My fan club is getting restless - both of them so it is time for an update. New Year’s Eve was very quiet here at La Cabana. The weather was yucky yucky yucky so I stayed home. I have learned that having rain and cold and no sun everyday is not my idea of a good time. Especially when you live in a dark house to start with and have to leave all the doors and shutters closed because it is cold and rainy. In the north you add a coat or a blanket or turn up the heat. Here there is no heat. All along the sides of my house it is open between the roof and the walls. I went to visit Ziomara a couple weeks ago and she had 4 layers of tops on. And they were long sleeved, not just tee shirts.
The craft and crochet ladies haven’t met during December and January so it has been pretty quiet for me. It is school break time like our summers. I have been on a few fun excursions. Ziomara’s husband’s daughters, Natalie and Rebeccah, and Emilio and I spent a day in San Jose. I have been told people from this area only go when they have a particular reason - work, school, appointment. They don’t go just for the fun of it, which is what we were doing. Everyone seemed to enjoy it and have a good time. I met the girls in Cartago and we met Emilio in San Jose. We spent a long time going through all the rooms of the Jade Museum and even dug in the archeological site. Lunch was at Pizza Hut - the girls are a little picky what they eat. Emilio and I were willing to try anything. Did some shopping and I came home with Emilio and the girls headed for Cartago. I did learn I must carry my residency info, even if I don’t have my ID yet. The price you pay at museums or attractions is much different if you are a resident or National than if you aren’t.
Last week I took Natalie with me to take hats to the chemo room at the hospital. Security remembered me and my hats -or maybe my red bag and everyone enjoyed the cookies I brought. I had forgotten Natalie’s mother died of cancer but she wants to come back again so she can spend time talking with the ladies. Emilio also wants to go next week. Rebeccah too but you have to be 18 so not till May. I sent word out to the crochet ladies we need more hats. I have enough for one visit next week and then we need 30 more for the other 3 days of the week. They are open 5 days a week and it is different ladies everyday. This time I had a man ask for one so we need to make a few men’s hats also.
And, I took an excursion on my own yesterday and today. Took the bus to Cartago, walked to the Lumaca bus to San Jose, took a taxi to a hotel on the west side by the American Embassy. You go past the National Stadium which the Chinese built for Costa Rica. It is quite impressive. I spent the night, had dinner in the Chinese restaurant, had breakfast which was included ( yes Kent, gallo pinto) and headed for the Embassy which is a few blocks away. This is my first time at an Embassy and it was quite interesting. I knew you had to leave electronics and keys at security locked in a bag. I had left my red bag and keys at the hotel. I had my purse and document holder to go thru screening as well as a basket with my glasses, sunglasses, earrings, bracelets, bag of money and credit cards. They brought my document holder back and said there are pens in there. I had to take them out and lock
them up with my cellphone. I was told if I need to use a pen they will have them inside. I went thru security and to the next area. Once they were sure I had everything they told me to go sit in the red chairs in the next room. I was almost an hour early for my appointment time so I knew there would be a wait but I wanted to make sure I allowed plentyh of time.
I sat in my red chair and looked around. There were 3 agents at the windows and a few people waiting. The agent directly in front of me called a couple names and no one came forward so he looked at me and said are you all ready. I said yes and he motioned me forward. I had my forms filled out, just needed to sign them, had my passport and pictures. I told him I printed out my profile from the Social Security site so he could verify my US address. He said you have it written here, I believe you. I told him I went into a panic last night because when I got my last passport I needed a 2nd govt. issued picture ID and I didn’t have anything. Tons of documents but no pictures. He said so often people have had their passport lost or stolen and they have to work with what they have. We talked about where I live here and he checked to see I am registered with the Embassy. He had me go to the cashier, pay my $110.00 and bring the receipt back to him. It will be two weeks and I have a choice of coming back to get it or pay $7.00 and it will be delivered to the post office in Cartago. I picked Cartago. I will go online, register and pay the $7.00 and send the receipt to the passport office. Then Emilio will help me find it and pick it up. They will notify me when it is there. I was on my way by 10:00am - my appointment was for 10:30.
Back to the hotel to pick up my red bag and find out where I should go to take the bus to Central San Jose. Different bus line and different stop. He gave me a map marked with what I needed to do to get to the bus heading for Paraiso. I know part of the way I was heading in the right direction but who knows where I went wrong. I finally gave up and took a taxi to the Lumaca station. I didn’t go to the buses for Paraiso because they line up along the street and I don’t know how to explain. Anyway, I was able to get off in Cartago right near the Orosi bus stop.
I stopped in Orosi to get money - I am collecting for my next 3 months of rent and I also wanted to visit Katherine and the girls. I got my baby fix and held and played with baby Tesla for a long time. Courtney got lots of cuddles too. Lexi just stands across the room and laughs at me.
That’s it. I still don’t know when my appointment is with immigration. Probably not till March. Heather has talked about coming down so not sure when I will be flying north. Maybe when I can wear short sleeves.
The sun has started to shine more. It hasn’t been raining part of the day. I have lots of projects to finish as soon as I can keep the doors and shutters open. Lots of dirt has been brought for the area near the gate and I have lots of flowers to plant there. Once everything is ready Jose will come with a helper and get it all done. They are also putting in a small gate so I don’t have to open the big one with the chain and padlock every time I come and go.
Orange chicken in a taro root nest.
One of the ladies.
Playtime in the museum.
Tesla and the nap mat I made her.
