Costa Rica! Me gusta mucho!

 I returned early Tuesday am from my Costa Rican adventure!  Nine days in the beautiful country of cloud forests, volcanoes, coffee plantations, churches, jungles and wonderful, helpful people!  I landed at Juan Santamaria airport in San Jose, a modern airport.  From there, I took a taxi ride to San Rafael de Heredia where my villa was located.  A quick tour of
San Rafael and then dinner at El Barco de los Mariscos.   I enjoyed the delicately blended flavors of sopa de mariscos and cinamaron con arroz.  On Monday, we took the bus to Santa Barbara and then a taxi to Finca Rosa Blanca, a cofee plantation.  I tromped through the coffee, wild iris, and banana trees and learned about the making of coffee.  Then back to the Finca to taste test coffee.  The next day, we took a taxi to the Museo de Cultura Popular and toured the home and gardens of a former president.  Wednesday, we drove to Cartago to see the beautiful iglesia and tour the Lenkester gardens.  Very peaceful in the jardines of bromelias and Japanese garden.  Thursday...a drive up the mountain, through the cloud forest to Volcan Arenal.  We stopped to dine at Los Lagos and I bought a richly colored painting of a bespectacled owl.  Driving to the volcano, we climbed to the scenic lookout, but it was raining, so we couldn't see much.  My daughter and I climbed the lava trail and were rewarded at the top with a panoramic view.  Monkeys were next on our list, so we drove to Manuel Antonio National Park where I dipped my feet in the Pacific Ocean underneath the starlit sky.  We spent the night at the International Backpackers Hostel.  At 5:30am, the dawn became alive with the sound of howler monkeys and jungle birds.  In the park, we watched curiously as monkeys leaped and played in the trees.  Sunday I attended Mass at Iglesia San Rafael and walked through the outdoor market.  We took the bus to Heredia where I shopped and purchased some items.   Home now, but I will always remember this wonderful exciting country!

Costa Rica! Starting at bottom...view from Finca Rosa Blanca coffee plantation, San Rafael de Heredia, Lenkester Garden Cartago, On the way to Manuel Antonio National Park

National Novel Writing Month

On the first of November, I will begin writing as part of National Novel Writing Month.  My goal is 50,000 words!  Last March, someone invaded our home, and stole two laptops...mine and my daughter's.  All my writing was on my Asus laptop.  I hadn't the foresight to back it up on disc.  So my stories are long gone.  My novella of a mother who leaves husband and daughter for warmer climates.  She meets some interesting new people and reads books on DVD to make some money.  Eventually husband and daughter come visit  her, and after a while she returns home to a find yellow ribbons on every silver maple in her yard!  I started writing a novel of a total totalitarian anti-feminist government, but my main character was stymied at every turn.   Perhaps the thief figured out how to get the main character out of her predicament!  One year, when spring began to tease with sunshine but still-nippy, weather, I wrote the poem "The Sun."  It was a poem of hope--that spring would warm the coldness that I felt deep within my soul.  I grieved for my lost writing but was encouraged when my daughter spoke up.  "You write so fast, you will have new stories in no time."   I look forward to November 1st, the official first day of legal writing!  Let the writing begin!

Henry, our Halloween visitor

I stuffed the sweatshirt with pillows, and the legs of the pants with old towels.  Gathering the sweatshirt, pants, athletic shoes and the smiling pumpkin head, I headed to the front porch. After assembling the parts, I stepped back to critique my work.  The wind nearly tore off my hat, so I secured a scarf around "Henry" the pumpkin man's neck to hold on his head..  He smiled at me, as if to say "Tomorrow, on Halloween eve, I will welcome the trick or treaters." I headed into the house to make dinner and then checked to see how Henry was doing.   Bats in the belfry!  He was headless.  I rushed outside to find his head in a bush!  This time around, I stuck the visor of his cap (he likes to wear his hat backward) down his sweatshirt.  Only time will tell.  I poured bags of goodies into the bowl and placed the bowl on the hutch (out of the reach of the dogs).  We are ready.  Happy Halloween!

Every year at Halloween, Henry the pumpkin man comes to visit.

Blue Skies on the Island

We are home

Three  dreamlike days. A drive 280 miles north to the ferry parking lot.  Unloading bikes and luggage, buying tickets for the ferry to the island.  The seas were rough that day, and spray glistened on the windows.  No one braved the open upper deck.  All rode below as the boat went up and down.   Once the ferry docked,  my husband and I rode our bikes to the hotel and after wandering a bit, found the front desk.  Our room overlooked Lake Huron.  We relaxed in our bright, cheerful room and the strode to the dining room for dinner.  700 or so people dine on any given night.  After dinner, we explored the hotel.  The next morning was misty but warm, so the two of us browsed the shops.  We met a woman who lives in St. Ignace but her inlaws live on the island.  After lunch, my husband and I rode our bicycles in the heart of  the island  We visited the golf course, new condos, the houses on the bluff.  This morning, we watched a gorgeous sunrise.  A beautiful day to ride on leaf covered paths around the island.  Back in the downtown area, we waited for the ferry that would take us across Lake Huron to the mainland where our car and luggage waited.  And then a safe trip home.