tUSDAY tUNES: I'VE GOT SUNSHINE IN MY POCKET

tUESDAY tUNES: Bossa Nova was the background to another late afternoon cocktail by the ocean.  An ocean breeze, Ceviche and a Sangria Diablo all spoke to me ... 

May this warm your bones as well -

BOSSA NOVA & Cocktails

MONDAY MUSINGS: ANOTHER WOMAN LEADER

 MONDAY MUSINGS have me a bit surprised this am in Costa Rica as I walked by a couple of schools yesterday where voters were lining up for voting. Yes, on a Sunday, no less to ensure citizens could cast their vote for one of the 40 presidential candidates. In my mind I had no doubt there would be a runoff with so many contenders but I was not alone as many Ticos were surprised to learn differently too..

For the last 2 weeks I have heard the political candidate's cars with flashing lights and blaring political jargon ambling through our INVU neighborhood here in Quepos at all times of the day. How could there not be a runoff with so many political contenders?

Yet, the voters have spoken and it was a big win (48-50% ) for the right-wing Sovereign People's party candidate, Laura Fernandez, a hand-picked successor to outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves. I had seen her a couple times speaking on tv interviews with her mere 39 years young, she is well spoken, attractive and spoke to the issues that TICOS are concerned about, the rising drug-related crime and violence.

Cocaine trafficking is on the rise here and she promised to be tough. She also promised to work on security for their economy. One thing voters were worried about if she will work towards allowing consecutive terms for Presidents. Interesting as the U.S.'s present President wants to discontinue our 2-term policy to unlimited whereas Costa Rica has only ever allowed one term. We shall see, won't we?

MIDWEEK MUSINGS:A WHALE OF A TALE ....

Never too late for  MUSINGS  as the 3 Musketeers joined the Ocean King catamaran sunset outing... It did not disappoint...

We had mixed reports regarding upper-level chair availability, so after the itinerary and rules were given in both English and Spanish re: moving chairs and jumping in the water before the appropriate time, we rushed to the upper deck to secure front-row seating. 

The company was fun, music was great, tropical drinks didn't hurt as we were equipped with our wrist bands for 4 drinks, fruit appetizers, a traditional fish dinner in addition to a gorgeous afternoon filled with possible whale/ dolphin watching, a dip in the ocean/ snorkeling and, of course, another spectacular Costa Rican sunset.

Just last June I had gone on a smaller boat to whale watch in southern California but all I saw was a dark form and I was thrilled then to even have had a sighting.

We hit the jackpot Monday since actually whale watching takes place in two other past months, not January. Awaiting us about 15 miles out was a pod of 5 humpback whales. Unbelievable!

Imagine the boat's passengers' glee to not only witness spouting and fins but also heads and tails...

  There was clapping and cheering as the engines idled while the whales circled our catamaran.  

I got my exercise running around the deck trying to capture it all.

At one point the whales were so close to the boat, one could almost touch them. Thrilling. 

I have so many video clips  but below is my favorite photo of the day which really makes this musing a whale of a 'tale'...

What a sight to behold...

FOTO FRIDAY: MY 1st VISIT to MANUEL ANTONIO

 

FOTO FRIDAY: Favorite shot in Manuel Antonio 

 Last week's WINDOW VIEW

TBT: 2019

 TBT:2019 Back in 2019 I posted this frozen thermometer from the End of the Rainbow Valley. I think the South and my friends and family in Arkansas now understand...  

"Although at 10pm we are at -18 by 7am the thermometer will read -25 and that is not a wind chill temp! 48 hours of this cold. Schools, malls and even the postal service won’t be operational tomorrow."

tUESDAY tUNES: Cuando Calienta el Sol

tUESDAY tUNES is a blast from the past since I am livng in a beach town and spending time on the beach and made a five decade memory resurface. What could be more appropriate than this original version of Cuando Calienta el Sol ... a song I learned in my early 20's. This is the original version ... not the Luis Miguel version.

 All I can say is, it's hot!

ORIGINAL TUNE : CUANDO CALIENTA EL SOL  

And here's the English version Love Me with all of your Heart  by Engelbert Humperdinck Love Me With All Your Heart

but LITERALLY ;

When the sun heats up here on the beach

I feel your body close to me.It's your heartbeat, it's your face, it's your hair, it's your kisses that make me tremble...

I like the Spanish version...

MONDAY MUSINGS: CASAS de AMOR

MONDAY MUSINGS: Casa de Amor is where I was assigned to spend Monday through Friday mornings during my month here in Quepos, Costa Rica. A bus ride takes Steve, my co-teacher and me to Paquita, a small town 10 minutes outside of Quepos. 

(How surprising to see rice fields en route! I was then told that in their last rainy season there were 22 days of continuous rain. WOW!)

The bus driver already knows us and where we need to get off...

A five-minute walk then takes us to Casa Amor, a free men's rehabilitation center where patients voluntarily join a 9-month program in search of a life free of alcohol/ narcotics through routine and discipline. 

They have chores/work that may alter their class attendance. The residents hail from mainly surrounding areas but as we listened to their introductions, I  also heard Colombia, El Salvador and Nicaragua. Regardless, many come to consider Casa Amor home. Some have returned to the program more than once... This group's ages range 17- 66 years old with varying degrees of literacy.

Main housing: Great room as  den/class/ dining 
 kitchen and bunk bed s for 

Our job is to equip them with some English which might be useful in their future lives, the service industry, in particular, food service has me scouring the net for useful vocab and ideas. Luckily, the book English for Restaurant Workers has been found and will be a terrific asset, in addition to my fixation with cooking shows and legends like Anthony Bourdain. Wink, wink.

This project is good work, and I feel privileged to have a little part in their program. In such crazy times, we all need to provide 'casas de amor..