This morning is the most gorgeous yet - sunny, warm breezes, lots of birds and butterflies, and quiet. It seemed as if we had more than the usual number of small birds: plus an eagle, the laughing hawk, several toucanes, at least 4 fiery billed aracari's, small and large parrots. It rained last night to this morning the air is fresh and drier.
The toucans are back making Mike happy. There were none, then just one, now we have a few but not as many as previous seasons. This one enjoys the fruits of the palm tree at our driveway entrance.
The pesote has not made an appearance since Greg left. Mike says we should have paid him for a longer contract.
We changed our mind about heading for Perez and decided to stay put. The day stayed beautiful until about 2 when the rains returned. By 4 a second storm rolled in with lots of wind. It looked as if the rain was erasing the world below our house.
Just before the storm rolled in the trucks started rolling up our road with materials for a wall Ron is building above. Truck number 3 loaded with cement block could not make it up our hill. And the hill above our house is even steeper. It never fails. Just as the roads are repaired they get ripped up.
This morning, Friday, we are getting organized to head out. I heard lots of monkeys this morning while I was drinking my coffee. They were in the direction of the valley and ridge below Las Nubes.
We tried this fruit at a local market, liked it, asked the name and then promptly forgot the answer. We brought some home and made a photo before eating them. Ricardo helped us out with the ID - "mangotan".
The fruit is white in side, soft tasting a bit like a white grape. The outside shell is really hard.
All things being equal, I'd rather have a pineapple.
Our real estate guy, Saul, stopped by yesterday with clients, a couple. Of course he did not call in advance so the house was as it was. That is, we had two ladders in the house poised for different projects. I don't think these two guys are our market but you never know. Saul actually called our neighbors, Karen and Frank, to tell them they would be stopping by for a look, but Karen and Frank are in San Jose. I think we were an afterthought. He saw our red truck, he stopped. It was also pouring rain, not the best time to see the view of the Osa Peninsula from our house.
Saul mentioned that the hot Zip Line is in the Osa. Greg, you might want to write that down for your next trip. Saul's assessment of the Hacienda Baru zip line was it was rather tame, but that you did see animals. It was PERFECT for me. I will not be going with Greg to the Osa Zip Line excursion.
Tomorrow is another holiday. This is a big religious holiday celebrating the Patron Saint of Costa Rica, La Virgin de los Angeles. Many Costa Ricans make a pilgrimmage to the cathedral in Cartago, and some make the last part of the journey on their knees. What is means for us is, "No Ricardo" in the morning. Who knows what we could get up to. :)
