We are Here!!

We arrived safely in Costa Rica pretty much on time and enjoyed sharing the flight--would you believe--in the seats next to Joe, Sandra and Steve from NC! As we had booked separately and met only recently we were thrilled to have the time to become better acquainted!

Donilo, Maria and family have been so accommodating and gracious we feel like royalty! The photo above is the entrance to their home. Yesterday we went to our property with Donilo and met three different "neighbors". Everyone was so kind and happy to meet us and offer food! Don loved meeting one of Ramon's sons, Donald, who is a wonderful oil painter and sketch artist! And... with the help of Ramon and Theresa's daughter, Veronica, I have a new Facebook friend! Although we are struggling with the language problems, we are communicating well. With some of Donilo's friends and relatives speaking English, we have made progress! Donilo is working very hard on English writing down all the words and using them quite well. We also are trying to use Spanish, however, Donilo seems to be a quicker study! Maria takes care of their adorable 4 year old Granddaughter, Bianca, pictured here with Don and Donilo, every day and cooks all the time! Bianca is also learning English and seems to just absorb the words. Maria is very gracious, smiles constantly and rules the home with quick and firm Spanish!

Last night we introduced Donilo to Sequence, a board game, we brought with us. Maria wasn't interested in playing but Donilo won his first game. Spanish instructions helped greatly explaining the rules and even gave Donilo the opportunity to let us know we were playing incorrectly! We laugh constantly and, so far, are having a great time! The last photo is a view from Maria and Donilo's driveway!

Today we rode to town with Diego, Donielo's son, and Donielo to visit the Dentist and some American ladies who meet at a Cafe in San Ramon. The Dentist is a young lady and adorable! She fixed one of my fillings and gave us appointments for Monday! Meeting with the ladies wasn't quite so successful---we are at the wrong Cafe!! Better luck next week! The good news, we have internet and can Blog!

Donilo is visiting his good friend who is their nations Congressman!! He is meeting him to give information to the government on farm trade negotiations and domestic farm prices! We are to meet up with him at 1:00 to head back up the hill and hope to walk to our property and meet one of our neighbors, Mele. Her husband, Jim, is back in stated for a few days.

Tomorrow, Friday, we are traveling to Grecia to meet with an Architect, Rodrego Torres. The logistics of getting from one place to another has been a challenge. The bus runs only a couple times a day from Berlin to San Ramon and back. We have been fortunate to ride to town with Diego and Tony who work in San Ramon at the Minicipal. Many have offered to drive us anywhere we want to go but we feel that is a lot to ask and do not mind using the bus system. As we mentioned before, Ticos are gracious and generous.

Although the logistics of all our appointments and meetings has been a challenge, Donilo and Maria have gone above and beyond to avail us of needed information and clarification by introducing us to English speaking people. One in particular is a cousin, Augusta Ceasar, who is going to school to learn to teach English and translates very well. He too has offered himself and his brother for anything anytime!! Wow!!

We will Blog as often as possible but it probably won't be on a daily basis. Also, we promise more photos---forgot the camera yesterday when we walked around the roads near our property! Oh, and that was quite a walk on gravel roads that are very steep up and down!! We were definigely winded, Donilo wasn't fazed in the least!

For today, adios amigos and love to all!