Graduation from Spanish School

I took two weeks of classes with the “other” Spanish school in town, because some friends really liked the teacher, and they speak pretty well. I needed a review and to continue once I got back from 2 months of speaking only English in the states. Flor, the owner and principal teacher of the school worked with me, drilled me, and had me write stories for homework. After the two weeks, she decided I was “advancado” (advanced) and could graduate and receive one of her certificates. Her certificate supposedly open some doors for me, and will tell schools that I have achieved a certain level of proficiency, if I want to teach English, for example. I don’t feel very advanced. I still fumble for words and make a lot of grammatical errors, especially with reflexive pronouns and the subjunctive. Ah well, poco a poco….

More Orchids

When I was in the internet café one day, Melania, the sister of Adrian, who I met by starting to teach her to read music, and her boyfriend Alfonso, invited me to visit Alfonso’s collection of orchids in Palomo, the small town across the river. He has a collection of over 500 orchids, including many rare ones and miniatures. While I was there, many were in bloom. It was really difficult to photograph the miniatures, some of which measure only ¼ of an inch. He sent me home with a lovely one in bloom. Now if I could only identify most of them! I have two books of orchids of Costa Rica, but it doesn’t cover the ones grown here that are from Guatemala, Brazil, Nicaragua, etc.
Many more photos of his and of the Cartago Orchid Exposition are out on the new flores page: floresdecostarica.blogpot.com

The Cartago Orchid Exposition

One weekend recently, the province of Cartago, (a province is equivalent to a state in the US, Costa Rica has seven provinces) had their annual orchid show. Smack in the middle of orchid season, orchid clubs and individuals enter and display specimens. The displays were really lovely, and the individual flowers were incredible. I took lots of photos, and in the sale section behind the exhibit, bought my first three (for $10). Some of the best photos are up on the flower page floresdecostarica.blogspot.com.

Relative Costs of Stuff

I still marvel at how some things are so incredibly cheap. And some things (electronic and electrical stuff, mainly) are double what they cost in the US.
Some examples of recent purchases: (equivalents in US dollars)
3 large avocados, 2 limes and a hot chili to make guacamole for a party $1.20
onion $.35 kilo
watermelon $.30 kilo
4 mangos to bake a mango cobbler $.90
1 kilo of organic brown rice $1.20
small bottle of organic sesame oil or tamari $2.20
8 ounce bottle organic shampoo or conditioner $2.25 each
ginger $1.00 per kilo
cauliflower $.55 kilo
ready made mosquito net for covering the top half of my bed $6.50
needlepoint scrim for painting, 45 inches wide $11 meter
cheapest available cell phone $75
set of cotton sheets with two pillowcases (double size) $30
can opener $2
6 cans of tuna packaged together $5.50
dressmaker services – two skirt waistbands $2.00
2.5 kilo bar of highest quality bittersweet baking chocolate (a cookie sheet size, about an inch thick) $11

Jessie, the Orosi attraction

At least once a week, Jessie and I go down to the beach to play and entertain the Ticos crossing the hammock foot bridge across the Rio Macho. Ticos are not used to seeing dogs as companion animals, and are even more surprised when they do things like swim and retrieve sticks. There have been people actually taking pictures of her doing this from the bridge! (besides me, I mean) After losing a couple of tennis balls to the current, which is strong in places, we now use sticks. (Once I learned that Jessie is in fact a very strong swimmer, I stopped worrying about losing her) Jessie has also made lots of small people friends, as the neighborhood children run up shouting her name, and I stand by and referee as they take turns throwing sticks or balls for her to retrieve.

the Chayote farm

These photos are from a 2.5 acre property in LaFlor, which has beautiful black crumbly volcanic soil, incredible views and a nice flat spot near the top for building. Currently planted in chayote, which is a higher altitude vegetable that is in the squash family. A staple of Costa Rican diets, it is immensely devoid of flavor. (Lets just say it needs help, alone it tastes like boiled chewy water) The farm is gorgeous, but is located immediately below the center of town, where the church and soccer field are also. I am not consideringt his property, since this could get pretty noisy sometimes (did I mention that Costa Ricans have absolutely sense of noise pollution, and play theri radios excessively LOUD, and that a normal speaking tone is often akin to shouting?) But, since I like the community of LaFlor, I am coming back to look at some other options there, including buying into an international eco-village in the making. (more onthat later, I promise)
The child with the color-coordinated tongue is a young resident of LaFlor who had just finished a blue lollipop.

Looking at more properties

Everything has something good going for it. Amazing views, quiet, remoteness, a river at the bottom, incredible soil that will grow everything, and usually some degree of lousy road to get to it. I have looked at properties in Sanchez, the Gyabata area above Palomo, and in La Flor, a little further away form Orosi. I still seem unable to make a decision, but there are still more things to see! And my limited liability corporation to form that will actually make the purchase for me. These properties are from LaFlor, which is a lovely small village way up in the hills, about a half hour from Orosi.