The beard

"The beard" is filling in nicely. It is especially compelling down here because the Latin types don´t have the genes for it. I removed the ´stache because when drinking beverages with a big foam head or just licking ice cream it loaded up. I still use sunblock 45 on my bean and a headscarf if the scalp starts to feel hot.

My mother taught me how to wash (in the machine), dry (hanging or the clothes dryer) and iron (dry or steam-cotton, synthetics, silk, etc). And I do a good job as any of my ex-wives will telll you. So I thought "how quaint, she is hanging my clothes out to dry, I haven´t seen that since the 50´s." So I butted in (as in what I was about to become). "There is no need to turn my socks and shirts inside-out. They will dry just as well without that effort," I condesented. I was politely told that that was true. However, the intense central American sun would bleach-out the color and in two months my white shirt would be "a sad white." So much for North American scientific arrogance.

Cash and taxi tips

The restaurant has a Master Card sticker on the door. So you order, eat and present your card. There is a problem. Due to the power outage we cannot process you card. There is a problem. We aren´t accepting MC anymore-the decal needs to be removed. We cannot process your card. There is a problem. The owner needs some cash today (for his girlfriend, booky, ex-wife, cash delivery, etc)so we cannot process your card.

If you´re getting screwed on the exchange rate and using US because you are short of local currency--shut up, grin and take the deal. If things get nasty management can demand local legal tender, which you don´t have enough of because you are offering US. If this is a retail transaction you can walk. However, in a bar, club or restuarant you are screwed again as in There is a problem. Always have 100 US in small bills and the equlivant of local on you.

Also, there is another situation: My taxi driver did not turn on the meter (red flag!). I asked him what would be the fare to my nearby destination and he told me 12,000 colonies ($24). I knew that that was outragous. It should be one tenth of that! I asked again. He repeated: twelve thousand colonies. There is a problem. I was about to jump out of the cab but we pulled in the next moment. I moved the decimal and handed him twelve hundred ($2.50) colonies. He was satisfied. I gave him a friendly lesson in the diffeence between twelve hundred and twelve thousand.

More taxi. Where are you from is the first question. (Target identification.) How long have you been here? (Distance to target! Ready to fire.) If you say 5 minutes or first day you are in his sights because you are probably disoriented, don´t know the exchange rate, confused and tired. You have just identified yourself as vulnerable. Always say one month--I have a girlfriend or boyfriend here. If from the airport add: I am returning. Now you are off his sucker radar. I must add that 99% of the taximen are honest, friendly and helpful.

Cahuita

This is Playa Blanca. The far side of the photo is white sand and a friendly beach. The community is black people and a friendly atmospher. I like it so well i will stay for four nights. My hotel room is 40 feet from the beach wall and is $16 per night. We often have power outages but, who cares? (Unless you are paying with a credit card.) This is the first place I would consider establishing a home. It has a beach/jungle ambience and only 5000 citizens. It is 30 minutes south of Limon if you are checking a map.

My room is on the corner. Number two if you're coming. This instance of the beach is lava flow and is to be avoided. Within 10 minutes isthe white sand beach good for surfing.

La Paz Waterfalls and Butterflies

This is another example of the beauty and wonder of God´s creation. This is the smallest of three jungle falls.

The La Paz Botanical Gardens are famous for their Butterflys. The Butterflys are fed bananas and cantalope. The one wanted to taste my mellon!

Fortuantely the god of mountain waterfalls and streams allowed this photograph to be taken as he encouraged the downward flow of water for this jungle waterfall.

Lodge Swords

I didn´t learn whether these swords were offensive or defensive. They hang free about every six feet around the Lodge. They are York rite in decoration.

La Luz

Looking East All brothers assemble in the ante room and the Master of Ceremonies gives a reminder about entering a sacred place and then, all enter, in proession, together. The floor´s alternating squares causes one to contemplate the lesson during a slow moment. Every absent brother´s reason for being absent was discussed and aid delegated and dispatched in every appropiate case. Average attendance is 25.

Mi Casa

..This where I am staying. I have a room and entrance in the rear. It is just east of San Jose. It is not the "real" Costa Rica. All the urban and suburban homes are fully gated no matter the economic level. This home is 1200 square feet and would probably cost $175 per foot... mostly because of the neighborhood. All home construction is concrete block on city utilities.

Winter in April

The locals call the season we have just entered winter. That was peculiar to me because the sun´s ecliptic is north of the equator since March 24th. The explanation is that the rainy weather has now started so we now have winter (as in bad weather). Daily the rain begins within minutes of 2:40 pm. Be advised that there are climatic changes within miles of different locations because of the steep altitude changes, mountainous geography and the trade winds. A large la simbrilla (umbrella) is necessary.

The Right Stuff.

Right stuff:1-Electronic pocket translator. (My best friend.) 2-Pre-esablished contacts. 3-Exensive first aid kit. 4-Travel iron. 5-Inflatable pillow. 6-Leatherman. 7-Credit Card and Debit Cards accepted in Central America. 8-Extra soft travel bag. 9-Laptop. 10-Digital camera.

Wrong stuff: More than one checked suitcase. More than one blue jeans. More than two t-tops. Heavy hiking boots. More than one suite/dress shirt/dress shoes.

The Aid Kit is essential. I contraced an unknown allergy which covered most of my body with welts. Those around my ankles turned to water blisters which I had to lance and iodized before they burst and infected. The welts itched like crazy so my calamine and sting-ez gave me limited relief until I got to medical attention. I cut my thumb open while opening a wine bottle so the skin tape (much better than band aids) patched me up. I´m ok now.

Grand Lodge of Costa Rica

The Grand Lodge home in San Jose is built with the same idea as the Masonic Center in Reno. Floor one is shops, floor two is the dining area and floor three is for the lodge room. Probably for the privacy it affords. All San Jose lodges meet there. The two main differences are the locked grate at the entrance, common in this country and the extensive Masonic symbols and emblems which decorate the interior walls. I will attend the English speaking lodge in two weeks and post photo´s of the interior.

I got a Masonic Passport from Art Cronin before I left Reno. No-one at the CR office spoke English. I handed the letter to them and I was admitted.

On the Road in Nicaragua

The roads in Nicaragua are uniformily bad. This little country has so many potholes that it must be importing them from the old Soviet Union. No curbs, no white lines and few signs. The good news is that I can ask in Spanish¨, Is this the road to .........: The people are friendly and always glad to help. There are many fresh fruit stands which I have made good use of. The management is a man with a big knife who will slice up the fruit so you can eat it right there.... which is common. I´ve eaten some delicious fruits. The watermelon here is very tasty.

The cool garb is jungle battle dress from the old Contra Days. Mostly just the pants. Daniel Ortega is the president again, but he is a different man. He is now a millionaire and his son married into a Grandioso family, so his politics have changed considerably.

Dateline Nicaragua

Teaching with symbols.

These symbols are on the front of the church. What meaning do you attach. I asked several locals, in Spanish, and they had no idea!

Symbols

For those interested in teaching with signs, symbols and images.. these two are of many on the depected church. What bible story do you connect?

Losing weight

I've lost eight pounds since leaving Reno.

Another damn beach.

I'm getting sick of just another friggin perfect beach in paradice.

New Email address for me.

I've been off line for a week because of trouble with my email account. Here is my new one for personal email. jcaselli13@yahoo.com. Please make the change in your address book.