Friends, Animals, Fiestas. . . and a dentist visit

Our former short-term "pet", a hooded mantis

It's been an entire week since we last posted an update!  We have been slacking but there's been plenty going on for sure.  Even though we've been here now three months, there is no paucity of new critter sightings.  The same day we released the scorpion, we found this great hooded mantis on our patio.  He was our pet for a night and then posed for some pictures the next day after he was released.  

Without a doubt, one of the highlights of the week has been a visit from Valerie and Dan, friends from Portland.  Though sometimes we feel adventurous for moving here, our brave friends actually drove here from Oregon, on their way to Panama!  Their trek sounds amazing and they've clearly had a great time.  We've been enjoying their company for the last few days but Sullivan seems especially smitten, making special artwork just for them and repeatedly asking to play Legos in their fantastic van with Dan.  Somehow they've managed to cheerfully endure the chaos that comes along with visiting our clan.  

Valerie and Dan living it up

It turns out that Las Fiestas Civicas, the biggest event of the year here in Nuevo Arenal, is also this week.  We'd heard about these traditions in many of the towns here in Costa Rica.  Here, all the celebrations started Thursday evening and are ending tonight, Monday.  And, to our delight, they haven't disappointed.  

Sullivan takes a ride in front of the Plaza de Toros

The events include bull riding, something like bull chasing (where lots of young men try to take a bandana from an angry bull's horns), musical performances and the Gran Tope, a horse parade demonstrating the national horse step, the Paso Fino.  For us, not only were the events exciting but it was really great to socialize with folks we'd met over the last three months.  Though we don't feel like we've made any close friends yet, we ran into a bunch of people we are getting to know.  

We were welcomed to the fiesta by a friendly man wearing a bike jersey for an organized ride that took place Saturday.  I jokingly asked him why he hadn't ridden in it and he humbly told me that he was one of the organizers of the ride and had to help with the logistics.  It only came out later that he is a former Costa Rican mountain bike champion from 15 or so years ago!

Large, angry bull just prior to being successfully lassoed

The bull riding itself was entertaining but the people watching was equally so.  A lot of folks were decked out and looked lovely.  We ran into several of our kids' classmates and their families, including this super-cute kindergarten compañera of Sullivan.

Sullivan's classmate (he refused to pose, of course)

Better be quick!

We'd been told that there has never been a history of killing or harming the bulls in Costa Rica.  This tradition may be limited to Spain.

An impressive singer and horseman, singing in a traditional Mexican style (I think)

The evening was a great experience overall.  It should also be mentioned that Erica and I each helped to raise money for Madeleine's 6th grade class by manning the table next to the bathrooms for an hour.  We helped to collect money from fiesta-goers in need of the facilities, which is a common way for classes to raise money, in addition to selling food.  The going rate was 200 colones, or about 40 cents.  Toilet paper included.

Love is in the air, at least on the outside of our house

We'd heard much about the Gran Tope, a large horse exhibition slated for Sunday at noon.  Our sources tell us (you know who you are) that this is apparently a civic tradition in many cities and towns here.  The weather gods, again so kind, provided yet another perfect day.  We finally hooked up with some friends we'd been trying to meet up with for a couple of weeks and had a really nice time talking, both in Spanish and English.  We did our job supporting the local economy by consuming snacks for the kids and beers for the adults.  Hydration is important.

Cristian (blue shirt) and I threaten to help sell churros and cotton candy

Amazing young girl with impressive horse-handling skills

Though the official start time was noon, the first three hours or so were spent setting up and warming up.  The horse parade began around 3 pm.  There was some grousing from the kids about the heat and the waiting but the parade itself was just fantastic, with a couple of hundred horses showing off their steps. Though this was not meant to be a very serious competition, the winner is typically quite valued and provides serious money in stud fees.  For this reason, nobody held back in front of the judges.  The Paso Fino is maybe best described as a fast, almost dance-like step even when the horse is not actually going anywhere.  

Beautiful animals

What's he thinking?

Though I never imagined I'd be comfortable riding one of these horses, I never dreamed I'd look so out of place.  Is that a UFO on my head?

Another of Sullivan's buddies from school

The little guys run off some more energy

Each of our kids, at some point in time, was hot, grumpy and complaining during the five hours we were at the Tope.  But I'm pretty sure the warm memories of friends and the festivities will last.

In contrast to the exciting Fiesta, there's also been plenty of domesticity as well.  Madeleine and Henry both have a week of exams starting tomorrow, so there's been a respectable amount of studying recently.  There are two extremely sweet neighborhood girls who have come over a couple of times to study with Henry.  Of course, some games of Escondido (Hide and Seek) follow along as well.

Hard at work

We'd noticed that Sullivan's kindergarten communication notebook that came home on Friday had a little paper with an appointment today for him at the health clinic for a dental exam.  Turns out every kid in kindergarten has a free checkup and fluoride treatment at the local clinic.  What a great idea!  We saw some of his buddies, yet again, though this time at the dentist.  The older kids all get checks and fluoride treatments once a year in school as well.  I like this approach and am looking forward to learning more about the health system here.  For what it's worth, the dentist told me that there is a fair amount of fluoride naturally occurring in the water in Costa Rica and that no other fluoride supplementation is needed. 

Que valiente!