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.