Happy MotherMother's Day was celebrated in style! Arms-full of cards and gifts and breakfast in bed. What more could a Mom want?
First, before I get started, let me apologize to friends back in the Yardley area - I’m sorry if we didn’t get to see you. It was a bit of a last minute, whirlwind trip to the area (we actually made last minute changes to plane tickets that had been bought months before only about a week before coming up) and the main purpose of the trip was to see Dara’s parents. We are glad we got to see who we did - we needed to make the most out of the short time we were there. We would have really liked to see everyone, but time just didn't allow.
The big news here in Costa Rica is that with a wave of her wand, Mother Nature has flipped the switch and initiated the “green” season. And it started with a bang. Everyone has been telling us that it would start May 5. Well, they were wrong. It didn’t start until May 7. Must be global warming.
Supposedly during the rainy season most days start out sunny and warm, then there is a hard rain for an hour or two in the middle of the afternoon, then it clears
Sshhh!The kids let Dara sleep late for Mother's Day -- until 7:20 at least. All right, more sleep would be something a Mom (especially this Mom) would want.
up again. Many people here have told us that they prefer the rainy season - they say nicer temperatures, less dust and pollen, “refreshingness” of rain, yadda, yadda, yadda. I thought the temperatures were just fine and it wasn’t very dusty before, but I was open-minded about giving the green season a chance.
Well, Sunday, the first day of the rainy season was textbook. We woke to a nice sunny day and headed off to a nearby water park with some friends. Unfortunately, the park is now only open to members (for the low, low price of $1000 per year). So after a stop for lunch, we ended up at a local hotel with a swimming pool. They are nice enough to let you use the pool as long as you buy something from the restaurant/bar. Well, after splashing around for a while, the sky quickly darkened. As a warning, for 15 or 20 minutes or so, there were just some sprinkles. Then the serious rain started. It did rain hard - not the crazy, Florida thunderstorm, can’t see-your-hand-in-front-of-your-face, kind of downpour, but pretty good. By this time we were on our way home - we took heed of
Mmmmmmwahh!We went out to dinner for Mother's Day on Saturday night -- we didn't have to worry about the restaurants being crowded for the holiday. Costa Rica's Mother's Day is celebrated in August (hey, wait,
... [more]the warning sprinkles (for a change we heeded a warning). Not long after we arrived home, the rain abated and it turned into a nice afternoon.
Well, the next couple days, on the other hand, weren’t so textbook. We’re talking about all day rain. Shoes never drying out, leaking roof, depressing rain. Really dreary. I seriously started thinking that if the green season was going to be like this, we’d be coming home early - even as early as next week. As it turns out, however, there was just a front or storm passing through. It was a rainy aberration in the green season. The last couple of days have been back to textbook - rain not even that hard. Shoes have dried out. There have even been a couple days (like today) with no rain at all - I thought we were guaranteed rain every day! So I am no longer depressed. When it was all-day rain, I thought the people who preferred the rainy season were crazy. Now that it has settled down, maybe they have a point. We’ll see how it goes.
The "Green " SeasonColloquially known as the rainy season, the tourist industry spin-meisters think they fool more people into visiting by dubbing it the less dreary name, "green" season (the locals call it winter). It'
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The Belt TestThe kids are now yellow belts in Ju-jitsu. Here are the martial artists in action during their test for the next belt. They both did really well. Ellie definitely stole the "cutest" prize with her
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Belt Test 2We're very proud. Unfortunately we forgot our camera but, luckily, one of the other moms had hers and took some pictures of the graduating group. So we got copies of those prints and took pictures o
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Yay Yellow-BeltsHere are the other kids from the Ju-jitsu class (from back): Farah, Daniela (also one of Ellie's preschool classmates) and Marcelo. They passed their belt test the week we were back. Then we invited
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EllieThis handsome guy is Marcelo from Ju-jitsu class. He really likes Ellie -- very cute. He'll be five soon.
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Send Private MessageCongrats on the yellow belts - it reminds me of when Josh just started out. Who would have thought he'd be going for his second-degree black belt next year? They call him Mr. Rosenberg when he helps out in class. Very cute...
Hola Bortmanns! I've had a link to your blog for awhile for just caught up and will subscribe. We are living twin existences!!!! We ran away for a year, too, to have an adventure in Costa Rica. Our boys started at the European School (now at another school - we say so many schools, the choices are huge)... well, I could write 1000 words now. But our lives are amazingly similar. My blog is abroadincostarica.blogspot.com - come visit. We should have lunch sometime - I'm definitely going to the bird house. Thank you - keep writing. I try to do a little everyday - I want this journal forever! Hasta la Vista, Saratica (Sally O'Boyle)(hey, new life, new name!)
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