Out with the Gals

The same group from before and we decided to meet out at Coco's.  We had quite the group with 5 people from California (poor Kevin being the only guy), Deborah (a guide who we work with), Sabina (my co-worker at Willie's Tours), and Jenn (a teacher originally from the USA now residing in Costa Rica).  It was a fun time!  We danced and talked and drank and danced some more.  Somehow the night ending with getting soaked in the rain at 2 in the morning.  It was a great time.  I wore the shirt Sabina had given me for my birthday!  It's not the usual black and white but it has beautiful blues which happen to be my favorite color!  

It's fun dancing with people from the states.. while everyone dances amazingly around us we bring back the sprinkler and the shopping cart for our entertainment!  I am sad they have left me!! They were a good time!!  Excitingness (I don't think that is a word.. but I like how it sounds!) is that NICOLE HANCE IS COMING TO VISIT.... I am greatly anticipating her arrival!!!!!!

California Friends

The past week was filled meeting new faces as this occurs everyday, it is rare to meet people that remind you of home.  There is a couple from California who have owned a house in Cahuita for around 10 years.  They came into town with some friends of theirs and were staying for two weeks.  With the continual flow of some friends coming and going.  

After spending quite a bit of time talking with them in the Internet Cafe and running into them on the street, we met at Coco's for a few drinks.  It was probably one of the best times I have had there.  I felt like I was out with friends, and girlfriends!  We danced and had a marvelous time!!  I must say that I miss my girlfriends quite a bit!! No one can replace them and I wish they were here!!  While dancing I started to have some hip problems... sometimes I swear I am around 90.. who has hip problems at 23 and can't dance?!?

Sending off Linda and Fish

Nona's mother Linda came to visit them for 3 weeks.  She is a teacher in New York and was able to take some time and spend with her daughter and the baby.  I had met Linda the first time I had arrived in Cahuita.  We didn't get to know each other that well so it was a lot of fun spending more time with her this time around.  She is a very interesting woman filled with tons of knowledge.  

She is originally from Webster City in Iowa, small world!  We could sit and make Iowa jokes and talk about the Midwest which was fun!  I was very sad when it came time for her to leave.  They had a send off dinner at Sobre Las Olas, where I joined them after I had finished closing the Internet Cafe.  

It was lovely seeing them happy together, enjoying their wine and the company.  

For the first time I tried shell fish!  There is this pasta that is filled with seafood and I decided to try it and turns out I like the little things in shells.  I never thought I would and to be truthful they scared me a little.  Always good to try something new!!

New Job?

After the Bri Bri Tour, Deborah the groups guide and I sat down and had a beer.  How many of you are surprised to hear that huh??  My first beer in oh 4 years??  However, she bought it for me and was all stressed out after the tour, so I was unable to decline..  I took it down like a champ! How proud of me are you?

That night we were going to go to Reggea Bar, near my house on Playa Negra for a drink.  I went to pick her up at the hotel at 8:30 her and her group were having such a great time I decided to join them for a drink instead.  

When I went to the bar to order my drink, the bartender asked where I was from and immediately asked if I would be interested in taking care of his son on Saturday's.  I told him I would be interested, but truthfully haven't gotten back to him yet... However, I did get my glass of wine for free!  That was also exciting!  We will see what happens with this babysitting thing... not sure if I really want to go down that road again.. although being around kids is always fun!

An interesting day to say the least.  I went home early, exhausted from the tour and ready for sleep.  

Black Beach

Here are some photos I took on Black Beach or Playa Negra.  This is not even five minutes from my house and is very accessible.  

One of my hobbies I have been very fond of over the years is photography.  Many don't know this but I am hoping once I have a house or an apartment of my own to line a wall with photos I have taken from all over.  

Although I am not very good, I find this to be a strong passion of mine.  Something I truly wish I could turn into a job!!  

Bri Bri

Part of working at Willie’s Tours is the variety of tours that are offered there.  One of the most popular tours is called the “Bri Bri Indigenous Tour.”  This tour is the same tour we went on as a family, where we first got to know Jorge and Cahuita. 

We also have huge tour groups that come in which can range anywhere from four people to 24 people.  This particular day we had 13 people on the trip including the guide.  The guide’s name is Deborah and has worked with Jorge quite a bit.  I find her lovely and nice to be around. 

The tour itself is around 5 to 6 hours.  You first start off by getting to know a family, seeing how they life, what they eat.  Second stop is to a medicinal plantation where you learn about different trees, plants, leafs and their healing purposes.  How the Bri Bri uses them in everyday life.  Could be anywhere from curing a headache to preventing heart disease.  Third stop is typically to a waterfall..however with the amount of rain we have had it is to dangerous to go on to that portion of the tour.  You then enter town where you have a home cooked meal.  Finishing with a stop at the Cacao house where you learn how organic chocolate is made, the economical importance it’s had the lives of the Bri Bri, etc.  Also ending with a visit to The Family Art Gallery, where all the jewelry and masks are made from organic materials found in the surrounding forests.  The tour is very interactive and educational.   

My job on this tour was to take video.  We are going to work on getting a video set up to promote tours in the area.  I was in charge of the video camera and taking photos.  To reach the first destination you have to cross a hanging bridge… which was under repair when we first arrived.  We had to cross the river, which took a long time with such a large group and the current being so strong… All I kept thinking was so not slip in the river, do not slip in the river, since I had the cameras around my neck. 

We arrived at  our destination and by the grace of god were able to meet Don Silverio.  Don Silverio is a man who is 109 years old.  When we came on the tour in January he was sick, we weren’t sure if he was a real man or if this was just a marketing tool used well.  On this particular tour, he was feeling quite well.  He has practically no teeth left, but a gentle soul who is eager to share.   We were blessed with the energy he spent on playing the drums for us and singing a traditional Bri Bri song.  It was a very exciting experience to see this man at 109 spend time interacting with us.  This was by far my favorite part of the tour, seeing him interacting and showing us his culture.  It is sad to see that the Bri Bri culture is dying, but as time goes on the younger generations want more and more.  In his particular home it is filled with 6 generations, the youngest being 2 months old.  Reminds me of my family and how extensive our generations have gotten as well.  It’s beautiful to see families grow.

The rest of the stops were as described above with the exception of the waterfall.  I was excited to see the Family Art Gallery since I had never been there before.  It was a small store but you could see the work space and where they kept their materials.  It was a fun adventure and their daughter was so cute!  

The rest of the stops I took pictures and videos off trying to capture the best moments of the tour.  The tour was successful and we were lucky with weather!!  

Spain Ladies

In Cahuita there are these two beautiful women from Spain.  They parade around and have lived here for around a year.  They came on vacation and basically never left.  As it turns out there stay had to turn into something, they decided to build cabinas out on playa grande.  It is quite out of town, but the location is so beautiful, isolated and completely paradise.  They tried to make the cabinas as natural looking as possible.  

After quite a bit of ups and downs they decided to just open!  They threw a fabulous party where sangria and drinks and food was free the entire night.  I had the best sangria of my entire life that night... white sangria... pure perfection!!

Everyone got extremely drunk.. except for the people I went with which was Jorge, Nona, Sabina and of course the fabulous Alonso.  Beno (my landlord), other local people were very happy with the open bar.  I don't think I have ever felt so sober in my entire life.  It was a good laugh and a good time.  The Spanish women continued their success of throwing the bash of the year!