Making progress

 Lessons are going well with some revision of past topics which are becoming clearer, things such as the pluscuamperfect, the perifrastic future and subjunctive- lovely words aren't they! Conversations cover many topics from big world problems to politics to personal interests. I have managed to avoid my conservative mistake of last year! My greater fluency has enabled me to ask for and obtain some extra cooking utensils for the apartment- a sieve, grater, a baking tray, plus I have purchased a small plastic pot for the microwave, all very satisfying!

Carlos puts a fresh flower on the table each day.

We have a mid morning break when I see the other student, Sandra. Today I was able to ask her about birds I had seen in the garden. One of the advantages of waking up early ( because I have been in bed so early) is that I can watch the birds in the garden. Today I saw a toucanet, parrots, possibly a kiskadee, possibly an oriole amd all sorts of others I couldn't find in my pamphlet. I can watch from the picture window without disturbing them. I have now seen a Hoffman's woodpecker and this has been confirmed by my fellow student.

I have had extra learning experiences today, cooking with Beatrice, who it turns out comes from Nicaragua, so we chatted lots as it was just me. Then this afternoon I went to my yoga lesson, which seemed like a mixture of Pilates and meditation. There were a couple of other English beginners plus three Spanish speaking more advanced, so it was a dual level lesson. I managed to fall asleep in the relaxation bit and jumped out of my skin when he rang the bell!  Then had another fright on the way home, when, as I had forgotten my torch I had to walk partway in the dark until I got to the only street light. A dark shape came out of the hedge and walked across the road, but fortunately turned out to be a cat! Then whilst cooking my tuna on toast the smoke alarm went off. That's enough frights for one day!

Settling back into Monteverde.

I think I will remember Villa Blanca for the rain, which started whist I was in the spa and continued on and off through the night, coming down so loudly at 5am that I got up. Well you can't have verdant forest without. It had been an indulgent and relaxing weekend. It was fairly pricey at 5$ for a coffee, which as my travel agent said is very strange for a country that is practically swimming in it! Everything has 20% added to menu prices and a tip is expected on top.

My driver was a bit late arriving but he had been told the hotel was near, San Ramon, as I had, but found it was a lot further! At least it was better than some other guests, travelling with Trailfinders, who found their transport was coming 4 hours later, after they had checked out! They seemed very displeased with their service. Andres my driver, was very friendly and stopped when I wanted to, which turned out to be a cafe where we stopped last year on the way to Monteverde. We watched on the TV how there are collections for those affected by the hurricane. We travelled through San Ramon, which was not very picturesque and then onto the Pan American highway, passing through some uninspiring countryside, until we started the approach to Monteverde. There had been road improvements since last year but Andres assured me that the rain and traffic would soon restore the rough, potholed, stony road again! 

When I mentioned needing to go shopping when I arrived, he took me to a supermarket, which was an amazing help, given I would have had to walk and carry the shopping in the rain. I am back in the same apartment, and everything was soon organised. My case will be much emptier on the next stage so there may even be room for my rucksack inside!

Today I arrived at 7am for my test and was soon ensconced in my class on my own with Carlos. I have my book cover made with memories and mementoes of last year's holidays!

The words on the cover are from a Hispanic song, which translated, says, 'thank you for life that has given me so much'. I quickly remembered how tiring it is speaking in Spanish continually, no English is spoken in the school, even between the other student and myself. Incidentally she comes from Vermont, nit far from where Hilary and I stayed in magic Mountain!

Everyone seemed very pleased to see me, so lots of hugs and kisses. Jennifer, the young lady I have kept in touch with said my Spanish is much better, so clearly progress has been made! 

 I have already signed up for a film tomorrow afternoon, cookery class on Wednesday which gives me a free lunch and the jacuzzi on Friday.  There is the local Christmas parade on Thursday in Santa Elena, and when I visited CASEM where I volunteered last year, they have invited me to lunch of their assembly on Friday. I can't attend the meeting because of classes, but imagine that a meeting in Spanish could be ever more challenging than a meeting in English!

I have also walked to the hotel Belmar and acquainted myself with the yoga timetable, which I will try on Wednesday and maybe over the weekend. So the week is looking fairly busy, plus I have my homework to do! Better get on with that now....

A weekend of relaxation!

Travel was successful and the long day consisted of breakfast in two parts, lunch, tea and supper, then a small supper at the hotel. But I understand you have to move from one timescale to the next and this is what it entailed. I also read the New Statesman from cover to cover, some very funny Trump articles, read the second half of a novel and watched two and three quarter films! So I think I made the most of what can be a trying day of travel. What's more, I had a front seat with lots of room.

David met me at the airport, there was slight tension as always as I waited for my case. There were a lot of pink cases and this time it would have been very difficult to replace the contents.

The Villa Blanca is a beautiful hotel, with cabins, a dairy farm and biodiversity research station set in the Los Angeles cloud forest. The weather can change from one minute to the next and generally it's like a sauna. The mirror in my bathroom only clears when I use the hairdryer. 

There is a small chapel with hand painted ceramic tiles on the roof, where today a wedding is to be held. So it looks like all hands on deck!

I made it clear I was here to practice my Spanish and everyone seemed pleased and has been very helpful. I have had conversations with the dairyman, the security guards, the waiters, the handyman and can also satisfy my curiosity as they are full of information. They tell me my Spanish is good, so that's satisfying.

I have walked several of the footpaths, and last night went on a night walk. We saw frogs, insects, spiders but no snakes or mammals and I know there are plenty here as I watched a film at the research station. However I had a surprise yesterday morning when I opened my doors to the patio to be confronted with a pack of coatis, the cleaner said sometimes a mother is followed by her babies. Their tails are like walking sticks!

It's not just Spanish I am learning. I now know how to milk a cow. I had a bit more success today than yesterday. Antonio showed me how to do it but both he and Rudi who was there today seemed able to extract more milk than me. You have to be quite fierce!

Feeding the calf was easier; I won't make a farmers wife but it's one more step towards self sufficiency. Am not sure Berrall Way is ready for cattle though!

This afternoon I am indulging in a couple of spa treatments, then tomorrow it's off to Monteverde, where I will be pleased to unpack the case, go shopping and settle in for three weeks.

Costa Rica and Nicaragua revisited!

Preparations are all in hand for my return visit, both here and by my hosts at CPI language school Monteverde and La Mariposa school in Nicaragua. I am really looking forward to meeting friends and acquaintances from last year as well as making new friends. Last year I developed the confidence to launch into conversations and not be afraid that I would not understand. This year I hope to improve my fluency as well as my technical knowledge. It will be a more relaxed stay as I am not engaging in a volunteer programme, so hope to have time for further exploring and painting.