Cahuita and Coco.

Cahuita is a tiny place between the jungle and the ocean. This is the view from my room's porch. I swim at the far white beach Playa Blanco. I like it so much here that it is my second visit.
Beer is $1.50 and a room is $16.00. The shower is cool water only. Not cold.. perfect after a sweaty day.
This is the hottest joint in town. Maybe because it is the only place in town! It really jumps on Raggae night. My salsa lessons really came in handy. The more I drank the better I got.... by midnight I was terriffic! Got drunk but went home before I got really drunk.

The indoor scene of my dance spectacular in side of Coco's.

Bus System

The buses are new and cheap. Only $4 for a two and a half hour ride from San Jose to Limon. 148 kilometers. My first world versus the third world conflict happened on the next bus ride from Limon to Cahuita. The tickets have seat numbers. A Local was in my seat. It was standing room only. He said that those numbers don't mean anything. I leaned over him and asked him to check the assignment on his ticket. He moved after grumbling something in a language I don't understand. I think it was Spanish.

Every bus station has a dog or two. It is as if they are required by some cat abatment law. I've never seen one move either. The apparent dog penis is his/her other hind leg for those of you who are wondering.

Coconut milk.

My hat is really a hanky tied around my head. I was asked if I was French. I said "Yes, I´m on vacation. I´m Jacque Cousteau. Tell no one." all in perfect Spanish. Last night there were French soldiers in my favorite bar. I wanted to ask them in how many languages they could surrender in, but because I didn´t want to have the %&*"@ kicked out of me, I remained silent. I´´m sure they are sick of that joke!

This gal is my coconut lady. Notice her coconuts. (Behind us!!)

Tourist Center

This is the director of tourism office. I don´t know exactly where the director graduated. Reno or Las Vegas?? Upon my inquires, I discovered he was on vacation in either Thailand or Brasil.

Up close.

Car Train.

Look ma! No hands. This "car" travels the rails at 20 mph for 20 miles and then comes back. The rail from Limon to San Jose was abandoned years ago. Just like Virginia City, many want it back.

I like Coconuts.

These are BIG coconuts. At four pounds they will hit your head with a force of more than one ton upon impact. They hang everywhere and often fall as a bunch! The locals take no mind.

Downtown

Downtown Limon. In October there is a carnival like Madi Gras. You can get the flavor of it by noticing the painted street pavement. That is one festival I don´t want to miss.

Grocery Shopping

The fish is fresh daily in Limon. And very convienent. He stays until sold out and then goes away until tomorrow.

These folks eat alot of fresh produce. There is a stand on every block. Each watermellon or pineapple costs a dollar if you wait until the end of the day. The pile infront is all onions. there are many fruits and vegtables I can´t identify.

Limon Headquarters

My headquarters in Limon on the Carib side. $24 with airconditioning. Clean, comfortable, air conditioning, hot water. Check out at 1 pm.

No menu, no prices. Eat and Pay

No menu. No prices. Just ask for what you want and she´ll bring it to you. Ask for the bill and she´ll tell you what you owe. Very, very family. I had two eggs, rice/beans, toast, cheese and coffee for about $3.00. Actually, I don´t really know what it cost. I gave her money and she gave me change. How can I argue? I don´t speak much Spanish and whe doesn´t speak much English. (Language is over-rated anyway.)

Don Rigo.

This is the must see of Limon. Do you recall the chocolate shops which make the candy as you watch? Here it is done with potato chips! Don´s shop is inside the Centro Mercado.

Chips, Pork and Beef.

He shaves the potato directly into this huge pot of boiling oil and stirs with a wooden spoon.

Bonita packs them by hand into handly bags wh ich sell for 80 cents.

Here you can buy the whole pig if companys coming over, the hooves for snacks, or just the head for "something special." Same goes for the cow.

On the Balcony

From the balcony of Miami Hotel, relaxing after a hard day of relaxing. (Yes, I´m wearing socks!)

Photo postings.

Petitions for membership must be accompanied with a photo. The notice of petition with the photo is then posted outside the lodgeroom for all to consider. It has the advantage adding an additional layer of evaluation and allows all to review the names for familiarity later on. Petitioning Lodge is no "done deal." They believe that it is better that no one enter the Lodge rather than one unworthy foot cross the entrance.

This is the working apron of a Past Master in La Luz Lodge. The belt is elastic. The lodge lent me this one because I forgot my traveling PM apron at home. Note that the PM´s jewel is the same as our jurisdiction. Actually, some of the language is also identical.

Dinner after the Stated.

Here are some of the brothers whooping it up after the stated. Dinner begins after Lodge at around 9:00. It is catered with the soup and dessert courses served and the entree by buffet. Everyone wears a coat and tie without exception. This is a classy group. When I tell folks here that I am a Mason I do get an acknowledgement of respect. There is even a chatholic bishop on the rolls.

La Luz Worshipful Master

Here is the demanded proof that I am actually attending Lodge here in San Jose. The Worshipful Master is on my left. These brothers make me look short! Both are attorneys.

Note the statue for wisdom behind my left shoulder. There is one for beauty at the JW´s station and one for strength ot the SW´s station.

Beautiful Flowers

Some of these blooms are five inches across and all fragrant. Note that there is a greater number of mature buds ready to burst, assuring the bouquet of a second life. Cost? Less than two dollars. (The flower girl wanted four dollars, but I know the routine. Half of what they ask for is what they expect to get. )

The Dark Side.

All of the following home photo´s were taken on my way to the bus stop. This town and neighborhood has some really beautiful homes. Unfortunately, many are behind barbed wire and iron fences and gates. Here are just a few examples with my witty comments.

"Isn´t the iron fence enough? I haven´t seen this much concertina since the Marines!

This is a nice entrance with white arches and a tiled driveway and garage floor. Very inviting! "Mi Casa......."

Oops! now it reads "Mi Casa es Mi Casa."

The Grandee who lives here can talk to the common folks from his balcony. This house has no door bell either. "By Appointment Only!" I wanted to scrall "Go Away!" on the wall but my fear of dogs being unleased on me restrained my actions.

All garbage is placed on these convienent recepticals infront of every home. It is the solution for rat and mice control, which, Costa Rica has under firm control! Some of these garbage stations are quite decorative.

This is a five strand barbed wire and concrete fence is on my way to the bus stop. Private property means PRIVATE PROPERTY! KEEP OFF!

This is another very nice example of why welcome mats sell very poorly in this country.

Here is our local CIA "safe house." It is another nomination for the Century 21 Award for Best Curb Appeal.

Note the personel door inside the garage door on the left and the concertina wire on the wall.

With homes as tight as these, I now understand why Costa Rica has no Army. They don´t need one! Each house is a fortress.

My Dance School!

"Son" is the verb to be for they are. This is my dance school. The lessons are $17 for four lessons, weekly, at two hours each. In Reno, I pay $40 for four lessons, weekly, at 90 minutes each. The instruction is not the same caliber at at Ballentines in Reno, but I am enjoying it

completely. All my classmates are twentish in the beginners class.

This is my Latin Dance Class. Don´t I blend? (There are afew more students who left before this photo shoot.) The only difficult aspect is that all the instruction is in Spanish. So I can´t tell the difference from when "Don´t do this!" and "Do this!" But I make out ok anyway. I have learned the Cumbia, which is a Latin version of the American Swing. It really rocks-note the sweat stains on my shirt! The local Bolero is similar but the local Salsa is NOT.

Cash cards

Cash Cards. The local cash machine offered to return mine and then quickly sucked it back. Ok, shit does happen. But then the SHIT began to happen. "Yes, senor, we understand what happened. It happens all the time. Yes, senor, we can return your card. When?? Maybe in a week when the man (with the big sombrero and who rides the burro) who services the machine goes to your location. Then, senor, you must go downtown, stand in line and maybe we will have it. If not, come back in a another week."

Plan "C"

Plan "C" is well known to many, perhaps by another name. After mounting frustrations with power outages, server disconnects, bureaurcratic indifference and my inability to overcome all of the above, I decided with some reluctance to go to Plan "C" for the first time here in Costa Rica. It was a serious decision and if taken to extremes can........

Plan "C" called for gin (Tanqueray, already on hand for emergencies), olives (Spanish), vermouth (at 1:5) and ice to chill. The first problem was a proper glass. After a strict search, the best I could provide was a tumbler--it would have to do in this crisis! But what of the toothpick for the olives (a minimum of two). I tore this place apart! I was so close but without a toothpick I would be forced to fish in a tumbler, for God´s shake, for the olives with my fingers or "bottoms up!" To my mind, Plan "C" is a civilized solution. Without the toothpick it would be reduced to uncouth (usually not new to me). I found some stick matches and carefully sharpened two while removing the sulfur end. Success!! Though they were short and each had only the capacity of one olive, I was home! My Martini was a success.. Plan "C" was immediately implemented.

Plan "C" is the perfect solution. It solves everything and it solves nothing!