It is my belief that the writer, the free-lance author, should be and must be a critic of the society in which he lives. It is easy enough, and always profitable, to rail away at national enemies beyond the sea, at foreign powers beyond our borders who question the prevailing order. But the moral duty of the free writer is to begin his work at home; to be a critic of his own community, his own country, his own culture. If the writer is unwilling to fill this part, then the writer should abandon pretense and find another line of work: become a shoe repairman, a brain surgeon, a janitor, a cowboy, a nuclear physicist, a bus driver. -Edward Abbey, naturalist and author (29 Jan 1927-1989)
Up just after 7:00 am. Already becoming acclimatized to the early morning birdsong as I slept right through the sometimes raucous shrieks and calls. Lady Dar has announced that today is a Tanning Day and she will not even wear her Fitbit as she wants to have all over "summer skin", (one of the phrases used in a song, his own, by Micah, acoustic guitar player who performed at El Facon, last night.), by the end of our stay in Costa Rica. Wonder how the other guests will take to having Wreck Beach come to Otro Lado! For my part, at some point, I think I'll take a stroll down the beach, in the direction we've not yet been, just to catch the lay of the land.
Today, for lunch, I had Homemade Gnocchi while Lady Dar enjoyed
Ragu' alla Bolognese, only gluten-free pasta on menu. We had been driven
crazy by the smell of the sauce over last few days!
Happiest of Happy Birthdays Big Al! For He's a Jolly Good Fellow! Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray! Congratulations and all the very best from Costa Rica! Fondestos and Cheers, Lady Dar and Patrizzio! Thanks Patricio!. it looks like you custom made this card just for me lol. Looks like you guys are having a grand time and can't wait to see you and catch up. Love to corriandre and ttys. fondestos!!
Hi Big Al and Marilyn! Glad you enjoyed the card, Big Molly! Trust you are both well, in spite of birthday party shenanigans, and monsoons.
Certainly cannot complain about weather here, that is for sure. Lady
Dar spends her time moving between pool and hammock, reading in both
places! Another lazy, lazy day in Paradise today. Lady Dar dedicated
it to working on her tan. That
evening I was commanded, by Her Ladyship, [She refuses to expose her
royal self to the dust!], to walk down the road to pick up dinner at
Chicken Joe's! Great meal of half a chicken with two saladins, green and cabbage,
on our downstairs patio table with two other dinner guests, not quite
as pushy as Duke, Ciro, the cat, and Lupina, the pooch, both with the
saddest eyes in the world. Don't tell the owners but we fed them
tidbits!
Fondestos from Hammock Woman to you both. Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics:
Beach with mini-grandes and pelicans, just after dive-bombing and then
just after take-off!
[Must away as I've been called to spray Lady Dar's back with sunscreen. Fondestos from her, although she's so engrossed in her latest book, Karen Rose's Watch Your Back, that I hardly think she has even a passing thought for her friends and family back home! Cheers, Dad! Pics: Bug for Reception Desk! Typical scene along The Strip. Choocheranian owns RE/MAX agency in Santa Teresa! Sandals off; Selfie time; Lady Dat at El Facon; Micah; Ciro; Gino; Back in the Hammock Again!] I would like to use you as a reference for my Security clearance update. I need your middle name. W Patrick Jame Dunn
Oh marvelous. January 5-19 we were in LA and Santa Cruz visiting with son Jake & family. We drove up to Capitola/Santa Cruz to visit with Cherly's aunt and just missed the terrible mudslides by about 4 hours. Highlight of the LA visit was a tour of the Getty Museum. But those freeways, the police helicopters, and the general lack of green space in LA was pretty daunting. Happy to be back in Van. Hi again, Happy to be Home in Vancouver People!
Interestingly enough, we both felt much the same way you described when we first started visiting Ayn in Tinsel Town. However, over the years, our opinion has changed, and radically so. Having local knowledge of city one sees an entirely different side of it. Driving surface streets through various neighbourhoods is much like visiting Kerrisdale, Commercial Street or Lynn Canyon, obviously with different vegetation and architecture. Furthermore, I really enjoy cycling there, Many many dedicated bike paths. One, along ocean, starting near Topanga Canyon where it intersects with Pacific Coast Highway, south past LAX is fabulous. I even ride between the San Fernando Valley, where Ayn lives, near Studio City, for most of the way, along the Orange Bus Line, (as far as Northridge), dedicated bike/pedestrian lane, [much like Seawall in Vancouver], to Simi Valley, over the Santa Susana Pass Road, where you would think you are on some of the hills around Penticton were it not for the huge, sandstone boulders which litter the hillsides.
Speaking of the Getty, we didn't visit the Museum this visit but rather the Getty Villa, near Santa Monica, as we'd never been before. Anyway, with Jake & family in LA you will have the opportunity to dig beneath the skin of this truly exciting city. Another example comes to mind, Burbank. On the morning of the day we left for Costa Rica, January 6th, we drove to Tojunga Village, one of the neighbourhoods there, to meet Alex, our youngest grandson, and his wife, Samantha, for breakfast at Aroma, a wonderful spot indeed. Anyway, lovely Art Deco and California '50's style buildings line the streets, filled with shops, businesses of all kinds, restaurants and bars, etc., that make strolling a delight. Must away as it's time for breakfast. fondest from Lady Dar to you. Al, and Cheryl. Cheers, Patrizzio, Member of the Greater LA Tourist Board! Pics: LA near Grand Central Market; Getty Villa. Deer on hillside outside grounds!
Hello Patrick & Corinne! (and extended family) Thank you so much for sharing these photos and for a delightful time together in Tamarindo. Image 8249 may just be the cutest shot of Ian and me that has ever been taken. It sounds as if your adventures continue (more cats!) and that you are enjoying yourselves. Ian and I arrived home very late Saturday night (11:30) and were tucked in with eyes smashed by midnight (having simply dropped everything at the door upon arrival). Sunday broke clear and cold and we met the day with shovels. Ian's driveway was a foot deep with snow, more where it drifted. It's hard to be home but we've enrolled in Spanish lessons and project "Explore Ex-patting" begins :)!
After seeing you off Saturday, we walked down to the market and met the Thursday night vendors and sampled their wares-- the spice woman was there and so were the chocolate folks (God, that was good chocolate!). It seems if you take the wrong turn Thursday night, you get a make-up market Saturday! Thank you again for all the fun and the photos. Enjoy your remaining days in the sun! Happy Adventures, Amy.
Hello Snow-bound Folk! Trust you are both well in spite of the snow shovel blues! Glad you enjoyed the snapolas and terrific that you stumbled upon the Thursday Night vendors! Thanks for good wishes. as well. Must away as I'm starting to feel sleepy, Lady Dar is already abed. Fondestos from her, to you, Amy and Ian. All the best. Cheers, Patrizzio! Thanks for taking us with you! Sandee
Pat, You and Corinne have the right idea. The beach and water look very enticing. The Carters were to set off driving to Palm Springs at 4am today for the month of February. Sylvia and I had dinner with them on Saturday night. Mike and I watched Canada v Uruguay (rugby World Cup play-off on TV before dinner. Good game but Uruguay prevailed. 100mm of rain recorded in 36 hours on the North Shore and over 200mm in Tofino. Enjoy the good weather. Ray
Hi Raymondo! Trust you and Sylvia are both well, in spite of monsoons! Certainly cannot complain about weather here, that is for sure. Lady Dar spends her time moving between pool and hammock, reading in both places! Interesting that you mention rugby as I was just in touch with Sarge and he bought us weekend passes for the '7's. Must send Mick a message as when we return to Tinsel Town on February 4th we'll spend a couple of weeks visiting friends in Palm Desert, Sun City and Sedona, and then a week or so back in LA before heading north towards the end of February. Might see what their situation is like when we drive back to LA and perhaps we can arrange a visit as we drive right past Palm Springs. Fondestos from Hammock Woman to you both. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Pics: Ciro and Hammock Woman! [Do you know Sandrone Dazieri? Italian author new to us.] Some shots of "The Strip": nearest mercado; street signs and good example of dust! Beach with pelicans, just after dive-bombing and then just after take-off! Map of where we are headed next, blue line, to Manuel Antonio and the Jungle Beach Hotel! Apparently take a ferry to cross Gulf of Nicoya.
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