More Odds and Ends of Costa Rica, some more Odd than Others!

This is one of the more unusual houses in San Joaquin. The fences and window bars are more decorative than usual, kind of whimsical and this house has a huge yard with a snow white theme. Check it out.


This darling little girl was in front of her preschool and I asked her mother if I could take her picture. I promised the mom I would bring her a photo the next day. I´m glad I did because when I got to the school the whole family and school were waiting for me. They passed this 4x6 around as though it were a check for $1000. I was glad I was able to get the pic but horrified and touched at the same time that they thought it was such a huge deal. Every adult made it a point to shake my hand and thank me. This child typifies all the children that need help with buying text books.
This is what a typical garage looks like. If you don´t have a car, as Elieth does not, then people turn them into another room.

These are all the saints in the cathedral of San Joaquin. When one says something is a dime a dozen, they`re not too far off when it comes to flowers. Kelli is having calla lilies for her wedding, and no lie, they cost about 10 cents apiece.

This is my shower in my bathroom. There is sort of a heating coil inside the head and if you let the water run slowly and not hard you can take the edge off the cold water.
This is the kind of shack where one of the many havenots families live.

This is part of the parade (desfile) that the church had last Thursday. I walked with the entire town, and it was interesting. A small band played and I don´t think they were playing the same song at the same time, but nonetheless it was fairly affecting.

The people consider it a great honor to carry one of their saints on their shoulders. The women especially compete for the honor. This is Father Javier, truly a man of God. He was wearing a sombrero because one of the mariachi players placed it on his head during one of the seranades. He´s a good sport.

The seranade just before the parade.
My faithful pal, Blanca.

Blanca and Bucaniro.
My new amigo, Iglu. I named him that because he´s white. The calleros will sleep anywhere they can. This boy was sleeping on the stairs to the internet cafe.

A typical scene on the bus. The bus is a place where many hombres take any chance they can for a sexual thrill. So the women guard themselves well. One day I was accompaning a young girl to Heredia. The bus was crowded, she was sitting near the window and I was sitting by the aisle. A young man pressed his butt in my head. I moved my head but his butt followed. So I grabbed Harold´s umbrella and jabbed it as hard as I could in his butt and said VERY loudly: "Perdoname, Senior, pero move tus nalgas flacas lejos de mi cara." The other women on the bus started laughing really loudly and the man was so embarrassed he jumped off the bus. Harold will probably not want his umbrella back especially since the handle went places he´d rather not know about!

These are murals painted on the walls of the school, C.P.I.

These people were from an evangelical church in San Jose and were ministering in the central park in Heredia.

This is Federico, the nephew of Elieth. He is studying classical music at the university and played for me one evening. A terrific talent and all-around nice guy.
These are the types of drains the houses have for the rain. Very effective.


The next pic was taken in the largest church in San Jose. It was very strange, this mannequin of Christ. Really, it was kind of spooky. It is very old, carved out of wood and dressed in the finest velvets trimmed in real gold, and the crown is real gold too.

This is an interior shot of the oldest church in San Jose. Danged if I can remember any names.
This is a confessional in the oldest church.
This is a shot of San Jose and its mountain.

Odd and Ends of Costa Rica

Well, the blog won´t let me add more pics so I´ll talk a bit about this one and post again. The top pic is of the Teatro Nacional in San Jose, and one of the many market places in San Jose. Elieth and I went and visited the city on Friday.
Above is a vender of sombrillas (for mujeres) and paraguas (for hombres). I got a present for Harold there. Guess what it is???
Above is the largest church in San Jose, and below, is the oldest church. It is currently being renovated, but we did go inside and I took some pics.

This dude looks a like like Sean Connery but I doubt it´s him. He is made of wood and a waxy type substance. This is in the oldest church. He is life sized and stands near the altar. Another shot of the Teatro Nacional.
Very unusual to see someone on the street proclaiming Christianity. In this overwhelmingly Catholic country, it just doesn´t happen often. but people were listening.
Water fountain in the main park in San Jose. People were drinking from it, but it smelled funny to me.

My last day in Costa Rica

Well, Thursday was my last day at C.PI. and I have many emotions and thoughts about it ending. It will be very hard to say goodbye to all the wonderful people here, and of course, my calleros -- Blanca, Ojos Bellos, y Buccaniro.

I have learned a lot here, both the language and about the life. This is a country of many contrasts, rich and poor, mostly poor. The houses are as grand as any you can find in the U.S. and some are worse than the worst shack. There are bugs galore but after awhile you don´t notice them anymore. The Costariccense don´t kill any bugs except mosquitos and cockroaches. The others are part of the life cycle, they say, and their life must be honored. Besides that, there are too dang many to kill anyway! The water is clean and the electricity and telephone works for the most part. At night the air is so thick that it looks like fog, but it´s humidity. I have gotten used to going to bed at 7:30 - 8 p.m. because it is so dark and there are no lights in the evening. Might as well get some shut eye.

One thing I have learned is that while the educational system in Costa Rica is free, that is, there is no tuition, each child must buy their textbooks. For the haves, this is no problem, but for the have nots, it´s major. And there are far more havenots than haves. I have come up with an idea that we can raise money to send to Costa Rica to buy textbooks for the kids. I have talked with Father Javier, the resident priest and he is most amenable to my idea to help these kids. Without books, the children cannot learn, and if they cannot learn, they remain in poverty. I have prayed much about this and feel compelled by God to do this. Do you realize that two American dollars (or 1 mil colones) will buy one textbook. Unbelievable. However, many families only earn the equivilent of 1 dollar a week, or 500 colones. More unbelievable. In my conversation with Father Javier (the population here, btw, is 99% catholic, and I have attended church more times this past month than most Catholics attend in a year in the states!) But I digress. In my conversation with Padre Javier, I told him that my church and pastor would likely be agreeable to send any monies to Costa Rica. For those who do not know, I have the best pastor in the whole world, right Pastor Mike?!

Anyway, as much as I hate to leave, I have missed my family and friends way to much and am eagerly looking forward to seeing everyone. I will make one more post of various pics to close out my blog. Love to you all! Mimi

Sunday in Costa Rica

Sunday in the Park Elieth and I went to Heredia for music typical of Costa Rica. Above is the cathedral at the Plaza de Los Angeles. Below is the maestro of the orchestra and he played the marimba.

These dudes sounded just like the three tenors only better and cuter. Their voices were magnificent and they were from Guanacasta and sang traditional songs.

This clown was dancing to the music. Where else can you find a cathedral, pigeons, kids, clowns and balloons in one place???
A close up of the fountain in the plaza.

Okay, now this is different. Elieth and I went to a baby shower, or, as it is called in Costa Rica, a Te de Canastillas. This one was hosted by a clown, Tapito, no less. And it is very different from the showers we have in the U.S. pór ejemplo, the lucky 100-200 people who are invited get to pay to attend. Elieth wouldn´t tell me how much, but judging by the food, I would guess it cost about $25 per person. And on top of that, the lucky payees also get to buy a baby gift!! Yeaaaaa. I bought a set of bibs.

The affair is set in a sala de fiestas and the tables are set very elegantly. We had a toast of juice with alcohol, muy tasty.



A Te de Canastillas is a combination of a bachelor´s party, a strip tease, a religous experience, and all out greed. Games are played as in the U.S., but premios are also given to the guests. Below is a younger sister of Elieth who is showing her prize, a necklace.

Below is the first course, a plate of pastillas, two sandwiches of cold food and three sweet dulces. Muy yummy. And to the right and below is the guest of honor who took in a huge haul, probably about $3000 worth of goods. Her name is Rocio and of course, our resident clown. I should also tell you a main course followed. I about popped. It was beef with curry, I think, and mashed taters and salad. Of course, dessert followed. I had the dulce de leche cake. Muy muy yummy!!!

A decoration announcing the bountiful, er, I mean, beautiful event. The baby, BTW, will be named Adrian Alberto. Oh, before I forget, the affair lasted 6.5 hours, kinda short from what I hear!

I will try to post one more time before I leave Costa Rica but it might be a tad difficult. I´ve much to do, but if I can I will post Saturday morning cuz I leave on Sunday a.m. Love to all.