tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567039629383826902024-03-08T19:50:49.306-06:00Letters from CocoThe Trials and Tribulations of a British Family Living in Costa Rica. britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.comBlogger118125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456703962938382690.post-72662668835585843082014-09-09T08:27:00.000-06:002014-09-09T08:27:27.851-06:00Adios, adieu, cheerio and toodle-oo!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, we lasted 49 weeks exactly. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A fantastic 11 month adventure that we will never forget. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But for one reason or another, we have decided to say a temporary goodbye to Costa Rica and return to the UK.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I won't make it a long, drawn out goodbye, just a big thanks for following Letters from Coco. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope you enjoyed my musings as much as I have enjoyed sharing them with you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until the next mid-life crisis, its a goodbye from me and my family.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stella</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">xx</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s3_3G6jsolQ/VA7yaSu2HCI/AAAAAAAACag/RaWemAivIIU/s1600/DSCN2813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s3_3G6jsolQ/VA7yaSu2HCI/AAAAAAAACag/RaWemAivIIU/s1600/DSCN2813.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The aptly named Playa Hermosa - we shall miss you x</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br /></div>
britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456703962938382690.post-68107723562916848402014-08-07T00:22:00.000-06:002014-08-07T00:22:46.478-06:00A Day Out in Seattle.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The boys and I are currently enjoying a trip to Washington State and spending a couple of weeks with family; my sister-in-law, her husband and their two boys to be precise. I am ashamed to admit it, but this is our first visit here, although she has lived in the States for over twenty years!</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So for now, no 'Letters from Coco' but instead some 'Words from Washington'.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Earlier in the week, like true tourists, we spent the day sight-seeing in Seattle, which since the 1980's has been promoted as 'The Emerald City'. To be honest I find this an odd tag, because although it is indeed a green city, it's not what I would describe as an emerald-green: more of a dark-green, forest-green or maybe even dark-olive-green, but not emerald. But hey, what do I know! Anyway, the city earned its title because:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2;">officials, who were promoting </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2;">Seattle</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2;">as "The</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2;">Emerald City</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2;">" in the mid-1980s. This is mostly due to the lush, green forests of Washington and the more than 6,000 acres of parks within the</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2;">city</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2;">limits.</span></i></blockquote>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, because of our numbers, we had to take two cars, with me driving one of them. Not a major problem really, but the Interstate did seem a little crazy speed wise! I might have driven pretty fast back in the UK, but you forget, I've been driving at a snails pace for the last year, with very few other vehicles using the roads alongside me. I almost felt like a beginner again - especially when my s-i-l pulles over to remind me that the 60 speed limit was in miles NOT kilometres! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, first on the sightseeing list was a visit to <a href="http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/" target="_blank">Pike Place Market</a>, Seattle's original farmers market. Busy as hell, packed with tourists like us, armed with cameras, stopping every few feet to take photos of the delicious produce on offer. Definitely worth a visit, I just wish I had bought some of the beautiful fresh flowers that were for sale - bunches of dahlias for $5 or $10,<i> bargain! </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ifj5AQu7pR0/U-EENnb1CCI/AAAAAAAACKE/ybcHy5WAIrg/s1600/DSCN3318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ifj5AQu7pR0/U-EENnb1CCI/AAAAAAAACKE/ybcHy5WAIrg/s1600/DSCN3318.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pikes Place Market overlooking the Puget Sound</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AQ8bDoNtWwA/U-EFM3sRPLI/AAAAAAAACK0/nY_z__Z9nIU/s1600/DSCN3304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AQ8bDoNtWwA/U-EFM3sRPLI/AAAAAAAACK0/nY_z__Z9nIU/s1600/DSCN3304.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fabulous fish stall. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a quick look around the surrounding streets, by-passing the <i><b>extremely</b></i> long queue at the first ever Starbucks Coffee shop, we decided to make a quick pit-stop for some Mac'n'Cheese at the famous <a href="http://www.beechershandmadecheese.com/" target="_blank">Beecher's</a> (which was great by the way). We then strolled up to the Westlake Centre on Fifth Avenue where we caught the <a href="http://www.seattlemonorail.com/" target="_blank">Seattle Monorail</a> to the central station where the <a href="http://www.spaceneedle.com/home/" target="_blank">Space Needle</a> is located. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, I love to visit tourist attractions in every city that I visit. You know, The Eiffel Tower in Paris, Bucks Palace in London, La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona or the Royal Baths in Bath. But what I hate is queuing, and unfortunately I seemed to have bred that trait into my kids. So, much as we wanted to go up the Space Needle, we didn't want to wait for two and a half hours for the next available slot, or pay the extra $$$ for the immediate hit! Not to worry, it was still pretty a pretty spectacular piece of architecture from the ground below.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EMZKjjTtSMo/U-EETwy7bMI/AAAAAAAACKM/f6XEHbZptl4/s1600/DSCN3320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EMZKjjTtSMo/U-EETwy7bMI/AAAAAAAACKM/f6XEHbZptl4/s1600/DSCN3320.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Space Needle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AeLVAEUn60A/U-EEU0IGNNI/AAAAAAAACKU/bcLm0BdAz0g/s1600/DSCN3323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AeLVAEUn60A/U-EEU0IGNNI/AAAAAAAACKU/bcLm0BdAz0g/s1600/DSCN3323.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Space Needle from below - excuse the sun glaring to the right!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Unfortunately, we did not get to visit the </span><a href="http://www.chihulygardenandglass.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;" target="_blank">Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"> (would you with 4 boys in tow? No I thought not), but I did mange to take a pic over the hedge!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OhOh77x2H4Y/U-EEr3nWBlI/AAAAAAAACKo/WozGRU9DYoY/s1600/glass+flower.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OhOh77x2H4Y/U-EEr3nWBlI/AAAAAAAACKo/WozGRU9DYoY/s1600/glass+flower.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chihuly Flowers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then a return trip on the monorail and a short walk to the waterfront so that we could ride the </span><a href="http://seattlegreatwheel.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Seattle Great Wheel</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> which was good fun. Thankfully it was a beautifully clear day (unlike my one and only time on the London Eye) and we were able to experience the fantastic views across the water and also over towards the iconic </span><a href="http://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Mount Rainier</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a3vJuIvMzcE/U-EEjDqWXOI/AAAAAAAACKc/LOyr2HsVQlE/s1600/DSCN3333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a3vJuIvMzcE/U-EEjDqWXOI/AAAAAAAACKc/LOyr2HsVQlE/s1600/DSCN3333.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Seattle Great Wheel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Gateway to Alaska', 'Rain City' or even 'Jet City', whatever nickname you give the 14th largest metropolitan area in the U.S.A, its a pretty cool place to visit. I just wish it hadn't taken us so many years to get here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leave a comment and tell me where your favourite city is in the world, and if it has an odd nickname ...</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.com0Granite Falls, WA, USA48.0839895 -121.9687420000000248.041561 -122.04942300000002 48.126418 -121.88806100000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456703962938382690.post-3254911361215118042014-07-31T13:21:00.000-06:002014-07-31T13:21:52.924-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did you know, there are about 140 different species of snakes in Costa Rica, 22 of which are venomous? Thankfully, in the 11 months of living in the tropics,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I have yet to come across a 'live' snake. I mean I have seen a dead one and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">quite a few squashed ones, roadkill, but thankfully</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> not an actual, alive and animated snake!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So guess what I saw the other night while I was out by the pool? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes a bloody, great big snake!!!! A boa!!!! About one and a half metres long!!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zFnaT_-c8qk/U9qSmE3AZXI/AAAAAAAAB_o/brpMt9QppoA/s1600/DSCN3187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zFnaT_-c8qk/U9qSmE3AZXI/AAAAAAAAB_o/brpMt9QppoA/s1600/DSCN3187.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qbe-NTySiXg/U9qS3fTtTsI/AAAAAAAAB_w/g6fWnFdAUIA/s1600/DSCN3190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qbe-NTySiXg/U9qS3fTtTsI/AAAAAAAAB_w/g6fWnFdAUIA/s1600/DSCN3190.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rzue5jZ_qy4/U9qS8x4NW8I/AAAAAAAAB_8/o5eQqbWXOl8/s1600/DSCN3203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rzue5jZ_qy4/U9qS8x4NW8I/AAAAAAAAB_8/o5eQqbWXOl8/s1600/DSCN3203.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Needless to say, I was not the photographer! I was safely ensconced inside the house! Ever the brave one, me.</span></div>
britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.com0Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica10.5704722 -85.67687590000002710.539254199999998 -85.717216400000027 10.6016902 -85.636535400000028tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456703962938382690.post-79450084005656980402014-07-25T11:52:00.001-06:002014-07-26T07:36:27.275-06:00Playa Matapalo.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DH has taken up cycling again and goes two or three times a week with our friend John. They have a couple of routes, both with quite big hills - to add to the challenge of road cycling in this heat. DH prefers road biking here, compared to the UK, as there is so little traffic; although he often complains that when a car does pass him, they drive a little too close for comfort!</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The chosen course this week for John and DH has been out to the <a href="http://www.riu.com/es/home.jsp" target="_blank">Riu Hotel</a> in Matapalo, a pleasant 40km round trip. They picked this circuit as it has a rather steep hill to conquer on the <i>return</i> journey home, rather than at the beginning. As I'm not a keen cyclist (or a cyclist full stop), DH thought it would be nice for us to take a drive out that way so that he could show me the route (oh, yippee!!). Needless to say, I didn't "ooh" and "ahh" in the right places, so we pretty much skipped the verbal tour of the cycle route and drove straight to <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/@10.529373,-85.747539,13z" target="_blank">Playa Matapalo</a>; although I was sympathetic when he related the story of the smelly dead cow they spotted roadside!! Road-kill here in Costa Rica is slightly discrepant to the run-of-the-mill rabbits and squirrels you find back home!</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D3F6Usfm0Sg/U9HZzYdU6vI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/iJFvtbVLosM/s1600/DSCN3122%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D3F6Usfm0Sg/U9HZzYdU6vI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/iJFvtbVLosM/s1600/DSCN3122%5B1%5D.JPG" height="480" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice walk from parking area to beach.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vY9dnaAxXY4/U9HW9KIOpXI/AAAAAAAAB9M/ia4famjpkO0/s1600/DSCN3123%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vY9dnaAxXY4/U9HW9KIOpXI/AAAAAAAAB9M/ia4famjpkO0/s1600/DSCN3123%5B1%5D.JPG" height="480" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just in front of the Riu Hotel.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After you dodge the beach hawkers trading their wares, along with the ladies offering massages for $30, Matapalo beach is quite a pretty beach. It is a white sanded and extremly long beach, but unlike Playa Hermosa, the sea is quite open and therefore a bit choppy. Being</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Sunday, the beach-area in front of the hotel (or should I say small town it is so big) was quite busy and to be honest, DH and I both decided that we prefer our quiet little local beach and didn't stay too long. Instead, we grabbed a $1 Pipa Fria (cold coconut) and drove to the other end of the beach, which we found to be deserted.</span><br>
<br>
<br>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MG_eGN8vQmU/U9HXy3YYr4I/AAAAAAAAB9k/c_GBABAHAS0/s1600/DSCN3130%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MG_eGN8vQmU/U9HXy3YYr4I/AAAAAAAAB9k/c_GBABAHAS0/s1600/DSCN3130%5B1%5D.JPG" height="480" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Riu Hotel from the other end of the beach.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aVmg0KJJxRs/U9HYebFIikI/AAAAAAAAB98/0x7oXKrt02o/s1600/DSCN3170%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aVmg0KJJxRs/U9HYebFIikI/AAAAAAAAB98/0x7oXKrt02o/s1600/DSCN3170%5B1%5D.JPG" height="240" width="320"></a><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NC2WEh2DKOc/U9HXqXucDoI/AAAAAAAAB9g/5EAR15-_hfU/s1600/DSCN3128%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NC2WEh2DKOc/U9HXqXucDoI/AAAAAAAAB9g/5EAR15-_hfU/s1600/DSCN3128%255B1%255D.JPG" height="240" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost the same length as DH!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, I say deserted, but we did come across a fish/dolphin/shark skeleton lying in the sand, complete with rotting skin. Lovely!</span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DYaBUGLCa6o/U9HeVh-mM5I/AAAAAAAAB-k/5p9tUPSgwMA/s1600/RSCN3166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DYaBUGLCa6o/U9HeVh-mM5I/AAAAAAAAB-k/5p9tUPSgwMA/s1600/RSCN3166.JPG" height="240" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lads!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the ATV tour, we took the boys to Matapalo for a picnic lunch on the beach. Thought they might like a swim to wash away all the dust and dirt. Once again, the beach was deserted save for a few pelicans and of course the beached bones. Even after almost a year of living here, I am still amazed that the beaches in our little corner of Costa Rica, are almost always empty. A long, sandy beach in Europe on a Sunday ... well, it would be packed whenever the sun came out. </span><br>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9jR-567hBFU/U9HYXgdUgXI/AAAAAAAAB90/EflnDO8ZZ3c/s1600/DSCN3169%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9jR-567hBFU/U9HYXgdUgXI/AAAAAAAAB90/EflnDO8ZZ3c/s1600/DSCN3169%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9jR-567hBFU/U9HYXgdUgXI/AAAAAAAAB90/EflnDO8ZZ3c/s1600/DSCN3169%5B1%5D.JPG" height="480" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful shells found on Matapalo Beach by YS and his pal.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.com0Matapalo Beach, Costa Rica10.5297654 -85.75416740000002810.5141544 -85.774337400000022 10.5453764 -85.733997400000035tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456703962938382690.post-40314968608381446542014-07-24T21:37:00.000-06:002014-07-24T21:37:11.028-06:00Haggling for a Cheaper Tour in Costa Rica.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few words of advise when booking an expedition in Costa Rica: haggle and habla Espanol if you can! And if it's in anyway possible, cut out the middle man too, i.e. the tour guide. Book directly with the centre itself. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Naturally, my kids and </span>their<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> visiting pals wanted to take a Quad biking tour and I started my research a while ago, trying to find the best rates around. When I first emailed and inquired with one of the local tour guides, I was quoted $125 per person!! <b><i>Yes per person</i></b>!! OK, the excursion included transport, 2 hours of beach touring on the quad, plus lunch and a spot of shopping, but still, $125 is far too expensive.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I challenged the tour guide, saying that my guests were teenage boys, they could do without lunch and shopping (well maybe not lunch, but I could provide that for them)! I said that we were local residents (again a good tip to try and get things cheaper), and was there not a trek close-by so that the transport element could be dispensed with? Basically I w</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">as asking them if there was any possible way that they could massage the price for me, and give them some credit, the tour company said yes, and knocked the cost down to $90 per person. I said thanks and would let them know dates and so forth. However, still too much money, don't you think? Well, we thought so especially as we have done this kind of tour in other places in Costa Rica for a lot less.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So Step Three of the 'Planning an Excursion': Rather than emailing, DH contacted the ATV centre themselves and spoke with them in Spanish and bingo! the price was reduced $70 per person. Amazing! After a little bit more haggling, he got the price reduced further and in the end we eneded up by paying almost half the price originally quoted by the tour guide! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Result!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Tuesday, I sent DH off with 5 teenage boys and 2 pre-teenage boys for their quad biking adventure. I think they had fun, all I know is that they came home unbelievably dusty and dirty - especially ES who somehow managed to roll the damn ATV by playing silly buggers! Thankfully, like a certain fictional character's favourite drink, he was shaken, not stirred, but hopefully a lesson has been learnt - who am I kidding, he's a teenage boy!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E0T6iPH_zoc/U9HObuL5UoI/AAAAAAAAB8s/bY6fm6lj2g8/s1600/DSCN3159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E0T6iPH_zoc/U9HObuL5UoI/AAAAAAAAB8s/bY6fm6lj2g8/s1600/DSCN3159.JPG" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me know your top haggling tips?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.com0Sardinal, Costa Rica10.5174123 -85.647477110.4861888 -85.6878176 10.5486358 -85.6071366tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456703962938382690.post-57368523349369178412014-07-19T21:22:00.003-06:002014-07-19T21:22:55.332-06:00Two Excursions to Enjoy near Playa del Coco.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wet towels. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Possibly one of my top pet hates. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No wait: wet towels dropped on the floor. Or, even worse, wet towels left abandoned on the bed. Eughh.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With four extra people staying with us at the moment, I seem to have an awful lot of wet towels lying around the house and pool area!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, honestly, I'm not complaining (honest guv), but why is it the male of the species can make towels wetter than anyone else? Especially teenage boys? I mean, does the water cling to their bodies more than it does to us women? Does the water get trapped in their hairy legs and armpits, only to be released when a dry towel is wrapped around them? I just don't understand!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wet towels aside, its great having 4 extra kids staying with us. The long anticipated vacation both by ES and his friends from the UK. The boys have only been here five days so far and have spent a great deal of time at the beach, snorkeling and playing football, or just lazing around, poolside. As I write, they are enjoying some time together in Tamarindo as they are spending the weekend surfing there, sleeping at <a href="http://www.bluetrailz.com/" target="_blank">the Blue Trailz hostel</a> In fact I had a call earlier to see if they could stay an extra night. What a life hey?</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bPM35HStYy8/U8smrH6X1xI/AAAAAAAAB7I/J6lPAPuiF-I/s1600/DSCN3071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bPM35HStYy8/U8smrH6X1xI/AAAAAAAAB7I/J6lPAPuiF-I/s1600/DSCN3071.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thermal Waters and River At Rincon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But what about more organised excursions around the area? Where would teenage boys, and other holiday makers, like to visit when they come to Guanacaste, Costa Rica? I</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">n December 2012, we visited the thermal waters near <a href="http://www.fortunawelcome.com/hot-springs/the-springs-thermal-waters/" target="_blank">Lake Arenal</a> which was heavenly. Cold water cascades and warm thermal pools to relax in. Absolutely fantastic. We visited in the early evening and it was so magical being surrounded by the pitch dark sky and twinkling stars, whilst unwinding in natural spring pools heated by the nearby volcano. We thought the boys might appreciate a similar experience and decided to take them to </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rinc%C3%B3n_de_la_Vieja_Volcano" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Rincon de la Vieja</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, a nature reserve and volcano. DH acted as chauffeur and drove all six kids to Liberia the other afternoon, and after a short drive through the National Park they reached the thermal waters and mud baths. A soothing and relaxing activity which they all thoroughly enjoyed - especially the mud painting! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Naturally not wanting to ruin their street-cred, they prefer to remain anonymous and refused to let me post any photos, sorry!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course there are plenty of zip-lining and canopy trails to chose from too. Yesterday, I took the boys to <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g940883-d816967-Reviews-The_Congo_Trail_Canopy_Tour-Artola_Province_of_Guanacaste.html" target="_blank">The Congo Trail Canopy Tour</a>, about 10km away from us, near Sardinal. We booked a 9am session, which in hindsight was perhaps a little to early for the lads - they were all slightly sluggish to begin with, but the adrenalin soon kicked in and after an hour or so of whizzing through the trees on a cable, the boys all looked fit to drop. Unfortunately no Howler Monkeys were spotted, but nevertheless it was $25 (per person) well spent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yQ9GO2VJaT4/U8squi-UszI/AAAAAAAAB7k/uEnAiY-VrCc/s1600/RSCN3108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yQ9GO2VJaT4/U8squi-UszI/AAAAAAAAB7k/uEnAiY-VrCc/s1600/RSCN3108.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flying through the air.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next week, we have booked an ATV excursion for the kids ... if they survive their surfing trip!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.com0Sardinal, Costa Rica10.5174123 -85.647477110.4861888 -85.6878176 10.5486358 -85.6071366tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456703962938382690.post-77922082312692310162014-07-14T12:51:00.003-06:002014-07-14T12:51:53.477-06:00The Posse Has Landed <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Q7l61p566M/U8QmbnNfdNI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/V85-yHDVRUE/s1600/RSCN3054%5B2%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Q7l61p566M/U8QmbnNfdNI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/V85-yHDVRUE/s1600/RSCN3054%5B2%5D.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reunited!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456703962938382690.post-38136198625912112352014-07-14T10:14:00.001-06:002014-07-14T10:14:50.487-06:00The lull before the storm ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-i7-9ruGbngk/U8QB5Fy3tzI/AAAAAAAAB6I/ZP0hGKgKbHk/s640/blogger-image--452879230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-i7-9ruGbngk/U8QB5Fy3tzI/AAAAAAAAB6I/ZP0hGKgKbHk/s640/blogger-image--452879230.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My final <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">peaceful morning coffee by the pool - before the 4 boys arrive from England!</span></div>britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.com0Playa Hermosa Playa Hermosa10.576858 -85.670596tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456703962938382690.post-7764917837569956582014-07-13T21:14:00.000-06:002014-07-14T06:07:42.985-06:00War Against the Mosquito Continues ... This Time with a Certain Yellow
Fruit!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My sister-in-law recently sent me an interesting article about the most beloved of fruits, the banana. You know, stuff that we all know like, how bananas are an instant and substantial boost of energy; and that 2 pieces of this super fruit will provide you with enough energy for a 90 minute workout. </span><br>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But this piece of writing also had some other interesting facts about why we should include bananas in our daily diet. For example, did you know that bananas are essential for combating mild depression and PMS? They are also helpful in the fight against anemia and high blood pressure as well as soothing heartburn. Oh yes, and they are a useful foodstuff when suffering with morning sickness. </span></div>
<div>
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSWRKF_C57MS3j5qxeksVDa09Y103RQMB2OF540M1duudHgqOnHfA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSWRKF_C57MS3j5qxeksVDa09Y103RQMB2OF540M1duudHgqOnHfA"></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now obviously the latter is of little concern to me these days, and to be quite frank the only thing that soothes my heartburn is half a pack of peppermint Rennies. Nonetheless, what really interested me, and probably the reason why I was sent the article in the first place, is that apparently bananas are good for mosquito bites. I mean, who would have thought it? First time I've read anything in the same thread and believe me I have read a lot this past year about mosquitoes! Anyway, it's not the eating of the tropical fruit that offers up the the supposed salve to those irritating bites. No, it's the inside skin of the banana being rubbed on the infected area that many people find successful at reducing swelling and irritation.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The things is, I'm pretty good during my waking hours at NOT touching the irritating bites. But at night! In my sleep! I can't tell you how often I have woken myself up because I'm scratching at my ankles ferociously. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So last night, I thought I'd give this 'new-fangled-miracle-cure' a try. I broke my rule of eating something sweet before bed time (c'mon, who am I kidding), and much to the horror of DH, I proceeded to rub the discarded banana skin over my legs and ankles. Hmmm, a much more pleasing aroma than my usual night-time perfume - Eau de Deet! Mind you, my legs smelt ever so slightly sickly though, a bit like those banana sweets you can buy at a pick-a-mix stand.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The result? Well I'm not really sure. I mean, I didn't wake up itching or anything. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, in the name of science, and for the good of all humanity, I am willing to undertake to the experiment a few more times. If nothing else, at least I can make </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">use of the skins on our new crop of bananas when they are ready!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KAgU1aKNKtA/U8NI7vLIa2I/AAAAAAAAB54/O1uJTKVyuR0/s1600/new+bunch+of+bananas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KAgU1aKNKtA/U8NI7vLIa2I/AAAAAAAAB54/O1uJTKVyuR0/s1600/new+bunch+of+bananas.JPG" height="480" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our latest crop!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">. </span></div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
<br></div>
</div>
britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456703962938382690.post-6035647066928462822014-07-10T19:05:00.000-06:002014-07-10T19:05:12.822-06:00Gallo Pinto Recipe.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gallo Pinto, black beans and rice, is a staple here in Costa Rica. Commonly eaten with scrambled eggs and plantains for breakfast or with chicken or fish as part of a Casado, later in the day.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">YS loves it ... any time of the day!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead of buying it ready-made from the supermarket, or eating out in soda's in order to consume this national dish, I have been trying to replicate the recipe. And after several attempts, I'm almost there. Not quite authentic tasting yet, but not bad.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="285" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTnbpiYXRTD_S0iw2jr8UHts-fuXvSns4GN8isVbxitE_Hm5b_F" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just as YS likes it ... with scrambled eggs for breakfast.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<span class="ingredient" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19.5px;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;">
<span class="ingredient" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span class="ingredient" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19.5px;">
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, as requested a while back from a few readers, here is the recipe for an' almost authentic' Costa Rican Gallo Pinto.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enjoy!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
</span></div>
<div>
<span class="ingredient" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19.5px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="ingredient" style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;"><u><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">INGREDIENTS:</span></u></span></div>
<div>
<span class="ingredient" style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;"><u><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></u></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span class="ingredient" style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19.5px;">2 cups <em>cooked</em> black beans, plus 3/4 cup bean cooking liquid (can be made days in advance)</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: small; line-height: 19.5px;" /><span class="ingredient" style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19.5px;">3 cups <em>cooked</em> long-grain white rice, cooled (can be made days in advance)</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: small; line-height: 19.5px;" /><span class="ingredient" style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19.5px;">1 tbsp vegetable oil</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: small; line-height: 19.5px;" /><span class="ingredient" style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19.5px;">1/2 onion, chopped</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: small; line-height: 19.5px;" /><span class="ingredient" style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19.5px;">1 red pepper, chopped</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: small; line-height: 19.5px;" /><span class="ingredient" style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19.5px;">1/2 cup chopped celery</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: small; line-height: 19.5px;" /><span class="ingredient" style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19.5px;">2 large cloves garlic, minced</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: small; line-height: 19.5px;" /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;">salt and pepper to taste</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: small; line-height: 19.5px;" /><span class="ingredient" style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19.5px;">Chopped coriander (cilantro) for garnish (optional)</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span class="ingredient" style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19.5px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span class="ingredient" style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;"><u><b>DIRECTIONS:</b></u></span></span></div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 19.5px;">Soak beans in water overnight. Cook as packet instructions. (You could substitute canned beans and just add water in place of the reserved cooking liquid). These can be prepared days ahead and kept in fridge until needed.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 19.5px;">Cook rice as per packet instructions. Again, this can be prepared in advance and stored in the fridge.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 19.5px;">Add small amount of oil in large pan. Gently saute onion, for a couple of minutes. Add celery and red pepper and fry for a further 3 minutes. Add garlic and continue cooking for 30 seconds.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Gently pour the black beans and reserved 3/4 cup of bean cooking liquid into the pan. Stir well to combine, and try not to break up the beans. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Then, add in the rice, breaking up clumps with your fingers as best you can.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Stir the rice and bean mixture together so that all of the liquid coats the grains of rice, turning them a brownish color. Season with salt and pepper.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 19.5px;">Sprinkle with chopped fresh coriander/cilantro for serving, if you wish. Parsley will do, and I have also substituted basil when I have run out of coriander.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19.5px;">Serves 4-6 as a side dish, (although it has been known to be eaten on its own in our house!).</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456703962938382690.post-67135499174760768762014-07-10T13:07:00.001-06:002014-07-10T13:07:53.237-06:00Walter Hoy's Originals.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought I might try a fashion post today. Well, a shoe post to be precise. Not something I have ever done before, or have any great knowledge of, but hey, why not try something different?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like most gals, I love shoes. I don't <i>buy</i> as many as I would like, and it is fairly safe to say that I don't <i>own</i> as many as I would like. In fact my footwear ensemble has certainly dwindled in size these past few years - I'm not sure that I even possess 10 decent pairs nowadays. Which is not really a problem here in Costa Rica because its flip-flops all the way where we live.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, the Summer Holidays are fast approaching in the UK and as I have lived in beach apparel and the like for almost a year, I had the idea of sharing with my friends back home (and around the world of course) my current favourite summer footwear.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JZZfaXBacuM/U77edxjTT5I/AAAAAAAAB4s/ylFvkrbrc9o/s1600/RSCN3022%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JZZfaXBacuM/U77edxjTT5I/AAAAAAAAB4s/ylFvkrbrc9o/s1600/RSCN3022%255B1%255D.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salt-Water Sandals. I love 'em!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Admittedly they are not new product, having been around Stateside since the 1940's, but the Original Salt-Water Sandals are a new discovery to me, by way of my Mum (thanks Mum).</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cS5r46_pZE8/U77epcjPORI/AAAAAAAAB48/ErXegciRYiY/s1600/DSCN3035%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cS5r46_pZE8/U77epcjPORI/AAAAAAAAB48/ErXegciRYiY/s1600/DSCN3035%255B1%255D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playa Hermosa this morning.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are just so darn comfortable, so much so that I forget that I am wearing them. In fact I wore them all day yesterday running errands in Liberia (the heat from the pavement is shocking there), as well as a walk along the beach this morning and they feel just like slippers. I've worn them non-stop almost for the past couple of months and they still look like new.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PLUS! Get this. Even though they are leather, they can be worn in water!!! No more ugly Jelly shoes when you want to go for a paddle. Or when you get caught out in the frequent British rain. According to their website, <a href="http://www.sunsansandals.co.uk/shop/" target="_blank">Salt-Water</a> and Sun-San Sandals can even be put through the washing machine, although I have yet to try it!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are even available for kids ... although I doubt that they would suit ES and YS!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love my green shoes so much that I think I may even invest in another pair. Yellow or red, I just can't decide. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me know your colour of choice. Or even better, why not send me a photo of you or your kids wearing a pair. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.com1Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica10.5704722 -85.67687590000002710.539254199999998 -85.717216400000027 10.6016902 -85.636535400000028tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456703962938382690.post-57901461003359379692014-07-08T16:28:00.000-06:002014-07-08T16:28:12.923-06:00Rango the Iguana v Malcom the Mosquito.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last night as I was plagued with insomnia (again), I started contemplating how long Rango (see yesterday's post) had been playing hide and seek in our bedroom? An hour or two, possibly a day or even more? I'm not sure really, because after all he only left 1 solid present for us and no puddles (sorry for being so crude!). </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Out of interest, does anybody know how long an iguana can hold its bladder for? No me neither.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBxQTEhUTEhQVFRQVGR0WGRcYGBwaGBgYGBkYGhccHxgaHiggGBsmHhUYITEhJSkrLi4uGh8zODcsNyguLiwBCgoKDg0OGxAQGiwmICQvLC8sNCw0LCwvLDE0LCwsLCw0LDQsLCwsLC8sLCwsLCwsLCwsLCwsLCwsLCwsLCwsLP/AABEIAMkA+wMBIgACEQEDEQH/xAAcAAEAAgMBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAABQYDBAcCAQj/xABGEAACAQIDBAgDBQYEBAYDAAABAhEAAwQSIQUxQVEGBxMiMmFxgRRCkSNSYoKhM3KSscHRQ7Lh8FOTosIkY4Ojs9MVFjT/xAAaAQEAAwEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDBAUG/8QAKhEAAgIBAwMCBgMBAAAAAAAAAAECEQMSITEEQVETMiJhcbHh8AVCkfH/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/AO40pSgFKUoBSlKA8XLgUSTA/wBn+lYdn3y6SfFvI+7mAYKfMKy1CdLsUwVkUgTad1P40yyP4HOlZ+jFxvtULBxbfKXiM92M90j8IzqgHDJFRe9E1tZO0pSpIPLuAJJgVHbMx0i1bbV2Rj/y2VWnzlv0NZdtMosOHJCsMhI4ZyEB9i0+1VPoli3zYi9iVynCC5baNZZna/dI9imlQ2SlsXqlKVJApSlAKUpQClKUApSlAKUpQClKUApSlAKUpQClKUApSlAKUpQClKUBS+mtlczsG8KK1wDesZ8jwdMrDOhO7QcQCNbodjkAUrmKWVXDDm+IvMGvekFR6KOVWTpJhEKC8WNt7e66BOVWjNmHzW9xYchNUfDh7RdWZVO7DKkZM98lXuoQBMLJAO4lhGlZPaVmkd1R1GlauDxaubirP2TdmSdxOVWMc4zAes1tVqZmltm2jWLq3ZFsowYjeFgyfYa1R7O1ybrYa5AuMbTXn+VrdmWuXZ5NbS0J/EKv2OuFbbsq52VSQkxmIBIWfPdXLsNZW7iSqsFwSWu0djv+GLC6LRO+A5ZI5LHlVZF4nUNnXzctW3ZcpdVYryzAGPaa2Kx2HzKrQVkAwd4kbj5islWKCla+JxqJ4mAP3d7H0Uat7Co07YZ/2aQPvNqf4QYHuQfw1DklySk3wTVKr9y07atcuezsv+QqP0mvq2GjS5d049ox/wAxINZ+tEv6TJ+lQ1q/eXcwueTgA+zIAB/Ca3MHtNHOQylz7jaExvKnc49CY4xV4zUuCri1ybtKUqxUUpSgFKUoBSlKAUpSgFKUoBSlKAUpSgFKUoBVF6QbFCtmFtVcOXtPbjKSGzqr2AZY6AFkBJiSImrD0s2ndw+Ha7YtdtcBACQxJnyQEn9PWudv1gtcuJh9o4XswT3j9pbdAQRnAJkjnukTv3VWVGkIt7osWw9tkYHEXlhbr4h1C78ty64CyOOXNMclq9iuGdNHEv2V7tEbLm071wDwOSvdchSVnutuEcakOhHT18NFnFk3MOfDc1Z7XkeLJ+o8xuqp06ZLxtq0dM6U41rWHcoxW5BZNJk2wbjL7rbYVzzo5hU7e9cLZkW8bdnDg/tXDF0n/wAtAwcmIGaTugzPS3b4uD7Ei6q3LfZlNcwv4fELvG8zOnoKgdlf+EtsItrcIi4Vlmg+JM86mIUZYG/fAaonNLdiEW1SL5tbphYsHKTmI0YjQKdN/HjJgEiIidKX8Ub3+KQmn7PNGuolk13czqOFcl2m8sAxY6jODMiTqT5nUzU7sPa9xDCvputWwAV0J70HWPpOmulZet5NfRpbHQsPgBEW7Mg6y8IpPHuxM/l96zNhr0+C0RyFxgf/AI4/Wqzh+lNxWhwHbiVYGNN2WYEaTB4jw1ZNhbXF8EqwganN4/WNwXzHpwk3i8cuDOSnE92LwEhwbZALQ0bhvIYEqwjfB04xVSv9OLVrFJZZWIclTlWcmsLuJLGQQQB6cJ89OOmCFhh7R0BzvcGuVU1ZlnjpC82I4eKs9X+z7l7FHHtbXIhOQFoXPEADQkqqnfG+ORqjS1Ui0bq2dYsp3iK18TYVpVhI3+hG4g7wRwI1FY0v3Scw7JfTNc/XuV8m5BGZdd5yR/3tVdidzZs41rOl0lrf/E+ZB+Pmv4+HHSWqXBqAZLh+dvbIP52zWGxhLltQq37ypOgBtELPATZ0HIcNwraOVdzN4/BZqVC2cNdOoxN0+UWv/pr7nvgStwN5XEBnylMuX1g+lX9RFdDJmlaGD2kGIV17NzwJlW/db5vQgHyFb9XTspwKUpQClKUApSlAKUqA6T9K7OCyi6e82oG7SYkkAn9PpImG65JSvgn6VUcH1iYJ4zOVnjlYrPrEj1IjzqxYLati9+yu23MTCsCY5xM0Uk+A4tcm5SlKkggulu13sWgLQHa3A2UncoUSzecSABzIqJ6UdD7N7Cm0NLq95bp8Rux4mPzSd88PQVE9MbzPiZDA5MyhZHgMo456sgn8p4ivGG6YMlsW8SGMCBdCk5hwzKNQ3OPXTdXNPJu0dGPG6UkU3C7TL27di4uS5bbs2mN05Sv++QPKtZsIhGW2twsoMhRnzQSMxXeo3cqz9Jns37y3LObNoGcCC7DQEiN/MwKnFXFYSwq/Bs6lQ/aWT2iuSPEQozA68Rpw0rGnXwnRavcrGwz/AOIt2oItuzMwIIByoTpumOfM+VS1vEvmDLltpqVSOEmCQomNDqeWlQ127ijczCxdQk6ZkdNTIEE5YOpE+ZG4mvdvpSRmtvZQN4SYnUd2CWkiIjfwqZRbC2LDYw/axev3Q2hUog+USYJPnB1FeLrOuYqFM8csNHARuIEbvL3qv29pMddeG4kTHH/Ws7bSJUkkyNf7+vvxAqmll7R6t4oM2ViQpYTrAjl9YHv6V7x22AqhsiARCqRJPM67kkcN8VHYi4qnOwzFhK2zxP3m/DyHzem/Xs4Q3bme8xgS7nki74/EdFHmwq6iu5m2b2z9m3cQ9uws9tijncn5LQ1UnlIBuf8ALrt2zMHbs2VtW1yraGTKfECOfMmZnjM1VuqDCo638W37e42WOCWtCoX8JiPRF5V0DEYNHMsuo3MJDD8wgge9dCx3E5pTqRojCrImQWHAkT6wdax9nDFNdwZZ478wB4xAPPWt1tnLoVZlI4gyT65wZ9d9YbuBu8LqmNRntg6/lK09PYj1Dzh3G47jXq5bA04H/YrUsO5XN3DOhWCMrAwwmTqCCK9tccCGSRwKsCR/FlrOmi9pmyLXEaMPoa+ZtfX9DxqOGLc3Bmz27SCZI8Z82EhVGu8iTHDfJ3xKhv8AZqXxaIXhmO/YDAggGeB3GsNjGPa0fM9v72909eNxfPxDjm1I3n5+X61rW0kGluL2FJrck7dwMAykEESCDIIO4g8a9VBoWsktbXMpMtbBAkneyToG4kaA+R1MpgsYl1cyGRuOhBU8QynVWE7jrW8ZJmLjRsUpSrEClKUArnHW5sm5dVXAkIvcAmSdTcG+C2UKw03I+4xPR6wY7CLdQ23Gjct4I1BB4EEAg8xVZK1RaLp2cM6vuiVvHpiF7R7V20UKuO8pW4H0KGJANsnQjfU1c6EbUw09hct3lGoUNlJI45LgyA+eY1s7HB2ZtSHgWcUexcgQFug5rbeSnPIHDtGHyV1eqKMZLc0lNp7cHHD05x+EYLi7NxPNhIP8fj9FcVZ9ldZFq4BmNoHzZrbfwsrIP+ZV4xGHV1KOqup3qwBB9jVH2/1YYO4Ge1nsMATFsyhMcUYGB+7FTokuGV1RfKInaF5sYr3LDyUxDratgAscwhgSCQQTmbPJUBFHAxoYPtSbmcBezOQmJDNoZXhlhgZ8x51m6P2AimxnW29gOJ1NxrQh3L7stn7UCF1LcVImsmKxORS94Q7EtlB0k+FAOAVcq/lFcWR3udUE06ITpNdCIF+cd4kee4evGpPYfSothvh7sm2RCsph1HACdCB6ggc+FR2nde+xjnLNw9KwYOzeUwEJHigQYBPGd2+rwuK2LSipbMuW3OkgCCzh0Zmy5QxgwI5AmW/QfpVENsFSJBYkj88ZiJ9Ksd7AXlRiStsS1t41ZlW2Ljd8xlXUAgDnqahsTfsql1ezV2cfZ3PlTvFC6jeXi1CncASddxtHcq9lsbKWltYdLjhnL6ADhy9zWHHWkseLvXjqLRgra87nBn/DuHGToPWKxbWbdm2Z7dc1yTvRrkRpwcKqgciWO+DXvojsK7i7twWwrtbUPDNlklhuMEHiNec60jFshy2tkP28NmYksZJJ4mtm+xS0qHx3iLj/AIbf+EvvJufmt8qkMTs4W8S6Xg2W2hYxB1GUMubhJOWROpHqMOHxFl8z3luXb11jFq1pK/d8JI14LOgGoqRZ0Tqox9pFvK7hXbLlWd6Jpoo1JltRyK+dWHbXT3C4eQzSw4TH1AllPqorkePu4wZrWT4RNJtqCpMgEZjOd5BHiY1qbExTYW6t5VRiukXFDqdeR1X1Ug/yos1fCdEf43NlXqJbc/v5pHTLfTfG4r/+LBXGU/OwCL6h3OVqyY3Zm2ntl+2sK/8Aw1dwcv74hc3lu863dg9Y+FvQlybDmB3oNueQcbh+8FqT6dbU7DB3HB1YED0j+phfzVts1d2cM4ThLTKNHKuiu2sZcxq2WxDKC5Nwli69wd7eSJISJ3V2i8N1UPqi6MBbRxl0S90FUB3C3MMSOJYg+3rVya0bLBSSbRMIx3qeCMeX3T7HWJjS6shyWqkZ10NaNrBoLptuDlua2zmYZGA7yCD3d2cR+PkKkimpHMVhxVkOkGQRxG9SNVYeYOtQtg9zFavlgFcEXABKkRrpMcGE8RIraMARxr5hbgvKVuAdohhgJEHgymZCsNRr5bwa+Ps4rrbc/uucyn8x7wPnJA5GrOHdFdXZnjjWvewnfzoSlyIzDiBuDDc436HdJgis7Yhcyoe65+U6T6Hcw9KzYjfpvqlNFrsx4fakd2+Mh++Nbbe+9D5NprALVJA1HleNYEwsGbbNbPIar/AZHuIPnV1k8lHDwTFK0bWNI/agD8a+H3B1X6kedbs1ommVao+0pSpIKZ1m7DF/DlwO8AB56ElD7FmX/wBQ8q3+r/bvxeDR2M3bf2V3nnSNfzKVb81WDEWQ6sjahgQfQ6VyzojiDgdrXMM+iYiV8u0WShA4A94D1Ws+JfU0W8a8HV6+EToa+1jv3Qilm0CiT6CtDM510j2b8NeDNcV7eUkSCLqpIhGYeNCQBrvCnQxNUrE41b91muswtJOYqMxHdJVPJm5nTWas9yzd2pjGtqStpDN1x8o3Ki82gQOHiJ5G+4nothmw4w4tqqKIQgd5Z3md5k6mZzSZmuVYtVyW3g6/V0Upb+TjW3Nn/CvctoZKIrQNzO0lZngTPs1bKlEw1wsylrpW3cOeGUqjmFH3SHieBnfIiV2h1f3RD2hnNzVRnBbVZjvgRCj70VBdIei74NrIusC1x7cgd7R3YMMx490TAHi31XRLuaOWKlTbMlxcVj7hXCpcKGVJHhOYIrFiQAuYIpIJHlV1wnVdaOGtrdY/EJmbMh7hJMqjAg5kB5QdW5xXQbFlUUKihVUQFUAADkAN1ZK6I40jmnmctlsj85dK+jd/CZWxLqbl1nMA5iQpEvm4SW5Tv3VPYK42AunEI5toLCW2XKA1y5lTOgDfs2DqSSRpDCJIqX6W2/i9u4axvW3kzcoSbz+xELVs6d7Bwly01+/aBZNAwJU94hSTlIzQNdZ3VRw7p8E6+L7nHduY65cVQ2jXftSomEQyUGsks0s5Y6tmSSYFXbq76SYSzZW2LNq3eURduMwts+pyw1zxGIJBYKJ05Da6uNhJilxGLvpPbPkQcAi7wOanurB0+zrL0o6t8Clq5dTtLbR3QHlQecMCSN5ifpUJOMbJdSegr/TPEG9ee6quQ2gMBgFUsFAZJWIht/zGq52OZZBBjeOVR9/ZbIYDz+le7fbxOcmNIb/Wa5NMZO0+T6jBm6rpsSxvFaX78z5i7R3poRx4fSstraTvZSy7uULzlzEhVXQ5FYwoJ+XQfZjnJ8JtR1BLWbLAb5toPqVg1q4TFW1cm6CeICNlyk66SCOP61pCLSPN6vOskkpRaXL/ABx/p+ldjPaNi0bEdlkUJHBQAAPKIiPKtq9aDKVYSCIIrk3Qrp1h8NbNku2TMWGdfDm8QDJOYTJ8I1JrouzukmGvCUur9Rp6kEgehM11xyJrfk8XJDTJ1x2PocpcFtzMjuMfnA1IP4wPqNRxjcZdf0NZMTh1uLlYSDB8wRqCCNxG8EVrIlxd47QDSQQGI81MCfQ+w3UcSFI1MRZYEPbgXE0E+F14o3Icj8p11EgyeCxS3EDrMHgd4IMMpHAgggjmK1UuArmG4n0/Q7vSvFr7O9p4b36XAND7qpB80XnUQdbEyXckb1lWGVlDDkQCPoa1xgFHgLL6GR9GkD2itula0Zkc9i8plezccjKH694E/SsNy8w1a1cWOIAf/ISf0qXpVXBFtTIZtoWx4mCeTgofo0Go1nxgMYZZs/JmA3cYza5ZkDhERpFWulFGg5WKUpViormXW5s1kNvGWtHtkNP4kIIPnoB7Ia6bUZ0j2eL+HuWyJkEgcZA3DzIke9VmrRaLpm7hMQLltLi+F1Dj0YAj+dVzrBxrJYW2mr3GAA+8ZAUeudk9ga1uq7aWfCnDuftMIxtHzTXsz6R3fy1nxSdvtS2u9MMnaHlniEH/ALub1t1Encdu5KVS+hLdGdirhMOtpdW8Tt9+4fE39ByAAqTeYMb409eFeqVcoauGw+iZhBSQNdw3CY3mI96oPW/bEWH+66n2Df610iuedcazhx+43+e1/eqZPb++S+P3I6EDXm7cCqWYwFBJPIDU1g2Vfz2bT/ftq38Sg/1qF6f7U+Hwdxge8RA/p7Fiq/mqzdKyqVuirdXinEbSxmLYeD7NfJnaWj0yfRqluty5cGClAcoaXIBMCCBMbgc288hzr51PYHs9nh41vXHc89D2Y/S3PvVk6T2c+FvLwKwfSRP6VSvgLt/GaHV3hmt7OwysuVspYg7+8zMD7hga0+sHHZbYtiNRmM8SQyqP85n8I010y9WOON3Z1nN4rc2j+Qwv/TlqG6yLg7ZFnXIpjyLXI/kay6mTWFtHT0MFPqoxl5+25zfGZs2qjXXQyP5A/pWTBqzqV7qgGZ3n+nKvu0PEPT+9ZdmHeOJIid3EknyABJ8ga86L2VH3WSlh1SeyIXa2DyN4i07vXjpu4j6nlUdirIAke/8Aepa7eDu10nuL3FneRrr66yfNzUbjGMGBoefLhXTb2R84oqSeV/24XhEh0Rde3tZ0W4vaKrKwBVkchGBB8nJHmBXVtsdVdhjnwl18M/ASXT9SGHs3tXE9nYgo4I3yCPJgZB89QNONfp3o/tMYnD2rwEdooYjfBIB38ta6cKTtM83rrWmS+hyVtubS2RdFu/luWzqJJKOv4XgFW56TzB0rqXRfpFbx1rtbQZYOVlYbmiYncw14e8VzDrD6Q3MZiPhLEumYKqgTmYaAjzJnXlG7WendDdjnCYO1YYgsoJYjdmZix1O+M0T5cK0hztwcU+E3ybeMwzCWtQdZKHc3Mg/K36Hyma18Y2e0SviXUA6EOhDAEcNVHsal61cVhc3eQ5XHHgw5MOI5HePqDZx7oombCNIBG4ifrXqsGCslLaoTOUAfSs9WKilKUApSlAKUpQClKUByi5iPgNtqfDaxDdi/Lv5ezPsWTXlmq49DF7Q4nEn/ABrpC/uJOX6FmHtVF607Ctj7MOx3O678otwTECZICjfvNdO6OYQ2sNaRhDBZYcnbvP8AqTWUOa8GsvamSVKUrUyFc/64iBhlPOV+pQ/9v6V0CuT9cO0xda1hEGZ88wN/KPMliABzQ+VUycF8fuLx0AxBfZ2FZgQeyC68cvdB9CFn3rn3XNtVjeXDLJAVWIG8sSxj3lNPIV1Ho/g2s4axaeM1u2qtG6QoBrk/Wlhfhtp2cVq63Cl0qTuayUUqNNAQqHjqWpNfCTD3HVujezvh8LYscbdtVJ5sB3j7mTWztJZs3BzRh/0mtfo9tdMXh7eItyFuCcp3qw0ZTHEEEVvXllSOYP8AKrFGUjqk0sYlPu4p/wDKn9q0esFT2uuoLExw0t2o/m31NbvVm4FzHW+Vy3c9rtoEf5TWv1lAi4rRKwu7UgntJMcRCLu10+nH1O+D/D0f49pdXG/n9jne0bSyIEemn8q8PY7Oz3Z7TEyiCTpaUw7eWZhkB+6H4Gti4UuN3ny21Ga4w3qsjQD753KOZ5AkYMNju2xDXSAihcqJwtooyoo9AK5cSajqZ9B1uSOVw6eFW95Pwua/fl5Mt3ApbtiAJB1aNSeNQe0HBzekVL7WxwICIZM8Kr2LtmCTw4cv9atBO7Y6iUVHRBbI1LR7y+tdUw3S02NmJatkm4xdPxCWMII36MG8gQN5BHL8DhzcdVBA11Y7lUasx8gNfPdvNdg6rti2r7HFESthuzsofl0DG4ebnNPqSeUdUE29jwuqktFPzZM9XPQ34VfiMQJxNwbj/hKeH7x4n2HGbxSldSVHlttu2KUpUkClKUApSlAKUpQClKUArS2zjxYsvdMd0aTuLHRQfIkit2uf9bmObsrWGt6vecAKN5J7qD3LH3Wok6RMVbo0egGzPjLz469LKrwk/MymVJ9Jz+bN+GunVXOr3Bi1gLKCDGaSOJztJqx1EFSJm7YpSlWKmptbHrYs3Lz+G2pY+cbh7mB71zfq12O2KxD7Rv6gMezni/FvRZP5mP3a3usbGNisRZ2XYOrsHvEfKo1APoJePJedXzZ2CSzaS1bEIihVHkP5njNUq39C/EfqbNVbrC6MfHYYhP29qWtnmeKHyaB6EA1aaVdqyqdbnJOpfbRV7uDeRm+0QHQhho6wdxiDH4TXV8RcCqzHQKCT6ASa5D1kbGfA4tMfhu6rvmMbkvDUzHyvBJHHvjjVu2/0oW5ssYmyA3aZVNuRmJLBWtgfMZ0I4rmjhVE6VF5K3a7kZ1eXCNo41eHZWQf3raBf+5qlesfCHslvDcpCt5SSEPpLEfmFafVdsPEWjiMRikZLt9hCtGaAWLHTdJYfw1dtoYYXbT22AIdSpDCQZEajiKo8erFoZpjzelmWSPaj897ftErmHCJ5Ea7/AEMfxGtfAWAADAY75I8uVTu1MMRfe2ohS7IFPiTPmRVPOCwE7/WoDZ+KAIkHeR9Z/vXnwv068H1OF411MpS/tFNfYy3QBLcQKi8Q3dM8f51s4l8xMagV5tOLcXW1b/DHIjQvHGDoJ+YfhrRK2Y9VmSX7uYrydiotf4twjtPwgbrfqOP4tPl17p1W4UW8AkeK4TcPv3VjyyoPed26uA4QF3zGSd/M+g86/SnRXZZw+HtW28Soqt5uPGfQnX8xrqw+48XqlpxK+W7/AM/6TNKUroPOFKUoBSlKAUpSgFKUoBSlKAVz/DqMZtrOdbeEt5h+83dt+3jceoqc6fbe+Dwpuay7C2I5kMTrwMKRPCaiuq60zW8Ri7iZPiLkpy7JF7sclBZgJ4CqPeSRdKotk/0Qt5cMLZ327l23/DdcD9IPvU1VO6tdsjE28UdZGKunX7tw50/Qx7VP7W2wliMy3CN5KIWCCYljuA/1qyaqxOLjJxZIE8Kj9vbTXDWHvN8o0B4ngP8AfCa3bd1coYEZSJnhB41zHpZj/wD8ltC1s6032SNN1gd4XVtfQRPMrUSdLYiKtkr1YbIYrc2hek3cSSVJ3i3Mz5ZiJ9AKvmtebaqihQAqqAABuAGgFO1HDWpSpEN2z1mr5M1C9IcU6m32X7VG7QWywUX1AZXQEmCwDZoPEL7V7pP1hJh7RAs3VxDDuq6gRwLanWOA40boJNli6Wvh/hrqYph2bLukZp3qVn5gQCDuESYArjfRLaFvD4qwb+Y4UXGYOQVUvAUProwQ5SRwkHfFb+xNi4jbF/tbpZcODLOSTO7upOhfSJGi/RT1HbXRexewnwuQIiD7Mgfs2A0I5+fME1TeW5ptHYn1MiRqDX01yvonjNrYVGwwwbXVU/ZvcuBFRdQV11dZGg0j03buNO3bgZYwyBxl0K90HkTJn61bUU0/MydLcCmIX43CashUsCrKLo0yOpIhtwhhoRpOlc2ulbWIupICrdYr+7m0j2Arrmzuj1wqzYjIL2i2zbZilpEEW0UECV0zEHefQVyPaVtrWJdbqw0AMu/vBQG4aiUMHzrlz4+Wlyev/G9VJZYpvi0r8P8AJp3CrOWJhfE0bzruHmSQPqeFQ+NxBdid3AAbgBoAPIDSt/aLISMkAHSBG/SNePGtbCYJ7rhQCSSFAAksdwAHE1SG0To6i59Q0+3FcfUuvVRsRbuIW44lLUP6vmhPowB+ld1qrdCuj3wmHRWA7QntHjgxAhZ45Qq+pBNWTPXXjjpieP1WX1Mm3C2X78+TLSsWagb1rQ5jLSaxzX0CgPU19mvISvoFAfaUpQClKUApUXtfpDhsNHxF+3bnSGbX6b6qPSLrLsrbPw/ebXViAIESBBJDQZ1GlVckiyi3wZOs3H9oLeAtgs991UwCcokEzG6AQ0eandV3TDolsWwoVAuUKNAFiIgeVc/6B7IxFy82OxPaK8uLVpj3VS5BJO9pksAJ8zwq+myTq7afpSN8sSrhENsXo9bw1u8mGLBrpLG4xBIYiFOgAgco9agOkfRu/wDCBrNt2xMHtPtmLNKkMFBbKV19SPM1fbd1DorKfIEVlo4oa23bOPjo/tfFBbVzNYtZZGa5I8gyhs0+39hdeh/Q0YJbn2pd7pUs2UAyBqAfuySfcVa6+MwG+iikHNvYxph1HCfWvbEAVjN6fCCa+G2x3kVYqa+NspdUpcRXQ/KwBH0NaWA2HhrLFrVi0jH5gozfXeK33UjfXnNQmzIGjdX0vWLNTNQgyZq9AGvKWifKtlFigMGvKuR9bWANvEW74Hi0P81/UP8ASuy1VOsbYgxGFZvmtgt+UakjzET6Zh81UyRtGmKeiSZwy3bfEXFS2hLOQo3cf7byeFXXC7Nv7Je3iTluqRkeBOSeGY668Ggco+9YOqe1h7lhwLaLiLRy3DHeKkkoZ5GCI3StXa5g0cG2VV1YQwIlSDvBnfWePEkrR1dV1csst0a+y9rJiLa3bRDK31B4gjgakFbnXL9qYa7sW/2tktcwdxoZTrlJOik8/utx3HXf0DYO17WLQPZYHmCdR7VqpdnycbjW64JGa+gTXsWfOvQtD1qxU+QOdedOE1lCDlXqgMIB869gHnWjtPbuGw5AxGIs2idwuXFUkehMxW5hcSlxA9t1dGEqykMpHMEaGgMopSlAKUpQFM6G7KbLcu3EU37ly4tx3EkKrsoRQdywJPMsSajOhfRjDXlu3Lli13bzLlNtYTIR3VEQomTpzrooFeLVhVzFVAzHM0CJaAJPMwBr5VGkmz2qwIFcx6xNjbRvX27K0b2HMFQtxFK90AgqxBmQTInf7Dp9KicVJUzbp+olgnrjV/NWcAtdBse5AGCca6lntADz8cmuibG22mzLAw+PxGe6CSAM1wohjKpaNeJ8pjWJq91DbZ6K4TFMHxFhbjARm1BjgCVIketUjj0e06cvXS6hr1+F42+9m3sradvE2lu4dw9ttzCeBgiDBBHnW2LY9TzNYsBgrdlBbtIqIu5VEAVsVqcDq9hSlKECvJQchXqlAeOyHIV6CgcK+0oBSlKAV5dAQQRIIgjmDXqlAczx2xb2zr9y9g5ZbxGZbhGVxIyqH0ysGZhqZOZYzEEC69Gdr28TazJowJV0PiRhoVP99xGoqRxeFW4hRxKmOJGoIIII1BBAII3EVSdu9Erlt+3wLXEvEyWBEE96Qy6AgyNYbUbtZrPePHBe1LnkumNwaXUZLih0YZWUiQQd4IO8VzXavRS/s1zi8DmuWV7z2ZOcLxKneYHqYmcwkVIYDrDayRb2jZa28A50EgyAe8kyCNxyltZ3VcNmbdw9+z29q6pta9490DLoZzREVPwzQ+KJR9jdbOHZwt0OEP8AiZRCsI0OViG37wB6VZG6e4DLm+IUjyB/qIrew+PwWIORHw90zIUFGM8SBz86+/8A6vg87P8ADWczzmORZObfw40SlXIenwV/H9ZmFTw5idJ0kCTA8MjU8yKhm2rtbGO7YLNatZdO1tqpJJ+QkGNPMjzJroOzti4ewMtmzbtjfCqBrz9a36aX3YtLhFD2P0Kur37twreYS7oR2jN533Duw8hlHlVj6O7NuYftbbNnQtnRjGbvDvhsoAJkTMCc3E61M0q1FW7FKUqSBSlKAUpSgFKUoBSlKAUpSgFKUoBSlKAUpSgFKUoBSlKAUpSgNTFbNs3P2ltGJjUqJ0II13gggH2qsbZ6Cpdui6pWRwdc0iBo0zngiQdCJI1FXKlQ4p8kptFB230cNq211rFi6EUsTaXsbyBROZGGmZYn2q57Lvh7SMM0MARm8RBEifrWbF+Bv3T/ACrLRKg2KUpUkClKUApSlAKUpQH/2Q==" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malcom the Miserly Mosquito</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, for the first time in about 3 nights, my arch-enemies, the mosquitoes, returned, feasting on my legs and ankles with a vengeance. So I got to thinking that perhaps Rango had actually been protecting me all along. Kind of like a fairy godmother ... admittedly in an uniquely strange and unconventional disguise, but who am I to say what a fairy godmother should be wearing these days? But I digress. Instead of gratifying me with a pretty frock, a pumpkin carriage and ultimately a handsome prince, (which would have been very nice don't get me wrong), maybe Rango was in reality charged with preserving my (delicate!) limbs by overindulging on the pesky flying bugs that I 'love' so much. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who knows. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I feel really bad that we have banished Rango to the garden now, because as I am itching like CRAZEEEEEE!!</span></div>
</div>
britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456703962938382690.post-87542714306340460492014-07-07T21:53:00.000-06:002014-07-07T21:53:04.690-06:00A Scaly Squatter.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back in the UK, I used to do my housework on a Saturday morning, which really bugged me. What with working all week though, it was the only realistic slot to get the chores completed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, the hateful job has been allocated to Monday mornings. I mean, surely those are the most horrid hours of the week, so why not combine with the vile task of cleaning?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So today, when I began the drudgery, imagine my surprise when I found a poo on our bedroom floor! Yes, a poo! How can that be, we have no pets! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Floors swept and mopped, bathrooms cleaned and every conceivable surface dusted, but no sign of any living creature in the house. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Odd. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a few hours, ES called to me, "Mum, there is an iguana in your bedroom". Hmm, yeah right I thought and went off to have a look. Nothing. Nada. Nichts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, shortly afterwards, I spotted a little creature hiding behind the curtains, trembling. Yes, ES was right, it was an iguana. Much as I love them, I screamed and jumped on the bed, as if it were a rat. Iguanas in the garden are one thing, but in your bedroom, well that's a bit too much for me! Naturally DH was summoned to rescue me/the iguana much to his annoyance.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="400" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQFSaN1HGKFoLcQtMptGGkW2tfEPHKFTYILIrE-e1pYhdSqnkA7" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="299" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making a bid for freedom!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be honest, the iguana looked scared s***less, bless. With DH gently coaxing it out of our bedroom with a T-shirt, it scampered along our tiled hallway as fast as it could. Not being able to accommodate the slight angle to exit out of the doorway, it went skidding under the kitchen table and ended slumped by the bin. The poor thing must have detected DH approaching, so it managed a U-turn and went scurrying out of the door, onto the patio and then on towards the garden and freedom ... on two legs!!!</span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It looked so funny: forearms waving excitedly as it ran as fast as it could on its hind legs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A bit like Rango. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We did laugh.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456703962938382690.post-28660250637065285032014-07-07T08:38:00.002-06:002014-07-07T08:38:48.718-06:00My Final Footie Post ... Promise!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, what can I say?</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MaWg0uIaBjA/U7qvoLImoBI/AAAAAAAAB3U/Q8t_efBsTx0/s1600/DSCN3003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MaWg0uIaBjA/U7qvoLImoBI/AAAAAAAAB3U/Q8t_efBsTx0/s1600/DSCN3003.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eliminated on penalties.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Netherlands put an end to Costa Rica's dreams of making it to the semi-finals of the World Cup.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But didn't the team that only gets £2million finance a year (as opposed to the huge amounts other teams receive) do well?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Juegan con el corazón!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rQ0IMDGjg9A/U7qv4KELvWI/AAAAAAAAB3k/rG_2poUgEpo/s1600/DSCN3017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rQ0IMDGjg9A/U7qv4KELvWI/AAAAAAAAB3k/rG_2poUgEpo/s1600/DSCN3017.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pain of defeat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456703962938382690.post-13070992933165383822014-06-29T19:01:00.000-06:002014-06-29T19:01:24.280-06:00La Sele make World Cup History.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vDZTearozqA/U7CyEYl9Y4I/AAAAAAAAB1Q/eBAL1cDhLBo/s1600/DSCN2951%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vDZTearozqA/U7CyEYl9Y4I/AAAAAAAAB1Q/eBAL1cDhLBo/s1600/DSCN2951%5B1%5D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Casita del Mariscos,</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wow! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That was tense!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Costa Rica make it through to the Quarter Finals for the first time ever!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On penalties!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We watched from a local beach-</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">bar, La Casita del Mariscos, with a few other Gringos and some very excitable Tico's.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DdJZiTdEAAk/U7CxlH-WKZI/AAAAAAAAB1I/ZFI2i5LwyeY/s1600/RSCN2955%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DdJZiTdEAAk/U7CxlH-WKZI/AAAAAAAAB1I/ZFI2i5LwyeY/s1600/RSCN2955%5B1%5D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Y2jhEmVO1o/U7CyXMttxRI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/9excEtZr3-M/s1600/DSCN2959%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Y2jhEmVO1o/U7CyXMttxRI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/9excEtZr3-M/s1600/DSCN2959%5B1%5D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bar goes crazy when Brian Ruiz scores.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The atmosphere was great all the way up to the 90th minute when Greece scored to equalize.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qGyw6BertAM/U7CyZqaA2XI/AAAAAAAAB1g/uYJgYvVdFZU/s1600/DSCN2960%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qGyw6BertAM/U7CyZqaA2XI/AAAAAAAAB1g/uYJgYvVdFZU/s1600/DSCN2960%5B1%5D.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A young La Sele supporter when Greece scored in the 90th minute.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then the mood changed from 'party-party' to sombre and glum.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LgwgFPqNocY/U7Cy3HylGGI/AAAAAAAAB14/t7ugVn4fTeQ/s1600/DSCN2961%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LgwgFPqNocY/U7Cy3HylGGI/AAAAAAAAB14/t7ugVn4fTeQ/s1600/DSCN2961%5B1%5D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So upset as Greece takes it to extra time</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even through extra time, the crowd in the bar were acting like La Sele had already lost.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mww9xw0q8XY/U7CznQ08LvI/AAAAAAAAB2k/oIO9Q2bVclg/s1600/DSCN2962%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mww9xw0q8XY/U7CznQ08LvI/AAAAAAAAB2k/oIO9Q2bVclg/s1600/DSCN2962%5B1%5D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A downhearted Renee as the match goes into penalties.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But then came the penalties. And the bar went wild.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fantastic day to be by the beach, sipping a daiquiri, in Costa Rica</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LlDi0aGVT7Y/U7CznOYRy6I/AAAAAAAAB2g/ItXt2BNnH1E/s1600/DSCN2965%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LlDi0aGVT7Y/U7CznOYRy6I/AAAAAAAAB2g/ItXt2BNnH1E/s1600/DSCN2965%5B1%5D.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Greece lose on penalties.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vamos La Sele!!!!!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.com0Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica10.5704722 -85.67687590000002710.539254199999998 -85.717216400000027 10.6016902 -85.636535400000028tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456703962938382690.post-58704153519835878782014-06-21T13:15:00.002-06:002014-06-21T13:15:56.967-06:00World Cup Sweepstakes.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who is is going to win in our family sweepstakes?</span><div>
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRSmp_m9XRPHhg1UX_ggC3nKq9KpiwukfHJK6vu_UxrOygSdXCD" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRSmp_m9XRPHhg1UX_ggC3nKq9KpiwukfHJK6vu_UxrOygSdXCD" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$5 each to play and winner takes all.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DH .......... Brasil</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me .......... France</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ES .......... Germany</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">YS .......... Italy</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But if none of our chosen teams are victorious, its Imperial and Fanta Naranja at our local bar, </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aquasportcr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Aquasport</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Funny how the English side of the family has chosen European teams, whilst the South American has gone for a Latino team - just saying :)).</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456703962938382690.post-80797771923781555122014-06-21T11:55:00.001-06:002014-06-21T11:55:13.717-06:00Sunbathing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you know that we have been here ten months now?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I have yet to do any sunbathing!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, why not today? I thought.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I managed about five minutes of basking.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's just too darn hot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although I'm honestly not complaining.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After all, it could be worse;</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Endless days of grey and raining.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRHww9rbos1nXS7oW2YbcP2If6s6zK1mjIyZSllHdk8FJc_1ymPJA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRHww9rbos1nXS7oW2YbcP2If6s6zK1mjIyZSllHdk8FJc_1ymPJA" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456703962938382690.post-60875630267592037702014-06-20T20:13:00.000-06:002014-06-20T20:13:21.130-06:00La Sele make it to the Knockout Stages.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">The country that I have called home for the past 10 months have made it through to the final 16 in the Fifa World Cup.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Costa Rica have shocked the world and the team who were seen as the 'whipping boys' are through to the knockout stages for the first time since 1990.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="424" src="http://www.ticotimes.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/La-Sele-ItalyWorldCupCelebration-7-1000x662.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8f6; color: #3f3b34; font-family: Geogrotesk, sans-serif; line-height: 20.15999984741211px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Costa Rica fans celebrate at the Fuente de la Hispanidad in San Jose</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While the match was being played, the streets where I live were deserted. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But as soon as Brian Ruiz scored, you could hear cheering from all directions. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When Italy was finally defeated, I think the whole country roared in unison. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Car horns were honked, buses blasted, motorbikes tooted. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Supermarkets played their music even louder than usual and children everywhere went wild.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The party will doubtless continue through the night, spilling over to the weekend if not for longer.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So even though this brilliant win by La Sele puts an end to England's World Cup dreams, it is great to be a part of the underdog's celebrations.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Go La Sele!!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<img height="456" src="http://www.ticotimes.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/140620worldcupitalycr01-1000x714.jpg" width="640" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo: El Grupo de la Muerte!" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/t1.0-9/p526x296/10480189_739189009437758_7273739877098610383_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrations at our local.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.ticotimes.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/140620costaricaitaly2-1000x666.jpg" /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456703962938382690.post-45352037455567238782014-06-17T12:28:00.000-06:002014-06-17T12:28:13.330-06:00Our pool.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the past month and especially the past fortnight, our internet has been intermittent to say the least. A different Tigo technician has visited us everyday for the past week, each claiming that the problem has been solved, but within a few hours we are without internet and TV again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So annoying.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But at least our pool is back in action and has been for the past week. Yippee!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We emptied it so that it could be re-tiled with small mosaic-type tiles. Even better, Jose and his team completed the job under the allotted time frame! Amazing how a monetary bonus can work as an incentive. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NP56_CqdD-4/U5o8l8L_7zI/AAAAAAAABwk/LYR2rwF7CpQ/s1600/DSCN1766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NP56_CqdD-4/U5o8l8L_7zI/AAAAAAAABwk/LYR2rwF7CpQ/s1600/DSCN1766.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All the chipped tiles around the edges of the pool, as well as the surrounding patio area have been replaced. No more horrid concrete underfoot. The flooring is no longer a mish-mash of grey and terracotta, but rather a creamy selection of pebbles and stone tiles, and stays remarkably cool. No more burning tootsies!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Five lorry loads of water were needed to refill; that's 60,000 litres of water! It took the poor guy from 8am to 8pm as only one water lorry was operational that day! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QtVipHp7NpI/U5o-3wwWdyI/AAAAAAAABxA/uEkGeZtKifs/s1600/DSCN2853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QtVipHp7NpI/U5o-3wwWdyI/AAAAAAAABxA/uEkGeZtKifs/s1600/DSCN2853.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The one and only lorry.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qD1PxKrUhlE/U5o81PvhXxI/AAAAAAAABw4/jY_X4fID0Ec/s1600/DSCN2855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qD1PxKrUhlE/U5o81PvhXxI/AAAAAAAABw4/jY_X4fID0Ec/s1600/DSCN2855.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fill her up!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, there was a hiccup, as there always is. We noticed a few days after its being refilled, the pool started to lose water - rapidly! Where the hell was it going and how? The builders only re-tiled, there had been no excavation work. We searched for evidence of water around the garden, outside on the roads, in the pipes, but nothing. After 5 days and with a loss of about 10,000 litres of water or so, we got the builders back in to see if they could solve the problem, which thankfully they did AND at no extra cost to us. A miracle!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have I mentioned that we also had a 'rancho' built, to give us some much needed shade around the pool? Oh yes, and the outside shower has had a make-over too, with some left over black pebbles from La Casita (to the left of the photo below).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rIIB35LADV8/U5o8zlZIDyI/AAAAAAAABws/t4QneNQLRQU/s1600/DSCN2859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rIIB35LADV8/U5o8zlZIDyI/AAAAAAAABws/t4QneNQLRQU/s1600/DSCN2859.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Really pleased with the end result, what do you think?</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.com6Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica10.5704722 -85.67687590000002710.539254199999998 -85.717216400000027 10.6016902 -85.636535400000028tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456703962938382690.post-18524016685849114162014-06-16T17:03:00.000-06:002014-06-16T17:03:19.170-06:00Dia del Arbol at Playa Hermosa.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On Saturday morning <a href="http://asociaci%C3%B3n%20de%20vecinos%20y%20empresarios%20%20de%20playa%20hermosa/" target="_blank">The Playa Hermosa Association</a> celebrated their annual Dia del Arbol, planting trees and shrubs at the beach.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-spyEZcvUwdQ/U59Tpw9Im7I/AAAAAAAABzM/QtQkRZYDd3s/s1600/the+lorry+load+of+trees.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-spyEZcvUwdQ/U59Tpw9Im7I/AAAAAAAABzM/QtQkRZYDd3s/s1600/the+lorry+load+of+trees.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The truck arrives with the trees and plants for the beach.<span style="text-align: left;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Armed with shovels and a pickaxe, DH, YS and I decided to don our 'community-spirit hats' and went along to join in the fun and do some digging. Well to be honest, DH did most of the work, while YS and I watched him!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KH9bBqh7Puk/U59S87tJhBI/AAAAAAAAByY/Z4m_8fsC5P8/s1600/blessing+from+the+priest.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KH9bBqh7Puk/U59S87tJhBI/AAAAAAAAByY/Z4m_8fsC5P8/s1600/blessing+from+the+priest.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The priest was there to bless the activities.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Quite a little crowd turned out to assist Heather and the Association, both Tico's and Gringo's. The local priest was invited to bless all those attending with Holy Water. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t9AjFWG5N1s/U59T3k7Q5ZI/AAAAAAAABzU/WRbI4i4jRX0/s1600/DSCN2910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t9AjFWG5N1s/U59T3k7Q5ZI/AAAAAAAABzU/WRbI4i4jRX0/s1600/DSCN2910.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermosa's Younger Helpers!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EKB-R7QFX_U/U59S-JUdWEI/AAAAAAAAByg/2UFE-QT0nfE/s1600/DSCN2912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EKB-R7QFX_U/U59S-JUdWEI/AAAAAAAAByg/2UFE-QT0nfE/s1600/DSCN2912.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The local children watering the first plant DH planted.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bcIkjmb5lu8/U59Tcawft6I/AAAAAAAABy8/Lv4BN2oqVqs/s1600/DSCN2923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bcIkjmb5lu8/U59Tcawft6I/AAAAAAAABy8/Lv4BN2oqVqs/s1600/DSCN2923.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heather (in blue) supervising the planting along the beach.<span style="text-align: left;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We were even lucky enough to have some rain on Sunday, saving us the task of watering the new flora.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.com1Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica10.5704722 -85.67687590000002710.539254199999998 -85.717216400000027 10.6016902 -85.636535400000028tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456703962938382690.post-59466323714305744002014-06-16T13:40:00.001-06:002014-06-16T13:40:27.241-06:00Mosquito update!With the rains come more bugs, or so I'm told.<div><br></div><div>Well, so far, here in PlayaHermosa, we have only really encountered two or three major rainfalls. The landscape is slowly turning green - hence it is known as the 'green season' rather than the 'rainy season': far more romantic a term, one that hooks the tourists in better too, I'm sure.</div><div><br></div><div>However, has no one told the bugs that we haven't experienced much rainfall yet? More specifically the mosquitoes? </div><div><br></div><div>I was beginning to think that I had adapted to the damn creatures, because over the past few months, I had been getting bitten less and less. But alas no, a few drops of rain and their super-duper tracking devices have found me yet again. My lower legs, ankles and feet are reminiscent of a child's 'Dot-to-Dot' picture. In fact, the mosquitoes must have had difficulty finding a space to bite last night, as they ventured up towards my arms instead. </div><div><br></div><div>Recently at school, YS made some concoction of cloves, alcohol and baby oil that is supposed to protect you from the blighters. Not sure if it does, but I rub it on every evening religiously. Combing his mixture along with the Deet that I also spray over myself, plus the couple of garlic cloves I eat every day and the vitamin B tablets that I take (if I remember), I smell delicious!!! I think people can smell me coming before they see me. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kJTZZQVSkL0/U59IJgTg9UI/AAAAAAAABxs/tdzCG3fqr_A/s640/blogger-image-489827637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kJTZZQVSkL0/U59IJgTg9UI/AAAAAAAABxs/tdzCG3fqr_A/s640/blogger-image-489827637.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>But guess what? I still get bitten more than anyone else. </div><div><br></div><div>It's just not fair!! (Slight temper tantrum similar to a petulant toddler ensues!)</div>britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456703962938382690.post-87227305153040203732014-06-12T16:53:00.000-06:002014-06-12T16:53:17.223-06:00World Cup Fever Begins.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had made an appointment today with an estate agent, or Realtor as they are known here, to take photographs of La Casita to advertise it for rental purposes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She was booked to come between noon and 1pm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mid-morning, we got a call from her to say she would not be able to make it today and could we re-schedule for tomorrow instead? Because ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, give her some credit, she was extremely up-front and honest with us: her reason for not being able to attend was ... the World Cup! She was meeting her friends at the Lizard Lounge for a few beers and to watch the match on the Big Screen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Costa Rica is three hours behind San Paulo! Only the Opening Ceremony was taking place at that time. The football itself wouldn't start for a couple of hours yet, plus La Sele were not even playing in the opening match!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can you imagine an estate agent in England not making an appointment because the</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> World Cup was about to begin in a few hours?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be honest we were not that bothered - we were sat in a nearby bar, trying to get internet connection, as well as watching the football coverage. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We found it quite funny really. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the Tico's say, Pura Vida!</span></div>
britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.com0Del Coco Beach, Costa Rica10.5509601 -85.69981849999999210.535350099999999 -85.719988499999985 10.5665701 -85.6796485tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456703962938382690.post-77115333640491918342014-06-05T21:37:00.000-06:002014-06-07T20:46:29.689-06:00The Shoe Thief.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">YS had his football trainers stolen from outside the front door a couple of weeks ago. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He was gutted, I mean truly gutted! They were his pride and joy; his ticket to football stardom; the envy of all his classmates, and most likely every Tico that set eyes on them! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I, myself, was extremely angry, but kind of pleased as they were the most hideous fluorescent green and yellow and purple things you have ever seen!</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, DH was totally and utterly furious. Not only had somebody</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> stolen his kid's shoes, but they had stolen them from our property.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thing is we had quite a few tradesmen in that day: there was Jose with his band of merry men, about 5 in total; then there was the carpenter with 3 of his team, as well as his 11 year old son; and finally a trio of gardeners were around the place for a short while. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who to blame? To be honest, it will probably remain one of life's little unsolved mysteries. We all have a prime suspect, but no proof. As nobody would admit to the theft, DH decided to deduct money from each of the parties present - not a happy workforce!</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, earlier this week, upon his return from school, ES protested that he could not find his black shoes (one of many black pairs!). DH grumbled that there had been 2 pairs in the morning whilst he was sweeping, but ES was insistent that a pair was missing. A search party was dispatched to various locations around the house, while I went and looked in the garden. I'm not sure why, but for some reason I looked inside a cardboard box situated at the back of the house, that had been abandoned and was just collecting garden refuse. Lo and behold, sub</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">merged amongst some wrapping material, were ES's trainers! Hidden from view, hoping to be retrieved by the thief later?</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once again, who to accuse? Jose and his gang, or the chippie's apprentice, Eduardo, that was here for a second time?</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DH is livid to the point of rabid! But rather than play the blame game, he writes an expletive-ridden note and leaves it in the box, in the hope that the culprit will confess or come clean (doubtful, I know, but worth a try).</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, we learn from Eduardo, that as Jose was cleaning up yesterday, he returned from the rear of our house, laughing heartily to himself: he then proceeded to relate the joke to his workers - for it was he who has found the note from DH!. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The shoe thief himself or just the patsy?</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">If you read some of the expat forums here in CR, a large proportion bemoan the fact that the Tico's, and the Nica's, are a thieving bunch; opportunists, just seizing the moment. If something is left lying around, they don't see it as stealing but as a gift for them. They will deny they have taken it or pretend they didn't see it. We have heard many a story of cleaners taking linen home, or gardeners digging up plants from their employers to sell elsewhere. I have tried not to be influenced by other peoples view of the locals of this country, but instead, I have searched for their good points. Over the past few months, however, we have learnt to lock our belongings away at all times. Building materials and tools just seem to go missing on a regular basis: a bag of cement here, a hammer there. </font></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> But the shoes were just the last straw! Tie your grandmother down, or she might just get stolen!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span>
<br></div>
britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.com0Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica10.5704722 -85.67687590000002710.539254199999998 -85.717216400000027 10.6016902 -85.636535400000028tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456703962938382690.post-41630339251605361242014-06-05T20:23:00.000-06:002014-06-05T20:23:49.874-06:00Beware the Hitchiker!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unlike back home, hitchhiking is not uncommon here, in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica. In fact it is almost an everyday occurrence: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">mothers with babes in arms, bags of shopping by their side; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">night-watchmen tired and weary, eager to get home; even hotel cleaning staff late for their early morning shifts; and the usual array of backpackers naturally. All </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">can be seen roadside or at bus-stops, sticking their thumbs out, hoping to hitch a ride.</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Within a few short months of us living here, DH had turned 'native' and was giving rides to some of the locals that he saw most days on the journey from Ocotal to Coco. At first the kids were horrified - this sort of thing would <i>never</i> happen in England when Mum did the school run!. But soon they would return home at the end of the day, and tell me of the security guards that they had given a lift to in the morning; or the old lady with the bicycle that they saw most days, struggling up the hill. To the three of them it shortly became a normal and generous thing to do, helping someone not lucky enough to have their own transport. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hammerhouseofhorrortvseries.co.uk/graphics/pictures/tf_stranger2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.hammerhouseofhorrortvseries.co.uk/graphics/pictures/tf_stranger2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Needless to say, the hikers in CR don't dress like this!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I however felt slightly differently!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What was DH thinking??? Had he never seen the yellow-raincoat clad hitchhiker in the </span><a href="http://www.hammerhouseofhorrortvseries.co.uk/hh2faces.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Hammer House of Horrors</a> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TV series????? The episode called 'The Two Faces of Evil'? The one with <b><i>the fingernail</i></b>? I was about 9 or 10 when I saw it and it gave me nightmares for weeks: in fact I'm still wary of people wearing a sou'wester, as well as men with long fingernails. Brrrr, sends shivers down my spine!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But like most things, you soon forget your worries, and before long, I too was not quite so bothered about DH picking up the odd ride. These hikers would often share stories with DH, about their families, their traditions and their politics. Conversations would focus on the up-and-coming elections that took place earlier in the year, or about the problems in nearby countries. DH saw it as a good way to learn about the locals and their culture. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few would have a sob story to tell, which nearly always involved hungry children and DH giving them money for food. On the odd occasion, a ride would even ask what life was like back in the UK. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The tale that follows is one that DH recently disclosed to me. Naturally the conversations took place in Spanish, but as you all know, my Spanish is not that great. So I took the liberty of transcribing the story into English: I thought it best to omit some of the swear words too - after all, this is a family-friendly blog!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>A few weeks back, just days after my accident, I was travelling from Sardinal to look at some building materials. I stopped to pick up a Costa Rican woman who was thumbing a ride.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>DH: "Where are you going?"</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>TICA: "Santa Cruz Sir. I have just been to Liberia to take food to my son at the University there."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>DH: "Well I am not travelling that far, but I can drop you in Belen."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>We drove for several minutes, making our introductions. Being that I looked somewhat sinister (I was still wearing a bandage on my head, along with sunglasses and a straw hat), she interrogated me about the accident, how it had happened and so on. The conversation then turned to talk of our families:</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>TICA: "Oh, your wife is away? You must be missing her? And you must be in need of some...?" </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>As she said this, she reached over and grabbed my crotch!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">TICA: "Apuesto a que tienes un grande!" </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">sorry, English speakers, translate it yourself!!</span> <span style="font-size: large;">"I need money," she whined "My family are hungry. 10,000 Colones (nearly £11) and I will give you a b*** j**."</span></i></span><br />
<br />
<i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A million different emotions ran through my head; alarmed, appalled, dismayed, shocked and startled to name but a few. I felt my face turn ashen as my blood drained away and my whole body turned rigid with uneasiness. I thought that I had picked up the devil in disguise! More to the point, I suspected I was about to be mugged; I had just been to the cash-point and had $300 in the glove compartment. </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>DH: "Um-mm, no thanks," I spluttered, removing her hand from my lap, "I'm fine."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>TICA: "But Sir" she continued, "I am poor and hungry. My family has no food and we need money. I will do anything that you want."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>As we neared the crossroads at Comunidad, with the Tica continuing to make advances, I suddenly 'remembered' that I had to be elsewhere!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>DH: "I am sorry, I forgot that I have to be somewhere. I will have to drop you here and you can then catch the bus."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>TICA: "But Sir," she urged, "you said you would take me as far as Belen. I have no money for the bus. I can come with you now and then you can take me to Belen later.</i></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"</i></span><br />
<i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">DH: "No, no. I may be a long time. You must get out of the car now."</span></i><br />
<i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>With great relief, she exited the vehicle when I pulled over. I sped off in the opposite direction to where I really wanted to go, desperate to be rid of the woman. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Although the incident only took place over a several minutes, I have n</i></span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ever felt so panic-stricken in my whole life. </span></i></span><br />
<br />
<a href="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There you go, I was right all along!! Beware the hitchhiker! They may not be dressed in brightly coloured raincoats, but they can be treacherous all the same! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Funnily enough DH has not picked up any hikers since. However, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">as I'm writing this, ES has enlightened me with some of his hitchhiking </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">escapades!!!!! Think there may be </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">words later.</i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></i></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.com1Sardinal, Costa Rica10.5174123 -85.647477110.4861888 -85.6878176 10.5486358 -85.6071366tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456703962938382690.post-36933178227903730662014-05-28T16:20:00.001-06:002014-05-28T16:20:17.462-06:00Jaws.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">YS has only gone and got braces on his teeth!!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After months of wanting them, his wish has been granted. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wonder how long before the complaining starts??</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TAFJMXt22us/U4Zf_dLWbLI/AAAAAAAABvQ/hyG_FatiElI/s1600/27+may+2014+before.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TAFJMXt22us/U4Zf_dLWbLI/AAAAAAAABvQ/hyG_FatiElI/s1600/27+may+2014+before.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P_xKtc99fEQ/U4ZgAm6eFVI/AAAAAAAABvY/Xs3L1shZ7Zw/s1600/27+may+2014+after.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P_xKtc99fEQ/U4ZgAm6eFVI/AAAAAAAABvY/Xs3L1shZ7Zw/s1600/27+may+2014+after.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
britmumincostaricahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01680281363300707057noreply@blogger.com0Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica10.5704722 -85.67687590000002710.539254199999998 -85.717216400000027 10.6016902 -85.636535400000028