutiful time at our Canadian friends with appetiizers, candlelight, windows opened to the beautiful jungle foliage and good conversation before going to the restaurante. We call it the "star" restaurante in honour of the Ikea lights hanging from the rafters.
Having recommended this restaurant for it's early menu which we have eaten-good and reasonably priced, about 6000 colones per meal-we were surprised to find the after 6 menu much expanded-very gourmet-but with a heftier price tag attached. The Pura Gula ("pure gluttony") is owned by a fellow from Argentina (who has a new baby girl, three weeks old!) and a fellow from Spain. WOW!! They can cook! Doug, Sybille, and Allie ordered the beef tenderloin. Sarah and Rebecca shared the Gnocchi and Gabriel shared with everyone. There were a number of flambe'd items on the menu, and since none of the kids had seen this done, I ordered it and we were all invited to the kitchen when it was time!
What a lovely meal and a lovely time with truly wonderful people!!! (who, by the way, picked up the tab-unnecessary but greatly appreciated!!! Thank you!!!) We are sad to see them go and hope the rest of their adventure is abundantly blessed!!

Mass destruction!

What a storm last night! It raged...all night...didn't get much sleep, I'm afraid. There are trenches dug along properties here. Ours has a little bridge over one, just inside our front gate. Gabriel "fishes" there. That trench sounded like a gushing river all night long, and gushes still. Trees are down everywhere and power too.
We have promised our Canadian friends some nice weather before they carry on with their travels...doesn't look like today will be it, but there's always prayer...We had to show them photos to have them believe ...sunny days are posiible here.
We wanted to share Punta Uva with them-such a beautiful beach!
Indeed, the skies cleared and a nice warm sun started to shine. We were scheduled to meet our friends at their place at 1:00. Unfortunately, when we arrived they hadn't been served lunch yet...ah...Costa Rican time...We decided to bike down and they would drive themselves later. We gave them directions to the entrance we like to take into the beach. We like to walk our bikes down to our "spot". The beach we met today was one we didn't recognize! Trees down, sand blackened by branches and seeds and bits of wood! The "little" river mouth that timidly meets the ocean was now indistinguishable from the ocean. What power in nature! We were awestruck!
We parked our bikes as close to where we'd wanted to be to wait for Sybille and Doug, Sarah and Rebecca. Shortly they appeared, and if they hadn't seen the photos, they may not have known this to be the same "tranquillo" beach we have described.

Since this side of the beach was so littered with debris, Doug came up with the solution of carrying our bikes across the divide where the river and ocean met. He took Gabriel and Allie's smaller bikes, hoisted them, and started to cross. Michael followed with his bike and Sybille and I with mine. I think we may have misjudged not only the distance, but the depth... We finally got to the other side, where Doug borrowed Allie's bike and rode off to get their vehicle.
Doug is a big kid at heart, (something like Michael?) and Gabriel had a blast playing with him in the water-something about a crocodile man....

Young Rebecca was feeling really rotten and suffered through our fun. She really was a trooper and it wasn't until she succumbed to fever that she sat it out. A great time at the beach with SUN!-was had by all, even Rebecca, who eventually just needed a nap.

We had made plans to go to a potluck and study at the Concrete Jungle that evening. We were happy Sybille joined us. Doug stayed home with Rebecca to give her rest. Poor girl! Allie and Sarah went downstairs for the teen group, where they didn't understand a word of the Spanish. Gabriel didn't care too much for his group because he can't stand colouring but was happy when they all met to watch "Soul Surfer". Michael, Sybille, and I had a wonderful time with the adults, most of whom spoke far better English than our Spanish. It was an interesting time, meeting people with such diverse nationalities and languages-German, Costa Rican, Peruvian, Spanish, American-able to share hearts and spirits nonetheless.
Wouldn't you know it...as we were winding down, the skies opened up again. We had ridden our bikes and were a little leery about riding them home all the way from Puerto Viejo in the dark anyway. The pastor offered to drive us home in his truck...very grateful!!! Next time, we'll take a cab!

Off to town!

On our way to Puerto Viejo, we saw our new friends sitting in a cafe down the road. Confirming they would be coming for supper, we happily carried on..
First on the agenda is grocery shopping. We bought another set of dishes (on sale, yes!); our little home is set up only for four...
We actually had a bit of a planned agenda today: we went  to meet a woman who we feel like we know-she's got a website we've been following: http://www.travelexperiencecostarica.com Her name is Lisa Valencia and she has a guide business-if you are thinking of coming to Costa Rica and want to experience without having to find things yourself, Lisa is the person to hire. She is busy setting up a little rental accomodation just on the outskirts of Puerto Viejo- doing a lovely joob painting and decorating- and is open for business! A shared kitchen for renters.
Stopping for lunch a our favourite French restaurante, Sucre et sel, for the most amazing crepes you've ever tasted, Allie and I went down the road to the mega super for groceries. Our meals were arriving just as we were, timed that well-you want to dig in as they are hot off the pan-they melt in your mouth...Michael and I had the ratatoulle crepe special with salade and Allie and Gabriel had ham and cheese crepes. Art on a plate and for the palette!
The Concrete Jungle opens at 2:00 on Saturdays. Gabriel couldn't wait to try out the long-board! They've got great equipment and greatinstruction! Unfortunately, it's shutting down for the next few Christmas/New Years' weeks so this is it for awhile...Gabriel has such a great time skateboarding! And we had fun watching and visiting with the other spectators. By the time we needed to leave, he had gotten up onto a rail some of the other kids had set up.
By four we had loaded up our groceries into our bike baskets-it's amazing how much you can transport on a bike! 5 bags of groceries and an entire set of dishes-a little soggy in the box by now with the off and on rain...LOL, life's an adventure!
Realizing we'd forgotten cutlery, we stopped into our little neighbourhood store...to find the proprietor's and all but the die-hard customers standing outside...power outage...oh,oh...
Being on a mission ourselves,and knowing the general direction of the cutlery, we made our purchase and rushed home. Wishful thinking...our power was out too. And the rain was picking up...Fortunately, the meal was prepared and marinating; we could cook it on the gas stove if we absolutely had to...Michael wondered if he should get some candles just in case, so he ran back to the store. By this point the power came on, but the rain was picking up...Into the electric frying pan with our supper! Salad's prepared. Michael returned to flickering lights and the rain getting stronger. We were waffling...should we call and spare our new friends the rain, or could we do this? We knew their phone wasn't working; we decided we'd let them decide...Michael wondered at putting up tarps that he'd seen stored away. He got them up around the living room just as torrential rains began pummeling our little home. It came with such force, the entire deck (living room and hallway..they are outside, under a roof) floor was soaked! tarps up, candles lit, power stayedon...cozy...except we couldn't hear each other without shouting! Oh...ambience!
Michael had arrived to meet Sybille and Doug and family at the entrance to our road. This was the most powerful downpour we'd experienced thus far! We would'nt have blamed them had they not ventured out; but we were happy they did! Decked with an umbrella, flashlight, box of snack bites, and a bottle of wine, these hardy Canucks braved the elements with true pioneering spirit! You just have to appreciate people who are so willing to embrace "whatever".
The rain  died down to manageable decibelss and we had a lovely time getting to know each other. Sybille is a teacher in Toronto and her passion for teaching shines out. You can tell she's one of those cherished and life-changing educators in many young lives! Doug is a contractor who is equally passionate  for meticulous, quality work. They are generous, "pay-it-forward", socially interested people who were so easy to know, as soon as we met, actually. They birthed their babies by midwife and love to shop at value village....Those babies are 16-year old Sarah, who is lovely and respectful and works in a classroom with six-year-olds and was just wonderful and intuitive with Gabriel, and Rebecca, who is artsy and accomplished and articulate, especially forher 12 years. Need we say more... well we can: they are warm, intelligent, embracing, respectful, grounded and values-driven individuals who make a delightful family, one we're very happy to share a little part of Costa Rica with!

The BEST DAY EVER!!!!

This morning we hopped on our bikes and went down to the Jaguar Rescue Centre. This is a fascinating place doing really great work repopulating the rain forest with endangered animals and snakes (there are over a hundred different species of snakes in Costa Rica, and only seven are venomous). You can google them for all kinds of educational information.  We'd brought two lamb stuffies from Canada for the orphaned baby sloths. Sloths are carried by their mamas for an entire year so the orphans need  Next year we will bring powdered goats' milk-easier for them to digest. We had the honour of meeting the owner who was so warm and thankful to us. We got our photo taken with her and the babies-check out Facebook, Jaguar rescue Centre. We were also privileged to be in her tour group.

Although all the tour guides are knowledgeable and excited, this is her passion and her home and she is so willing to share it! Hearing about the noisy "parties" the frogs have all night in the pond they have built to foster the population, watching the drama of predator and prey as the snakes and insects and nocturnal animals share their world, seeing her "babies"-sloths, howler monkeys, even the ocelot-kiss and cuddle her, knowing she will attempt to reintroduce as many as she can back into the wild-there's a balance here, and a deep appreciation of the rhythm of nature.

We got to examine a re-eyed frog up close when it decided it like Gabriel's hair for a nice, soft bed-it was very sleepy.

We got to play with and hold the howler monkeys. They are really, really cute!

  
One crawled over Allie's arms and onto her head! Freaked her out but she rallied! Our formal tour ended when the howlers were taken on their daily play date to the jungle to hang out with other howlers in the wild. The intent is for the male of the clan to be attracted to a female and include her in his "harem". The catch is the rest of the females have to accept her. Kind of like reality tv....They have much success with their play dates. Michael had originally thought he would like to volunteer at the rescue centre, however, it is a 5 day a week job and he would rather have adventures with his family-maybe if we moved here...
We then biked toward home and got waylaid by the promise of fast Internet-1000 colones per hour (2$). This is hosted by a lovely woman named Pamela,  who we met last year because her place is next door to the kasha hotel, where we'd stayed. It is a lovely place with a charming little restaurant out front, a cosy "den" in back set up with wifi, a computer, a tv, couches, tables, board games, and washrooms. Back from that is a residence with rooms to rent, and further still, Pamela's home. Pamela has it listed for sale-we think last year it was $350,000. us-like many of the places here. It really draws us, and if we had the money free and clear, without it needing to make a profit, we would buy it today! We could really see ourselves running it! Unfortunately, the economy is not the most viable here and now...
While we were there, a fellow came to use the Internet and Pamela said she'd have to leave soon for a dress rehearsal for a Christmas concert she was singing in. She invited us to attend. She went to take a shower. In the meantime, a family of four arrived to rent rooms for a few days. They were from...you guessed it, Canada! Sybille and Doug are wonderful people from Toronto and have two lovely daughters, Sarah and Rebecca, aged 16 and 12. They are travelling all over Costa Rica for 5 weeks. Brave souls-they have rented a vehicle and are navigating by GPS. Unfortunately, in the 9 days they have been here, they have encountered rain almost every day. Great attitude though;they have decided if it rains all 5 weeks, it will make a good story....Very positive! Too bad they didn't start on this side of Costa Rica, we've had some great beach days up until these rains...
While Pamela was having her shower, we visited and swapped adventures. The fellow using the Internet had to leave and since Pamela was still getting ready, he paid us for the Internet usage. Doug and Sybille and the girls very patiently waited for their accommodations and when Pamela came dressed for her concert to say she didn't have time to make up their rooms until she got back, they calmly asked if they could move their stuff in regardless. She thought that was just fine and invited them to the concert as well. Pamela is this really neat and eclectic woman who has run her business, Miraflores, for 25 years.... she is incredibly trusting, it appears, leaving us to lock up the Internet and turn out the lights, and her new tenants to move in. This is the first time we've been inside her place-needless to say, we were conscientious with her trust.
We decided, even in the off and on rain, we'd love to attend the concert. Turns out, Doug and Sybille and the girls did too! These are people who also embrace experience! We have much respect and admiration for those who are willing to step into an experiences with no expectations and as they come!
We had such a great evening, and met all kinds of locals we recognise from our daily travels. We've invited Sybille and Doug and the girls for supper tomorrow...our first guests!
Travelling home in the dark yet again (it's 6 pm)  we remembered a flashlight this time.. Travel hint: if your coming to Costa Rica, bring an umbrella with a flashlight on the end....
Now, if this relentless rain would just let up....
Regardless...What a REALLY great day!!!!

Our Mikaira's Birthday!

Happy, happy birthday, Mikaira! We love you!!
Michael and Gabriel went out to put our garbage and recycling in the bins along the main road. Then they went for a little bike ride and located Ms. Silvia Brown's laundry service. Silvia charges 2000 Colones per kg ($4.00 per) Not sure how many kgs we have, but we are in dire need of her services! Our towels smell so rank we can't stand them! We've tried washing them by hand, but it's raining so much, and is so incredibly humid, everything is getting musty smelling and here, nothing dries. Yuck!
We wanted to come during the rainy season to see if we could tolerate it. When we arrived we were told there was a drought-this is in the eye of the beholder...Everything here is lush and green and, to our dry-in-general prairie experience, pretty hydrated! But when you go over bridges, you see little water, and none at all in some places. The last 5 days or so have been making up for it-people are happy for the rain, but it does get tiresome. On a tin roof, it sounds like a big clothes dryer going all night-course, I may just be dreaming about dry clothes... Living in the Caribbean, a requirement is a dryer. And yes, we are tolerating it. You learn to go out in the rain, staying under roof only if it's drenching (especially if your towels stink-'cause you're never gonna get dry...) We're become quite adept at riding bikes through slippery, mucky, puddly lanes- it's kind of challenging and fun! You get wet and never fully dry, but it's warm, so you don't really mind. Like being outside in a "sunshower" in Saskatchewan. Nighttimes, I and Allie concur, we'd like blankets heavier than a sheet-you're not exactly cold, but you are damp-it's a comfort thing...
After lunch we delivered our laundry to Ms. Silvia and rode down to Caribe Sur, the areas' real estate agency, to check out property listings. They are a reputable company in this country where anybody might sell real estate, even  if it doesn't belong to them...a different twist on "buyer beware". Seeing a few listings in Punta Uva, we thought we might try to find them. After riding a few miles, we wondered how far Manzanillo might be by bike, so we just kept riding. After we'd gotten about 7 or 8 miles, we detoured down a lane we were curious about, and discovered we were at a surfers' beach. Great fun to watch! Not quite sure which beach we were at-they are all so different and unique. (Punta Uva is our all time favourite so far). Realizing it would soon be nightfall, we weren't going to make it to Manzanillo-oh well, we're on Caribbean time; relax...there's always manana

Have Bike, Will Travel!

Went into town yet again on the bus. We are determined to set ourselves up properly. Met ANOTHER Canadian, Joanne, who has been living in Costa Rica for three years now, at the bus stop. She's from Coal Lake, Alberta.
Went to the supermarket to see about getting Gabriel some socks-his one pair stink so bad they even make him gag! He wore two different socks up here-a CARS one he wears pulled up and a plain one he folds down. He got such blisters from walking so many kilometers in his sandals that he prefers his runners. Definitely fits into the artsy set in this area-he's become quite an eclectic dresser!
We had an appointment with Mario, the tech-guy, today for our "cheap" phone-he really did give us a good deal so we're not complaining. Unfortunately, we could have bought a $5.00 chip and minutes for $7.00 if our service provider hadn't blocked that option. Not impressed. A learning experience. If you are planning to travel, check with your service provider whether you can switch out the chip in your own phone. We are so thrilled to have a working phone in Costa Rica! $50.00 well spent (lots of minutes included). BTW if you want to call: 011 506 85466092 from outside Costa Rica. Talked with my mom and sister, Denise, tonight. How lovely!!
We tried the ATM at the Banco de Costa Rica, not to be confused with the Banco Nationale de Costa Rica which are just around the corner from each other in Puerto Viejo. Last year, we tried to use our debit cards at the National Bank, both with the teller and ATM and couldn't. We had to use our Visa in the ATM and it was quite costly for us. Not to mention frightening to think you can't access your bank. So, for us, it is a little miracle knowing this can be done!
As we toured around town, we decided to try a bike rental guy for the purchase of used bikes. He agreed to sell us 4 bikes, in goood condition, for $290.00. More than we were hoping for but already we are celebrating them. We started for home with groceries in our little baskets up front. A 7 km distance.
Along the way we noticed (okay Gabriel noticed) the Concrete Jungle skateboarding facility had open gates. This is a ministry Michael and I connected with last year. We took pictures then and told Gabriel all about it. It's been his main agenda item for this adventure. He was in his glory! He will be ramping before we go home, we're sure! Allie expressed an interest in joining the all girls class, a little milder, goood for her! The concrete ungle is just that-a skateboard park right along the coast, that teaches and provides a safe and stable environment for kids who maybe don't always know that. After Gabriel got his fill of the park, we got back on our bikes and headed hoome. The clean, warm, moist air is something to experience while biking...and just keeping the leisurely, RELAXED pace of the Caribbean, breathing and smelling the wonderful fragrances along the way, feeling ALIVE and strong and thankful for LIFE! Wow!

Our Patrick's Birthday

                              Happy Birthday Patrick- hope you liked the socks! LOL

It seems like only yesterday we brought home our beautiful baby boy from the hospital. Now, 22 years later, it feels as if time has flown by. Indeed, it has...how is it we look at our futures and think we have so much time until we grow old enough to look back, and realize how quickly it was spent..."We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures."-Thorton Wilder. Time spent is time spent; we can't slow it down-we can store treasures in each moment. When we make a life practise to truly live each moment, joyful or challenging, our treasures increase.

Took the bus into Puerto Viejo this morning and made a day of it. Got tired of standing to wait for the bus 15 minutes after it was supposed to arrive,so started walking. Off and on rain this morning-off and on raincoats too! It is hot even though it's raining.       

We toured around, showing the kids our favourite artsy spots.LuluBerlu is an art and handcraft shop that is a must go when in Puerto Viejo. Deborah, a woman from France, and another artist run it. Lovely place!! We spent close to an hour there.




The local market "value village" was our next stop. Found some books we'd like to read and a phonics program about the rainforest for Gabriel. Good thing, he's almost done the one we brought-way ahead of schedule...
We went into Salsa Brava store-the local (high end) boarding shop.They've got nice, nice stuff. We were so pleasantly surprised and excited to see our lovely friend Genovie working there!!! She was our waitress at the all inclusive we stayed at last year-just down the road from where we're now living. When we got back, she was one of the first people we went looking for. Unfortunately, our host and owner of the hotel has had some health issues and placed it under new administration. Laura, the new administrator, didn't know the previous staff. We were disappointed not to know where some of the people we looked forward to seeing again were not around...In asking around, we discovered Genovie and her boyfriend, Nico, have their own hostel near Punta Uva. Were planning to find it, but didn't have to, cause there she was!!!
On that note: we are sorely missing a friend who touched our hearts very deeply the last time we were here. She was the first person we went to see, the day after we settled in. She has moved back to the States. We had so looked forward to reconnecting but those kinds of bonds are treasures nothing can take away from.

Stopped in at the Sonrise Hostel for lunch.
We really like it here. Inexpensive food, traditional and western, and a nice atmosphere. The restaurant is on the second floor and overlooks the action on the street below. There's always movement in Puerto Viejo-it is an ecclectic mix of local and tourist, music, bicycles, vehicles, animals, surfers and business people, and smells of food cooking.

Gabriel sat at the table overlooking the street-loves to people-watch...
While finishing our lunch, there was a huge explosion on the street below. Shook the building. Sounded like a bomb. We were a kind of apprehensive until a fellow patron told us the Costa Ricans set of firecrackers in the Christmas and New Year season. Turns out this fellow, Allan, was a fellow Canadian from Edmonton. He has been courageously travelling by vehicle, on his own, all over Costa Rica. You meet such special people when travelling-maybe because they have the same sense of adventure and wanting to experience. Allan had so many experiences and photos (great ones of crocodiles up close) to share...wished we could have spent more time getting to know him. Allan, if you're reading this blog, we'd love to hear more about your adventures...

Of course, you don't take a trip into town without stocking up on groceries. We have a very small fridge compared to what we are used to (everybody does, really) and small baskets on our bikes to take them home in, so we consolidate our trips with groceries.

We went to the DeeLite ice cream shop before catching the bus home. Wow! This is homemade daily Italian ice cream. Gabriel raced out with the camera to take a photo of the horses wandering down the street. Ahhhhhh....great end to a great day! Thinking about Patrick on his birthday-think he'd like it here...


Waiting for the bus we "get to talking" to travellers from all over the world. Today we met a family from France who have been here many times before and are to be our neighbours down the road...What a really nice way to live!

Peace and contentment!

Today we once again went to Punta Uva. This is such a beautiful beach! Travel advisor rates it in the top 10 beaches in the world! Today it was quite hot and we all got a bit rosy-even Gabriel has a pink nose... We are in the rainy season, so by the time the heat comes again, our skin will have become a bit acclimatized. The heat is not like we experience in Saskatchewan, not even as it gets on the Pacific coast. Here it is balmy and pleasant, with a moist breeze. The water feels like a bathtub once you get into it! It was a very clear day-the colours looked perfectly "Carribean". We can't get over how much the kids love the ocean! they spend 3+ hours at a time. They never tire of it! It is an incredible experience: tasting the salt water on your lips and feeling the tingle on your skin, realizing the power of the waves as they build and swell and advance toward you, anticipating the next rush of ocean spray seeing the white-capped curls rushing at you, ending in a foamy rush carrying you toward shore. Sometimes you get disoriented, if the waves are particularly forceful, yet if you just let yourself ride it through-underwater or bobbing up and down-sensing eventually the the ocean floor and knowing you can stand up as soon as you get your bearings and all will be well. Trust. Not in self, completely. Certainly not in this force of nature that has the power to dominate and realistically crush you. No, trust in the relationship between the two, and ultimately God, to protect, direct, and process the outcome. Such is life!
On the way back, we stopped in at Bruce Walker's stables. Bruce is from the States and has been in Costa Rica about a year and a half. The kids loved petting his horse and his dogs! Bruce offers horseback tours and rentals. He is also managing a lodge up in the mountains for a friend of his. He is one busy, busy person yet savours every moment! 

Shopping Trip!

This morning we are going to market in Puerto Viejo, with our list of "must haves" from Ana, and who to get them from-we will need to find Eva, "a girl from Spain" who has beautiful organic quesa-cheeses- and a guy from France who has little cakes that are "super good". Also a guy, Paul, who has pollo-chicken-and coffee and yogurt, also 'super good". The market opens at 6 am and closes at noon or when the veendors run out of product. It is 6:30 now-I've been awakened earlier when our resident "rooster"calls his alarm. We're not sure what kind of bird he is, only that he is loud! Michael and the kids are able to sleep in a bit, but I wake up often before it's even light. Of course, we are often fast asleep by 9 pm...
Last night we went for a meal at a lovely restaurant, Pura Gula. It was formerly a french place. We like it even better now! Reasonable prices and amazing food! They seem to dust everything in finely ground oregano. Yummy! The proprietors are great too- a fellow from Spain, who lives a caribe (he explains that people move residences a lot). A woman from Italy-Francesca (said with a flourish...), abundant, sweet spirit!
While there we met a couple from Ottawa who are here for a few weeks. They are exploring a retirement and move to Costa Rica. Chatted for awhile. Nice people! Hope we get a chance to visit before they leave the area.

pm...
The market didn't disappoint! Beautiful fresh produce! Amazing goat and cow milk cheeses! Incredible sausages! Saw Ana and Chloe there. People greet you with a kiss here! It's very wonderful-warm, open, welcoming and genuine!
We wandered around looking for the computer guy, Mario, that Bruce Walker had sent us to for an internet stick and cell phone chip so we can call people here. We checked at the Pharmacia first-we were told you could get chips there. They had none that would fit my Blackberry so directed us to Mario as well. Everyone we stopped gave us different directions!
A little frustrated with this search (although we did get reaquainted with the town), we decided to get our staples at the Mega Super, we like it best-clean, well organized and stocked. Michael stayed outside with Gabriel our full shopping bags from the market while Allie and I went in. It's experiencing the little pleasures that this is all about...how exciting to go to the meat counter and ask for quantities and selection-fumbling in Spanish but having success! Wow! Allie was so impressed! I was mostly faking the confidence she saw!! LOL!
Meanwhile, Michael waiting outside, decided to make one last attempt at locating the techy guy...He asked the guy on the corner who has a fast food chicken counter if he knew anything about it. A vehicle pulled up in front of them. The chicken guy said "here's the computer genius right now". Michael greeted him as I and Allie came out of the store. I guess I was assuming, but for the life of me don't know why, and I walked right up and asked "are you Mario?" Sure enough! Little miracles....
Mario had some business to attend to so gave us directions to his place and said he'd meet us in half an hour. Just enough time to stop for a coca-cola-Gabriel's favourite.
The bad news is...the ee pad does not have a port for a wifi stick-no wifi at home. The good news is there is wifi down the road. The bad news...my service provider has blocked any other access by chip so we will have to buy a phone for here. The good news...Mario can sell us a cheap phone-we just have to wait a few days till it is ordered in. We've learned a lot here...check about phone service availability before you leave, bring your laptop and make sure it can accept a stick.
Mario commented on how it was funny that I just walked up and said "are you Mario?" It was a very curious moment...As we were talking with Mario, a woman came in and was waiting at the counter. I recognized her as a cab driver whom Louis had called for us last year. It just so happened...we needed a cab...hmmm. Her name is Marjorie, she had a van, and we had many grocery bags. Perfect!

Settling In...

Ana came over this morning by bicycle with her two year old Chloe. We were just getting ready to come see her at the bakery she wanted to meet at. Probably a good thing she came to us-we weren't really sure where we were supposed to go. Our plans were to wander in the general direction she had indicated, and hope she'd see us...Works for us, it really does...
Ana says her English is bad...what I must sound like with my feeble attempts at Spanish! Between sign language and Michaels' interpreting-we have a hilarious conversation about the open market in Puerto Viejo on Saturday, laughing at our mis-communications...She was telling me the best vendors to buy "organic cheese" from, I was convinced she was talking about "organic teas".
Michael is surprising even himself in his Spanish ability. We watch in amazement as he holds quite fluent conversations, asking for what he needs, and even forgetting and speaking to us in Spanish. he says he doesn't think he was ever so fluent, but now it's just coming out of his mouth without a need to translate. He describes it as not translating to English in his head and then back to Spanish, which is what I do-well, and I throw in a few french words too-very analytical approach...Michael is very auditory, so it seems easier for him to speak Espanol-often he hasn't a clue how to spell it though. Me, I learn visually, so I ask everyone to write it down for me, and then I know...Allie seems to learn it both visually and auditorily and Gabriel seems to share his father's gift of hearing it-he is picking Espanol up quite easily. It's tempting to rely on Michael to manage for us, and translate...
On the beach Gabriel and I were stopped by "securidad'. Michael and Allie were way up ahead. These guys wear a tee-shirt identifying him as security and carry huge machetes on their backs...they don't talk or smile-sometimes they nod at you curtly. I want to take their photos but never know if it's "protocol". They are a little intimidating! This fellow didn't speak a word of English. I didn't know if I was in trouble, danger...what? Turns out, he had seen us on the beach often already and just wanted to say "hi". I was very impressed with myself when I managed to introduce myself and Gabriel and say we were living here for three months. Michael did join in eventually and have a conversation in a little more depth, but...we're learning!

The Rhythm of Life!

Ahhhh, we remember...This is what we crave......R E L A X....... The rhythm of life in the Caribbean is slower, constant, balanced...it's like the ocean; expand...contract-breathe...exhale...
Things get done, maybe more slowly, oh well...cuando sea-whatever, it's okay... Sometimes it really is about priorities. Rushing around, working more hours, packing more in...to get us...where? We are enjoying our kids, enjoying each other, experiencing each little miracle as it comes.
We collect stones and driftwood and shells. We have begun to daily create a "sculpture" on our living room table using these found objects. This is one of Gabriel's favourite parts of the mornings. It is absolutely black in the rainforest by 6 in the evening. We have no tv. We have ears. We have eyes. We have senses. We are learning again to use them. We listen to a symphony always, but when it is dark, our hearing becomes more finely tuned. The rainforest is so vitally ALIVE! And we are part of it. We watch our evening "slideshow"- our camera chip played on the ee pad, and take stock of our day...pura vida-good life!
Then we read aloud and it is not a dorky "chore" but a highlight-there's nothing else to "entertain" us but what we can access with our own interaction.
Met our next door neighbour, Erin, today. They are Canadian! From Victoria. Erin, her husband, Darrin, her father-in-law and mother-in-law are busy building a beautiful home. Erin's father-in-law was born in Portage la Prairie-like my dad!
Construction gets going bright and early at 6 am around here. People back home would be complaining! Have to shut things down by about 5:30 before it gets too dark to see what you're doing. We watch the workers WORK! Few power tools, haven't seen such thing as a bobcat... these guys dig trenches and basements by shovel and bucket, they mix cement in those small mixers like I remember my dad using to pave our driveway when I was a little kid.
Everywhere you go, people smile, look right at you and say "hola"! The smiles are genuine from people who have time and balance and the interest to connect with a greeting. We have all the timr in the world...right now...

Home, Sweet Home...

Gabriel and I were up at 6 am making fresh pineapple juice for breakfast. To make fresh juices put fruit of choice (freshly picked) in blender with water or milk and push the button! We also made Gallo pinto, a breakfast staple in Costa Rica-it's rice and Pinto beans with flavourings and salsa-you need a special kind, we'll bring some back. Another version is made with coconut milk, we're told. I intend to learn to cook some authentic Costa Rican dishes.
After breakfast we locked everything tightly-you have to do this here. There is little storage in our house and no safe for our passports so we've had to get creative. And everything paper really needs to go into plastic or it will get pretty wet-kind of like the books I read in the bathtub...We had copies of our passports made in San jose at the Irazu with the stamp from customs on it. This we've tucked away just in case. We refuse to live paranoid and we really have nothing of huge value with us, other than our passports and our camera-although really just the chip. Memories...
We've stopped by the Kasha Hotel where we stayed last year. Our host, Louis, has hired an administrator and is no longer there. Genovie and Nico, Maria and Pueblo are gone as well. We are disappointed. Laura, the new administrator is lovely, and has turned it into more of a family oriented place. She has a little girl and we look forward to getting to know them both.
The kids are already beginning to use the Spanish we've been learning. Gabriel is a bit shy and then forgets himself and asks or answers using spanish words. Allie is a bit more confident. People are so lovely and welcoming and helpful here-they will teach and correct as we stumble through.
Allie got hives her first night-not surprising, she has many allergies. We brought her puffers for asthma so we should be good. Her hair is a riot of curls with the humidity and the red has deepened and is so vibrant. Beautiful!
After we did our schoolwork-we began at 7 am-it's vamoose a la playa! It's about a 20 minute walk to Punta Uva, our favourite beach, but so worth it! Allie and Gabriel take to the ocean like veritable fish. They are jumping through waves and body surfing after a little initial (healthy) fear at the enormity of this magnificent creation!
It is warm and balmy, and Michael and I feel like we are back in one of our most favourite places...like coming home!

We have arrived!

Our wake up call this morning was for 5:45 am but we are up long before that. Too excited to be in our home way from home...
We are so tired! That was an especially long combination of flights! Thankfully, our connectors were nicely spaced so we had time to find our gates, clear customs, and get something to eat, but not have to wait around. Until Houston, where our flight was delayed by an hour and a half-putting us in San Jose close to 11:00.
We'd called Expedia from Houston to make sure there would be a shuttle waiting for us. . We always book the Irazu Best Western in san Jose because the service is great, there's a shuttle from the airport, it's safe and clean.
We ate our complimentary breakfast at Denny's and were met promptly at 7:45 in the lobby by our Interbus driver. We love Interbus, and have noticed they changed their website since last year at this time (harder to navigate) so booked it through "anywherecostarica" on live chat so we knew it was done and verified. For $43.ooUs each (Gabriel was $28. and prices have gone up slightly since last year) we were driven 4 1/2 hours to Playa chiquita. Costa Rica really works at tourism and even has universities that teach it. The service by those established companies such as these two is first rate!
We drive through mountains, plateaus, and finally reach Limon. Puerto Viejo is close by! We can tell we're in the carribean now; houses are different, the sounds of the rainforest are constant, there are banana plantations everywhere, and the air changes: you can smell the salty ocean air and it settles on you....The kids get their first glimpse of the ocean through palm trees lining the beach. They are thrilled!!
Our driver called ahead to Ana, our contact, who reportedly doesn't speak very good english. She met us on the road and jumped in to direct him. Between English, Espanol and sign language, we did great. Ana is the quintessential "island girl"- warm, loving, and maybe a little bit free spirited-we have bonded immediately. Laura's directions were good: we stopped at the bridge and even our driver helped take our suitcases up the muddy path to our little "tico' house.
First on the agenda of settling in: explore, unpack the essential, and get some groceries. The El Duendo Gourmet grocery is just back down the road and down the street a ways. We have brought our Superstore bags-eco-friendly is important here. nice! the store is well stocked with staples, the produce is fresh, and we can decipher most labels. Directions take a bit of guess work... I have friends in Canada who would be so grossed out by the meat selection, though, they would become vegetarian! We gingerly bought a packaged half chicken (and kindof half frozen) from a not so cold freezer. we bit the bullet and cooked it in our electric frying pan-we don't have an oven (and maybe it was a good thing it was half thawed-no microwave either-think summer camp). All was well and we are still healthy...
We will go to Puerto Viejo on Saturday where the open market is held from 6 am to noon, or whenever they run out of wares.
All in all-tired, happy, settling. So glad to be here!!!

Our neighbourhood grocery store

The Adventure Begins!

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...

Today is our Canadian Christmas with our older kids, grandkids, and my mom. Doing my usual last minute shopping, I find myself humming along to Christamas carols and exuberantly wishing store employees "Merry Christmas". It isn't until I've had a number of indulgent responses (wow, some people are really into this, aren't they...) that I realize not everyone is celebrating Christmas today. Maybe I'm a bit ahead of "the season' but this year, more than others perhaps, I realize the true meaning of Christmas is the gift of love freely given to us all, and sharing it with those we love makes that gift so much richer.