A New Life In Costa Rica

Yes it's loaded

Check out the weapon on the bank guard. I'm no gun expert but I'd say that thing could inflict some damage. Guards outside all the banks in Costa Rica are armed and the weapons are loaded. No Barney Fife's in this crowd. Normally, I don't take pics of the guards. Well, I used to but had some pretty grumpy ones get pissed off at me and learned my lesson. I got this shot off as we drove by a bank in Alajuela the other day.

Actually, it was a lucky shot of the guard. I wanted a shot of the reflection in the building. When I looked at the photos later this is what I had. No Mark, I still don't look at the view finder before I take my shots. Okay, sometimes but not while driving, I mean riding in the car. I like the surprise.

Not a ghoul but equally frightening

The way Bill yelled for me to come outside the other day one would think he saw a ghost. Wish I would've seen the dance he did when he discovered this icky looking thing peering over the brim of his work hat into his pretty green eyes.

Can you imagine seeing those front things coming down in front of your face? Eeeeeewwwwwwwwww!

I forgive him for acting like a Nancy Pants as I'd freak out too. The thing was HUGE. If you click on the pic and get a closer look you'll see the pincher fang things on his face. Bill insisted I kill it when I was done photographing it but I didn't. I put him on the bird buffet to let nature take it's course.

A bad day

This horse was having a bad day. He was not happy being transported in this little pick-up truck and let anyone who passed on the autopista know.
  

Crossing Cultures

 

Even though Halloween isn't a recognized holiday in Costa Rica more and more shops are carrying costumes. The day is celebrated by more adults than children, mostly in bars where costume contests are held. Seems we're hearing about more Ex-pats initiating trick-or-treating in their neighborhoods. No candy or carved pumpkins at our house. We saw pumpkins, smallish ones at the store for around $10 each. Now that's frightening!

Happy Halloween to those who participate and safe trick-or-treating to the ones who'll be roaming the streets.

  

Goin' green

Things are turning a nice shade of moldy green around here. Check out my wind chime. We finally got our rainy season. This year we'd have to say our rainy season was only a month long, the entire month of October.

The on-line papers are saying the dry season will start for us around the middle of November. I'll wait to see what Mother Nature decides. Personally, I'm hoping for more rain.

The ground is saturated at the moment but it won't take long for it to dry out. This morning when I went outside the yard actually felt like it was steaming. It's amazing what the sun can do so close to the equator. We're still amazed every day after living here nearly four years now.