I had a delightful day!

Mass at 10:00am and already the Main Street by the school was blocked off. Today is Election Day for local government offices. Their term is 4 years and in 2 years will be the presidential elections. Voting is in the schools and outside are the candidates and vendors and maybe music. Traffic was rerouted here in Orosi. I came home after Mass and picked up my loaf of bread and headed for the bus stop a block away. Because of the detour, the bus came right past La Quinta and continued on our street for a few blocks before heading back to the Main Street. After church some people asked me if Los Banos were up the street past the church. That is the pools in town and I was able to tell them no and head them in the right direction.

In Cartago I walked the block to the church operated by Franciscan monks. As I went in there was a monk blessing people and sprinkling them with holy water so I said me too. I've been blessed! I sat in the church for a little while and then waited in front for Ziomara. She and her daughter were right on time and we headed to her house, which is lovely. I met her husband and his 2 daughters and son. A lovely family. He owns the house next door so they spend their time between the two houses. I told Ziomara her house is not a normal one because it has lots of cabinets in the kitchen and storage areas. Lunch was salad, rice, a mixture of lentils and beans and bacon, broccoli, mushrooms and chicken. Dessert was chocolate cake and I brought a loaf of Papaya Raisin bread. When she tried it she asked if the raisins were soaked in alcohol and I said yes. The recipe says to soak them in rum for a half hour but they had been soaking for two weeks. She said she was going to keep the bread for herself.

After we ate we took a drive to their church where Mass had just started. It is a lovely church, very light and open. Next we walked across the street to the school for her to vote. It was very organized with a list of names outside each room. You find your name and that is the room you vote in. It only took a few minutes.

Back to the house for more talking and then they took me back to the bus. I was told I was welcome back anytime. Ziomara explained to me how much her husband likes my guayaba jelly. She said they were having it with bread and he took a little taste, then a bigger taste, then a really big taste. She said it is different from other guayaba jelly they have had and delicious. I need to bring her more.

When I got home I stopped to chat with John and Debbie and Debbie said "you have a bean about this tall - she motioned about 4 inches." I said that is interesting since I didn't plant any beans. It was dark by then so I can't wait till tomorrow to see it. I did see several little shoots in the flower bed this morning. The area of dill has tons of little spikes coming up. I am preparing myself for thinning time.

In case you are wondering how the 3:30 trip yesterday went, we didn't go. It was dark in the little apartment with no signs of life till about 8:00 last night so I think they slept through till then. They were very tired, having flown all night.

Tuesday is pool day and Thursday is massage. A good week.