2-24-14
Monday - another fishing day for Kyle. The kids did school work and I researched things to do when our friends visit in a few weeks. The housekeepers came about 11:00, so the kids and I and Elly went to the pool so we wouldn't be in their way. Kyle returned from fishing and joined us at the pool for awhile. He then took the bike with him on the water taxi to Tamarindo and brought back food to restock our pantry.
Our evening on the beach was incredible. I had been talking to Tristan about sand dollars a couple of days ago, saying I wished we would find one. He told me they are not white when they are alive - that they are purplish brown and they are hard to spot because they blend in with the wet sand. I said, maybe sand dollars don't live in this area since we have never seen any. Then last night Kyle was reading to me about being focused on what you wish for, even the simplest things, because if you believe that you are going to find, accomplish...etc. you are more likely to do so. I know it is just a sand dollar, and most of you have probably seen live ones, but I really wanted to see one, so I was focusing!
And guess what - we are walking along the beach and Kyle picks up a whole, white sand dollar and hands it to me. I'm so excited and tell him I really want to see one that is alive. We walk a few steps further and he points to one in the sand. Tristan picks it up and shows me its thousands of "legs" moving and I'm in awe. As we walk, I now know what to look for and I see them EVERYWHERE - all sizes, hundreds of them right there at my feet. It was just amazing!!
I am now an expert sand dollar hunter - catch and release only :-)
Food has become a bit of a thorn in my side. I had dreamed of cooking all of these fabulous healthy meals. But it has been difficult. Rice and beans is getting very boring. So for the first time since we have been here, we bought meat (chicken). I made chicken fajitas and everyone was very happy. All the food was gone at the end of the meal. No leftovers for Elly. There is just something about being a mom....it feels so good to see your children satisfied by a meal. Ahhhhh. I think I need to start a blog for Costa Rican expats about how to use the food available to you to cook meals your family will enjoy-- but I better wait until I have a few more successes under my belt!
Below is Kyle's facebook post from Monday night:
Now I am writing at night time. This time of day is another one of my favorite times. I have a hammock half way between my house and the pool, where at night a slow breeze moves my hammock ever so slightly, while I watch the geckos get close to whatever lights are on, to wait for an easy meal. In the background there are families getting together and talking, eating outside with the jungle all around. It is so peaceful and almost romantic. The bats start doing their rounds, swooping right under our back porch and then somewhere into the darkness. You hear people talking about their day and their voices are not strained, more relaxed and soothing. Where I live there are not many lights, and if so they are not very powerful. It might be because electricity is so expensive, or could be that people want to look up and see the stars talking to them. Then to break the silence, a gecko makes its kissing sound and somewhere on the other side of the pool one answers. Night time here, the temp is perfect to be outside in shorts and sometimes take an evening swim and float on your back and admire the stars and how bright they are. As I look around I see that my dog is happier then I have every seen her. I think she gets more attention in a day down here then she used to get all week. She moves slowy because she is relaxed and she knows 5:30 a.m. is time to eat and then a long run on the beach. A leash is something that she hardly ever sees. She is a free running dog and she is smiling all the time. You have to be a dog owner to know what a dog smile looks like :-)
Day 23
2-25-14
Tuesday - Kyle left early this morning and went to the estuary to fish from the beach. After he was gone for a short time, he texted Ryan and told her to tell me to come down there with him. I said, tell dad "No, mom is afraid of crocodiles." I know people do it all day long, but I don't have the guts yet to walk through that area, especially not by myself. Well, I missed out on seeing some whales breaching. Kyle said there were three whales playing and rolling and jumping for a long time. While he was watching some tourists came walking by and Kyle could tell they hadn't noticed the whales. He didn't want them to miss seeing them, so he starts talking to them in English and pointing. He soon realizes that they don't speak English, so he switches to Spanish, pointing and tell them about the whales. They are still looking at him like he is nuts and they finally say, "we speak german". So Kyle gets a stick and draws a whale in the sand and points back to the sea again. Finally, they saw the whales!
In the afternoon Kyle, Ryan and Tristan went into Tamarindo so that Ryan could photograph a basketball game. She received a call a couple of days ago from a local high school student who heard she was a good photographer. He is doing a project that involves teaching local kids how to play basketball and he needs photos to document his work. Since we don't have a car, Kyle and the kids were picked up by the student. I was having fun hanging out with our neighbors from Canada in the pool, so Kyle suggested I stay and keep enjoying myself. It was really nice. We had drinks and great conversation and laughed alot. It was interesting to hear stories of how they found Playa Grande and what their plans are for the future.
While we are enjoying our drinks in the pool, all of a sudden one of the women says "Fire!" and points behind our houses. Indeed there was a fire and it was really, really close. We all jumped out of the pool and two of the men gathered hoses and made there way toward the flames. There was honestly only 15 feet between the back of the houses and the nearest flame. There were already two ticos there working to contain the fire, but all they had were big sticks. They just kept pushing the dry grass from the edges in toward the middle of the fire. The kept saying "es bien" - it is good. They were so calm. Nobody called 911. We watched for a while and then realized that if these guys were not worried that we shouldn't worry either. We went back to the pool. The occasional piece of ash would float by, we would wave the smoke away from our faces, and comment on the fact that we could feel the heat from the fire. Eventually we forgot about it and when we looked later the fire was out and the ticos were gone.
Kyle and the kids returned and we went to the beach for sunset. I was going to for a barefoot run - but the rum punch still in my tummy from the afternoon pool party, made me change my mind. So I just walked and watched the sailboats and enjoyed the sunset.
And finally, after sunset, another meal that the kids enjoyed! I made penne pasta with alfredo sauce, served with a side of fresh green beans. I just used the local cream cheese (different from our cream cheese, but close enough), some milk, garlic, parmesan cheese and salt and pepper. It was a hit. Both kids and Kyle had seconds and they even ate all of the green beans. Again - no leftovers for Elly.
Day 24
2-26-14
Today I went for a long run on the road, just Elly and I, and I had to fight my fear of snakes the entire run. I usually run in the middle of the road because I'm afraid of snakes being in the brush along the edges. It was especially hot this morning and the shadiest spots are along the edge of the road under the trees, of course. So I would run in the shade only until my fear of snakes over took me, and then I would go back to the middle. Then I would run in the middle until I couldn't take the heat anymore and go back to the shade. It was a battle. Not the most fun run I've ever had.
While I was running and the kids were doing school work, Kyle took the bike and a fishing pole and went down by the rocks.
He got bored and decided to take a hike (he called it a walkabout), which ended up meaning that he pushed the bike up hill for over an hour, not having any idea where he was going, other than up. When he got to the top he had a beautiful view of our beach.
Kyle's selfie with Playa Grande in the distance.
He hiked around but found there were no trespassing signs everywhere and he couldn't keep going. So he rode the bike straight down the mountain - not the way he came up of course - that would have been too easy. He ended up on a farm where there were three tico farmers sitting on a fence. He spoke to them in Spanish and said he needed to know how to get back to Playa Grande. They just stared at him and said nothing. Kyle says that one of three "looked more important than the rest". I don't know how he assessed that, but he walked right up to the "important one" and asked how to get to Playa Grande. This gentleman gave him directions and he made his way home.
The kids and I enjoyed hearing about his adventure when he got back. Tristan, Kyle and I played a game of Canasta in the afternoon, while Ryan skyped with Alex about a new story they are writing together. Then we headed down to the beach for sunset and Kyle brought the casting net and a fishing pole. I decided to learn how to throw the casting net, so Kyle showed me how and I actually caught a few sardines. Kyle put one of the sardines on a hook for me so I could try and catch a fish. Right after the the sun had set, I got a bite. I was so excited and it really gave me a fight. I was using Kyle's lefty pole, so it was very hard to reel left handed. I finally got it in, with Kyle's help, and it was a big sting ray.
Kyle helping me reel in my catch!
Another beautiful sunset.
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