Life is beginning to get back to normal. After three weeks, Ray is walking independently for short distances, doing his PT exercises, and he’s back in the kitchen. All good signs. He still needs to go back to the hospital every few days to get his incisions cleaned and bandaged. They are looking pretty healthy, but there are still a few open spots. We try to get out for a drive and a walk every day, for a change in scenery from our little casita. Three weeks ago, Ray was diapered and hadn’t been out of bed in ten weeks. When he came home he could barely hobble to the bathroom, and his big outing was an electric cart ride around Walmart. He then graduated last week to walking around supermarkets using just the cart for a bit of support.
Another big event in our lives is hospital and doctor visits. Ray also has those little daily pill boxes with compartments for each day’s medication. Who thought it would come to this? No wonder his main doctors at both hospitals were gerentologists!
We have been watching a lot of tv since it’s available, and lots of online time. We just finished watching the Democratic National Convention, and we’re onto the Republican one, now. Blah, blah, blah. Let’s hope the turnout will be productive for the American people. (Although it’s quite nice to be ensconced in CR right now!)
Meanwhile, I’ve been walking the neighborhood early most days. It’s quite a workout because we’re in a mountainous area and the roads are very steep. But I’m feeling pretty fit. I met a new friend, who I sometimes walk with, which is a nice little perk for me. The town we’re staying in is aptly named “Quebradas,” which means streams or small rivers. The many quebradas rush down the mountain to provide a main water supply for the city of San Isidro. The lush landscape punctuated by the many rushing streams reminds me of the area of North Carolina where I often visit my sister and Dad. It’s a very scenic area, with many beautiful homes, both Gringo and Tico.
Most little dead end roads I’ve explored end up at coffee farms perched on the side of steep mountainsides. Very scenic. This area is quite affluent with many modern style homes, and a few “estates,” complete with beautiful grounds. Since many are quite new I’m guessing there has been quite a housing boon here in the past 20 years - as in most of CR. Lots of retired “Gringos,” but there are plenty of well off Ticos in this region, also.
We took our first day trip last weekend down through several mountain ranges to the coast. The small surfing town of Dominical, usually bustling, was like a ghost town due to the Covid restrictions on travel and tourism. Kind of spooky. I’m hoping that we can do more exploring now that Ray is feeling stronger, because this is a jumping off point for some beautiful mountainous areas within an hour or two drive.
Meanwhile, back in Pavones it sounds as if all is well. We speak to Eli every few days, who sounds like he’s keeping everything together for us. We are very lucky to have him able to stay at the container and take good care of “the Girls.” (dogs) They have had as much rain as we have here in the mountains, so their roads are worse than ever. I don’t miss the mud and the enormous ruts at all. Although it’s been nice to have TV and Internet here in SI, it will also be good to get back home. I’m getting a little bored without having any projects to tackle. TV sucks me in and numbs my brain.That’s my excuse for not getting much else done. I recently bought a drawing pad, but haven’t even open it yet. But I have been making some killer meals! So it’s all good.
A foodie note: There are some awesome fruit and veggie markets here, that we frequent almost daily. Right now avocados, mamone’s (leechee fruit) and several other unidentified (to me) fruits are in season, as well as the usual string beans, spinach, cauliflower (!), brocolli, pineapple, papayas, and other fruits and veggies. Everything is grown nearby, which adds to the freshness. There’s also a wonderful meat market, which Ray delights in visiting. Coupled with Ray’s enormous appetite (he lost at least 15 pounds), and his former diagnosis of “malnutrition,” food and eating are a big focus of our lives. Even more so because of the Covid shut downs. We have so much to be thankful.
We have become a little "citified" since we are staying close to the city of an Isidro. It's quite a perk to go into town for a little shopping, or stop in for lunch at a local restaurant, or just walk around looking at the shops. I've enclosed some photos from around own.
Below are a couple of shots of our rental casita. It has been very comfortable, but at this point it will be good to get home again.
And my writing juices are beginning to flow again!
I hope this note finds you well and safe. Take good care.
