1-8-11

I didn't work today. I could have- and probably should have- but Pura Vida! I didn't want to. It was snowy outside, and Dan lit a fire which made it toasty inside, and I drank coffee and worked on updating my blog with lots more photos from my recent trip. Check out all the new photos I added!

My trip has indeed changed me somehow. I want to tread even more lightly on the earth. I want to work less and live more. I want to boycott plastic and make my own cotton bags for shopping for produce, and only buy meat wrapped in paper. I want to use less water and cherish being with my family and friends more. I want to live a happier life. I want to help people in other countries who have less access to education. Did you know that in Costa Rica the children are only required to get a 6th grade education and that reading is only taught 15 minutes a day, and there are no books, and there are few bookstores (we saw one, but it was closed, and I have heard they are really stationary stores), and fewer libraries (I saw only one from the outside in the city). I want to learn Spanish and meet some of the immigrants here from Central and South America who are here for a "better" life. I want to return to Costa Rica next summer with an agenda- to not be so much a tourist, but an educator of some sort. But really, I hope to spread some Pura Vida here at home. In the snow.

I ate pineapple for breakfast. It was a Costa Rican pineapple. I cut the green part off and put it in a dish of water on my windowsill, and look at it thinking, "This grew first in Costa Rica. I ate it. Now it's growing here."

 

Italian pottery on a Costa Rican tray.

 

View out the front door this morning.

1-7-11

 

So, why do I keep up this blog? When I started it on 1-1-07 I had no idea it would become a daily thing for over four years. Some people keep up with it, mostly friends, some strangers. I love getting comments and knowing there is an audience out there. From the map, I can see that there are visitors around the world. But mostly it's for me. For my memory. For the days when I need help remembering when and where, for the days I need to reminisce about how far I've come since I was knee-deep in graduate school, teaching 6th graders, trying to write a dissertation.

I spent the day at school. Two hours in a mildly productive meeting, three more hours at my desk doing "je ne sais quois." Then I walked home in the snowing snow. I walked home 2.5 miles in the snow- and it felt good.

1-6-11

Toto, I don't think we're in Costa Rica anymore. Last night we left Chicago and headed north to Wisconsin to spend the night with the in-laws. We surprised them and it was nice to sleep soundly in a quiet, dark, warm, soft room. This morning we had a pancake breakfast and hit the road in the snow. First stop, Indianapolis to pick up Frisbee from my sister Stay's house. We got to spend an hour or so visiting with her and two of her kids. We didn't get home until midnight. Long day. Snowing at home.

1-5-11

Woke to the sound of tropical birds and lush gardens. Closed the day driving in the snow.

1-4-11

Oh boy. Today we left our house near Lake Arenal and drove about 3.5 hours on very curvy roads to get back to Alajuela. Potholes the size of plastic swimming pools. This is downtown Alajuela, the city with the airport next to San Jose.

Checked into our hotel then went to lunch. The majority vote was for a ceviche restaurant. We ate raw fish, shrimp, squid, and clams. Hm. Ok after that I said I deserved some chocolate so we went to a grocery store called Auto Mercado. We though it might sell cars, but no. Expensive groceries. I got chocolate. After that I got my way again (which usually backfires) and we drove on roads that were shaped like intestines to a town called Sarchi. It has the world's biggest ox cart. Here is a photo of a wheel.

That was ~real fun~. Exhausted now, back at the hotel. We leave at 6am. Goodbye summer. I can't imagine flying into the cold winter north tomorrow. This place is another world. Such beauty, such poverty, such basic living- people in touch with the land and each other.

1-3-11

Today was our last full day at Casa de Gavilan in Nuevo Arenal. We tried to go on a hike at the Eco Lodge to see the Maleku Indians but that didn't work out, so we just hung around the house. Dan and I went out to dinner by ourselves this evening while the kids stayed behind and cooked their own dinner. I will miss this place, but I'm ready to come home. Today I just took pictures of birds and they're still on my camera. This Internet connection is too slow to upload. Tomorrow San Jose. Wednesday, home.

Home now... you want to see some awesome bird pictures? I have no idea what kinds of birds these are.

1-2-11

They don't call it a rain forest for nothing.
Rain, rain, rain.
I hear there are two seasons here- the rainy season and .... the more rainy season.
Nevertheless, we spent the day touring around. I opted out of the zipline canopy tour, but the kids and Dan had a great time.

1-1-11

Wow, what a cool date to type. 1-1-11. Squirt says 11-11-11 will be even cooler. Imagine sitting on a deck over a pond watching a dozen hummingbirds jockeying for positions at the feeder, when two toucans enter the picture. And two red headed woodpeckers. Those are my pictures of the day.

We spent the rest of the day relaxing at the house, catching up on grocery shopping and laundry. Tomorrow we venture to Monteverde (not sure if that's how it's spelled) and maybe the volcano Arenal for a hike. The hot springs were so wonderful yesterday we may go back. THIS is where we were yesterday. Having a great time!

12-31-10

Woke to the sound of howler monkeys. Thought at first it was a pack of hounds in the vicinity but... then realized monkeys. This place is rainy and cool, but seems more like Italy than Costa Rica in some ways. Hilly, not so jungly in the beach way. Lots of flowers and birds and tropical plants though. Today we went to visit the volcano on the other side of the lake (We are at Lake Arenal) and a hanging bridge thing and a hot spring. This is a different Costa Rica and I look forward to exploring it on the last day of 2010. Happy New Year everyone.

12-30-10

We left the coast today for a house near Lake Arenal and a volcano. It was sad to say goodbye to my sister and her family.

This was my first Christmas with my sister. Ever. We grew up in separate countries not even knowing each other existed. I'd heard rumors of her as a child but it wasn't until we were about 29 that we found out about each other. Yes, we were both 29. We are the same age. OK, one of us is a bit older but I'm not telling.

She and her husband have three beautiful, talented, artistic, and insightful daughters. We enjoyed watching the cousins get to know each other better this week. I hope it isn't too many more years before I see her again.

We cleaned up and packed this morning. It is hot and so humid -everything is damp. Yesterday the five of us went snorkeling off Cano Island, a 90 minute boat ride from shore, and I don't have photos of that. Today we will spend all day driving across the interior of Costa Rica. Wonder what it will be like.

12-28-10

Today we had quite an adventure going into the town of Uvita. Unpaved potholed red dirt roads with no road signs- dirty and crowded. Almost ran out of gas. Exhausting. If not for finding a really good Italian restaurant owned by a real Italian I would have crashed and burned.

Here are some photos of some houses we saw today.

12-27-10

Went progging today by myself.

12-26-10

We are right here, by the way, in case you need us. There are no road signs or road names in Costa Rica so I thought this might help. That little yellow square is the pueblo Dominical.

12-26-10

Today we got up REALLY early to get to the Manuel Antonio National Park before the quota for the day was reached. We saw all sorts of monkeys, sloths, lizards (big ones), and hiked in 90 degree heat. The beach was beautiful there too. Here are some critters we saw in the wild today... See if you can name them all!

12-25-10

What a funny Christmas! Jes took this photo Christmas morning of our house.

We spent the whole day on the beach. The rest of the crew went surfboarding while I played on the beach with my 5 year old niece. Hot sand, clear skies, people everywhere celebrating in the shade and sand. Photo is of the family getting ready for their surfing lessons.

My niece is so photogenic- I taught her how to use my camera and FlipCam and she built a fort in the sand.

12-24-10

Christmas Eve sound byte...

12-24-10

Our house is right on the ocean. This ocean. We have it all to ourselves. About a mile up the beach is the little surfing village of Dominical. Dirt roads, shacks, some hippies and backpackers... Mostly locals. Really rustic. We had a giant lunch at a restaurant there today. Walked up the beach and back. All the restaurants are outdoors here. No walls, just roofs. This place takes some getting used to. It is unlike anything I have ever experienced. Hot, humid, overcast and rainy today.

Late this afternoon we visited a reptile "zoo" and saw all kinds of snakes and lizards and turtles. Oh, and flowers. Here are some of our sights...

12-23-10

Today we drove to the Pacific. On the way we stopped to check out the local fauna. There were dozens of these under the bridge over the Rio Tarcoles. We parked and walked to the bridge and looked down... Woah!

It's beautiful here. Stunning. The house is amazing and the ocean is in the back yard. Coconuts are germinating right on the beach.

I was overwhelmed with the beauty of the rocks and the waves, and spent all afternoon playing in the surf. In my clothes- the airline lost my baggage. It got shipped to Mexico so I await...

12-22-10

In flight to Costa Rica!

12-22-10

Oh gosh, we woke up this morning in snowy Chicago, took a shuttle to Midway and a flight to Atlanta. In the international terminal there was a going away party for the troops. There was food and a band and Boy Scouts giving out goodie bags. Very moving.

Dan and I tried to walk the entire airport but only got concourses A and E done in an hour. Big airport, Hartsfield International.

So now, unbelievably, I am on the flight to Costa Rica using the in-flight wifi. Cool! We are all well, excited about what adventures lie ahead.

12-21-10

Today we drove to Indianapolis first to drop off Frisbee with his cousins Roxie, Maisie, Bliss, and the kittens. It was really snowy up there too. Then we headed for Chicago and checked into our hotel. We went to dinner at Giordano's -one of Dan's favorites from college days. We are up late waiting for Jes's flight from Denver to land. Tomorrow, Costa Rica!

12-20-10

 

 

 

 

Still ice. Squirt doesn't seem bothered by it, but he did help clear a path from the house to the studio. Spent the day packing for our trip. It snowed again this evening. Crazy weather. I'm looking forward to summer in two days. Summer in Costa Rica!

12-19-10

 

Squirt came in the house this afternoon with a 3 foot long icicle. I tried to take a picture of him with it, but my macro lens was still on the camera and I just got his beautiful face. He was giving me a smirk because he thought it was really stupid to stand outside with an icicle for a photo. "Don't put this on Facebook" he said. I didn't. This is a blog!