Internet, Lago Cote & Guaro!

Fortunately today was a day with more progress in addition to some fun for the crew.  Sullivan and I began our post-breakfast day together in the sun enjoying even putting up clothes on the clothesline.

Renewable energy, Tico Jones style.

I made the 30 minute drive back to Tilaran alone and enjoyed every minute of driving with the windows down and the music loud.  Couldn’t believe none of the kids wanted to tag along, even with the promise of doing schoolwork at home if nobody joined me.  Managed to successfully buy a USB modem and some usage time for the internet for the computer.  A SIM card fits into the modem, which was new to me.  Bryan, the super friendly and eager clerk at Gallo (a local appliance store) told me that this prepaid internet costs 1 colon for 3 minutes of time which works out to 1500 minutes per US dollar.  Seems too good to be true but time will tell.  The most valuable other items I managed to find were some more clothes pins (prensas de ropa FYI), as the dryer in the house is currently out of commission.  Hard to imagine why anyone would use one anyway, at least in the dry season.  Yes for a laundry basket and no for another kitchen sink stopper in the plastics store (!) which carries all types of plastic things and household items.  A dozen bananas later, I was on my way back home.  Brief interruption on the way back home where a couple of small busloads of tourists were gathered along the road taking pictures of a bunch of howler monkeys in the trees.  I’ll take tourist/monkey delays over snow delays any day.

While I was gone, a neighbor’s puppy bounded over and came on into our living room.  Sullivan, who normally LOVES dogs, was not pleased when the ferocious beast accidentally scratched his leg attempting to jump up on him for some attention.  The kids have defensively armed themselves with sticks to use if needed.  Although the dog apparently doesn’t even listen to his owner and is exceedingly enthusiastic, he’s just a puppy at heart and when I go to pick him up to move him just flops down on his side for some love.  It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out.

Gratuitous Costa Rican animal picture.  What we think is a stick spider on the garage wall.

After some work, we have internet access to the computer though it’s a bit slow.  But a necessity.  We took the crew for a little drive up a fun rock-strewn dirt road a hundred meters or so from the turnoff to our house.  Up the hill to try and get down to Lago Cote, a lake where UFOs are purported to frequent.  Madeleine and Henry were arguing that our chances would be better if we instead showed up in the middle of the night.  No lack of sense of adventure here.  Had some great views of the lake but no easy swimming access nor UFO sightings were to be had.  This will be a great mountain bike ride when I get my hands on my bike again.  Looking forward to having everything set up so we can spend more free time exploring and exercising.

Lago Cote

This afternoon a handmade Costa Rican bed was delivered for Madeleine’s room, as she’s been sleeping on the couch.  Despite how it sounds, it’s a more rustic than romantic but will work just fine.  After dinner, Erica and I shared another cocktail made from Guaro, the local fire water.  It’s made pretty close to here and comes from sugarcane.  Tastes similar to vodka and is pretty darn cheap.  This bottle was about $3 and goes nicely with pineapple juice and ice.  A fitting end to the day. 

Salud!