So we have been back a few weeks already. The vacation seemed like such a blur. The weather has een nice and work not too busy. Today is President's Day, either Washington or Lincoln. Why couldn't they have birthdays in different months? Kurt has no school, and the streets are pretty quiet.
After months of not laying, Vulchi started again, but then stopped for a few weeks and yesterday, the 15th of Feb, she started again. She will be 3 or is it 4 this May, and for an old girl, she is doing great.
Last Saturday was Mimi and Warren's 31st birthday. Also, Mimi got married at the ostrich farm to Aaron Werner. What an interesting day. We were suppose to be at the farm at 1, but due to traffic, we were not there til 1 30, but the ceremony did not start til about 1 45. Aaron's parents and sibs were there, plus very few friends and us and Alan, who drove up from his mom's house, just off of the 15. Warren was the officient !!!!! Mimi wore exercise clothes, very short and white, and Aaron wore shirt and shorts, but Mimi made him take off his shirt. The only wedding that we have ever, or will attend in which the groom was bare chested, and the bride wore a camisole like top. But hey, they got married.
Father and Violet provided munchies, cheese, crackers, fruit and a platter of sweets, plus champagne, and water. It was hot and we picked a bunch of avocados and fruit. The pond was dry and the ostriches were gone, no goats, nor dogs, nor Pinkie. It was interesting to be there, watching the old buildings crumbling down. I tried to take a peek at the trainler that we stayed in, it was locked. Father's trailer was there too, but locked up. What an interesting place. There were lots of ground squirrels.
After a bit, we went over to Pechanga Casino. Man, what a place. It was huge. We hung out at the swimming pool, and sat in the jacuzzi. Kurt went with Warren trying to do a little gambling. We walked thru the casino and lost 5 bucks in about 1 minute. The line for the buffet was so long, at least 150 people, KR estimated. There were people everywhere, being Valentine's Day and all, but all them folks were trying to lose money to the casino.
The dinner at the Chinese restaurant was at 7. Chin's Chinese Gourmet. There were three large round table and a long square table. Mimi changed into a black dress and Aaron wore a suit. The Chinese food was very Americanized, but good. There were three types of cake, wedding and birthday cake. We left about 9? The traffic down was so slow but pretty fast going back.
I had asked Jeff Kaplan to come and walk the dog and he did. Rocky did the chicken thing so the animals were ok. Gracie was so glad to see us, and we were pretty tired.
On Sunday, KR went surfing, I spent hours cleaning the garage. Then KR and Kurt went down to the tide pool. The say Alan Hill and Deb with their daughter and tiny poodle. Gracie loved it and cut her paw, and bled all over the house. We cooked dumplings and made a big salad, and had mom and dad over for dinner.
Monday, February 16, 2015
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
The Day of Return
The hotel did not wake us, but neither one of us can sleep long and we were downstairs at the restaurant by 5 50, and had our coffee and breakfast. It was simple affair, with eggs, rice/black bean, guanabana, or soursop juice, and orange juice, fruit. I had 4 cups of coffee and made an egg sandwich to go. We gave away the last of our clothing that we didn't want, like two pairs of my running shoes, and clothes.
KR drove to Budget, and we forgot to get the last tape of the Books on Tape out !!!!! We were driven to the airport and checked in, first class no less. We waited a bit and was on board. I watched two and a half movies, Fury, St. Vincent and the Lost Boys of Sudan. I don't see any movies for 10 years and then watch almost three in one morning.
Custom was so fast, and we were out in less than half hour. Alan came to pick us up and we were home. GRACIE !!!! AND THEN I found out that ALAN did not water the chicken. What does it take to read the list of things to do? They were so thirsty that they drank for over five minutes. I was so upset. Lovely said that I should have emailed her the list, but wait, what does it take to take care of animals? FOOD AND WATER, right? She said to ge grateful, and I am, but really? Also, Kurt should have taken a look, although we did not ask him to do anything with the animals.
At least they are not dead.
We walked the dog to the bank and took some money out and I went to visit mom. It was really nice to see her and dad, and I missed them. Dad does not remember much, but all was well.
I cooked steak and potatoes and vege, and think I will go to bed early.
Nice to be home
KR drove to Budget, and we forgot to get the last tape of the Books on Tape out !!!!! We were driven to the airport and checked in, first class no less. We waited a bit and was on board. I watched two and a half movies, Fury, St. Vincent and the Lost Boys of Sudan. I don't see any movies for 10 years and then watch almost three in one morning.
Custom was so fast, and we were out in less than half hour. Alan came to pick us up and we were home. GRACIE !!!! AND THEN I found out that ALAN did not water the chicken. What does it take to read the list of things to do? They were so thirsty that they drank for over five minutes. I was so upset. Lovely said that I should have emailed her the list, but wait, what does it take to take care of animals? FOOD AND WATER, right? She said to ge grateful, and I am, but really? Also, Kurt should have taken a look, although we did not ask him to do anything with the animals.
At least they are not dead.
We walked the dog to the bank and took some money out and I went to visit mom. It was really nice to see her and dad, and I missed them. Dad does not remember much, but all was well.
I cooked steak and potatoes and vege, and think I will go to bed early.
Nice to be home
Tuesday
Today was a day of roaming the city of San Jose. Hotel had breakfast on the top floor, with a great view of the plaza below and the National Theatre. We had the last balcony seat, and it was a bit cool, overcast, nothing like the beaches. Scramble eggs, chicken bacon, made to order omlette, juices, coffee, toast, different kinds of cereal and breads. KR ate, and I had coffee and made an egg sandwich. Can't eat breakfast before 10 am. We took off the the Central Mercado, which is a large block of shops, carrying everything from live chickens to pet food, to curios to food stalls. We were looking for coffee, which was not easy to find. We thought they would be everywhere.
After wondering around a bit, we found this place that was roasting its own coffee, called Cafe Trebol, on Ave 2 or 3? The smoke, the thing that goes around and around to turn the coffee, wow.
After that, we went to the Jade Museum. After looking at the prelim room, KR decided the Gold Museum was better. So we walked back towards the hotel, as the museum was under the plaza next to the hotel. Several floors under. We had checked out of the hotel, and kept the car at the hotel carpark as it is a separate charge. VERY hard to drive around in the city, congestion, trucks, motorcycles, etc.....
The Gold Museum was very interesting, and we had a hamburger off the same street, and a pepsi. I still was not hungry yet. We decided that it was time to go out to the hotel I had booked, Hotel Aeropuerto, 4 km past the San Jose airport. We wanted to make sure we can find it tomorrow as the flight was 8 10 am, and we will need to be up early.
The hotel was VERY quaint, and seems like not too many folks were staying, maybe a total of 10 rooms? We had room 224, very nice, two double beds. We had a little sit by the pool, and then dinner at the hotel. The curry chicken is nothing like what I expected. It was chicken breast with some curry powder, although very tasty.
We went to bed early, and had everything packed. Tomorrow we go home. Sure miss Gracie, and maybe the kid too.
After wondering around a bit, we found this place that was roasting its own coffee, called Cafe Trebol, on Ave 2 or 3? The smoke, the thing that goes around and around to turn the coffee, wow.
After that, we went to the Jade Museum. After looking at the prelim room, KR decided the Gold Museum was better. So we walked back towards the hotel, as the museum was under the plaza next to the hotel. Several floors under. We had checked out of the hotel, and kept the car at the hotel carpark as it is a separate charge. VERY hard to drive around in the city, congestion, trucks, motorcycles, etc.....
The Gold Museum was very interesting, and we had a hamburger off the same street, and a pepsi. I still was not hungry yet. We decided that it was time to go out to the hotel I had booked, Hotel Aeropuerto, 4 km past the San Jose airport. We wanted to make sure we can find it tomorrow as the flight was 8 10 am, and we will need to be up early.
The hotel was VERY quaint, and seems like not too many folks were staying, maybe a total of 10 rooms? We had room 224, very nice, two double beds. We had a little sit by the pool, and then dinner at the hotel. The curry chicken is nothing like what I expected. It was chicken breast with some curry powder, although very tasty.
We went to bed early, and had everything packed. Tomorrow we go home. Sure miss Gracie, and maybe the kid too.
Monday, February 2, 2015
Monday
This was the day for Monte Verde Canopy Tour. We got up pretty early, and had a breakfast, which was included in the 35 bucks, but it was COOK IT YOURSELF !!! Each person is suppose to eat two eggs, there was coffee and toast, jam, and milk, etc. I made an egg sandwich and a guava sandwich. Only coffee for me. Paid for the tour at the hotel, 35 bucks each, yikes and drove another 6 KM to the entrance. WE WERE THE FIRST ONES THERE !!!!
The suspension bridges, all 8 of them were very interesting, but we did not see a quetzel, nor howler monkey, we did hear a monkey. The guide said that the quetzel was seen the day before, and after we came down (going one way and then the reverse) , one of the guides said that at bridge 7 they saw ONE !!!!
I was pretty tired after the trek, and ate the egg sandwich. Then we went to Don Juan coffee plantation, and had a look and several cups of coffee, FREEEEEEE We did not want to take the tour. Off we go to drive to San Jose, which was about 17 more KM of bone jarring road, although not the same road from Playa Grande. We made it to San Jose, and there were so many people, and the traffic , wowow. We decided to stay at Gran Hotel Costa Rica, on Ave 2, just next door to the National Theatre. We walked around a bunch and tried to go to the Gold Museum, could not find it. The Theatre was having a free concert, celebrating the 40th day after Jesus was born, and we had fried chicken and ice cream and free coffee and pastries from the Theatre, hahaha, before we went upstairs.
What a trip it has been, thinking tomorrow we are off to the Central Mercado to buy knick knack or coffee or somethings like souvenirs for home
Spoke to Kurt and he and Gracie are bonding !!
SuperBowl Sunday
With the surf so small, KR decided not to surf. Besides, Marco bought the two boards for 350 bucks last night. I went for a run, down to the river mouth, and KR collected shells. KR had breakfast first and I ate after the run. After a very quick swim in the pool, we decided to drive to Santa Elena.
Well, instead of the old way back, via Santa Cruz and Nicoya, we decided to try a different route, on the north side of Parque Barra Honda, ending up at Porto Moreno, which is a little fishing ramp, hardly a port at all, and had to turn around a bit, and after about 4 hours of bone jaring dirt road, which included picking up a local (lots of them ask for rides), we finally made it to the Taiwan Bridge (Puente de Armistad).
Then from Las Juntas, we turned up towards Santa Elena. It was getting cold, well, maybe 70 and after the 90 degree days it was a little chilly. We met this guy on the motorcycle, who happens to own Hostel El Tucan, so we were looking for the Arco Isis hotel he directed us to his place. It was 35 bucks per night. Room 2, with a double and a set of twin beds. Right over the reception. He suggested we go to the Kinkajou Night Tour, so 25 bucks each later, we went in the bus.
Donald, the tour guide had us each with flash light, we saw this two toe sloth, way up in the tree just scratching furiously. Several sleeping birds, and a tarantula, and some bugs, and a kinkajou !!!!!! And I think an olingo too, high up in the tree. Don lit up the animals with his powerful binoculars and we had a great time. Got home, ate at Morpho's and went to bed. The shower was very week, but warm, and the bed not too soft. The neighbor was a little noisy, but quieted down.
Well, instead of the old way back, via Santa Cruz and Nicoya, we decided to try a different route, on the north side of Parque Barra Honda, ending up at Porto Moreno, which is a little fishing ramp, hardly a port at all, and had to turn around a bit, and after about 4 hours of bone jaring dirt road, which included picking up a local (lots of them ask for rides), we finally made it to the Taiwan Bridge (Puente de Armistad).
Then from Las Juntas, we turned up towards Santa Elena. It was getting cold, well, maybe 70 and after the 90 degree days it was a little chilly. We met this guy on the motorcycle, who happens to own Hostel El Tucan, so we were looking for the Arco Isis hotel he directed us to his place. It was 35 bucks per night. Room 2, with a double and a set of twin beds. Right over the reception. He suggested we go to the Kinkajou Night Tour, so 25 bucks each later, we went in the bus.
Donald, the tour guide had us each with flash light, we saw this two toe sloth, way up in the tree just scratching furiously. Several sleeping birds, and a tarantula, and some bugs, and a kinkajou !!!!!! And I think an olingo too, high up in the tree. Don lit up the animals with his powerful binoculars and we had a great time. Got home, ate at Morpho's and went to bed. The shower was very week, but warm, and the bed not too soft. The neighbor was a little noisy, but quieted down.
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