January in Atenas

 

Bougainvillea and clean laundry.

 

Guarianthe aurantiaca in bloom

 

I found this caladium growing on the side of the road - now it's mine

 

Posted with Blogsy

Some Great Things About Costa Rica

• Clean tropical sun and wind dried laundry fresh off the line.
• Bougainvillea bushes - non-stop blooms and great security hedge - thorny like roses and they grow sky high.
• Free orchids - they are growing on our trees and there is also an orchid plant growing out of the lawn that is about four feet high and in bloom right now.
• Good vodka - bought a 2.1 litre bottle for $15 CAD yesterday. I don't know what that might cost in Ontario but I do know that it would cost about $70 CAD in British Columbia. Meanwhile, although he seems to be successfully abandoning the habit, Lance can get his ciggies for about $2 CAD a pack, as opposed to $10/pack in Canada.
• Fresh pineapples.
• Pineapple juice to mix with the vodka - recipe courtesy of Julie. I made this yesterday and it is so good and nice to know I'm not wasting anything. 
• Tomatoes from the feria. 
• Tomato seeds from a local tomato thrown into the ground that sprout in less than a week and grow like crazy.
• Delicious, inexpensive meals from the local sodas.
• Walking on the cool tiles in the house in bare feet.
• The afternoon rain and thunder in the green season.
• Parrots, hummingbirds and birds we've never seen before.
• House geckos.
• Irex dishwashing paste.
• My favorite brand: "Bimbo".
• Beautiful insects - incredible colors and shapes.