Sometime a calling comes, and you try to find a reason or an excuse to justify it. So i tried too! “To meet some friends, especially one who has been recovering from her bout with cancer”!
May 4th I fly out to San Jose, luckily the flight was midweek, late in the evening. After some wait at the baggage retrieval, I was out and in a few minutes the red taxi unido that was registered with Adventure Inn became my ten minute ride to the said hotel. Arrival there is alway like returning home. Familiar faces and effusive greetings, sharing hugs (without the lurking fear that the past pandemic has instilled).
After settling into my room, I walk out into the post rain freshness of the night. The fragrance of reina de la noche as they bloom into the night combined some other natural fragrances, especially the smell of fresh rain, all fill my senses.
I run into Christopher, who is on his way back from Nicaragua to Mexico. We exchange some niceties and the next day at breakfast a very engaging conversation on his life path. He has learned the ice bathing healing technique, which he accompanies with pranayama, with the Ice Man himself. Christopher shared his stories, his personal healing through this technique.
The next day in the Interbus towards the Arenal, I chatted with Tina, who is considering retiring in Costa Rica. We shared our thoughts and it led to creating a group on WhatsApp. Since then I met a few other expats that have relocated to this country as well as those on a research stage, and now we share our discoveries.
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| Room at Ivannias' |
I travelled on towards Arenal to spend a few days with Ivannia and Carlos. The time spent there, a room overlooking the volcano, the sharing of meals and seeing these two friends brought a smile to my heart.
Next stop was a couple of days at Rancho Margot. I have some investment there and the trip was to further the discussion with the owner Juan, confirming the return of the loan by the year end.
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Rancho Margot Meditation
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The fresh air of the ranch, food from the huerta, yoga led by Liz and then a tour by her, all contributed to a nourished stay. I met Magalie, a Cordon Bleu Chef, who I met after many years. We remembered the food and the fiesta during a previous extended stay where I taught yoga as the resident yoga mama and she was the chef. Besides her other yummy food, the avocado chocolate mousse is so clearly remembered. An evening with past acquaintances from the ranch, who live in the town of El Castillo was full of laughter. Angelika now has two kids, the younger one was just born when I last met her, he is now 10. We ate home cooked tacos and black beans and salad. Her son Naoun, became our translator. The rest of the evening was akin to comedy central, as I spoke my broken Spanish and they their English.
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| Angelika, irum, Magalie & Naoun |
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| Irum and Liz |
I hitched a ride back with Magalie to Adventure Inn, where the friendships and laughter continued.
Travis returned from Peru and we had another fun evening over dinner. He brought me a hand made scarf by the grandmother of the Shaman who helped him in his Ayahuasca ceremonies. An astral connection with him during his last ceremony was a focus of conversation. When friends meet laughter happens!
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| With Travis and Magalie |
I was invited to the restaurant Tin Ho, to celebrate with Ivannia and her family, her sister’s 50th birthday. The pad thai was excellent as was the ambiance. It was a fun afternoon. Her brother insists that he looks like a Pakistani, his wife Marce is a runner and wants to run the Toronto marathon. We exchanged contact, maybe one day we can swap our time and homes.
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| Story of Tin Ho Restaurant |
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| Pad Thai |
Delia and Luis came to take me dinner in the mountains near volcán barva. Through a scenic narrow drive we reached the restaurant at the top of the mountain. The air was fresh with a slight nip. Delia lives in Santo Domingo and I spent a day with them. Meandering the small town, in and out of shops, with Luis stopping to show me the old street paving as well as the construction using earth. The walls of those building were surely a reminder of antique times.
We returned to their beautiful home. The dogs came out barking in excitement as Delia showed me her flower collection and the mosaic wall she has been creating. A sumptuous lunch of heart of palm risotto, vegetable soup and some red wine to wash it all down. It was good to see their two sons, David and Oskar Felipe. Oskar is celebrating his birthday soon. Another south paw like me we feel connected. We talked about their trip to Canada and they shared their past trips to Peru. Maybe we will take the next one together.
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| With Luis & Delia |
As I finish writing the above, the planes starts its descent into Mexico City. I will stay here for the night en route to Toronto.
Mexico City
The three hours wait in the immigration line was making me realize that I might not be able to see the city at all. I had booked myself at the Marriott which meant a walk from the terminal 1 right into the airport. A decision I was feeling good about, as I stood in line, chatting other passengers who were nervous that they will miss their onward connections. The two ladies, who were with me in the plane and now in the line, decided after an hour to buy their way to the head of the line. With 200 dollars they did exactly that, some passenger was happy to let them cut in front of them for a price.
I walked into the hotel, checked in and was glad that the concierge offered to get me a driver and car to take me to Zocalo. Nothing like a hot shower and fresh clothes, with the idea of touring that historical part of the city centre. Eduardo the driver knew some English, and as my sparse Espanol had got a refresher in Costa Rica, we hit it off great. A wonderful two hours of sightseeing, the historical ruins of the historic Templo Mayor which they believed was at the centre of the universe. The 50,000 years old meteorites and of course the delicious tacos.
The journey back to Toronto brought me feeling nourished.
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| Arenal at Sunrise |
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| Arenal at Sunset |
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| Mexico City Palacio de bella artes |
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| Meteorite over 50,000 years old |
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| Palacio de Mineria |
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| Aztec Templo Mayor |
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| Cathedral |
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| Presidents Palace |
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| Madero Calle |
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Best Tacos at Tacos de Canasta
Los Especiales
(Madero Calle) |
