http://www.costaricabirdingtours.com/flycatchers.html A tropical kingbird and yellowish flycatcher
http://www.costaricabirdingtours.com/toucans.html A keelbilled toucan and Hoffmann's woodpecker
Have seen all these birds in the garden this week, although as it has been windy, some mornings have less visitors, it's hard enough walking when it's windy, let alone flying. However it has been quite a good week weather wise with a lot of sun, so I have been off walking. I had to get into a new routine with my classes changing til the afternoon, and in the end have been doing my homework in the evening, to leave the mornings free. So two mornings I have been to yoga, and today had a hug from Daniel, the teacher. I think there are some yoga poses I will never make, although I did manage a shoulder stand one day. He encourages and sometimes has kindly tried to rearrange my body, but some things are beyond me at present. La Mariposa appears not to have such classes around although they say there might be a chance of swimming. However I think I will decline the opportunity to swim in the lake!
My walk took me down a side road which apparently goes nowhere and disappears to a possibly dangerous track, so I just did an exploratory walk and returned when I heard a lot of noise. Couldn't determine if it was dogs or monkeys.
You could almost be somewhere in England!
I have managed to get a couple of bites on my hand, which came up into a sort of blister. One had two little pin pricks in it so I wondered if it had been a spider. However the staff at the school insist it is only the big spiders that bite although internet information says something different! The only spider I have seen was in the bathroom and I'm afraid I gave it swimming lessons! Wasn't taking any chances.
At school we have had cookery, where we made savoury rice with ayote salsa, which was very tasty. It's all part of the language teaching, so it didn't matter that I was a bit late for class. In the picture are Beatrice, the cook, she is from Nicaragua, and the other students. In the afternoons there has been no one else at tea break as the others have attended in the morning.
I have been soldiering on with the subjunctive mood and have tackled further tenses, however I think I need to allow it all to settle down over the next week and give my brain a rest! There are some diversions though, as this week there was a raccoon on the roof!
I went to the bank yesterday to withdraw córdobas only to be told the bank no longer keep them, so have withdrawn more dollars for Nicaragua. I have certainly spent more on food than last year but have eaten much better. I have bought fresh fish and chicken, lovely local veg and organic bread, plus I have got to know a wider range of shops. I think having more time and not working afternoons as well has made that possible. Have chatted to people, both locals and tourists on my walks up and down. There is an elderly man near Santa Elena who has blown me a kiss, not quite the toy boy I might have hoped for!
The men working on the pavements are making progress despite doing everything by hand. They only have a cement mixer in terms of mechanisation. It looks very hard work. They just give me quizzical looks and seem uninclined to speak. The supermarkets are very quiet, everything very low key, with a few special offers going up this week. It's certainly not a consumerist society here, and I don't think people have the spare cash we do. I remember seeing children on my travels last year, coming back from the market on Christmas Eve, looking so pleased with their small gifts.
Tomorrow I shall be doing the laundry to pack, having a last minute visit to Santa Elena, and later meeting one of the staff from the school. Today I said goodbye to everyone and there were lots of hugs and kisses. Next time I think I will choose a different time of year for a change, so when I get back will have to research what I might combine it with......
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