The Fourth

Not much of an observance for the 4th of July here. We did see posters for a few celebrations in other nearby towns, some even with fireworks, but right here in Uvita it passed without notice. Hope you all had a flag-waving, fireworks filled holiday!

Today we drove down into town, followed by spectacular blue butterflies, because we were hoping to go to the coffeehouse that offers wireless internet service to its customers, to post some video to You Tube (our house connection is too slow for video). Unfortunately they were closed, probably because it was Sunday, although just about every other business seems to be open every day. We watched an informal volleyball match in the attached sports complex, which also features a covered soccer field , a fitness center, a skateboard park, and a café. We talked to some neighborhood children who were kicking around the rattiest soccer ball we have ever seen. They said there are nightly soccer games there between teams from nearby towns, and that we could come and watch for free. We plan to do that one night this week.

The building next to the soccer complex is a church run by a couple from North Carolina. They have been here five years and minister to the local community with weekly non-denominational services in Uvita and also work with poor and orphaned children in the nearby big town of San Isidro. We plan to go to the service next Sunday, and also want to visit San Isidro, which the minister said is the fastest growing city in Central America! There is an open air market on Thursday that takes up an entire city block.

Next we drove partway up the mountain to a waterfall we had heard about. It is spectacular! There is a rickety path down from the parking area, and then we walked on the rocks to reach a deep pool with steep rocks on the sides. Samuel took right to it, and was jumping in and paddling around in minutes. I dived in from a high rocky ledge, but decided not to use the rope swing way up the hill that drops you into the water. Maybe next time. The path to the waterfall itself (picture) is somewhat dangerous, and it being Sunday, was crowded with locals enjoying their day off ( with beer at 10am! ) so we decided to wait until another day to visit and swim there. We went up to the top of the steps and had brunch in a small restaurant (Soda la Catarata). While Amy was taking a picture of a purple flower, a bright green hummingbird flew right by! The prettiest green she had ever seen!

The national breakfast dish here is called gallo pinto, and it contains (you guessed it) rice and beans fried together with vegetables and your choice of eggs, cheeses, or meat. We had two plates like that, and some shrimp with rice, French fries and bebidos gaseosos (cokes) while listening to alternately, the sounds of the waterfall and a very loud jukebox. The rice we have been served here is seasoned with a delicious sauce sold in the markets. It has a vegetable extract, malt flavoring, sea salt and cano sucre, and it gives meals a distinctive tangy flavor we really like. The local shrimp were much like Savannah’s, and the papas fritas (French fries) came with a Costa Rican ketchup that is somewhat different from the American version. It was a very filling and satisfying meal.

We headed down the mountain to the beach after that. Along the way is the local cemetery, where the crypts are all above ground, like in New Orleans. This one (picture) has its own tent for funeral services, too, because church funerals are very expensive.

Sunday is very busy at the local Hermosa Beach. Dozens of families had set up little encampments with hammocks, cooking equipment and even tables with white tablecloths for their wine, beer, and meals. Sarah and Samuel made friends with some ninos and played in the stream that runs from the mountain into the ocean. The sea itself was treacherous when we arrived The incoming tide creates 15 foot waves and a very strong riptide. All the kids, even the local ones, stayed well back, and only a few adults ventured very far into the surf.

As the clouds moved in about 3pm we packed up and returned to our house, where a bright green frog had taken up residence on the window sill (picture). I think he is the same one I fished out of the pool last night when I heard him croaking, and he was swimming around and around, trying to find a way to get free. I guess he was so happy to be rescued he decided to stick around. I moved him to the lawn as the rain kicked in harder, so we’ll see if he appears tomorrow.

We’ve come up with so many things we want to do, we are making up a calendar so we don’t forget, or miss the things that only happen on certain days. Next week we hope to go zip lining, see a soccer game, go to a pizza and salad bar restaurant that has an open mike night, drive to San Isidro, revisit our farmer’s market, and go to the church I mentioned. At this rate, we’ll need a vacation when we get home!

Samuel wants to know why everyone is speaking Spanish! I don’t think he understands we are in another country. Happy 4th of July! We do miss the good ole’ USA and especially its ICE.

Signing off from paradise….

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Pura Vida!