It does appear that some of my special followers of the blog (well really only Mary!!!!!) were so worried about my upcoming operation, to put your (Mary's) mind at rest the operation went very well and both and the umbrella and I are doing really well and expect to be up and around tomorrow!!!!!!

Decided to take another waterfall picture, this will be the last one I promise, it is just so magical and I cannot capture in a photo how much it changes each day.
Had quite a lazy morning did the usual Lucy walk and yes she is behaving herself now, then went for my run. The gated community here consists of about 30 beautiful homes and after the gate it is a circular road around and back to the gate, so that is the route I take I am upto 5 times around the road, don't know how far it is but it takes me about 4 minutes to do a lap, now if Roger Bannister ( come on fess up those who don't know who he is?? Google him!!) can run a mile in 4 minutes the speedster that I am, I am guessing a lap is about... to be honest I have no idea, all I know is I run around 5 times and I am tired!!!!!! Then had breakfast and did some reading and was getting ready to go out when I just turned on the tv and there was a live soccer game, Denmark versus Spain, now I couldn't pass that up could I?? So it was about 1pm when I decided to go out and I was going to take the first bus east. The first came and on the front the route is hand painted and this bus said "Multi Plaza" sounded good to me. It was not at all like the buses in Mexico, this was more of a coach and quite clean it cost 270 colonies, there is 515 colonies to one dollar, you do the math!! I figured I was on the bus about 20 minutes and I really think the driver was trying to beat the Guiness book of records for most people on a bus, they were in the ailse 2 and 3 deep and just when you think it is impossible to squeeze even one more Twiggy( go on who doesn't know who she is?? Google her!!)on, lo and behold 3 more people got on I think I counted over 75 people I was dying to take a picture but thought maybe not such a good idea.. At the multi plaza it was like any modern Mall in North America, very clean and quiet, again everyone so friendly helping me with directions. Found the bus stop for the return journey and here I am another good day. It is now almost 7pm and raining like crazy and time for my supper. The photos are of the local fruit wagon at the end of the street, the main highway into the city and the mall..

Good morning here is Wednesday's musings in no particular order of merit...

Life is really good and I have so much to be thankful for...
When I gave Lucy her shower this morning I do believe I was wetter than her, wish I had brought my snorkel and mask for this task....
Lucy likes me....
The garbage truck came by this morning and I watched them work, one man drives the truck and the two workers who put the garbage in the back of the truck RUN from from one pick up to the next....
It rains a lot here this time of the year...
I enjoy watching the baseball play off's....
I tried to tip the boy who bagged my groceries yesterday, he would not take the tip...
You do NOT take pictures of kids here like I did in Mexico, a definite NO NO...
The local people, Tico's, are friendly and I smile at them and they smile back, try that in England....
The waterfall at the back is my favouriteview so far....
I miss my friends....
I love getting e mails....
It rains a lot here....
Lucy likes me....
Time for breakfast at the gazebo and of course looking at the waterfall...
Have a great day everyone...

Well I have some bad news......tomorrow morning I have to go in to the local Hospital in Ciudad Colon for minor surgery. The procedure will only take about 20 minutes and I shall be home by the afternoon, the operation will make my stay here more comfortable and easy. Now I don't want all my special female readers offering to come down to help with the recuperation, on seconds thoughts maybe I do!!
Today at 7am Gerado the gardener came and I let him in and he got right to work, I watched him work solid for 5 hours and he did a great job. I made him a sandwich for lunch it was a ham and cheese on raisin bread, a culture shock for sure for him.
There came a frontal system through today and the sunny mornings have gone, but still warm. I walked into town for the first time and walked and looked around, did some shopping, got wet through and on the walk home stopped and bought myself a fully cooked pollo(chicken) for supper. Today's photos are of the walk into town, some of the local streets, the small square and the soccer field, it seems the square and soccer field are prominent in the towns. I particulary like the photo taken through the fence of the field, the church and the clouds moving in. I have to find out about this church because it is not of the local design that usually is to be found, it is modern and square and not really attractive. To prove it rains that is me and fore mentioned pollo in bag. I make no apologies for the waterfall again, in the mist, the rain it is always so different and lovely. I tried to capture the rain in some of the shots.

Oh by the way, the procedure......I am having the umbrella surgically implanted into my right hand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another great day in Ciudad Colon, not sunny today just overcaste and of course did I mention it is raining!!!!!! There is a very kind and interesting lady living next door who offered to take me on a drive to see a town in the mountains, she has lived here many years and of course knows all the neat and off the beaten track places. The flowers and bananas and the rocking chair are taken in her garden, how many butterflies can you count? The drive to Puriscal took about 30 minutes through some beautiful countryside and lush mountains, it did remind me a little of Mount Benson (in Nanaimo) the way the clouds cover sometimes the top, then the middle, then the bottom of the mountain and it can change so fast. It was really a lovely drive. In the town which suffered a devestating earthquake in 1991, the local church right in the main square suffered great damage and is abandoned. I thought it looked so desolate and sad and the trees and bushes growing from the balcony but sure makes for a great picture. I was then shown some trails that I can walk other days leading into the canyon and by the river. It was a good afternoon and of course an education.

This is the story of LUCY!!!!!! She is the Rotwieller that lives in the home I am staying in, she is about 110 pound of solid muscle and a very friendly dog, she stays inside and also spends time out side. Well last night I was in a deep sleep, I keep the bedroom door open and about 4.30am I am awoken by these licks on my face and LUCY is right there in my face telling me she needs to go to the powder room.....I suppose I could spin this to be in this central American country in a beautiful home fast asleep and been waked from a peacuful slumber by soft kisses on my cheek and there I see LUCY.....

Well surprise managed to figure out how to download the pictures of where i am staying, isn't my bedroom cute!!!!! Cannot do justice the canyon and waterfall will try and capture it tomorrow when the mist comes in. Enjoy Costa Rica!!!!!!

Hello from Cuidad Colon a beautiful small town that is about 45 minutes away from the capital city San Jose, the home I am staying in is incredible, very nicely furnished and the grounds are incredible and the canyon and waterfall that I look out from the gazebo is breath taking!!!!!! Ebverything is so fresh and green because of all the rain. I knew this was the rainy season and if the last two days are any sort of pattern it is sunny and warm around 80 degrees in the mornings till about 2pm when the clouds come in and the rain begins, very heavy and sometimes thunder and lightening, not much you can do about it except take in stride. My friend who owns the house has been showing me around the town and surrounding areas and it is very peaceful and simple. I don't see the abject poverty that I know from my travels to Mexico, nor the shacks nor the kids running barefoot in the streets, I am sure it exists somewhere. This is going to be a very interesting time I shall plan outings in the mornings and arrange to be home before the rain starts, I am going to take the time to relax, read, practice my Spanish, get things organized for my trip south next month and of course watch the baseball playoffs!!!! The only minor negative is that I cannot seem to get my computer to hook up to the Internet here so I am using my friends computer and I don't know if I can get my camera connected and post pictures. So it may mean that the blog will be photo less until I go some where else where I can download pictures. I am going to try from here but if not it will be all writing , then a multitude of pictures. Trust me the photo of the canyon and the waterfall are worth waiting for!!!! Have a great day and to my friends keep those e mail coming..

Welcome to my first post from Costa Rica, it is pretty amazing in just about 24 hours I have travelled over 3500 miles and settled in a hotel room in a small town in Central America. I arrived here at 10.30pm so didn’t really get any sense of how anything is except of course the hustle, bustle, music and smiling faces.
The journey here was a good one with only one glitch, not counting the 360 pound gentleman that stood on my bare foot as he was heading down the aisle of the plane to the wash room, I don’t think I need surgery!!!!!
The ferry leaving Nanaimo was on time and I had the two cutest taxi drivers ever (thanks). I had made a sign for the ferry to see if anyone was going to the airport who would give me a ride, but I think there was maybe 10 people on the ferry, but I did see another lady as a foot passenger and I asked her if she was heading to the airport and she was so we shared a cab, which put us at the airport at 1.30am. We sat and talked for over one hour and without giving out her personal information, the story she told just made me realize how important health is and of course doing the things you want to do in your life whilst you can.
I tried to sleep at the airport but just finished up walking all around the concourse inside and out until my 6.30am flight to Seattle. Had 2 hours to wait in Seattle before leaving for Dallas and there another 2 hours to wait, but that turned into 4 hours as the plane had some mechanical problems ( 3 of the engines fell off) just kidding, so instead of arriving in San Jose, Costa Rica at 8.30 it was 10.30pm. So I have been up over 24 hours but feel pretty good and I am going to shower and then bed. I booked a hotel off the internet for my first night’s stay at the suggestion of my friend and like anything else it is always up for debate what will happen, they did send me an e mail in reply telling me that I had a room booked and if I forwarded my flight arrival information Johnnie would be waiting for me at the arrival gate. My take on this was to be prepared to find my own way to the hotel especially with the two-hour delay. Anyway as I exit the terminal, with scores of taxi drivers vying for my patronage…. there is Johnnie with a sign with my name on it!!!! You just have got to believe!!!!! He drove me to the hotel, can’t see much outside but the room is huge two floors, 3 beds, kitchen, balcony and very clean. So it looks like I have got off to a great start.
Tomorrow the lady whose house I am taking care of is coming to pick me up and show me around and so the adventure continues and I am looking forward to the next few weeks…..LesDay 2 The hotel has internet but the server is down so now it is Saturday morning and I had a really good sleep and woke up to sunshine, birds chirping and to find that the hotel backs onto a golf course and my balcony is about 15 feet from a fairway. This is the rainy season here and hence everything is so lush and green. I went and paid my bill 40 dollars for this huge room, staff are very friendly as I try to communicate in my pigeon Spanish. I have always thought that I must have some gypsy blood in me because it seems all my life I move around and I seem to adapt quite well. My friend is to pick me up soon, so another day begins, hopefully I can post this later on today; wish you all a great weekend..

In stead of "explaining" the country I think it is in my best interests to "explore" the country.....

COSTA RICA HERE I COME!!!!!!!!!!!!

I AM JUST GETTING READY TO LEAVE THIS LOVELY TOWN FOR THE NEXT PART OF MY JOURNEY .........I leave on the last ferry for Vancouver and fly out at 6.30am tomorrow morning. I go first to Seattle, then Dallas and then San Jose, Costa Rica arriving at 8.30pm tomorrow night. I am house sitting for three weeks then i have a week to explain the country by bus on my own. So the next post on my blog should be from sunny and warm Costa Rica, best wishes to you all, Les

The technical glitch was overcome!!! A few more of the happy gathering!!!!!

Just a few shots of a little get together this morning at a local restaurant, I have some other pictures sent to me but at the moment having technical problems getting them down loaded. It was nice to be able to see and say good bye for the winter to some of my friends. I wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving day tomorrow...

Good morning on this start of a Thanksgiving weekend and the sun is bright and blue skies above. I was just trying to figure some things on my camera hence the beautiful flower. I also just had the decals put on Ramona and I think you have to agree the writing and the flags look really good. If you double click on the images they come full screen. My last weekend here and I find it hard to believe how fast the summer went by. Being as turkey is my favourite meal my only goal this weekend is to eat as many turkey dinners as I can!!!!! have a great, happy and safe weekend...