My Journals from the Jungles of Costa Rica ...February 25, 2002 – Rio Ora, Estrada ... I have returned from the hell that is Nicoya. One and a half hours in two different bank lines and almost two hours just buying a hot water heater for Frank. But tonight is fantastic with many birds in the trees and earlier there were monkeys very close to the house. We just had homemade pizza I cooked in my pretty stove with the oven Frank bought for me last year. I am so in love with Frank. He is very nice to me and much happier this year because he is building a boat. He thinks the boat will be ready in two more days. When the moon full. It was impossible to get everything we needed in Nicoya today, of course. It's never possible to get everything there. It's only possible in San Jose.
Spoke with Zack this morning. Everything is well with him. He is improving in school and has been visiting his girlfriend, Anna a lot. I think Frank is ready to sleep. More later.
February 27, 2002 Rio Ora
The moon is almost full and when I woke up at 4:15 I thought it was almost 6:00 a.m. We got up anyway around 4:30 and had coffee. It still isn't quite daylight but it will be soon. Frank is going to paint the outside of the boat this morning then launch her to see if she'll float before he puts more money into her. I think it will be a wonderful boat. Very pretty. Frank says it will row easily enough. I have my doubts (it's 16'). It can also take an outboard (he thinks) of 25 hp or so. We could take it out to the ocean when the waves at the beach at Camaronal are behaving.
We have been wondering what these loud blasts that sound like a truck horn are that we've been hearing last night and again this morning. Three or four times last night and then starting this morning. Three times now. Sounds like a big truck going down the road and beeping every once in awhile. Wondering if it's an evacuation or something but you would think they'd have a bullhorn.
Political messes going on everywhere. I have been buying the paper to practice my Spanish and often I wish I couldn't read it. U.S. Is going to Columbia fighting their terrorist gorillas. Ortega is becoming more and more popular in Nicaragua. Suspected terrorist bombings of an underwate tunnel near the American Embassy in Paris. Terrible unrest in Argentina. Seems a million miles away from here but also seems the World keeps getting smaller.
I hear the killer bees so I'm turning off the lights just in case. More later.
March 12, 2002 6:00 a.m. Rio Ora, Estrada, Costa Rica
Well the boat has been launched! I think it is beautiful. Frank hates it. He says it's too narrow. (That is NOT it in the photo above, that is the only other boat on the river, though). Tad, Susie, and all the kids (and Tad's brother Chris) came over to help us launch it. It is more of a skiff than a dory because one end is flat for a motor. We don't have oars yet, only kayak paddles we borrowed from Tad so we haven't gone rowing yet. Frank is building oars as I write this.
The parrots are noisy and chattering as they fly past. Yesterday we went four wheeling with our truck to Camaronal (across the Rio Ora) and beyond. Two hours driving and then walking through a teak forest with Santiago and Louis for the poles for the oars. No one sells oars in Costa Rica! Frank is unhappy with the boat (I would have preferred a small double-ender but he needs something big enough to go out to the ocean and see what's there). Don't think he can fish here without residency (or silent partnership). Need to talk to Romelu (our attorney) Monday to see what our possibilities are.
Lettuce, tomatoes, cukes are doing nicely. I have them in plant pots still here on the porch. Need to finish the macrame hangers for them.
Frank brought a BUNCH of bananas and plantain from Santiago's house yesterday. They bananas are hanging up on the porch and look so “Costa Rican.” Laundry day today so I probably should get going. More later.
Same day ...The monkeys (different ones) were here last night and slept here and the killer bees are all abuzz first thing this morning. They are a little closer this year.
We didn't put the name on the boat yet (Hurricane Andrea) and I am thinking to myself we should wait because maybe we will want to sell it if Frank really doesn't like it. He wants a 30' now. What a headache that would be to take care of. I think we should come for a three month vacation and go home. (KISS – keep it simple, stupid.)
We were stopped by the Nicoya police on the way to Samara because I was riding in he back of the truck. Of course Frank and I didn't know it wasn't allowed, you see it all the time (eight people even in a truck, kids with no helmets on motorcycles, babies on motorcycles even). Tad was with us and told Frank to just ask the cop how much the fine was and pay him directly. That worked. Cost about $6. More later.