Wednesday, March 27th the market, Thursday, 28th dinner with friends

My neighbor bought a car last week, so I don't feel quite so isolated now. They have been very gracious asking me to ride with them into town when they go in. We went to the market on Wednesday, which because of the holiday was moved from Friday. There were not as many vendors or customers either one, because so many have taken the days off to go for the holiday. There is a Tico family staying in a cabin near me also, and sure it is only for the weekend. They have a cute little pup also, so mine are barking much more...making me crazy actually. I am trying to break Peaches from barking each time the dog barks, but not having much luck. Sunni does pretty well until someone walks by. TV playing helps some. These are pictures from the market.

Dinner with friends...my neighbors invited a couple I know from living here before, and another new friend. I miss that the most, no longer living here. People get together frequently, share a meal, and visit. Like we use to do when I was growing up in MT. Seems most people are too busy, back in the states, to spend much time just sitting around talking. Most meetings are at restaurants, and no one has time to do more than eat and run. Holidays are the only exception. Well, I did not think to take any shots of our dinner on the porch, with the sun setting, but I did capture some of the sunset. Cell phones don't do such a great job... What a nice evening!

Trip to Cloud Forest Saturday March 16

Today is Wednesday, before Easter. Yesterday there was a warning on FB, for everyone in CR "We're in the midst of Semana Santa, or Holy Week, here in Costa Rica. It's traditionally a time when Ticos take time off work and school for family vacations. Businesses and offices shut down, especially later in the week ... because everybody's headed to the beach. They're even making the main highway from the Central Valley to the Pacific coast one way on Wednesday to handle the beach-bound traffic. -Jason Holland, IL Costa Rica Editor" 

It helps to know what the local customs are, and this helps. One doesn't plan on going anywhere when all roads lead to the beach, one way. Going against the traffic could be fatal. 

This morning brought an encounter with another scorpion. This one was 1/2 the size of the other days, but no question what it was when I saw it mid-morning beside the bed. 

I have realized that getting out of bed, middle of the night, without a light could be a bad thing.

Yesterday, I made a salad from some of the things I have photos featured here. I just have to post a photo of an avocado I cut into for lunch. Not a blemish one on this beautiful avocado, and it tasted just as fresh too. I am so amazed...yes, I know, Mae, an avocado??? Small things in life.

Also wanted to post photos I took while Darrell was still here. We had a Tico friend, Elberto, a guide for two days March 16 & 17th. Not any of the normal tourist stops for us. We went up into the cloud forest to Elberto's property. It was so beautiful. The fog came in quickly and so our view was limited, but he told us, from a spot very high in the mountains, that if it were clear, we could see the Atlantic and the Pacific. We were on the continental divide. I shot some photos of a stream on the Pacific side, where there is a large  amount of iron in the soil, the water is blood red! We went over to the Pacific side, and very soon went from 58 degrees to in the mid 80s, rapidly as we came down to a lower altitude. 

Yesterday, 25th, shopping

As I sit and write this on my patio, while the house cleaning lady cleans...I might add, this is what I see. What a beautiful day! 77 degrees, 62% humidity, and steady breeze from the north. Though I can not see them, birds sing in the background. This morning as I put out my compose for the wildlife, there was a Morph butterfly feeding from yesterdays morsels. Will try to capture a picture of it one day. Have seen it every morning so far. Each 2 photos are up/down of scene from left to right.

This week is holy week in CR, and you have to remember to get the things you will need until Monday after Easter. They pretty much roll the streets up and it is really a holiday, but first...there is so much traffic, foot traffic in stores as well. Shopping is a maze!

Rode into town with a neighbor, sure makes shopping much less difficult. It has been fantastic getting to know my new neighbors! They are a younger couple who decided to live in Costa Rica for six months and have past that time line and are still here.

After  a few stops, we made to pick up things, our nearly last stop was at the organic fruit/veggie store. Other than the milk, which I put in the refrig, this is photos of what $21.00 will buy you. Also, consider, all is fresh, and local, except for the two apples I bought.