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.