On this day (it was evening actually) ten years ago, we arrived in Costa Rica!
Every year I post this calendar from that day and year:
It’s getting quite tattered now. I was working on this puzzle during the final leg of our flights - from Dallas, Texas, to Juan Santamaria Airport in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
We still feel the same way about Costa Rica as we did then - it’s a wonderful country to live in. Hard to imagine that I have been writing about our life here for so many years.
As I mentioned in my last blog post, Kermit was very excited to be going on a little trip with us. We were headed to Alma Del Pacifico Beach Hotel & Spa at Playa Esterillos Este on the central Pacific Coast.
After we had unpacked and settled into our suite, Lance said that we had forgot to bring one important thing .... Kermit!!! He was sitting at home with that eternal happy smile on his little green face, waiting for us to put him in our car. Well, I felt just terrible. This is what he looked like when we returned home, curled up in a fetal position. I think he needs therapy.
We’re planning another trip to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica and we won’t forget him again!
This is the route we took to the hotel. The traffic was heavy but the roads are good - all paved - and took about 2 hours 20 minutes (not the 1 hour 58 minutes indicated on the map) from our house at Hacienda El Paseo. We shared the driving.
The turnoff road to the hotel is not paved and has lots of potholes. Part of the road was flooded but passable. As in much of Costa Rica, you would never imagine what lies at the end of some roads. Alma del Pacifico is a first class resort right on the ocean. I had asked for a garden suite but we were upgraded to an ocean view suite. It was huge. This hotel is totally unique in design.
We arrived on Wednesday and left on Friday. Because this is the off (low) season and also the green or rainy season, we had the place practically to ourselves. Prices are lower at this time of year and special rates are offered to citizens and legal residents (like ourselves). We noticed more visitors checking in on Friday. Travelling during the week is a good idea.
All the staff were really friendly and helpful. I highly recommend this hotel. Rooms have air conditioning, a mini-bar, coffee maker, cutlery, glasses, cups, etc. There was a bowl of fruit for our enjoyment. King size bed and also a single bed against one wall which also offered extra seating. Books were provided and I finished reading one of them.
It was nice lounging on the chairs on our outdoor patio. Similar loungers are situated all over the property for everyone’s use.
Our suite:
The amazing shower area. A sliding door opened onto a very private small patio so it was like taking a shower outside.
Some photos of the grounds. Two swimming pools and a hot tub. Beautiful gardens. In the second photo, you can see our suite on the right - very close to the restaurant and the outdoor bar.
Translation of the photo below: “This beach has an Ecological Blue Flag”. Information on the Blue Flag program can be found here.
Open air restaurant and bar. The roofs are made from palm branches.
Breakfasts are included. This is one I ordered - fruit and scrambled eggs in flour tortillas.
I made a couple of videos for your zen enjoyment.
Time to go home - a different route through Orotina and Atenas. Traffic was good and we made it home in about two hours.
Side note: on the road going home between Atenas and where we live, we were pulled aside by the Policia/Transitos. According to the last digit on our licence plate (placa), we were not supposed to be driving anywhere on that day without authorization according to Covid-19 restrictions presently in place. One of the exemptions is proof of travelling to and from a hotel. We had that proof and were on our way in less then a minute.
What is an ice cream bean, you ask? Well, it’s proper name is Inga spectabilis. Here in Costa Rica, it is also know as guaba and pacay.
I first discovered this bean when I saw neighbours knocking down long brown beans from the tree in the vacant lot next to us and then carrying them home. So I went and picked some and identified them. Then I opened the pod and ate the yummy white fluffy stuff that surrounds the beans in the pod. It does taste somewhat like ice cream, a bit sweet.
They are in season now and I bought one at the grocery last week. It is a lot bigger then the vacant lot tree beans and the shell is a whole lot harder to open.
I tried cutting through the shell with a knife but it was hard going. The edges of the bean are iron hard so I couldn’t slice each piece open sideways.
I finally resorted to peeling off some of the outside skin and then smashing each piece with a hammer and then they started to split open. Here is what a guaba looks like inside. You pull out one of the fluffy white covered seeds, eat the fluff and spit out the seed. They tasted good.
We had a very strong electrical storm last week. I made a video of it.
I have an orchid blooming right now - a Brassia. Here’s some information on this species from the American Orchid Society.
And finally, quite often when I buy a pineapple I plant the tops alongside our laneway. We are now being rewarded with two new young pineapples that will soon be reading for picking.
During April, visits to this blog were received from the following 13 countries:
The total number of countries and non-independent jurisdictions from which visits have been received has risen to 132. Of this number, 13 are non-independent jurisdictions. Myanmar (previously known as Burma) is a new country. The visit from Myanmar originated from the capital city of Yangon (previously known as Rangoon).
The visit from Myanmar was a bit surprising. It occurred on April 11. Earlier in the month, there was a report dated April 2 indicating that the internet in Myanmar had been shut down by the powers that be.
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The following is a summary of weather for the month in the area where we live:
After months of little or no rain, the "green" or rainy season began with a vengeance on April 8th with over 3 inches (76 mm). Lesser amounts were recorded almost day to day over the next two weeks.
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Covid-19 Update
The following table updates the Costa Rica, Canada and United States information which appeared in my blog posted on April 11:
The good news is that despite increasing case numbers the percentage death rate has trended down in all three countries.
If you want to see how some other country is doing in comparison to those listed, then visit the website of Worldometer.info. Numbers for populations, reported cases and reported deaths can be obtained from that site. All that is then needed is some simple math to calculate the percentage death rate and the death rate compared to Costa Rica.
Some time ago, I discovered a company called FCTRY. A friend of mine has a Ruth Bader Ginsburg action figure doll that I thought was really nifty.
So I went to FCTRY to see what else they had created. I wanted a Nancy Pelosi doll but they didn’t have one. So I kept e-mailing them (and I’m sure many others did also) and they decided there was enough interest to begin the procedure of designing one.
It’s an interesting process. First off is a Kickstarter campaign to judge the amount of interest in manufacturing a particular figure. I had to pledge the amount of the doll ($20 US). If this step indicates a large enough enthusiasm to proceed, then a figure is sculpted by Mike Leavitt, a Seattle based artist.
Eventually, all the dolls are manufactured and sent off to their new owners. I opted for Nancy Pelosi and also a Dr. Fauci action figure doll. They are not bobbleheads but their arms move up and down. Nancy came with a removable gavel and mask and I had a choice of what colour dress I wanted her to have.
Dr. Fauci came with a removable mask. The dolls are remarkably realistic in facial features, etc. They are very well made.
