Early Morning Hotel Don Carlos Breakfast Blues: Sunday, January 7th!

There are years that ask questions and years that answer. -Zora Neale Hurston, folklorist and writer (7 Jan 1891-1960)

Gaelan tell them some good places once Mom you tell her your itinerary 😬  Hi Gaelen and Chloë, et al! Had a very good flight. Watched The Mountain Between Us with Kate Winslet and Idris Alba, primarily as I really liked Idris in the British series Luther. Talk about a cardboard plot. Hard to believe that such accomplished actors could/would consent to making such a wooden film. After the romance survival drama came to its highly predictable end I slept for almost three hours. When I woke, we were about an hour from landing so I started watching Marshall. What a difference a well-written script, based on a true story makes! 

In case you are not familiar with it, "in 1940, Thurgood Marshall is an NAACP lawyer travelling the country defending people of color who are wrongly accused of crimes because of racial prejudice. Upon his return to his New York office, he is sent to Bridgeport, Connecticut, to defend Joseph Spell, a chauffeur accused of rape by his white employer, Eleanor Strubing, in a case that has gripped the newspapers. In Bridgeport, insurance lawyer Sam Friedman is assigned by his brother to get Marshall admitted to the local bar, against his will. At the hearing, Judge Foster, a friend of the father of prosecutor Lorin Willis, agrees to admit Marshall, but forbids Marshall from speaking during the trial, forcing Friedman to be Spell's lead counsel. Marshall must guide Friedman through notes, such as when he advises Friedman to allow a woman of Southern white descent into the jury because of her assertive and questioning personality."

That's as far as I was able to watch before we touched down. Customs and baggage went smoothly and we were soon outside the terminal and saw Lady Dar's name, "Corine" on a sign, along with our driver, Miza, nice young chap. Chatted amicably on the half hour ride into San Jose, as he pointed out various spots of interest and told us what sort of weather to expect in a number of our other stops. Plane was early so we arrived at the Don Carlos around 8:00 am. Man at reception was very helpful and said he would try to have us checked in as soon as possible but since check-out was not until 11:00 am we would have to wait until a room became free. He stored our luggage and said we were welcome to have breakfast. We did just that, enjoying scrambled eggs along with fresh papaya and pineapple. Coffee was terrific so I had two cups laced with hot milk.

Although we slept reasonably on the plane, we both feel pretty lethargic so we have camped out in a very pleasant siting area of the dining room, the fountain beyond already having lulled Lady Dar asleep in a comfortable winged back armchair. As soon as I post this missive, I'm going to close my eyes myself. With any luch we'll be in our room before too, too long to have a proper nap and feel refreshed enough to start exploring the neighbourhood. Sky is quite overcast and it is rather windy so I'm glad I have on a warm top. Out of the wind it is a most pleasant temperature so should be just fine for wandering. Fondestos from Sleeping Beauty! Cheers, Patrizzio! PS: Just had word that our room is ready! Hip Hip Hooray! Pics: Bon Voyage at LAX. Waiting for our luggage. Sitting area and fountain, (unseen), leading to outdoor patio and swimming pool, the size of a large hot-tub! Pool and views taken from our room. [Have fun! Patti!]

Hi parents, Glad you arrived safely hope you had a nice nap and a great first day of exploration!!! Mom, John Paul’s best friend Rodrigo Mora Alfaro sent you a friend request on Facebook. Accept it! He is from Costa Rica and wants to tell you some stuff, places to see, go etc. his family is also there so if something happened or you needed help you could get in touch. Love you both, enjoy. Cars are napping but I outsmarted them this morning and slept till 8:30!!! Although Duke cried outside my locked bedroom door. Poor puppy. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Hi Cruel Cat Keeper, et al! After I sent a message or two from our room, I climbed into bed, [Lady Dar was already in The Land of Nod], leaving CNN on to lull me to sleep, the political discussion revolving around Steve Bannon's initial comments following the publication of the remarks in Wolff's book Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, and his subsequent back-pedaling! at any rate we both slept until almost 3:00 pm and then, more or less refreshed, we showered/changed and then headed out to explore San Jose. We bumped into an American couple, from Forrestville, on the Russian River, whom we nodded to at the hotel. Anne and Robert wre just returning from lunch so they gave us a few tips about where some of the museums were located, as well as recommending Chelles, the spot they had eaten at.

Our hotel is only about ten or fifteen minutes away from the main drag so we soon found ourselves down a few blocks from the pedestrian only thoroughfare which runs for quite a few blocks. Before exploring this street we stopped at a Mercado to buy a juice for me and then we strolled through a craft market, very similar to those we've encountered in Puerto Vallarta. Much the same merchandise but with a Costa Rican slant. Nevertheless vendors were very pleasant so we enjoyed our first introduction to what is probably available elsewhere in the country.

By chance we stumbled upon an Italian restaurant just around the corner form this market and as Lady Dar was hungry, [She couldn't really eat any of the food proffered on Delta.], since last she'd had a bite was at breakast at HDS. Anyway, place was very inviting, interior decor quite tasteful/colourful with photographs of various Italian city ruins, Sophi eating pizza somewhere and wonderful posters of different Italian foodstuffs. 

Our waiter, an Albanian, married to a Costa Rican, was the most pleasant, charming and attentive waiter we've had in ages. I settled on a Cesaer Sald, Lady Dar a Calbrese, followed by salmon with Yukon Gold potatoes while I had a Calzoni stuffed with Italian sausage and mushrooms. Salds were delish and mine was served on a basket of crispy Parmesano which Lady Dar wnted most of! The Calzoni was enough for two so I asked for a doggie bag for half I had left and rest of kartofellage. Thanking our terrific waiter we paid our bill and then wandered back to a different Mercado to buy a bottle of 7 year local rum, Centenario, 35%, [Low on the Richter Scale and then on the the other one for a bottle of 2015 Carmen Reserve Carmenère, 13.5%.

Headed home and Lady Dar went up to the room and I went to the bar to ask for corkscrew. Young lad there was most accommodating and he popped the cork, complimenting Lady Dar on her selection. Back up to our room to open my bottle of rum but couldn't manage to turn cap! Back down to the bar to ask for more help and laughing, the barkeep opened the racalcitrant bottle, although it required a bit of effort on his part. [Heard you face timed with Rodrigo, that’s great!!!
Duke was napping and kneading on my lap he drooled so much the blanket was soaked. We are watching the globes in English while drinking Rosé.] Now we are happily ensconced in our comfy room, sipping and digitating and watching The Golden Globes, in Spanish! The more we drink, the better our understanding becomes! 

Tomorrow we plan to meet up with a walking tour in front of the National Museum at 9:00 am, about twenty minutes from our hotel. Probably a couple of hours and then we will hit a bank to change some of our US greenbacks into colóns. Must away as Lady Dar is calling for a refill and my glass is empty as well. Fondestos and Cheers, to one and all, from us both! Pics: Sculpture on way downtown; public mural; ordering at restaurant; delivery, [although Uber Eats, chap on a motorcycle, picked up two pizzas while we were there!], and tasting bar; hootch at home! Sounds like you're off to a great start!! Great pics so far!! Ayn xoxo Heard you face timed with Rodrigo, that’s great!!! He was very nice. and thought our plans were good. Off to do a walking tour of SAN Jose tomorrow. study hard Love Mom My friend John David sent me this from last night dancing with Tonya Harding and Alison Janney That’s awesome!!! Where does he work?? How come he was there?? He's an event planner and works all the big awards shows.

Hi Patrick and Corine We just returned from a visit to Ted and Elaine, so thought I would update you on Ted’s condition. He seemed pleased to see us and we had a good chat reminiscing about our rugby wine trip to California, now many years ago, but I could tell that he is very ill . He is quite immobile now but still manages a trip to the coffee shop with his close friends daily. Elaine looks exhausted , but is surrounded by her family . Teds sister from Winnipeg was there also. It is so hard to grasp that this is happening to such a great guy as Ted, and it must be devastating for his family, but he is surrounded by his loving family, and they are all there to support him and Elaine. Give us a call next time you are in town. Cheers Mick

Hi Polly and Mick! Thanks for the latest comments on Ted. Just by chance, Lady Dar had a message from Elaine, earlier today, and she reported much of what you described. Hardly bears thinking about so our hearts go out to her and family, not to even mention Ted and the dire hand that Chance has thrown him.

To bring you up to date on life before we left for San Jose, here is the album I put together for Alex's grad from the LAFD. I still need shorts from Richmond Fire Department, however! Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi Pat and Corinne, We hope you all had a healthy, happy Christmas holiday with Ayn and the boys. We can't wait to hear all about your time in Costa Rica.
Happy New Year! Love, Rick and Ruth and family P.S. We hope we can find some time to see you between all of your travels this year. Hi Ruth, we are in LA getting ready to leave for Costa Rica on Saturday. Had a very quiet Christmas in Penticton and quiet New Years here. Have Alex’s grad from fire training tomorrow which is exciting for him. We will be back in late February hope to see you two in March. Hugs Corinne Hi Corinne, Wishing you all the best in your travels and a great big Congrats to Alex. Hopefully, we can see you when you return. Ruth
Dear Patrick Thanks so so much for your news update. You will be in Costa Rico now. Hope you have a great time. Will be thinking of you. Cheers Jo-Anne 
Hello Fartograms, For coming Monday we are planning to go to Kaleden SE Hills with the hope that the snow cover will not be too bad. It is a good idea to bring cleats/crampons if you have them. As usual we will gather at Home Hardware in Penticton at 9:00AM. Those coming from Summerland should come together at the IGA parking lot at 8:40AM then make their way to Penticton HH. Hope to see you there! Cheers, Grandpa Aart (... still young at heart)