Back to yesterday. I planned on getting the 8:45am bus to Cartago because I wanted to be back in plenty of time for the crochet ladies. And, bad weather is predicted for Wednesday - Thursday because of Huricane Otto. I went to the bus stop and started talking with one of the men from the senior center. The one who wasn't my best student with dream catchers. As we are standing there a car pulls up on the side street and he starts talking to the driver and gets in the back seat. The driver asks if I am going to Paraiso or Cartago and I say yes, Cartago, and he says 500 colones. The bus is 470 colones but no stops would be much faster so I get in the back. There is also a student on the other side. There is a young girl in the front seat. Our only stop was to drop her off at school. The same school where Johanna cooks. Away we go. Now Jose drives slow and the bus goes slow. Not us! Hang on baby we are flying wherever we can. It was quite a trip but we got to Cartago fast. I would do it again and I love it was helping someone a little. 1500 colones for 3 people is only about $3.00 but it was $3.00 he wouldn't have had.
I headed for the store I go to near the market but didn't find much. Then the bakery where I found lots for coffee later today. Then the yarn shop to give Johana the tags for the hats and scarves but she wasn't working so I decided I would see what I could do to find Mayca.
Mayca is a restaurant supply place so bigger packaging and they have things I haven't found other places. I have been wanting to go back for ages but I couldn't figure out where it is. I know Emilio and I walked there but that doesn't mean anything. I asked him Monday evening to give me directions. He is one of the Ticos who give great directions. He sent them to me but here is my problem. Go east 300 meters and go north 40 meters. I don't know where east and north are and I don't know what meters are. I barely know where I am. I enlarged the map so I could see the landmarks. I figured out if I took the street alongside the ruins, Avenue 2, up to the library and turned left on Calle 8, I should come to it in 1 1/2 blocks. Don't I sound like a local! Sure enough I was walking along the side and just had to go around the corner to the entrance.
Grabbed a cart and the first thing I found were the frozen cranberries. Did I tell you we are starting dinner with Sangria? Well I got a bag of frozen strawberries and one of frozen blueberries to put in the Sangria. I will also thinly slice Limon Dulce and add that. I did find big bags of coconut but no chocolate chips or peanut butter. I got a third turkey pan and LOTS of other things. I have my red bag and two other nylon bags and they are all full. Everything fits yes, but now I have to try and carry it back to the bus stop. I would say 6-8 blocks. I really felt like a pack mule. Part way I stopped at a bakery for coffee and a little snack and then made it the rest of the way. The buses are all different here and you never know which one you will have. I hate this one because the last step is a really big one and then the standing area on top is really little because the engine or console or whatever it is takes up all the room. Even the driver has to climb over it to get out. I managed to get the front seats so I could just put everything there. Getting off is just as tricky but I managed to juggle everything and not fall.
There are two different places I get off in Orosi. One is near the pizza shop and the other is almost to the Swiss Shop. I got off at the Swiss Shop one because the Super was open and I could walk thru and not have to go around the block. Everything got put away and I had time to rest before crochet time. Gerardo stopped by but he didn't know what turkey is so I took him over to the small apartment refrigerator to show him. I also put the berries in the freezer there. By Saturday I will probably have all the refrigerators full. When I mentioned to him about Sangria and Bailey's he mentioned champagne. I don't know if that means he is bringing it to the dinner or what. This could be quite a day! We won't care about food.
All of the good tables I used last year have been brought to the party room as well as a long table. The ones that are usually there are in pretty bad shape and really need to have their tops replaced. We may not need to use them. Gerardo has talked about replacing the tops but hasn't gotten around to it.
When I was waiting for the crochet ladies, our first student arrived. Her name is Lydia so now we have two Ligias (the g is pronounced like an h) and a Lidia. Ana also said she has someone who wants to learn how to crochet and make hats but we have to figure out how to do this because we only want 1 student at a time. Now I say we but I am not involved in the teaching. LIgia Sanchez is the main teacher. She is so talented. She made a scarf that is for me from some of the California yarn and has expanded to necklaces where she did macrame for the strings. When she gave me the scarf she said it was made with much love. She can crochet very fast and is prepared to make Kathy's hat and scarf in the week Heather is here so she can take them back with her.
I cannot imagine any other retirement where I could be having so much fun and so many adventures and yet having so many people who care for me and keep an eye on me. I am truly blessed.
The necklace, my scarf and The other Ligia's scarf and hat.
Ligia and Janet with their scarves. JAnet is now making a hat to match.
I love all these things Ligia Sanchez is making with scraps.
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