Christmas Once Again - 2013

Christmas morning - bright and sunny - no patter of little feet running to the tree to see what Santa left behind - in fact, no tree - just some pleasant seasonal decorations.  The sound of Christmas music wafting on the air (do GLEE versions count?)

Of course Santa had found us in the jungle - I am sure the reindeer appreciate the warm night weather.

Immediately Mrs. Claus jumped into action making coffee and baking (banana bread - YUM!)

Caffeinated and sustained, we readied for the busy day ahead

At the Beach -everyone is always ready to party - 11am until dark - the umbrellas up, the beer in the cooler and the BBQ started.

A really hot day with a nice breeze - barely a cloud in the sky - home by 2

A dip in the pool and "Nap Time"

Off to dinner at Bruce and Barbs - Les and Jane, Steve and Lynn, Lisle and I and the hosts - a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings - pumpkin pie and homemade candy cane chocolate chip ice cream - champagne, wine and good cheer - - a fabulous evening.

Home at last - a nightcap?  No - Lisle is already headed up to bed - he is diving at 7 am!!

Thanks to everyone who contributed to our fabulous Christmas
Merry Christmas to all - hope your holiday was as great as ours

WTF!!!!

Well, out of sympathy for kin in Toronto, or karma for our escape of the carnage from the ice - or maybe Santa tried to land on the jungle treetops - anyhow, last night we were sitting after dinner listening to the fireworks in the village - suddenly - - CRACK CRACK CRACK RUMBLE CRASH - - then silence.

I sat waiting for the impact - sounded more like a derailed train that was going to hit the house - nothing.

Of course it is pitch-dark - nothing to see.

This morning - no apparent rubble - some branches seem to be displaced but nothing that warrants the noise.

If a tree falls in the jungle - YES - is makes an ungodly noise.

Glamour Girl

Lisle decided he needed a haircut - after canvassing our friends he decided on this place in Uvita.

Gloria's Spa and Salon

All ready for his glamour treatment - razor cut No.1 on the sides and No.2 on top - squared off on the back.

 And afterwards - a shampoo and head massage!

$10

Deep tissue massage is $40 for an hour

Mani-Pedi anyone?!

ICE

For those of you in Toronto, I know this is a bad word, and no this is not another 'ha-ha I'm warm and your not' entry.

ICE (eee-say) is the Instituto Costaricense Electricidad - the national utility company - electricity, internet, telephone - like the old Bell - and no stay here would be complete without a saga about dealing with the unique bureaucracy.

First off the internet service has SUCKED since we arrived - barely 0.5 download (for the non techies - remember when you had a phone modem and it took forever).  Email was timing out and downloading anything close to a Mb took 30 minutes - don't even think about streaming.

Lisle decided we needed a better solution from ICE - so off he went to Uvita to see Ruper (the guy who actually speaks some english).  This was Wednesday.  After a 2 hour wait - New plan for his iPhone4 - postpaid - up to 3Mb (of course that is based on service, topography etc. etc. - so we are likely to still get .5Mb but for more money every month) but to get this a personeria is required (a document certifying the corporation).  You get that at the bank next door - wait - wait - wait --- closing time - come back tomorrow.

Thursday 8 am - speak to Ruper - all ready to go - just need the Personeria - bank doesn't open until 9.  Get the Personeria - back to Ruper - get the new chip with a new phone number - but needs to be activated on the new system in San Jose - that will take 15 hours - he will call when it is active.

Friday - no call - wait - wait - drive to Uvita - Ruper says not active yet - he will call when it is.   Add prepaid minutes to the existing chip to keep it going.

Sunday - OMG - i could walk an email to Canada faster than trying to send it - Sunday is the worst - all the Ticos are off work and on the internet!

Monday - text message from Ruper - it is being processed - switch the chip just in case - no service - back to the prepaid chip.  Not done, just in process

Tuesday - the drive to Uvita - don't need a Personeria so 8 am should be good and there wont be anyone else in line.  Arrive shortly after 8 - no one else there - Lisle explains what is up - yes, I am working on it - the paper is right there in front of him - it will be done shortly - - that's ok, we'll wait - he taps away at the computer for about 15 minutes - will be all set in 15 minutes - turn off your phone and then back on and the chip will be set - already there are 5 other people waiting - - - very clear that if we hadn't gone in and hadn't waited, the paperwork would still be the next thing to do - - after all the other people.

All fixed in only a week!  Now we'll see if it makes any difference in the internet matter!

Segunda Dia Sin Lluevia

Second day without rain!

Beautiful and hot

This morning started with howlers in the distance at 6 am - it was already 24

This afternoon - 36 with the parrots squawking

Now - 27 with the sky orange and pink and clouds on the horizon - toucan calling

Lisle wasn't feeling great today - too much sun yesterday I think - slept most of the morning - then errands and such - - he went to arranging a diving session for December 26 - a late Christmas gift!

I think it is time for a glass of wine!

Change of Season

There are seasons everywhere - outside the tropics there is spring, summer, autumn and winter - in Toronto there is construction and everything else.

In Costa Rica there is the rainy season (Green Season as the Tourist Board calls it) and the dry season (Summer).  We are just entering the dry season that will last mid-December to the end of April.

With the change is a bunch of other changes - most noticeable are the plants.

The giant trees in the jungle behind the house are dropping leaves.  New growth is visible on others.  The Bougainvillea are in full bloom - vibrant red, pink and purple.

The purple hedge at the front of the property is full of tiny white blossoms - it almost looks like snow

The bamboo orchids are in full bloom

Most spectacular is a native tree called Gallinazo.  It has sparse foliage and stands tall in the jungle.  In the open areas, it is a favourite resting spot for the toucans and parrots.  The leaves are sort of like the honey locust we have in Toronto (sort of fern-like).  The whole tree looks very airy.

Well, right now it is in bloom - brilliant yellow flowers - tiny but in groups with whispy tendrils.  They are just amazing - and suddenly the mountainside is dotted with flashes of yellow.

I love it when nature shows off!

Yikes!!!!!

OK - so every once is a while, things happen to remind you that you are in the jungle.  Monkeys and birds are pleasant reminders - this one not so much.

Last evening the Lisle noticed the lamp on the front desk was off - the timer was out of sync or something.  So, he unplugged it and discovered.

 Fortunately it was dead - seems to have stuck its head in the grounding socket

 While I would love to be corrected, I am pretty certain it is a coral snake - no idea how it got in, but appeared to be coming out from behind the extension plugs - no idea how long it had been there, but was pretty dried out.

Yes I was wearing work gloves to do this even though it was pretty obviously dead - - No I am not brave!