Back to San Jose

So today I still felt crappy. So sorry it if this is a little short.

I woke up around 7:15 and took some ibuprofen and went back to bed until everyone else got up. Everyone else got up around 9. Papi gave me something else to help with my nose and after that it was all down hill. I have no idea what happened but it was bad. I felt like I was really high or really drunk. I was having problem standing up. I was nauseous ..... all around crappy feeling. Thank goodness by the time we got in the car and headed back to San Jose I was feeling better.

We didn't stop to eat just a bathroom break. We got to San Jose around 5:20 and unloaded the car. Irena went straight to bed and has been there all evening. Maritza made soup because my throat is a little sore but I feel a lot better. I don't have a temperature anymore and no headache. I packed my last bag so I am ready to leave in the morning. My flight is at 1:30 so we need to get to the airport around 10.

Bedtime for me now..... tomorrow will be a long day.

Monkeys

I got sick. I didn’t feel well at all last night and woke up a few times. Around 7 Papi and Martiza left to put our names on the list. I decided that I was just going to lay around a have a temp for awhile and let my body do it’s think to fight off what ever I have gotten. I don’t know if they had breakfast without me or just didn’t have one. Papi did get me up to see the monkeys that I had been hearing the last few days.

After a few hours of suffering I decided to take some drug so we could all get on with our day. That was around noon. I got out of bed and went to the hammock while Maritza took a shower.

We all got in to the car and headed to Playa Tamarindo. The drive was nice but the beach was bad. There were TONS of people there and a lot of them were gringos. We had dinner at a cute restaurant right on the beach. I got watermelon juice (which was very yummy) and mai mai with tomato and ginger sauce.

We got back around 5:10 and by then I needed more drugs if I was going to make it to see the turtles. I took some and laid down in the hammock until we head out. We got there around 6 and there was a large group of people there already. After a bit we went in and signed out names in a book and got out numbers. (I was 47.) The whole group add up to 60 people. The group headed in to a little building and heard a small presentation on the leatherback. The 60 people split in half, 1- 30 and 31-60. The first group would go see one turtle and then the other would see the next one.

I don’t remember what time we head out to see “our” turtle but we had to drive a little. We got out of the car and headed to the beach thru some trees. It was very dark a little hard to see but I didn’t fall so that was good. There was a lot of wait but in the end we saw a leatherback. They are quite bit. Ours was not too happy with how dry the sand was, the dryer the sand the easyer the wash of the nest coallapes. She ened up moving three times to try to find the right place. While waiting I looked up at the stars. They are so nice here. Very little city glow so you can see thousands of then. She never found sand that she liked. Around 10:30 she said “Screw this, I am going back to the water. I’ll try again tomorrow.” Well at least that’s what she might have said if she could talk. We got back to the hotel and had a little snack. Now I am going to take my shower and hope that I feel better in the morning.

Frogs

I woke up at 7:15 this morning and Maritza was already up, making coffee so I went to lay down in one of the hammocks on the back porch. I had some coffee and waited for Papi to get up. I read a little but really just swung in the hammock and listened to the monkeys and the birds. Papi woke up around 9:30 and he and I headed toward the beach. It a little walk through the woods. The beach was nice, I walked down for a few minutes then we head back to the bungalow. Maritza had made Gallo Pinto and we had some tune with it. Richardo and his family will not be coming because they are sick.

One of my step nephews was sick Christmas day and so it seems Irena got what ever he had. She was in bed most of the morning with a temp. She had breakfast with us then slept a little more. We has lunch and left for the beach around 1:30. To see the leatherback turtle you have to buy a ticket. Papi check to see if they had any open spots for today but they didn’t. You have to come at 7 in the morning and put our name on a list to buy the ticket. After checking on that we parked and walk down to the beach. Irena and I sat down by the water while Papi and Martiza walk down the beach. After a while I decided to go in. The water was Great! It was not to cold and it was somewhat clear. The waves were very nice and not to big to body surf on. I was in the water for a least an hour.

We went back to change and decided to drive to another beach just to take a look. We ended up going to Playa Flamingo and stopping at a Super market on the way back to pick up some stuff for dinner. We had pasta and fresh bread for dinner. Papi saw a little frog so I took some pictures of them. By the time dinner came around I was feeling pretty crap. I am sure I got whatever Irena has.I took some drugs and laid in the hammock for a while. Papi turned on the TV and we watched The Pacifier with Vin Diesel then I went to bed.

Going to the beach

I woke up at 0700 to make sure I was not the last one up. But surprise I was the second one up. So I checked my e-mail and saw Maritza was doing a load of laundry. Then I knew that we would not be leaving in a hour like we wanted to do. I went back to bed to sleep for a hour maybe more. My Papi came in around 9:45 to tell me that I should get up and start getting ready. I told I was up before him and I packed last night. He closed the door.

Then the phone rang, it was Miranda. We talk about how Sofia let her sleep for 12 hours. This is great because Miranda had been having problem sleeping since Sofia’s birth. I told her I was leaving her a book and a few warm shirts (she doesn’t have many warm cloths). She told me about the beach that we were going to because she lived by it for quite a few months. I told I would e-mail her when I got back to the states. I hope I get to see her again before I leave to go back.

We ended up leaving the house around 11:30 but had to run to the store to pick up a few things. Then gas, so I think we really town around noon. That means getting to the beach at 5 which is when the sun goes down. In Costa Rica, dusk does not last very long. Not like back in Gainesville, where there can be a good 45 minutes (I guess) of dusk. So we would be getting there and then really eating dinner and going to bed. No beach, today. L

The drive was nice. I fell asleep for about 30 minutes in the very beginning and then was wide wake the rest of the way. The trip was made up of some little mountains then we went down into the “plains”, which have random large hills. We stop for 45 minutes for lunch. I had a huge chef salad that was very good. It had corn, heart of palm, cheese, black olives and shredded carrots. I could only eat half of it. We played some of the CDs that I brought so I was sing, softly, in the car most of the time.

We ended up getting here right as the sunset. Because of where we are people can’t go on the beach, at night, this time of year. The sea turtles are laying there eggs. Well, people can go on the beach but you have to pay to see the turtles. So we went to our little bungalow and Maritza made started to make dinner. I changed into my bathing suit and sarong. Because that’s what I wear when I’m at the beach in Costa Rica. Then Papi and I went to get a few more things we forgot like egg and salt.

After we came back I laid outside in one of the hammocks. It was nice outside but a little chilly so I put on a shirt. I fell asleep AGAIN! Papi took a picture of me while I was sleeping. My family does that a lot to me. Dinner was rice, black bean and tuna. Light and yummy. I sat out in the hammock again but it was not as nice that time because our neighbors ( young kids) were making tons of noise. So I took a shower and wrote today’s blog. Now I’m off to bed now it’s going to be a long beach day tomorrow. Then Richardo, Carolina and there four children should be coming in late.

Blah sorta day

Today was almost a do nothing day.

Papi's car was leaking gas so a guy came over and fixed it. I think Papi said it was a lose hose.

Then my Tia (Aunt) came over for a short (10 minute) visit. She chatted with Maritzas, Papi and me then had to head home.

After that Papi and I went to the store for some things for the trip to the beach. 36 cans of beer for him. Some last minute things I needed (gifts). But we forgot the heart of palm and mosquito coils so we have to get them before we head out at 8.

I pack my big black suitcase and picked out what I will be wearing on the plane. So when I get back I just have to pack my dirty cloths and the rest of my coffee and I will be good to go.

Off to bed ..... the drive to the beach is 5 hours.(maybe 150 miles) The roads here suck.

Christmas

Christmas Eve

I got up around ten and had breakfast. Papi took his car to the shop around 10:30 to do a fine tuning. So while he was gone I took a shower and made a list of the stuff I would need from the store. (Lots of coffee!)

After he got back we headed to wash his car..... I have no idea why. It's old, has lots of dents and paint scraps. It works well when it does work. Whatever not my car. We took it to the other side of San Jose, about a 20 minute drive, to wash the car. It took about 30 minutes (there was a long line) so while we waited we both read our books. Papi is reading Collapse and you should know what I am reading. They didn't vac out the back of the car so Papi got a free wash for next time.


We were off to pick up Miranda and Sofia from there house. Fernando (my step-brother) was going to be working all night and most of Christmas and he didn't want her to be alone. She is very cool and I thinks Sofia is a cute baby. Papi dropped her off and get a list of things we needed to get from the store.

So off we went to the store. We got tons of stuff for Maritza, she was getting ready for Christmas dinner. I got lots of coffee, some guaro and a few other thing people asked for. We headed back with all the stuff and gave it to Martiza so she could cook for the party we where going to later that night. I wasted sometime around the house and then we had to go to another store to pick up something else for Maritza. I picked up some chocolate coved coffee beans while I was there, I love those things. Back at the house Maritza finish cooking so everyone started to get ready to leave at 8:30 (we should have been gone by then.) We left about 9, a record and headed out of town.

We went to Carmen's in-laws house. It was very nice, cold and wet (we were in the clouds) but a lovely house. We snacked for awhile, I hung out with Miranda and Sofia and then around 11:45 the craziness happened. Favian, (I think that is how you spell his name) Carmen husband, and my Papi started to light off fireworks! It was really cool to see but hard to take pictures of them. We ate dinner at mid-night. It was turkey, potatoes, salad and stuffing, all quite good. We end up leaving around 1 or 1:30, with everyone dead tired.

Futbol ( Soccer) National Championship

I told Papi a week ago that I wanted to go to a futbol game next time I came to Costa Rica. He said I would not have to wait. I could go to the national championship game on the 23rd.

I got up around ten this morning took a shower and ate breakfast. Martiza and Irena went to mass earlier so it was just me and Papi. He told me that Richardo would be at the house around 1:00 to pick Irena and me up for the game. I put on the Saprissa t-shirt Papi got me the same day as the tickets. I checked to see if I had gotten any important e-mails back and then had a snack right before Richardo got there at 1:40.



Carolina drove to another suburb of San Jose and got to the stadium around 2:20 and went in to find our seats. We found them and then watch what was going on in field. The Saprissa mascot was dancing around and I felt very sorry for the guy in there because I am sure he is not paid much. There was a music playing on the speakers and people were making noise every time someone would go out on the field. No matter if they were Saprissa or from the Herediano the crowd would go wild. The game kick of with purple and white some coming from the left side of the field. It was a great game lots of yelling at the player when they got close. At half-time there were dancing girls that didn't dance very well.

I would compare the futbol game to a at home Gator game but I have never been to one, sorry. It's just very intense. People climb the fence when a goal is scored and yelling all the time. It's great. The end score was 4-2 SAPRISSA! Now Saprissa is the champion for the third year in a row. So now the whole town is honking there horn and yelling in the street. I am off to bed... tomorrow is going to be shopping for (most of) the rest of the stuff I taking home. Also running to another bank to open an account.

Family time

Irena flew in to Costa Rica today. She got to the house around 1:30 with Richardo, Carolina and there three children. Then Carmen and her husband came with there kids. We made dinner of salad, rice casserole and sweet plantains. The rest of the day was made up of people running in and out of the house and just sitting around talking. I wish I could give you more details but it was mainly just a lot of small talk and making sure the children were not fighting. The next few days are going be kinda busy(as busy as things get around here) so I should have more to write and more pictures. Then we leave for the beach the 27th. : )

Shopping in San Jose

Today we went shopping in San Jose. I had to pick up a few things that I can only get there. Papi had to got something for his car.

I got up around nine, took a shower and then got dressed. I had no idea what time we were going to leave so I was just ready for it. I made a list of things that I needed to get. That way I would be ready and not forget anything. After that I added a little more to yesterdays blog. Martiza, Papi and I ended up leaving around 2:30 in a taxi.

First, we went to an indoor market, that has every thing from cloths to fish, looking for hammocks for my brother. We found some that we liked, got a price and told them we would be back to get them. We spent another hour or so looking for guayaberas and a few other things. The we went to another place that just has Costa Rica souvenirs. I found the elusive black guayaberas and white ones but not medium. I also found a cute sarong that so I got those two things and a money holder with Guatemalan stitching on it. After that we had dinner at Quizno, which was okay. Martiza and I headed to look for something for her and Papi left us to go pick up the hammocks. Martiza and I looked but didn't find anything so we headed to the catch the bus to Pavas. Papi was waiting in line when we got there. We got home about 30 minutes later (we wait a long time because everyone was heading home) and had a light supper of egg rolls. I watch The Covenant (just because the people in it....the movie kinda sucks), read a little, did some push-ups and went to bed.

Dancing and Credit Cards

Most of the day was reading and just hanging out with Papi. He took the next two day off to fix his car. We would go get my card from the bank and then meet the family at bar for drinks and hanging out,

I showed him the books I am reading and he wants me to leave them behind for him. I knew that was going to happen, it way I bought one. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, was introduce to me by one of my old professor at SFCC. I sat in on his class and decided I would get the book and maybe sit in on it next semester. If I get back in.

Around 4 Papi and went to the bank to pick up my card. We got the card and the pin they gave me then went outside to the ATM to change it. It didn't work, we changed the pin but I could not withdraw any cash. We went back inside and told them what happened. They gave us another pin and we tried again. It still didn't work. They go some help and go another pin and came outside with us and it finally worked. Thank God. If it hadn't we would've had to get a new card and then hope it go there before I live on the 31st. That one card down and one to go. Papi says we are just going to open a bank account for me here. That way all three of us children will have one. It makes things easier when he asked us to buy him stuff in the States.

We stopped buy a grocery store and picked up a few things like The Tico Times and hair stuff. When we got home Martiza had gone to a baby shower and would be back before we left for the bar. Papi and I went to my room and watched Crimson Tide. It was almost over when we turned it on. I've never seen it before but I really liked it... well from what I saw. It also reminded me why I would not join the Navy. The idea of being trapped under water freaks me out!

Kati (like a sister to the family) came and got us in a taxi around 9: 30. We met meet Carmen and her husband there. A few minutes later Carolina, Richardo and Martiza came into the bar. I realized then that I was way under dressed. I asked Kati if she would go back to the house with me so I could change. Everyone said that I looked fine but I told them that I would like to dress up a little more. So Carolina, Kati and head back to the house. I put on one of the dresses I brought then we headed back to the bar. Everyone one liked the dress and said it did look better. Then the drinking started. We had a bottle of Johnny Walker and two plates of food. We chatted (yelled at each other because of the loud music) for a little bit and then the girls started dancing. I told Carolina that I couldn't really dance and she said that we would all go out Saturday night and she would teach me. I wish her luck.
At some point I became Carolina's hero. There were some guys down stairs that were staring at us dancing. When they finally got the balls to ask me if I wanted a drink I made them ask my Papi. Before they would walk over there they asked if he was ever in the Army and I told them yes. I don't think they liked that but they asked him anyways. When I walked up with them Carolina pulled me down and said "You are now my hero!" I had a beer with the guys and talked with them a little then hurried back to the family. (They were not smart and had nothing to say that I wished to hear. I really didn't feel like hanging out with them. I just wanted Carolina to laugh and she was ...... the whole time I was talking to them {5 mintues} and more when I got back.) Back with the family we danced a little more then headed home around 2:30. It was a very fun night and I loved spending time with my family outside of the house. I can't wait to see if I can learn to salsa on Saturday.

Shpping ..... fun........ : x

I woke up around noon for some reason today. I hate that......it seem like a waste but oh well. I guess if/when I get back to school that will not be happening so much. I should take advantage of it. I went to have brunch made some toast and had some yogurt Papi and I got yesterday. Maritza came up to the table and told me Ramon called this morning and he maybe going to Germany for a problem he is having. Then she said we were going to get my bank card and do some errands.

I got online and talked to Cris about what was going then went and got dressed. We left and got on the bus (first time this trip) and head to the little mall by the house. Maritza checked the lottery and found out we had to wait to get the money she had won. We were of to the bank then to get the card. Got our number, sat down and waited. While waiting I saw and older, larger man with a tiny Chihuahua in a bag. He was talking to it like a baby, it was quite a sight. 624....... that's us! We walked up and asked about the card, nope will not be ready until Friday.

Back to the mall we walked. Martiza shopped around while I just kind of looked at the stuff they had. Yuck, not my taste a lot of cheap bric-a-brac. We were in one store for a hour... I was going a little crazy. She check the lottery again and got her money. We stopped at a few more shops and then headed home around 5:48. Yeah, I was checking my watch...not that I really had anything better to do but still I can only shop for so long.

Papi came home around seven and he told me more about what's going on with Ramon. I told him that next time he calls to wake me up, even if it's 0500 like today. After dinner Papi was off to my room to watch T.V. while I looked for an e-card for a family friend in Germany, Dieter. Sent it off then told the old man to get online so I could after him. Now I am off to rot my brain with Miami Ink for a hour.

Military parade @ 0900!

So I was woken up this morning to drums. I was laying in bed think "WTF! Is there a damn drum line going on in the front yard!?" So after about 5 minutes of waiting to see if it would go away soon, I got up. Maritza and Papi were outside already, taking pictures. It was a parade.



The police were opening a new station right around the corner. Motorcycle police........great. Now we get to hear them at all hour of the day. The street is bad already because it's up hill and has a lot of traffic. Oh well, it's not like anything can be done about it.





It was about 10 minutes long with 2 little bands and some lady cops. Papi said it was the closest thing to a military that this country has. For those of you who don't know ..... Costa Rica has no military of any kind. Only cops........and security guard. All very well armed.

Anyways after all that we went inside. I took a shower and read my book. Just waiting to see what was going to happen with the day. Around noon papi made me breakfast for lunch with bacon! It tastes a little different here, more like ham than bacon, I don't know how to explain it.

After that it was waiting. Papi's car is messing up again so someone was going to come to look at. They finaly came at 2 and did somethings to it but it's still not working. Now we maybe taking a rented car to the beach. The next few hours we really didn't do much. Papi and I went to the store around 6:30 and got a few things and then headed home for supper. After that it Papi went to my room to watch T.V. and I got online and did some more research on the beach we are going to on the 26th or 27th. Then off to bed. No clue what going on tomorrow, life if full of surprises. : }

Christmas starts in C.R.

Got up today had breakfast with Maritza and Papi. The plan for the day was to go to Carmen's house, around 2, for a Christmas celebration. That is all Papi would say.

I read my book (Germs, Guns and Steel) for a hour or so then had a light lunch of rice and beans. Wasted more time by putting pictures on the laptop from the camera so Papi could send them out. Kati (friend of the family) came over so we all chatted for awhile and finally around 4:45 we left. "We leave at 2, be ready." Two plus hours later we really leave. Ahh, Pura Vida at it's best.

We hopped in a pirate taxi and headed to Carmen's. We got there and I meet Miranda, my step-sister-in-law (Fernando's wife), and Sofia her cute little girl. I've got so much family down here it's hard to keep them straight. We all ate tamales and eggs with tortillas. It was the first time I have ever eaten a tamale. It was good but I was not really impressed, a little bland for me.

I talked to Miranda found out what she did and how she meet Fernando. BTW she is American! She came here for 7 days to learn how to surf with one of her friends. While she was at Tamarindo, learning to surf, she meet Fer. She was on contract with NASA and waiting for it to renew so she decided to stay. They got married last October and had Sofia in July. She is very cool and quite nice. The whole family seems to like her too.

So around 7:30 I found out more about what was going on. The neighborhood families' get together and go to one house and sing. The song is about Mary and Joseph going from place to place looking for somewhere to stay. The families out side sing then we sang back. I really didn't understand much but it was very nice. After 7 verses they where let in and the whole group said a prayer and then went around ask if any one had anything to add. Papi asked everyone to pray that Ramon gets home safe. Then it was on to food and socializing.

Carmen made toast pizza, mini sandwiches and lime-aid. All very yummy snacks. The guys went out and played on the foosball table and most of the wifes went to the T.V. room and watched some dance show. The family hung out in the living room talked, drank and joked around. It's really nice just hanging out. I hate to say but it's easier to chat here in C.R. because I don't have to worry about what I am saying. No one will be offended by what is say and nothing is off limits.
After a few hours of good times, we headed home around 10:30. And I am now off to bed.

Tomorrow Papi and I will be working on getting me a new C.R. passport and another bank card. But who knows what will happen. I also asked for bacon with breakfast. My first bacon in 3 weeks! I can't believe it been that long. : }

Water Falls

I got up at 5:30 this morning and got dressed to hit the road with Maritza.

We meet up with some of her friends and got on to a mini-bus or really big van. We started heading up the mountains. It was a really long drive just because I had not had any coffee yet. We finally stopped a cafeteria style place to eat and stretch. Maritza and I both got Arroz y Pollo and black coffee. Both were better than I thought they be. Headed the rest of the way to a river (that is where Papi said we were headed).

We ended up at Savegre Hotel. From there we walked to Catarata Waterfall. It was a 1 km hike through the forest, mud and water. But it was worth it.
After play n really wet rock we hiked back to the hotel and had a lunch. I had seafood rice, potatoes in some yummy sauce, bread and this tomato that was been cut in half and had cheese and herbs in it. All very good, I was surprised because it was also cafeteria style but it was "high class." I had 4 cups of coffee because it was good as well. After lunch we headed back to the vehicle and headed back home.

Martiza wanted to go to some light show thing that is really just a parade in San Jose. So we got off and then it started to rain. Blah! We waited around to see what was going to happen. I realized again how much I really dislike being in a huge crowds. After, what felt like, 30 minutes we got a taxi and headed home. Papi was walking up as we were getting out. Went inside, straight to the shower, uploaded some pictures and now going to bed! Maybe have a snack first. Nope, will resist the urge.

Out of the house

Today was my first real day out of the house. I always for get how pretty it is here. Even in the city you can see the mountains and clouds and it kinda takes my breath away.

Anyways, Papi and I went to one of his banks to get a card for his bank. That way he would not have to send $$ to my bank in the state costing him 30 bucks each time. He says we will go to a different one later and get a card from that bank too. We got back to the house and ate lunch with Carmen(step-sister) and Maritza.

We waited around for some phone calls then drove to San Jose. Some flea market type place. Look at the stuff they had and heard to two guys telling stories. One was about why the "h" is silent in Spanish. I ended up getting a bracelet that I really liked. Then back through the crappy traffic (why I hate San Jose) back to the house. Caroline (step-sis-in-law) came over with her children so Papi and I headed out for food. When we got back Richardo (step-brother) was at the house and we all had fried chicken for dinner

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It was nice. I 've gotten used to them again so it's a lot of joking around and funny faces. It looks like they will be going with us to the beach with us. I think we (Maritza, Irena {my other step sister}, Papi and I) are on the 26th and the rest will come on the 28th. They left around ten so Maritza went to bed. But Papi and I stayed up talked about things going on with the family.

Here in C.R.

So.... a friend was sweet and took me to the airport.
They parked, walked me in, waited in line and then after the check in walked me to security.

Went through just fine and went to the bar to have a beer. I ended up making friends with the bartender. What a surprise.... me make friends with random people! Never.

Walked on the plane and sat by the window, which I will not be doing again. I hated having to ask people to move. But it was very pretty flying at night seeing all the lights. Also when we were over the water I thought I saw boat lights but who knows.

The plane was on time. I got the waved through their security. I don't think they even looked at what I had in my bags. Got to love Costa Rica.

Got to Papi's house unpacked all of the stuff and went to bed.

Yesterday, I slept until 1:30 had lunch with Papi and started helping him work on his computer. I read for a little bit and had chats with Papi between work and downloading things.

Today, I just played around online changing this around and writing e-mails to family and friends.

Packing

This is the part of going anywhere that I hate packing . I have more stuff to take with then cloths. Well that is how it feels. 5 more days.

Tick!
Tock!