New Year's Eve and New Year's Day

I don't know about Costa Ricans in general, but Gerardo's family doesn't give you much notice when something is happening. Yesterday afternoon Gerardo and Ana stopped at the Canadians apartment and called me over. I understood we were invited to Ana's house at 8:00pm. I had just finished making batter so I gave Gerardo a Tom and Jerry and he really liked it. I said I would bring it with me that evening. We thought we knew how to find Ana's house as they had dropped her off after the visit to the mountain house. Gerardo went over the directions using the tiles on the floor. We left here at 7:30 and swung by the pizza shop to drop off a Tom and Jerry for Emilio's father in a cup big enough so they could all have some. When we got in front of the hardware store we saw Gerardo parked in front and he gave us a ride the rest of the way. I was told he had tried explaining something to them the last time but none of them understood. It turns out Ana lives right by the old hardware store and that is what he was trying to tell them.

Ana has a lovely house with a great outdoor area. Part of it is covered and that is where we were all evening. There were about 30 family members from several generations. The food was plentiful and served all evening. Chicken and beef on the grill. 

We could hear fireworks all evening, but nothing elaborate. We left about 11:00pm and walked home. A few minutes before 12:00 the heavy fireworks started and lasted for about a half hour.

I slept late this morning and had a lazy morning. My New Years resolution is to spend less time checking the iPad and more time living here in the moment. I also decided to spend the day like I want to spend the year so I started by making the banana sandwiches and freezing them. Then I made Nutella Banana bread and mixed the coconut and sweetened condensed milk for coconut balls. Gerardo stopped over and invited us to go with him to the mountain where the family was gathered. I said I needed 32 minutes for the bread to finish and John and Debbie offered to help. I finished melting the chocolate while they rolled the coconut balls. Then I got out the bananas and they dipped them for me. We took the bread and the bananas with us and away we went.

We stopped at the mountain home to get the Costa Rican coffee maker and continued up the mountain to a park at the top. What a beautiful spot. Chicken on the grill and all kinds of things to eat. I added mine to the table but it wasn't until I passed out the chocolate covered bananas and sliced the bread that anyone took them. The music was playing and Papa was dancing and a bonfire was going.

On the way down Gerardo put the car in 4 wheel drive and we headed down what was barely a trail. What beautiful views. We could see all the way to Cartago. 

John, Debbie and I sat and enjoyed a Tom and Jerry. It really was a wonderful New Years Day and a great way to start the year.

Tomorrow I will do a quick run to Cartago for supplies for the class on Monday and in the afternoon we will finish dipping the coconut balls in chocolate.

My visitor during the party last night.

John and Debbie enjoying the music.

Papa and Debbie