April 22, 2008

Packed and ready to leave on vacation

Dear Dad

Last weekend David and I went to Punta Coral.  We stopped at the new Casa Calypso first to pick up some plans so that we can make new ideas for remodeling.

Both the dock and kitchen where we are now have received notice that we are moving and will be gone in three months. I am sure that both landlords are very disappointed we are moving; but we are very happy about the move. J

All the employees in Puntarenas are happy that there will once again be Casa Calypso.

It is like being reborn.  As soon as we saw the empty lot where the old Casa Calypso used to stand, we were shown the new house.  It is about 100 years old and so far everyone we have shown it to or have talked about it is very excited for us.  A new chapter in our busy lives.

As soon as we told the girls in the kitchen about the move David and I walked to the dock to find Mario waiting in the Amapola to take us to Punta Coral

The water leaving Puntarenas was choppy and I was sitting too far forward and when the Amapola went up and down after hitting a big wave I hit the bench very hard.

I didn’t notice anything until after we arrived at Punta coral and I went upstairs to make the bed. I tried to fold the sheet under the mattress and a sharp pain almost knocked me to the ground.  The pain was around my waist.

I have never had any problems with my back and couldn’t imagine what was causing the pain I was having; except for the pounding I got when in the panga/dingy earlier.

I walked around the property hugging my tree and a couple others that are the same type but smaller trying to loosen up the pain in my lower back.  Is this what getting older does to one?

David and I were alone for the weekend.  The weather was perfect with a cool breeze, crystal clear water and no clouds in the sky.

There have been some interesting things happening at Punta Coral.  One is that there is a crocodile that is longer than the kayaks that has been seen in our bay.  I know it sounds crazy and it is.  Crocodiles do not usually live in salt water, but apparently can adapt if they have to. This news kept me out of the water on Friday.

A snake has attacked one of the nests that the wrens built in a palm tree near the dining area and forced them to move to another nest the little birds have built as a decoy.

Misael said he heard a commotion and went to look and found that a thin garden snake had slithered up the coconut palm and into the nest.

Flocks and flocks of pelicans flew overhead at sunset, a wonderful site to see especially since they were missing from the area after all of them died two years before.

The islands at the point of Cedros Island are white with tropical snow (really bird poop).

Where once there was only one island that the frigates used for nesting; has multiplied into five islands and part of the main island.  Why did they move?  We aren’t sure but they have defiantly moved closer to Punta Coral. David thinks it is to be near better fishing grounds. Maybe he is right.

 

The sunset was beautiful and star gazing incredible.  We waited until the almost full moon appeared, so bright that some of the stars seemed to fade away and went to bed.

The monkey that was living in the old giant mango tree behind the casona/big house is gone.  We could smell a skunk and luckily didn’t see one.

After two Advil and a martini I took my sore back to bed.  I felt much better in the morning and thought that problem was gone until I bent over to check the dirt in one of the planters and the terrible pain returned. 

This is not what I needed to have when traveling.  David called Celiece and she arranged for a physical therapist she knows to come to the house in San Jose upon our return.

The rest of Saturday David and I sat in the giant rancho and we were entertained with all of Mother Nature and just kept looking around and listening to all the sights and sounds of the jungle.

We have missed the blossoming of the Yellow Cortez trees in the jungle on the peninsula where Punta Coral is located.  The delicate flower only makes a quick appearance and it is hard to time our visit out there when the trees are in bloom.  More often than not, a big rain happens when the trees are covered in bright electric yellow flowers and the rain knocks them to the ground.

We watched 4 Yellow Breasted Fly Catchers fly into the nests of the little wrens.  The wrens attacked and scared the bigger birds away. This battle went on for an hour and had David and I entertained.

Missing were the big flocks of Grackles a crow like bird that seems to be everywhere.  It is a pesky bird and not missed. Where did they all go?

In the late afternoon it started to drizzle, but to our disappointment stopped after a few minutes.  The plants could use a good rain shower. If you look closely you can see tiny buds just waiting to burst open at the first big rain showers.

When the sun began to set we watched another fight between two male Kingfisher birds.

One we see in the yard all the time and he fought to protect his privacy and managed to chase his rival away.  Lots of action this last weekend.

The mango trees were full on monkeys and I could see their full bellies after they all gorged themselves on the delicious fruit.  The monkeys hang over the branches, legs dangling and nap during the heat of the day.  The big male made his famous sound to try and scare me away.

David and I returned to San Jose on Sunday to have extra time to get ready for our three week vacation.  There are always last minute details and we both wanted another day in the office.

The gardener came over in the afternoon and cleaned the rain gutters and finished planting the plants we bought a few weeks earlier.  The yard looks beautiful.

I made a feeder to put a banana on top to try and get other birds to come into the yard.

It didn’t work, I only attracted squirrels. I can hear the birds’ song but they all seem to stay hidden in the trees that border our back wall.

I finally got a massage from the woman Celiece recommended and she told me that my back, shoulder and neck muscles are too tight and need to be stretched out 2 inches on each side.  She worked on me and I feel better and wanted to take a nap right after she finished. Instead I am sitting at my desk trying to finish the last of my obligations so I leave knowing all is in order.  We have really great office staff and will be able to be in contact with the wherever we are.

Everyone is so happy that we are taking a family vacation – all of us together the first time in over 20 years.  We are off to big adventures and lots of visiting with family and friends.

David went to buy a BBQ for a special Incentive tour that requested steak.  He also has to return to the place where he gets big bags of cat food because the kid gave him dog food instead and David didn’t notice until he went to give Celiece her cat food and looked closely at the bag.

Celiece and Marlon are off buying organic soap and a cleaning product for the decks onboard Manta Raya.  Then they are buying rice husks to leave for their workers who are planting around their house.  Bryan is trying to get paid for a job and then will go home to pack.

We have a van coming to pick us up at 4:45am tomorrow.  Then we fly off to Miami for two days.

Friday we fly to L.A. and will visit with David’s kids and grandchildren with a trip to Disneyland too.

Tuesday we fly to Kauai and will be there for about a week and then we fly to the big island of Hawaii to visit friends before we leave the islands and return to the mainland and San Francisco.

Before you know it, you will see us.  We are on our way. Everyone is excited to see you and Marlon wants to finally meet you.

 

This is the news for this week.  I will send you post cards while we are traveling around.

 

I love and miss you.

 

Besitos,  Cecs