Week 20: Do we look hot?

Donald and Nina on Cano Island off the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica.

In this week of transition and translation -- Lent to Easter, Nina/Donald solo to Nina and Donald reunited, Spanish language emersion to English language tourism -- I have discovered that dreams of paradise are not even close to the unfolding of new life.

What did Jesus say to the one thief?

“Today you will be with me in paradise.”

I wonder what the thief expected, and what he discovered?

What we discovered this week…

Donald retraced some of my journey with me.

On Saturday in San Jose we had a wonderful visit with Martha Miller’s brother, Leo, and his wife, Sonia. I had a wonderful week at their farm upon arrival in Costa Rica. And Donald soon loved them as well.

On Sunday we celebrated Easter at the Basilica of Los Angeles in Cartago, the center of Catholic devotion in Costa Rica. I worshipped there with Henry and Martha and their friend Manuel on the first Sunday of Lent. The culmination was a parade led by an image of the Risen Jesus and followed by a crowd, brass band and clown.

We wound round the mountains and through Paraiso (Paradise) to Finca la Flor where Donald got to walk around the farm and have a conversation with Bri Draabe, the director and now friend.

OSA PENINSULA

And then we flew to the paradise of the Osa Peninsula, one of the most remote and protected regions of Costa Rica.

We knew we were in the wild when our small plane dropped over the bay and touched down on the airstrip we couldn’t even see as we entered the jungle. We walked out into the waves of 90+ heat and humidity. From there we were picked up by Miguel. His four wheel drive van forded a river, crossed another on a few planks of wood, navigated local pitted roads, and then parked on the beach. “Tell your husband to take off his shoes and roll up his pants,” Miguel told me in Spanish. And sure enough a boat rode the waves into the beach. We waded out for a ride to Drake Bay Wilderness Resort, about a fifteen minute journey across the bay.

Dreams of Paradise:

Sitting on the beach watching the waves, swimming round Cano Island, walking in Corcovado seeing the animals, and luxurating with my loved one in our seaside cabana.

Reality Day One:

It was REALLY hot. We were both pouring sweat by lunch time. So, yes, we could hike ten minutes to the beautiful beach -- first prepped by a cold shower, then hidden in the shade, a few splashes in the waves, Donald body surfing, a hot walk home, a quick dip in the pool, followed by a cold shower and a nap to recover and another cold shower before dinner! Whew! Paradise is work!

At dinner we were alone, the only visitors at this large resort!

Reality Day Two:

At Cano Island, our first tour destination, the main activity is snorkeling. Hmmmm…. (1) I am legally blind without my glasses and you can‘t wear a snorkel mask with glasses. (2) Neither Donald nor I had snorkeled before. (3) Learning to snorkel while legally blind and riding rolling waves yields motion sickness -- And yes, it is possible to vomit in the ocean while wearing snorkel equipment!

Loved finding the beached boat on this lovely island, just like Gilligan’s Island, at our lunch break (photo) -- with time for three cold water beach showers. (Hearing the theme?)

Donald loved being surrounded by every color of fish over the coral reef on the second snorkel. I stayed on LAND and contentedly contemplated the humorous hermit crabs on the beach.

Reality Day Three:

All morning on our second tour our fabulous guide, Manuel, showed us the diverse world of Corcovado National Park: hidden hummingbird nests, tent bats, orb spiders and spider monkeys, and even the rare king vulture. Yeh! Lunch in the shade.

But starting up the waterfall trail my stomach kind of squeamed out again. So shade for Nina; and a cool swim in the waterfall for Donald. I contentedly studied the display behaviors of the grackles by the Ranger Station.

Reality Day Four:

NO SUN for Nina. Despite the persistent use of #50 sunscreen and long sleeved shirts during the day and vinegar each evening, I was fried. I rose before sunrise to discover a whole new world -- cool and dawning, with birds emerging and howler monkeys bellowing. Donald ventured out later on a sea kayak to explore the river inland at high tide. He also found friends to go round the bay and learned the challenges of a beach landing. I rested, read, wrote. And made plans to cut our time one day shorter in this particular paradise. AIR CONDITIONING was what sounded like heaven to us, so we booked a night in Hotel Amistad, San Jose.

BUT… paradise surprised us WITH WONDERFUL FRIENDS.

They trickled in during the week: Kevin and Helen, the scuba divers from England; Ohm, the Indian-American medical resident on a get-away from Connecticut; Matt and Vernice, kayakers and nature lovers from Ireland; and Jini (Columbian/Costa Rican) and Mike (Costa Rican) social publicists who were hosting a big bash for a group of Imperial Beer context winners at the resort this weekend.

What great conversations we had! Last night, just as an example, we talked about climate change, education and testing, and immigration in all our countries, comedy and “crossing the line,“ Costa Rican culture and conflict styles, the fall of the Catholic church in Ireland, crime, the complexities of Africa, pubs, beer, drunk driving and Auschwitz (NOT in that order!).

We were given the gift of another little global community, and we sat around the table until past 9:30 pm.

Community
Stories
Food
Challenges and Hopes
Cross Cultural Connections
Earth

Hmmm…this seems almost the same LIFE LIST as my first week at Finca la Flor. Just no dancing -- and that is what we are missing tonight at the Imperial Beer Party at Drake Bay!

So as Donald and I fly home tomorrow night, we have a rich slice of leftover paradise to take home and warm up and share with family and friends around our own table. Buen provecho, todos!

P.S. RULES ARE TO BE BROKEN! HERE ARE “EXTRA PHOTOS” OF MY DEARLY BELOVED COMMUNITIES OF COSTA RICA.

MUCHAS, MUCHAS GRACIAS A TODOS!

NUESTRO CASA ES SU CASA.


Martha Villalobos and her mother and her husband, Henry Miller (San Jose).



Sonia Villalobos, Martha's sister-in-law (Finca Iriria, Sabana Bonita).



Leo Villalobos, Martha's brother, talking to Martha, Henry and Chema (Finca Iriria).



Guides of Finca la Flor de Paraiso: Laura, Vinicio, Eugenia, Henry, Wilbert, and Bri (director).



Leiton Obanda Family: Cristina, Geovanny, Miguel and Daniel (San Luis).



Friends from Drake Bay: Around the table from left to right are Donald, Matt (Ireland), Jini and Mike (Costa Rica), Ohm (USA), Vernice (Ireland), Kevin and Helen (England).



Our friend "Mono" of Corcovado.