Differences

From a home buzzing with the activity and energy that accompany Elizabeth and Ania: decorating, re-decorating; combing the country to find (or not to find) an out of the way vivero with just the right plants for our expanding garden spots; miles spent searching for muebles to furnish new living spaces; searching markets and aisles for oats, flax, chai, four colours of vegetables and fruits and the ever so important corvina or tilapia.
Mostly, just hanging out together and filling our home with family.
What a six weeks. Just like that, over. All work completed, no more sounds of saws or thrice daily trips to the ferreteria or lumber yards. Just fine tuning, following to do lists to prepare for this December when work commitments will no longer preclude both Elizabeth and I being here for five months.
I have posted a few photos of what used to be the laundry room and is now the TV room, our renovated patio and Elizabeth and Rosario whistling while they work.

A Few Road Trips

Over the past little while, we embarked on a few sojourns: the rehabilitation zoo in La Garita and up to the soothing gardens and agua thermales at the foot of the Arenal Volcano.

House Progress

Well, the renovations are drawing to a close (for now, at least, as Elizabeth manages to construct new lists of essential items on a daily basis). New paint (I will not really miss the pinkish hue with primer highlights that greeted us every time we entered the driveway), nor the dirt flavoured concrete that characterized the side walls. San Ramon is now firmly ensconced in the dry season with temperatures climbing to 27-28 daily. Thank goodness, the place is cool at night. A few days in the south reinforced that we are not creatures comfortable with plus 30 temperatures and high humidity.
Next week, we are off to the Arenal volcano area to luxuriate in the hot springs.

Manuel Antonio

On, Tuesday, we made the three hour drive south down the Pacific Coast to stay in Quepos for the night and visit Manuel Antonio National Park. It is the second most popular Park in Costa Rica and features a variety of species of monkeys, birds, sloths, iguanas and lizards and three of the best beaches in the country. The weather was stiflingly hot, about 36 degrees.