Copied from an email I sent to coworkers left behind in snowy Ottawa
So we made it down here Nov 18th, no thanks to Air Canada.
First, Air Canada have turned into real luggage police. Previously they had not looked at our carry-ons so we had some extra weight. I had to reduce to 10 pounds, and ended up leaving a baking (cookie) sheet as it would have made our other suitcases overweight. Then they decided my carry-on was an inch too tall. The same carry-on I have used the last 5 years, so I had to send George to but a new carry-on. Then because our return ticket is next June, they did not want us to fly. I told the representative that as we had sold our house and sold or stored all our belongings, she would be making us homeless. We showed our Spanish documents which gave us temporary permanent status but the staff couldn’t read Spanish. By the time someone came to the counter who read Spanish, we had been there 45 minutes. She didn’t understand the form either but she took my word that it allowed us to stay in Costa Rica more than 90 days. The luggage cost $850 to bring but had some important high value items such as my computer, external hard drives, George’s guitar, etc.
When we got to Costa Rica, one of our bags was missing. Another hour waiting with a group of other Air Canada passengers to make a report at SJO airport..
By then we were so unnerved, George left his briefcase with important papers in the Tourismo vehicle that brought us to Atenas. Fortunately, we had used this service (Easy Transfer) many times, and the driver brought the bag and George’s guitar which we hadn’t noticed missing back to our Casa. We got our missing luggage back two days later.
I bought 2 new camera lenses for our move here, one a macro lens for better flower and butterfly pics, the other a gigantic 150-600 mm lens which I can hardly carry when mounted on my camera body. At 600mm you must use a tripod to take the picture.
When we got to the Casa, our maid was waiting as she had been house-sitting the last 6 weeks. She had brought her cat, which I thought she had said was a Tommy Cat, but she was calling it Tummy.
The Tummy cat had 4 kittens 10 days before we got here. The Momma cat carried theMm away and I think they are in our attic as I hear small meows sometimes, and noises like wrestling up there. She is probably teaching them how to hunt. She had started taking the kittens away the week before, but twice I was able to get her to bring back. The maid however, insists they must be outdoors so the last time they disappeared the same night. She carries them over the fence, onto the neighbours roof and under a portion of our roof which overhangs. It is impossible for us to retrieve. See an update on them below.
Besides cleaning the yard, path and driveway of leaves and chicken sh.., laundry, washing floors and windows, and rearranging me, she makes fresh juices and lunches for us when she is here.
Angie, I found out Geckos shed their tails when they are touched as a defense, so I did not cut the poor Geckos tail off with the sliding door after all. Boy that tail sure did a dance, apparently a technique to distract predators while the tailless Gecko escapes. It eventually grows back. There is a dangerous snake in Costa Rica, I have not seen, but apparently if you cut its head off the head keeps going and can bite and kill you. I was told you have to bury the head immediately. I hope I will not be challenged with this.
We are adapting to a more healthy diet here. Fruits and vegetables are relatively cheap. Avocados are huge here and I have adopted Angie’s spoon out technique. I plan to grow an avocado tree or 2 from the seeds. We walk a great deal, and taxis are usually $1.20 to $2 to points in and around town.
We are going to a Christmas Party tomorrow put on by the Animales group of volunteers that works to neuter stray cats and dogs, and encourage neutering of pets. My maid Antolina had her cat neutered last week. Must be sore to nurse her kittens, but she seems to be bearing it well. Wednesdays I go to the ladies lunch at Kays Gringos Postres.
You have to see the Youtube video I have linked to but you must have speakers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycU2HR6h-3M This is aimed at American and Canadian Tourists.
The locals have adopted us, come over and shake our hands when they see us, etc. In January we will start Spanish lessons in earnest. The country shuts down between Dec 25th and January 2nd. Here, baby Jesus delivers Christmas presents to the children, although the idea of Santa Clause is catching on. All the houses nearby have Christmas lights and decorations, as do most of the businesses. There are even snowflake decals on windows and Christmas trees. I have had fun taking pictures.
UPDATE: The mother took away the kittens almost 2 weeks ago. She came back to eat and rest but no sight of the kittens. Yesterday morning, the kittens came out for the first time, and were playing on my neighbors roof, chasing leaves and each other. Suddenly the orange kitten started running and to his and his siblings surprise, he fell off the roof. When I looked down from the rocks that are part of an old fence that separated the properties before the 8 ft chain-link fence, I could see that there was room in the chain-link because of the way it was installed for the momma cat to go through and get the kitten. She just stood and meowed at the kitten and to my amazement, the kitten not only crossed over to our property but also climbed all the rocks to join his mother. He is the biggest and most confident of her progeny wjich are now 6 weeks old. the one she would carry away or back first. The other kittens remained on the roof and then went back to the safety of the overhanging roof they have been staying in.
I decided to take the orange kitten into the house. It took until 9PM but she finally brought all the other kittens back here. I am glad as they were getting into the attic, and making alot of noise over the last week. I started weaning them with kitten milk, pablum and tuna. They are even eating dry food now. They were starting to get wild, still nervous of us. The maid took cat and kittens home the next day.
UPDATE: We were at the Animales Christmas fundraiser, and brought food and a donation. We volunteered to foster kittens/cats needing a temporary home and that will start in February.
A few days ago I heard a horrific noise. A hawk eagle that attacked the rooster and hens in the roadway outside our fence. I could see feathered wings flying up and a raucous fight. I thought it was a cockfight until I saw the big bird fly away. There were 3 chicks with the hen last week. Now there are two. After seeing the large bird I was worried about the kittens being outside.
One day recently the rooster got into my dining room and made a ruckus until I was able to chase him outside.
We are going to play pool. and meet up with other expats at 5 this PM at a place called Gregos. We have been there a few times before. Thursdays are gringo days after 5.
Just finishing a lunch – an apple, cheese, strawberries and avocado on unsalted crackers.
I am going to try and grow Avocado trees from the large seeds. I feel a need to waste less here and find uses for even the less-edible parts of the fruit and vegetables, such as banana peels and strawberry tops. Also because it is warmer here and most items are already ripe when purchased, find or develop a variety of recipes to use the fruit before it spoils. I made banana strawberry pancakes for breakfast yesterday. They turned out so well I will sketch out my improvised recipe in the next blog.
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