Getting Around Orosi

Yes I bought a scooter! The speed was breath taking! And it made getting around town and the Orosi Valley such an adventure. Especially since I had to sneak past any posted policia because I didn´t have a licence or my official owner papers. Making the loop upvalley into Tapanti National Park, I heard the approach of a troop of howler monkeys although they never showed their faces as they leaped from tree to tree coming down from the ridge toward the river. Then I backtracked a bit to the main road, crossed the river on planks thrown down over a rickety metal bridge, and bounced down to the Cachi dam, over the dam, to Ujarras where there is a fine ruin of a cathedral, up past the waterfalls, and creeping slowly through Paraiso once again avoiding the police, I barrelled up mountain and then down mountain straight into Orosi, home of the oldest in-use 16th century cathedral in Costa Rica.

So, complaints and disappointments aside, life was pleasant and a comforting routine was established by my second week in town: up a 6 am with the roosters and all my neighbors, coffee in the sun, look for the parrot in my neighbor´s tree, head for town to buy fresh vegetables and wonderful fruit (mangoes, papayas, pineapple), prepare my lesson for teaching English, attend Spanish classes at Montana Linda school, visit friends (Americans, Swiss, Ticos, Dutch -- nice mix of expats) and most of all do nothing much but it feels like a lot! I also worked at Tia´s Garden vegetarian restaurant owned by Phyllis and John of Alabama. First I went there for the great food, and then the terrific friendship, then offered to do prepwork once or twice a week which soon grew to every day. Phyllis and John paid me in fresh bread, frozen cappuchinos, yoghurt, and good food. What a great job!

My good friend Cindie (on scooter) taught English in Orosi and we both tried to improve our Spanish but often whined about how difficult this very easy language actually is. I am still trying to master it but I am realizing that my brain may be too old for me to become proficient and I may always be a beginner, constantly restudying the same stuff over and over again before it actually stays in my mind.