What a day, what a day, what a day.

I have been talking about an excursion to Cartago and finally today was the day. It wasn't raining and my leg seemed good enough to handle it so off I went at 9:00 this morning. The bus came just as I arrived at the bus stop so no waiting. The buses have been running quite full and people were standing in the aisles before we reached Paraiso. Must be because of the school break. I now know where I am when they let us off in Cartago so I headed for the bank. For some reason none of my debit cards will work in the ATM's so I have to go into the bank and work with a person. They have all been so nice and I got my colones, used a nice clean restroom and headed out. I came across a little mall and noticed a yarn shop. What a find. I must have been there an hour, bought supplies for a couple dream catchers and got directions to a fabric shop. Now the only thing I need for them are feathers. 

The lady in the yarn shop is Ziomaro and the name of the shop is Q'lindo Manualidades. She was great and so helpful. Her english was very good, she has lived in Colorado for a short time and she has a problem with a pinched nerve in her leg so she knew exactly what I was talking about. They do classes several times a week - bring in instructors in crochet or quilting or a variety of other things. She was very interested in my finished products and if I have things they could sell in there store, we should talk. I finally left with my purchase and directions and headed out.

And you know what! The directions were perfect. What a place! Fabric and ribbon and beads. Remember I said I wanted to put a sheer fabric over the openings in the kitchen so the air would still come thru but the bugs wouldn't. Well, I have that fabric now. It was lucky I didn't wait for Wal Mart because they don't have any. Or nails, but that is another story.

So, from the fabric store I decide to head for the Baslica. I have a fair idea where I am but it amazed me last time and again this time how I can be a few blocks away and can't see it. Have you seen the pictures? It is enormous! Anyway, I feel like I have walked miles - probably 3 blocks - and I'm bushed and I'm hungry and I decide I'm going the wrong way so I change directions. Why, when there is a Soda on every corner is there all of a sudden no Sodas anywhere around? Another block - or 25 meters and I see a little place. I am the only customer and I order chicken fajitas and a strawberry drink. It was great. I ask them where the Baslica is and sure enough I was headed in the right direction and I was only a couple blocks away. I ask them where the bus to Orosi leaves from and I am only a couple blocks from that in the other direction so I decide the Baslica will wait for another day and I head for the bus.

My funny measuring story. Everything is meters and I don't know meters. I do know that from your nose to the tip of your fingers when you hold your arm out is about a yard. I would measure the fabric or ribbon using that method and then say to give me about that amount in meters. I think it worked pretty great.

So, I tell the bus driver I want Wal Mart and he lets me off right at the gate. It is the weirdest set up. You walk across a parking lot, then through a parking garage, then up a ramp. I am getting very much like a local. I had to ask 3 people where the door was. Finally got in the door and got a cart. I went a little wild. Check out the picture and tell me if you think I have enough baking supplies. I wanted to get a covered garbage container for the kitchen so I ended up with a pail that I had the cashier fill with all the baking things. Yes I know, now I have to get on the bus.

So remember, they left me off at the gate so that is where I parked myself with my big red bag and my pail. a green bus went whipping by so I looked around and people seemed to be waiting down the street so I take all my stuff and head down there. And another green bus goes whipping by. I figure there is some kind of secret sign to let them know you want them to stop so I figure next time I will wave my arm, although I haven't seen anyone else has done that.

It's down to me and my bucket and a young couple so I ask them if they are going to Orosi. The young man says, in very good English that they aren't but his girlfriend lives in Orosi and the bus won't stop here, you have to go farther down the street and they would be happy to go with me and carry the bucket. He said he hasn't spoken much English in 3 years. He used to talk a lot in high school and now in university he doesn't use it as much. We got to the new stop and the bus came and stopped and he put my bucket on the bus for me. It was full and the man in the front seat gave me his seat and away we went. 

It really is a lovely drive. At times it is trees right up to the side of the road and other times it opens up to scenes of Cachi and the lake and the river and the mountains. The road isn't that wide and a couple times big trucks came towards us, over the center line and we had to go off the pavement to avoid them. It really is an adventure! As you come into Orosi there are many fields - tomatoes and corn. The corn I know for sure, the tomatoes I am kinda guessing as I am no farm girl.

The rain didn't start until we got to Orosi and now it is pouring. I was lucky and didn't need my hat or umbrella or even my sunglasses. It was 4:30 by the time I got home. I think one day soon I will head in the direction of Turrialba. It is a good sign, even after all of this my leg isn't feeling terrible. Maybe it is what it needed. Either that or tomorrow I won't be able to move.

Here are some pictures of my day.

The yarn/craft shop.

The things I bought for my dream catchers

The place I had lunch

My bucket and bag

Weird WalMart

My goodies for baking

My fabric for the kitchen.

I forgot to tell the nail story. First, using sign language I try to explain I want hooks to hang up clothes. Yup, a hooked up finger with the bottom of my shirt over it, up against the wall. The first answer is they don't have any. Come on guys, this is WalMart. So we go over to the kinda tool dept and I find some plastic ones. Then I want a hammer and nails or hooks or something like that. So, I take the hammer and pretend I am pounding and indicate it is the thing between the hammer and the wall that I need. No, they don't carry those. I think Gerardo has a hardware store. I will check with him next. Wait till I try and demonstrate a staple gun cuz that is really what I need for the curtains.