Oct. 2 - 6 - 08
News from Alajuela
We couldn't fly home until the following Monday without a substantial fee so Fred and I spent the next four days resting and recuperating in a friendly little hotel named Los Volcanoes (www.hotellosvolcanes.com) in Alajuela. Los Volcanoes used to be a private residence and so has the beauty of the rich architecture of the older mansions while maintaining a coziness because of the homelike atmosphere. We found the staff to be very friendly and helpful and enjoyed the use of the free WIFI and the two high speed computers in the main lobby. (The keyboard is laid out a little differently which may account for any typos you found in my earlier communications).
Alajuela a lovely city just five minutes from the Juan Santa Maria International Airport. Our room was just next to the main courtyard where the complimentary breakfast was served daily from 7:00 to 10:00am. Neither Fred or I were drinking coffee when we arrived in Costa Rica, but the rich flavorful aromas and the sweet hot leche (milk) were too hard to resist. While I understand Fred has stopped drinking coffee since returning to Michigan, I have been savoring the flavor of the pound of coffee I brought back. Who knows what will happen in the next few days when I run out!
We also discovered an unusual fruit combination that was excellent. The hotel served watermelon, pineapple, and banana topped with strawberry or maybe cherry yogurt with a splash of granola on top. As I think of it, it is lucky that we liked it so well as it was the only thing available besides scrambled eggs and toast on the free breakfast menu. Being that we were on a very limited budget we always ate a big breakfast so as to need only purchase one additional meal each day. We decided on Chinese (lots of food for a reasonable price) and we were delighted that the food was delicious and plentiful. The plates were piled so high with the main dishes we thought there was rice underneath, but no, it was just huge portions. We tried two different Chinese restaurants and both were delicious. We also ordered a pizza one night (the hotel desk called for us) and were we excited to see what pizza was like in Costa Rica. Imagine our disappointment when we received our pizza in a Pizza Hut box! We should have stuck with beans and rice! This staple is available in all areas of Costa Rica. This dish is mildly spiced and often mixed with coconut milk in the Central Valley and spiced hot with red or black beans along the Atlantic Coastal area were Cahuita is located.
We also ate lots of fresh fruit, pineapple, papaya, watermelon, plantain, and bananas (most of the locals eat the bananas that grow on their land as the ones that are exported are sprayed with a chemical that delays the ripening process so they can ship them green and they will ripen later in the grocery stores of the US and elsewhere). Bummer!
Although the trip did not work out as planned, I felt that I gained a lot from the experience. I spent the first few days trying to convince Fred to go out with me to check out the music scene. But after a short while I began to appreciate the low key, peaceful feeling of just being still, without a lot of outside stimulus. I re-read Siddhartha by Herman Hesse, and Fred read Narcissus & Goldmund (among other things). We wrote, listened to music, played music, read, slept, meditated (while flat on the back staring at the ceiling), and talked (but not too much). I can't remember a time in my life that has been as quiet and introspective. Even though it was extremely stressful for me for a day or two in Cahuita and I had my ups and downs (due to the fact that I was adjusting to a new kind of dopamine replacement drug that was 2 1/2 times stronger than the one I take in the states), I came home feeling quite peaceful and grateful towards Fred for helping to create this unique experience.
Once I was home, I knew I was right where I should be. Will keep you posted concerning any positive changes due to the treatments.