Life in Costa Rica: Step two done

as you know I went to San Jose a couple weeks ago to renew my passport. By myself, by bus and taxi and stayed overnight. When I came home I went online and made arrangements to have it sent to the central post office in Cartago. I was told 2 weeks which was last Thursday. I made arrangements for Emilio to go with me and I printed out my receipts from Correos and the Embassy.

When I checked with Emilio last night, he was sick so I said no problem, I can do this by myself. I kinda knew where it is - up the street from the old and new yarn shop. I had the address in Spanish and I am not afraid to ask for directions. Took a bus about 10:20 and got to Cartago and hour later. Headed for Correos because I was concuerned they would close for an hour for lunch. I walked and walked and figured I had gone too far so I went into a pharmacy because I figured someone would speak at least a little English. I showed her the name and address and said donde está? She took me to the door and pointed up the street on the other side. I just hadn’t gone quite far enough. See the directions said so far East of such and such church. I was just using the wrong church. There is one every few blocks.

So, I went in, looked around to see if I needed a number and instead participated in musical chairs. When a person goes up to the counter, everyone moves to the chair closer to the front. There were 3 seats and 2 at the counter ahead of me. Finally my turn. I had my papers and my old passport in my hand. She entered stuff in the computer and quoted a figure I had to pay. I said no, I have already paid. She calls another lady out and they ask me for something else. It isn’t my name or my telephone number and I have no idea what they want. A lady gets up from the chairs and says email address.

Both the employees leave and they also have a man involved at this point. I was very relieved when they came back with a mailing envelope and no more mention of any money due. I signed the new passport and off I went to the market for strawberries. Well, no outside vendors on Monday so I went in and had lunch and went to the garden store for ayote seeds and a small cactus. Next was the old grocery store for coffee. It is one of the few places that carries Buen Día which Heather really likes.

Back to the bus and asked for WalMart. The driver told me I should go to the Paraiso bus so I continued on to that. The food Otto brought with Dally was from there so I didn’t want to change . But I did. I will do it slowly and the reason I did is his food doesn’t say for kittens. This one does. I also got litter and a brush and some treats. And yogurt and strawberries and bread and lots of other things. I called Edwin but it went to message so I went down to the taxis and took one. He was very nice but didn’t talk much and I was able to direct him with no problem. He understood to stay on the upper road because there is so much mud in my yard. It isn’t just because of the rain. You can imagine a backhoe isn’t gentle on the yard.

About that. I now have a nice fence, little gate and double gate for cars. They aren’t done yet but it is coming along. When they are finished Jose and helpers will come and plant the area around there. I also have a big dirt bridge over the little creek. I got ayote seeds today to plant along with the flowers and trees. For those that don’t know, that’s pumpkin.

Numbers 3 is to go to the bank in Paraiso or Cartago to get receipts for depositing the money that immigration needs for my residency. You deposit it into their account. We have a bank in Orosi but it isn’t the right one. Number 4 is the trip to San Jose March 8. I guess there is a 5. I will have to go to Correos again to pick up my ID card. That will be a couple weeks after the San Jose appointment. Oops, 6 and 7 will be to take my ID and register with CAJA and then go to the CAJA clinic, get an appointment with the doctor so he can go over my meds and ok or figure out what they have to substitute. They don’t carry all meds for instance my insulin pen. Guess I still have lots to do.

Dally is good but has given me scratches and bite marks all over my body. Everyday she tries new things and is a little more adventuresome. She can now climb up the chair and the sheets to my bed. And she goes to the litter box by herself.