December 30

Awesome day!
Busy breakfast, ran into town to pick up party favors for New Year's Eve tomorrow, ice cream lunch...
Ledger group of 6 people staying with us went fishing today and came back with a ton of mackerel and tuna that Xinia my cook prepared beautifully!
Cerviche to start, some mackerel done in garlic butter, some deep fried and tuna done on BBQ, served with rice and veg.
Customers were happy asked for Xinia to come out to restaurant so they could thank her!
Good job Xinia!!!!!

December 29

Super busy! Full house, breakfast rocked!
The internet has been down all day...
Just ran a group of 6 guests into Samara, they are going to the Rodeo!
Wish I could join them but alas more guests here...
Booking tons of tours, snorkeling, fishing, river boat tour, surfing...
Having fun and working hard!!
   

December 27

Making sure I post something so I don't get chirped by Gwen!
Pretty hot the last few days, getting up to about 33-35 C plus humidity!
Cool couple from BC checked in for a couple of nights.
Doing lots of prep for restaurant as we are much busier now!

December 26

Christmas dinner was good, turkey turned out great!
Cake from bakery in Samara was excellent.

December 25

Feliz Navidad!
Just waiting for guests to wake up, all ready to go...Santa was here for the kids...there are presents under the tree!
I feel like walking down the hall with a pot and wooden spoon. It's Christmas morning get up!!

Finally all the kids (and adults) got up! Had some breakfast and then opened their presents, they were all very happy that Santa found them in Costa Rica!

Got a call from my BFF Gwen for Christmas! XOXO

December 24

Christmas Eve!
Elves are busy making chocolates, wrapping gifts for the kids, peeling carrots for the reindeer...

Lots of people checking in today.
Busy Busy!!
Crazy day...one of the guest (little girl) had an ear infection so ran her and her mom to Samara to see Doctor Freddy, very excellent doctor! Really impressed!
She is doing much better, got a shot in the but of antibiotics and seems to be good to go...
Ran back in to Samara to pick up cake I ordered for Christmas dinner tomorrow. Had a bit of time to kill so went for a walk on the beach, didn't think I knew that many people yet but ran into about 10 people I knew all wishing me a merry Christmas! I'm like the mayor LOL
Just finished serving dinner to family that ad went fishing today and caught the fish so we cooked it up for them. They really enjoyed it!

December 23

Well went out for one or two beers last night LOL
Had 4 beers, home and in bed by 1am and I actually don't feel too bad today...

Always good to see someone off
So Natalie left on the bus for San Jose at 4am, she will arrive home some time Christmas eve in time for Santa!

Here' Nat doing her best Gringo impersonation!

Here's Nat and I with the owner of Hula Jungla Flavio behind us sticking his tongue out!

December 22

OMG! I think Santa might be taking a break before his Christmas rush!
Check out the picture I got on the beach!

December 22

So trying hard to get in the Christmas groove here...somehow cleaning the pool in my bathing suit this afternoon to "Santa Claus is coming to town" just doesn't seem right...
Few guests checked in already for the Christmas vacation.
Going to try and go out for a few beers later as my friend Natalie is bailing and heading for home tomorrow, she should be back in Jersey Channel Islands in time for Christmas! Home sick and not what she expected working in a bar...when all she wants is to be a teacher...
I will miss her as we have been good sounding boards for each other but I get Costa Rica is not working out for her...
On the other hand I am loving it!!!!!

December 21

Happy Birthday to my big sister Therry I think she's 30 today which makes me 28 right? LOL
So no guests tonight but that's it!!
Very cool family from BC just checked out, here is a pic up Sarah & Krista the little surf warriors!

December 20

Full day running errands in Nicoya, picked up a turkey for Christmas dinner!!
Customer's who had surfing lessons with Chilliasana Yoga & Surf School were very impressed!
Which is very cool because of the Barrie connection, they seem to be nice people...
Had a really nice couple and their 5 yr old son stay with us for a couple of nights originally from El Salvador, the little boy was a blast, he was so into maps and I gave him one of the complimentary Alamo maps and right away he was asking his dad where are we? Where did we drive from? Bright kid!
This morning after breakfast when I was clearing up he was playing in the pool and every time I walked by he was nailing me with his water gun! Felt good as it was HOT today!!

December 18

So today we are going to talk about hair dye, this one might be a bit more for the girls!
So I bought a box of red hair dye Nutrisse by Garnier, common brand at the Maxi Bodega, dyed my hair 2 nights ago, even with dry hair the pillow is all red, when I wash my face my facecloth is all red, my hands are all red from touching my hair...interesting product!
you know I am wearing dark colors until this passes, no white!!!
I guess I need to wash my hair out a few times!
Nice sunny and hot today, family of 4 checked in yesterday from BC, 2 girls are like 9 &12, just sent them to the beach for a surf lesson. Wish it was me..

December 17

Well today started off great!
Last night was my last with no guests until into the new year, went for a few cervezas next door had Hula Jungla, had a good time, home and in bed by 1am, no guests this am so slept in until about 7:30 am, had a nice breakfast, walked up to the market to get some fresh produce, had a massage and pedicure at ten, totally relaxed figured a little siesta in my future for the afternoon, got some laundry going and was bopping down the stairs when I heard a really loud pop and then water spraying, yep you guessed it!!! Room two again! Ran and shut off the water so really didn't get the flooding as bad as last time as I was right there when it occurred but for crying out loud!!! Anyhow turns out it was from a completely different section than what Rob repaired...he was able to repair this in 30 minutes, just ahead of guests starting to arrive and check in.
So now I have 20 minutes to nap and then get ready for dinner...
Woo Hoo!!

Ok so not sure if this link will work or not but it's from my guest Jim who owns the Monteverde Butterfly Garden, he is right into animals and bugs...this is a film he shot while staying here for two nights of the crocodile that lives under the bridge on the way to the beach!


https://files.me.com/silverspot/6x76p2.mov

December 16

Ok a good night's sleep and water to take a shower this am have put things back into perspective!
Thanks to all of you who shot me an email or a message on Facebook encouraging me.
I'm all good now! Was just having a discouraging moment the third time the water leaked everywhere...
Rob the Captain of the Kitty Cat seems to be the one to fix it...third time is the charm!!
BTW it's 22 C and raining this morning and I had to put a sweater on LOL

December 15

So how do you know when the plumbing repair job was not great?
When you have a full leak again at 8pm, then your cook's husband says I'll fix it...who else am I going to get?
And then again at 5:30 am when you go to take a shower only to find not only is there a leak again, but the whole holding tank has emptied into the entrance way of the hotel and there's no water!!
So today for the first time I want to come home! I'm sure it will pass as soon as we get this sorted.
On my 3rd guy, now having Rob, the Captain of the Kitty Cat fishing boat who reminds me of the mumbling guy from King of the Hill...
They all mean well and genuinely want to help...
Guests seem to be taking it in stride...giving away a few drinks...
Good times in CR!!

December 14

OMG! What a morning!
Just as I finished setting up the restaurant my guest in room 2 open their door and say, Joannie we just heard a big bang and now there's water shooting out from behind the closet!
Well run shut the water off to the whole hotel, come back to find the pipe has burst, grab all their gear and move them to another room and then get things sorted.
Thank goodness for Ana's husband Eduardo who shot over and replaced the pipe for me. We were back in business in less than two hours!
I told Ana to find me a good man like her husband that can fix stuff!!
Where's Red Green when you need em'?
"If the women don't find you handsome they should at least find you handy"
I need one of those!!

December 13

Ok busy last night chatting with family...so not much too exciting going on...3 rooms occupied the last few days, just enough to keep me busy booking tours, etc...
Raining today, first rain day in about 3 weeks!
Hooked up with a cool surf/yoga company down on the beach yesterday!
John and Kelly. John is Tico and Kelly is from Barrie!!! Go figure LOL
So I am hooked up for surf lessons and yoga classes on the beach for guests!

December 11

Another busy day, getting some walk in business which is cool but damm busy!
Was invited to a party last night and did the mature thing and said no I have guests and need to get up early!!
KK would be so proud of me!! LOL

December 10

OK trying to get into the Christmas spirit! Hard to do in this heat!!!!
Here are some shots of the Christmas decor so far!

Yes I found a poinsettia in CR last Saturday at the market!
This Saturday I got these, they were plain so I did them up with some beads and a bow!

Feliz Navidad

December 9

Had my first customers do a couple's sunset massage on the beach this early evening.
Looked pretty cool, wish it was me!!
Hard to massage battery operated devices as that is all I am coupled up with these days LOL
Quiet evening! Not sure why but no Kareoke tonight...( so bragging and not complaining)

December 9

Staff Christmas party last night was a success!
Lots of food for everyone.
I expected a quiet night last night after all the staff left but it seems we now have kareoke 3 nights a week!!
Last night I fell asleep to a lovely Tico voice crooning Satisfaction!
Mick and Keith would love it LOL
Going to put my bathing suit on now and go skim the pool
living the dream!!

December 7

Ok missed a day, was busy with suppliers, etc...
Larry and Shoshana just checked out, such cool people, they are coming back in January sometime but to their new house.
Just getting organized for the staff Christmas party I am throwing tomorrow evening as we have no guests tonight and tomorrow. My friend Natalie is going to waitress for me so the staff can all have the night off and enjoy!
Off to run a couple of errands then hopefully a couple of hours this afternoon for me to chill by the pool!

December 5

Took Donna to airport today to ship her back to Canada! Hope it's not too cold for her!!
So happy Donna was able to visit me for 3 weeks, she was a great help in getting me organized!

The drive to and from Liberia was entertaining to say the least!
As I said to Donna the trades are out today!
We missed getting a picture of the first guys transporting about a dozen 2x4's I would guess standard length side ways on his scooter in the foot well, we weren't sure he was going to make it across the 1 lane bridge!
Then a bit later came the other tradesman transporting his ladder. Picture says it all LMAO

Note the pick up truck in front of me passing him and I pass him right after Donna gets the shot as he is doing about 20km/hr
Wish I had a hot of the guy with the lumber and it was just nuts!!!

December 4

So glad Larry and Shoshona are here! Great guests!
Hot Hot today 32 Celcius and 60% humidity!
I know you are all cold right now but think about how hot that is!!
You can really tell we are close to the equator as the sun is super strong.
Donna and I went into Samara to pick up some eggs...and stopped at the beach on the way back for a quick dip and the sand was the hottest I have ever felt in my life! Actually felt like I burnt the bottom of my feet!!!!

December 3

Beautiful Saturday morning! Sunny and hot, clear blue skies!
Oh Yes! and last night was Kareoke again! I think they might be getting worse!!!

Went to the fruit and veg market this morning and got some lovely produce and a poinsettia!!!
Feeling the Christmas spirit a bit more, hard to do in this heat!!!
Wish you could all come down for Christmas and be warm with me!!

So a cool thing just happened in town!
A little parade of ox carts went by the hotel.
Here are the vaqueros going to round up the oxen

Here comes the parade!

 The Blessed Virgin Mary, always good to put up front in a parade!

 The little one in pink is Stephanie, her mom is the housekeeper at the hotel behind us and she pops in every morning to say Hola!!

 Really cool carts!

Horses bringing up the rear

December 2

Ok so I missed a day...
That's because we slacked off a bit in the afternoon and went to Samara and had lunch on the beach!
then ran errands all afternoon...
Here's a cool driftwood statue in Samara

Chris and Amanda checked out yesterday, they were here for week and poor people they had a few challenges with banking, etc...Hope as is well back home for them
All in all thought they enjoyed the hotel and the food, especially the sangria!!

today was good, experimented with some vegetarian dishes with Xinia in preparation for Larry and Shoshana's arrival today. (met them last time I was here)
Made some hummus and some onion & mushroom tarts(thanks Chris & Amanda for the shrooms!!) in a parmesan crust, they were well received this evening.
Getting some tiki torches out in the evening to let people know the restaurant is here!!
Oh yes and just after 10 pm, ready for bed and oh ya the kareoke just started, the local dogs are barking at least it's in tune! LOL
Wish I could record it and make it a sound bite on here for you all to hear how bad it is|!!