the parade (el desfile)

Probably most people in the States have seen the Rose Parade on TV at least once in their life, and whether or not you like flowers or floats or marching bands it’s hard to deny that it is an impressive event. I have not only watched several years of the parade in my pjs on the couch, but had the opportunity to take a close-up look at several floats receiving the final touches just a day before and to be curbside for the actual event on January 1, 2001 (followed by endzone seats at the Rose Bowl where I watched my own University of Washington Huskies trample Purdue – what a great way to start off the year). If you have experienced any of the same then you know what I am talking about, and if not, then you’ll just have to trust me that it’s incredibly impressive. Kind of sets the bar unreasonably high in the world of parades. Alright, so a couple days ago I got to witness a Costa Rican parade, and while it in now way compares with the whole to-do in Pasadena, it was entertaining and impressive in its own way.

Every September 25th there is a parade here in Limón to celebrate the day when Christopher Columbus landed here in 1502, as part of his 4th exploratory journey. So since I had missed the parade and spectacle on the 15th (Costa Rica’s Independence Day) when I was with my parents, I definitely wanted to take advantage of the fact that here I was in Limón on this special day. I had heard a few different stories as to when the event would start and how long it would last, but around 11am I found myself mid-parade route as I was downtown doing an errand. People were lined on the streets, but only 1 or 2 deep – nothing that made watching the activity or walking on the sidewalk or ducking the rope and crossing the street too difficult of a task. What I saw was groups of students from all different schools “marching” down the street. There were all ages, from kindgergarden to high school, and each school had a “band,” which consisted only of drummers, a group of girls with little symbols, and some had other groups of girls with batons or little pom poms, or the like. The drummers did indeed maintain a more traditional march as they proceeded down the street, but the symbol and pom pom girls had all sorts of fun little moves – side to side, high kicks, touch the heels, shake the hips, turn and twirl… some even threw a cartwheel or 2 into the mix. It was really the most interesting conglomeration of marching, dancing, and gymnastics, all while trying to make some sort of progress in a forward direction, and with the hope that everyone would be synchronized and maintain the same rhythm. Each different school was led by a group of honor students – those with the highest grades in their respective classroom – sporting a spruced-up version of the school uniform, topped off with sash depicting their honorary status and many carrying the Costa Rican flag. The uniforms and outfits for the band members and symbolists, etc were quite the sight to be seen as well. Many included some type of hat (cowboy, newsboy, English golfer, cropped-off version of a chef’s hat, or even a girl’s Easter Sunday white, wide-brimmed hat complete with ribbon and bow), skirt or shorts or pants, blouse or button-up top, maybe a tie or some sort of sash, matching boots or shoes, and even knee high socks with little bows sewed on. For me, it was quite the site. I guess I am just used to the whole awkwardly-fitting linen pant and long sleeved, suit jacket-like top version of a band suit and the standard cheerleading uniform and pom poms. This was quite the different story, however. After watching for a few minutes I decided it was something worth coming back to, and with my camera. I did, in fact, return around 1pm in the afternoon and ended up watching the endless string of bands make their way (slowly) down the route until after 5pm, and it hadn’t even ended yet! I learned that there were some 60-70 bands involved, and although it was a short route the pace of procession allowed you to take a short cat nap and not miss a thing, so even though I think it all started around 9 or so in the morning, I still heard drummers a drumming after 6 at night. I did take several photos, although I don’t feel like the pictures really do justice to the whole entourage. I also should add that the event pulled quite the crowd, as well. Upon my return in the afternoon I found the streets much more crowded, people standing 3 and 4 deep, and movement along the sidewalk to be a bit like what I imagine its like to maneuver your way around Wal-Mart at 6am the day after Thanksgiving. All in all – quite the sight for little Limón, and another interesting story for my scrapbook of Costa Rica.

FYI - Do Not Be Alarmed, or Discouraged

Hi all,

I just wanted to give you a little preface about the blogs from the past 2 weeks when my parents were here. I broke them down into 4 parts and I just decided to go ahead and post them all at once. But don´t feel overwhelmed... go at your own pace. There is a lot there. So maybe 1 part every few days or something.... Hahaha. Okay, enough of me telling you what to do. Also just wanted to mention that the most recent post is number 4 so you have to start at the bottom and work your way up from 1 to 4, only if you want to go in order, that is.
Alright, enough said. Hope you enjoy!

The Parental Visit – part 4 – Bocas del Toro, Panama

Tuesday morning we headed out at 7am on a bus from Limón bound for the border. It was about a 3 ½ hour ride of stop and go, people on and off, and getting hotter outside, and therefore on the bus as well. My parents survived quite well, however. They braved the circumstances and even found it quite interesting to see the condition of the roads, the style of houses, the different types of people, and just get an idea of what Costa Rican life is like outside the city. One memorable moment on the bus was when a old man boarded with a cardboard box full of baby chickens in it. Who knew that you could be serenaded by the sound of a couple dozen little chicks while on a crowded bus driving through the country?! That had never happened to me before…another special treat just for the folks! After we arrived at the border town we gathered our things and walked across the train/truck/car/pedestrian very old bridge and entered into Panama. Upon completing our required paperwork and passport stamping, we were approached by a young man who offered a taxi service to the boat launch, and then a boat ride to Bocas. It seemed like a great deal since it by passed another hour long ride in a minivan bus that I had made on my first trip down, so we took him up on the offer. And it all worked out just great. We had a nice taxi truck ride for about 20 minutes or so to a boat launch, then boarded a large ski boat-like craft and were whisked away on quite a scenic 45 minute trip to the dock in Bocas. And since I had already been there and knew where to go, we headed straight for the hotel I had stayed at on my first visit and were checked into our room with the A/C blasting (my dad’s first move) in no time. In all it had been about a 6 hour trip, not too bad, but enough to make us hungry and thirsty and ready to relax. My mom had a dream of sitting at a restaurant right on the water, sipping on a cold drink, and just enjoying a leisurely meal and a great view, and somehow we were able to make that happen. We found a perfect restaurant, sat right on the edge of the water, sheltered from the sun by and umbrella, and an un obstructed view of the water and surrounding islands. The perfect spot. After another great meal we moved to the wooden lounge chairs on the edge of the dock and just sat and enjoyed our surroundings and company. Later that night we enjoyed another great view and aoutside patio at our hotel and passed the evening playing cards with dessert and sipping coffee, hot chocolate, or Coke, depending on your liking.
Wednesday morning my parents got to experience the great breakfast I had shared about in my blog after my first Bocas visit. Both my dad and I had a plate of my famous French Toast, and we all enjoyed the breeze, and the view as we discussed our plans for the day. We didn’t get too far into the discussion before we were approached by a man named Bobby, who was a friend of the taxi driver we had had from the border to the boat launch. The taxi driver had phoned his friend and told him where we were staying, so Bobby showed up to see what we wanted to do in terms of getting out on the water. It turned out to be a perfect setup because we had Bobby and his boat all to ourselves, and it was a cloudy day so my sun-sensitive father could join us for a boat ride and some snorkeling. It turned out to rain for most of the morning, but we were able to do some snorkeling in a couple different spots, plus see a lot more of the landscape and islands I the area. That afternoon it cleared up and dried out and after some souvenier shopping and strolling around Bocas we were ready for a similar waterside dining experience, so we figured “if it ain’t broke…” and headed back to our same restaurant from the day before. It was our “last supper” of sorts, as the folks would be heading out in the morning, so it was kind of a bummer for that reason. My parents had really enjoyed their time here and just being on vacation, and especially not having to make any decisions, and leaving all the communication and knowledge of situation and environment to me. And I had equally enjoyed having them here, being able to show them my home and life, and serving as their tour guide. That night ended in similar fashion – more cards and beverages and dessert at our hotel restaurant and patio. Now there is one interesting side note I must mention here. Our hotel is owned by a guy from Israel. He came out to Bocas and built the hotel 5 years ago and is now the owner and manager. I learned that when I was there in June, and at that time there was 1 or 2 other guys from Israel who were there to visit and surf. Well, this time it turns out that nearly the whole hotel was occupied by visitors from Israel. We don’t know if they were all family or friends of the owner, or had just heard from word of mouth, or what, but there were at least about 15 or so of them. Whenever we were in the restaurant at the hotel we were pretty much the only ones speaking English, and it wasn’t because everyone else was speaking Spanish, but Hebrew rather. Who knew that a trip to little Bocas del Toro, Panama could provide one with the opportunity to meet and be surrounded by more people from Israel than I have met in my entire life?! That is just part of what is great about traveling, I guess!
Thursday was a sad morning as it marked the end of our time for my parents and I. We had another great breakfast at our hotel, packed up their stuff, took a few last photos, and got a ride from the hotel owner to the nearby airport (and by nearby I mean about 2 minutes away). It was a cute little airport with not nearly the same levels of security clearance that we have in the US so it wasn’t a problem for me to come in and do all the check-in and paperwork and customs stuff, then wait with my parents for their flight to take off. Their plane was a little prop plane with about 12 passengers, headed to San José, Costa Rica, where they would land at 10:30am then transfer to the main international airport and take off on their way back to the states at 1:30pm. It was a bummer to have to say goodbye to the ‘rents. I had truly enjoyed the time hanging out with them, and I had really gotten used to not only not being alone all the time, but always having “friends” around. For the past 5 months I had been pretty much on my own, save the week that my friend Jessamy was here, so to have both my parents around and spend almost every day with them for 2 weeks was a whole new experience, and one I had grown accustomed to. So it was a little strange at first, wandering around Bocas and back to the hotel on my own. And playing cards with one person doesn’t quite work the same way. Ha. But I managed and adjusted, and survived the rest of Thursday and then Friday morning on my own in Bocas before taking the 12:30pm boat back to the mainland and starting the return trip. I arrived safely back in Limón around 6:00pm Friday night and now am thinking about all that I need to and want to do during these next 3 weeks, which are my last ones here in Limón. I can’t believe it will be October soon, and before I know it, my time here in Limón will be finished, at least for now…

The Parental Visit – part 3 - Limón

Saturday morning we drove back to San José, dropped off the rental car, and took a taxi to the bus station to head down to Limón. We got to the station about 5 minutes before 11 and were not only able to get seats on the 11:00 bus, but the front row, which meant more leg room and a great view of the scenery and activity on the road. My parents loved the view as we drove through the mountains and countryside, and were quite entertained by the true Costa Rican driving style displayed by our driver. Once in Limón, the folks got a taste of the good ole Caribbean heat and humidity. I think they were dripping with sweat before we even made it out of the bus station. :) I had reserved a room at a hotel downtown and the room had a cute little patio looking right out at the Caribbean. We checked in, unloaded their stuff, cranked on the A/C, then decided to take a walk around downtown Limón. After awhile the rain drove us indoors, so we stopped off for a break and a cold treat at TCBY. How nice. Later, I brought my parents up the hill to my house so they could see where I live and they met Mirna and her daughter, Karin, who I live with. That night we had a great leisurely dinner and dessert at the hotel restaurant before I took a cab back home.
Sunday morning I brought my parents to church with me at First Baptist Church. I had explained to them that it was basically an all Negro congregation, besides me, so they would be sure to stand out as visitors. So you can imagine my surprise to walk in, sit down, and then see this huge parade of about 40 American young people come walking up the aisles and dispersing themselves among the pews. Turns out that we blended right in to what was nearly the new majority that Sunday. Besides the visit of our own mission team from CCC in July, I had never seen any other Caucasian Americans at all until, of course, the one time I bring my parents. I couldn’t help but chuckle about that. Anyway, after church and lunch, the folks and I took a bus for a short ride along the coast out to see one of the 2 main ports in Limón. My dad loved watching the huge ships load and unload semi truck containers of bananas and pineapples and who knows what else. It was just the type of thing his mechanical and engineering mind is intrigued by. That night my mom and I made a visit to Getsemaní Baptist Church to meet some of my friends there, and share in part of their worship. Given the fact that it is all in Spanish, and her not understanding anything, the whole service might have been a bit much, so we ducked out early and headed back to the hotel to have dinner with my dad. Luckily, Sunday had been a cooler, cloudy day, so although the folks did not remain perfectly dry, it was much more of a pleasant experience than it could have been for them.
Monday morning my mom and I took the bus out to the nearby sandy beach and waded in the water and soaked up some rays for a bit. It was a big occasion – being my mom’s first time in the Caribbean and all, and the warm water and golden sand didn’t disappoint. It was quite a hot, sunny day though, so we didn’t last too long spread out on towels in the sun-bathing position. Our time had served our needs just perfect though, so we gathered our stuff and took the bus back into town. For lunch I took my parents to this great restaurant on top of a hill just above my house. The restaurant has a fabulous 180+ degree view overlooking all of Limón and off into the endless Caribbean, and even the beaches further south. Given the sun and blue sky, we had the perfect day for taking advantage of the view. And the food was great too! In the afternoon my mom and I did some souvenir shopping, a couple errands, and managed to find a cute café for an afternoon coffee break. That night my parents came with me to Getsemani Baptist Church so they could be special guests at my English class. It was fun to be able to introduce my students and friends to my parents, and vice versa. Plus, I think my parents really enjoyed watching me in action as a teacher. After class we cooled off with a treat from TCBY, at my dad’s request and not mine – what a surprise! I guess I know where I get my love of frozen yogurt from…

The Parental Visit – part 2 – Puntarenas, Arenal, beaches

On Tuesday morning, September 12, I left from Limón and made the 2-bus trip out to the west coast to hang out with the ‘rents. Their time share had set them up with a suite-type room at this huge all-inclusive resort. It was beachside, plus had several pools, tennis courts, scheduled activities all day long, all you can eat buffet meals, and evening entertainment. Quite the spectacle. And I have never been one to turn down a buffet. :)
Wednesday morning we took off in the rental car and headed inland to Volcano Arenal. My brother had visited the volcano, and this amazing resort at the base of the mountain where they feature natural hot springs, when he had traveled a bit in Costa Rica while living in Honduras as part of his Army service. I had talked to him just a few days before our parents had arrived and he told me about this resort and said that I MUST take our parents there. So much so that he even decided to make it an early anniversary present for them book us a room. (Lucky me to cash in on that!) So there we were, making this gorgeous drive through the scenic countryside to the volcano. The resort/hotel was AMAZING. (You can check it out and see pics of the views and hot springs, etc at www.tabacon.com) Upon checking in at the front desk we were served with a fruity drink in a fancy cocktail glass with a festive straw as a “welcome” beverage. When have I ever gotten a “welcome” beverage at the Best Western?? We were a little early and the room was not ready, so we grabbed our suits and headed to the hot springs. They had locker rooms, towel service, and all sorts of staff people around to help with whatever. I am so not used to the whole 5-star resort treatment…how enjoyable! The hot springs were incredible. It’s all natural and basically you stroll on these little cement paths through the tropical flowers, trees, and vegetation and then you enter the stream/river/pools etc. and find yourself sitting in hot tub-like temperatures. Some of the “pools” have mini waterfalls, so you can sit on the rocks and have the hot water come crashing down on your back – just like a therapeutic massage! The various pools in the stream vary in temperature from about 80 to 100+ degrees, some are calm, others have more of a current and/or a waterfall. What’s your pleasure?! So after sampling just about every pool and stream at least once, we took our warm and massaged bodies to our room. The hotel room turned out to be fabulous as well, and had a stunning view of the volcano straight out the back sliding glass window. My mom was experiencing a little taste of heaven as she pulled up a chair and just sat there and watched the mountain. There was actually something to watch, as well. After a short little rain shower, the fog and clouds that usually block most of the view, were on the move, revealing not only the volcano itself in its entirety, but also crowning it was not 1 but 2 rainbows. What a sight. I had been up to this volcano back in July at the end of the trip with the mission team from CCC and in just under 24 hours of time we hadn’t seen anything but clouds and fog in place of the mountain. During the night we had been able to see a few stones of lava rolling down the side of the mountain – our only confirmation that the volcano even existed. This time, however, my parents and I were able to see it in its entirety, even if only for a few moments as the clouds rolled through. That night we had dinner at one of the hotel restaurants and had front row seats for what turned out to be a most spectacular display of lava flow. It came pouring, tumbling, and crashing down the side of the mountain for nearly the entire 3 hour dinner. Even the waiters and staff at the restaurant were gathering to watch, rarely seeing anything like that. Our dinner was just like the rest of our experience – all-star material. Excellent food, a great waiter, the previously mentioned natural wonder, and of course, great company. The next morning we took a guided walking tour through the national park at the base of the mountain and got a different view, plus a whole lot more information about the history and formation of the volcano. Check out time was at noon, but in true 5-star fashion, guests are allowed to use the hot springs and facilities all day, even after checking out. So we got one more round at all of the hot springs and pools before having to say goodbye to our little slice of heaven on earth.
On Friday afternoon we took off from the resort in Puntarenas and drove south along the water to Jaco Beach. We were in search of a horseback riding adventure, but nothing turned out to be what we were looking for, so we just made a drive through of the beach town, grabbed some ice cream and decided to keep going south. We drove down all the way to Manuel Antonio, which is a national park and one of the more famous and popular tourist beaches in Costa Rica. Our visit only included putting our feet in the water, taking a few pictures, and making a walk up and down the little “strip,” but at least the parents could say they had been there. Upon arriving back at the hotel that night we discovered the only major bummer of the vacation thus far – somehow in the 45 minutes we were in Manuel Antonio, my backpack had been stolen from the rental car. We are still confused and unsure how it all went down, as we all remember my dad locking the doors, but somehow when we returned to the car both doors on the driver’s side were unlocked. It startled and surprised us at the time and my dad immediately checked his fanny pack, which he had left in the front seat. Thank the Lord that none of the money, credit cards, nor were my parents’ passports taken. I didn’t even notice then that my back pack was gone. That night when we were unloading back at the hotel though, I realized that it was gone. Once again, however, thank the Lord that nothing of value had been in it. Only clothes, a pair of shoes, and my swim suit. Even though it was not fun to be without those things, I was just so glad that I had taken my digital camera out right when we had arrived in Manuel Antonio. If not, that would have been gone as well. So it was a bit of a downer that it happened, but overall we were just thankful that it was not worse.

The Parental Visit – part 1 – San José, Heredia

On Thursday night, September 7, my parents arrived in Costa Rica for a 2 week tropical vacation, oh and of course, to visit their favorite youngest child. I had come up to Heredia earlier that day, then Luisa dropped me off at their hotel that night so I could check into the room, place a few welcome gifts, and take the shuttle over to the airport to meet my parents as soon as they walked out of the doors and into Costa Rica after immigration, customs, and baggage. I arrived about 15-20 minutes after the internet told me their flight was taxiing to the gate and joined the crowd of folks waiting to meet and greet international arrivers. So I waited and I watched, and I waited and watched some more, but I didn’t see any wide-eyed and road-weary travelers that I recognized. After about an hour of waiting and watching and seeing many happy reunions and foreigners match themselves up with the limo drivers and tour guides holding their respective names on pieces of paper, I was starting to get a little concerned. The entire Costa Rican National Soccer team (returning home from a pair of friendly matches in Europe) had even arrived, deplaned, exited the building, been mobbed by reporters and TV cameras, and then disappeared from sight, all while I was still on the lookout for Ron and Mary Ann. Just when I was about to ask the security guard if I could enter the airport and search for my missing parents around the baggage claim or customs area, I received a phone call. It was my mom, and she was calling from the hotel! Who knows how it all went down but some how my parents had landed, gone through customs, gotten their bags, made it outside, looked for me, and upon not finding me, had hopped on the shuttle and went to the hotel. The international arrival area at the San José airport is not that big, so I am still a little confused how we missed each other. But I will say that I was impressed by my non-Spanish speaking parents getting to their hotel and enlisting the help of the front desk manager to call my cell. Maybe they wouldn’t need a tour guide after all…? So my parents ended up greeting me as I got off the shuttle back at the hotel. A little role reversal, but hey, at least we managed to reunite at all! It was great to see them after nearly 6 months and only a few phone calls. That night we got a start on the catch-up, info-swap sessions while I feasted on a well-loved and missed snack: Wheat Thins and peanut butter. Yum yum.

On Friday our plan was to head into Heredia so the folks could see my old stomping grounds and meet my Costa Rican family. We caught a bus from the airport that I thought was heading to Heredia, but it turns out it had been coming from Heredia, so we took about a half hour bus ride in the opposite direction only to be kicked off at what turned out to be the final destination, then immediately board another bus and head back to the airport and finally on to our original destination. I was feeling a bit disappointed in the way I had started my tour guide career, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise because my parents were fascinated, amused, and entertained by all they were able to see and photograph from their front row seats on our 1 hour bus tour. Just as we got off the bus after finally arriving in Heredia, it started to pour. We had lost our window of opportunity for a walking tour, but had also lost the time for that as well, so after a loop around the (indoor) marketplace we grabbed a cab and headed to ETC (my former place of Spanish learning). Luisa and Ibo and Gaby and Faby met us there so my parents got to meet my Costa Rican family, and see the place where I had developed my mastery of the Spanish language. Ha. Not quite, but at least the place where I made huge steps in that direction. We made a quick trip up to their house also, so my folks could see what had been my home for my first 2 months. We all had a great late lunch together, at the very same restaurant where I had eaten my first Costa Rican meal the day I had arrived. It was still pouring outside, so hard that at times my mom had to walk to the front door so she could watch just how hard and how much of it was coming down. Friday evening the folks and I had a 2+ hour chat and coffee break at a café in Heredia, then picked up a few snacks at the grocery store and vegged out at the hotel.

Saturday morning Luisa took us into downtown San José for a bit of a walking tour of the downtown area, including central plaza, national theatre, museums, and the marketplace. We had another great lunch in San José – this time with a huge sampler platter of some typical foods. That afternoon they dropped me off at the bus station to head back to Limón, then Luisa guided my parents to the highway and they headed off in their rental car en route to the central Pacific coast and their accommodations at a resort in Puntarenas.

this and that...

el 6 de septiembre

So it is September and in 1 week I will reach the 5 month mark for my time in Costa Rica. In some ways 5 months feels like a long time, and it has gone by quickly. In the same sense, though, I feel like I have done enough to constitute 5 months spent here thus far. I do also feel very disconnected and removed from my “old life” and everything I used to do and know back home in Colorado and in the States. In the past 5 months I have been aware only of the most major American news stories, and have little to no knowledge of the hot fashion trends, newest fads, or latest celebrity gossip. Yet somehow I am getting along just fine. :)

The last few weeks have brought a little bit of everything. I spent last week in Heredia, getting a small taste of “Mom” duties, and working on a computer/internet project for Hugo. Luisa was off in Colorado, visiting Hugo and family and working on promoting and advertising for ETC (her language school), so I stayed at the house with the girls and Ibo. Mom duties included driving the girls to and from school, Tae Kwan Do, English classes, going to the mall, grocery shopping, etc. Despite the fact that they are in the middle of the rainy season in San José and Heredia, we actually had some great days of sun and fairly little rain considering what is normal.

I came back to Limón last Friday, just in time to teach the English class. Saturday night I attended a Youth Talent Show that was hosted by the Getsemani Baptist Church and included the attendance and participation from several of the area churches. The event was quite a success with a great display of talents in singing, music, dancing, etc. Moreover, it was a great opportunity for the youth from different churches to unite and enjoy the talents and gifts of their brothers and sisters. I have also been able to spend more time with a couple of girls I met at the Youth Camp. One girl, Katherin, has become a good friend to me here. She is 19 and has studied a significant amount of English but just needs practice speaking. She reminds me of what I was when I first came here – knowing a lot about Spanish (vocabulary, how to write, etc) but needing practice in just speaking the language. She is also in the middle of making a lot of decisions about what she wants to do with her future and pursuing different work and studying options, so it has been good to be able to talk with her about that and share some of my ideas and experiences. Plus, we have gotten in the habit of taking walks together around Limón and she has been able to show me around a lot of the neighborhoods and help me understand where are all these places that I have heard of but never been to. So its educational for me as well. :) Not to mention that I get to ask her my own lingering questions about things in Spanish as she does the same to me in English. And given that she has a passion for ice cream equal to my own, I also have the privilege of tasting new and delicious frozen treats. What a team!

My parents arrive at the San José airport tomorrow evening (Thurs. Sept. 7) so I will be heading up North tomorrow morning so that I can be there welcome committee into Costa Rica. They are going to be here for 2 weeks and, Lord-willing, will be seeing a lot of the country and doing a lot of different things. The plans include a couple days in San José and Heredia, then they’ll spend a week on the Pacific coast (for which I will be joining them a few days), then a few days together here in Limón, and then finishing off the trip with a couple days in Bocas del Toro, Panama. They were quite intrigued by the report of my experience in Panama in June, and since I need to leave Costa Rica again before the end of the month, we are going to make that part of their trip.

The weather here in Limón has been quite unpredictable as of late. In June, the first month I was here, it only rained a handful of times, and pretty much all of those were at night. Then in July it was still hot, but with more frequent daytime rain, making it nice and humid. In August we had rain on almost a daily basis, not all day long, but at some point during the day, although still remaining warm and humid. Thus far in September there has been cloudy days, rain and thunder storms, and also days of hot sun and clear blue skies. Yesterday, for example I woke up to clear blue skies like I haven’t experience since June. It was sunny and hot with not a cloud in the sky – a perfect day for me to head to the beach, which I did, and it was absolutely fabulous: clear, warm water, sandy beach, a nice spot under the breeze and hint of shade of a coconut tree…ahh. Then by about 2pm yesterday afternoon clouds had taken over the sky and it looked like it would rain at any moment, but it never came. This morning the clouds are still in the sky and it has been raining, so we will see what this afternoon holds. Being from Seattle and now most recently calling Denver home, it’s a good thing I have plenty of experience with ever-changing weather conditions!