Pura Vida - and its for a month!

Finally! The Turk and I are in Costa Rica. This trip was planned for last year, but the knee surgery took priority. We picked Atenas as our home base because it is central, is known for having the best climate, and because we found a great house to rent for a month.  We got here and found out - all true!

View from living room window into valley

We've only been here a day, so have spent it foraging for food and drink of course.  And we've started with our house duties, like cleaning the pool and picking fresh lemons. We drove to the big grocery store and had to enter through a gate where we were given a card, and no explanation - not that we would understand if given.  After our shopping, which focused on beer, beans, and bread we drove out through the gate and had to give them back the card.  Curious...  so we asked our landlord.  Apparently the magic card prevents your car from getting stolen.  If someone steals your car, they wont have the magic card to show the gate person and supposedly won't be able to take your car.  ok....

the Turk playing 'pool boy'

We decided this morning to hike into town so that we could see everything along the way. We walked the sidewalk down our hilltop into town - a 30 minute hike. Along the way, the Turk talked non-stop. What did he say? It was nonstop chatter about which fruits were hanging from the trees. And that I should watch out because something was sure to drop on my head.
In addition to low hanging fruit, we saw orchids, Lenten crosses, interesting signs and met really nice people who smiled when the Turk tried out his turk-span-speak.  We walked the whole town and discovered great places to buy fresh fish, meats, breads.  We found a beautiful tree shaded park in the center of town across the street from the church (the hub of the town). And several restaurants we will try. But tonight, the turk will grill chicken, with beans and rice.  And we'll drink Costa Rican rum!

Watermelons in waiting area, not sure what they are waiting for

orchids hanging from tree in a yard

fresh papaya, strawberries for our Refrescos

our fruit smoothy chef

now i'm really confused. where am I?

Pupusas for lunch!

the turk patiently waits for his pupusa

Its Lent, so we see crosses with purple draping everywhere, even in restaurants

Cross in front yard

Probably a type of honeysuckle