As has become the routine, we were fed very well again first thing in the morning. Everyone is enjoying a huge amount of fresh fruit to start breakfast every day. Eggs, juice or coffee, bread, fried plantain and gallo pinto is the norm to follow. For anyone who hasn't heard, gallo pinto is pretty much the staple breakfast food around these parts. Consisting of seasoned white rice, bans and peppers with a little cilantro, it is served warm as a side to other breakfast foods. Our Henry is a huge fan.
We stuffed our rental Mitsubishi Zinger with our current life possessions and left our cozy confines of the last four days, Hotel Cielo Azul. Filled the tank with gas, took out more cash and then Erica bought a new set of guitar strings to replace a recent casuality. Finding the shop in town took us asking four different folks on the street for help finding it.
We departed lovely Tilaran and headed back east, partway around Lake Arenal. Successfully killed some time by eating, drinking, watching a Sunday afternoon mens football game (soccer, of course) and by checking out a park new to us, in our recently adopted hometown of Nuevo Arenal. There we met a couple of cowboys, one of whom is named Henry. He demonstrated his horse Catalina's impressive ability to perform a traditional Costa Rican step, Paso Fino. I can't reiterate enough how friendly and outgoing the Ticos are. How will we ever fit in here?
About 3:30 we finally pulled into the new neighborhood and got to move into our house. Which is fantastic, with a view to boot. Any disappointment that Erica and I had because we are not going to be living right in the middle of Tilaran quickly dissipated as we settled in. Lush vegetation, big timber bamboo, birdsongs, a vista to Lake Arenal and a fantastic house seem like a great reward for all of our planning and hard work over the last few months. We did it!!
The house itself is very nice, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms with a large outdoor patio with the view to the lake. No need for a heater or air conditioning. We're told the electric bill will be about $70/month. Rent is $850/month, fully furnished. We are five minutes by car to Nuevo Arenal where there is a church, school, soccer field, supermarket, a bunch of smaller stores and restaurants and no Starbucks. Seems like it was meant to be for us. The next challenge is setting up internet. We're going to pass on the available satellite TV.
First dinner for us was simple pasta and salad with horchata for the kids and Imperial beer for the adults. Pura Vida!
Sounds positively idyllic! Bugs and all! Welcome to a new culture; efficiency is not well known anywhere south of the US border, as I recall from my own travels. Nor is it well known in much of the world. Ah, there is so much to learn!!
ReplyDelete"You can't make us get out of the car" sounds like wild enthusiasm for the biggest challenge of all! Ah, the stories that will be told!
Much love, abrazos y besos a todos!
Grammy
Wow! What a beautiful view. I understand the dilemma of wanting to be fully immersed in the culture with language and integration opportunities all around. But it looks like you found a wonderful spot that will get you the benefits of the beautiful natural surroundings which is also a huge plus. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteImpressive vehicle packing! John will be impressed. So great for you to have a nice yard for the kids to play & to have that incredible view. Hope you're settling in nicely.
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