Hey there,
Well, when I wrote a couple of weeks ago, I was a bit down, but that didn't last too long. I got many replies to that message and felt a lot better remembering what good friends I have in the world, even we are all so far away from each other.
People are asking me a lot about the Nicaragua job and I still do not have a contract, but I have received confirmation that I should be getting something within the next two weeks. That will be good to get taken care of, then I can plan the rest of my life around that...
Although I have been emotionally fixed of late, I have been slightly ill lately. Some stomach problems, a renewed leg infection and now, today, a cold. The cycle of life is not allowing me to rest.
Last Friday, three of us from the office - James, Clare and I - went to Quebrada Arroyo to investigate the possibility of a second RJI project there. It was great to see everyone, although it was way too rushed, so I want to try to get up there for a whole weekend towards the end of the month.
This week was Holy/Easter week. In Latin America, not too much happens. A lot of offices and businesses shut down for the week or from Wed on. I finished working on Tues. Berj, one of our FOG volunteers, came into San Jose from Nicaragua, and wanted to go to Tortuguero. Originally, I wasn't sure if I wanted to go away, since everyone goes to the beach this week and it is often pretty crazy. In any case, I had always wanted to go to Tortuguero so we went. After 3 or 4 hours of bus rides and a 3 hour boat ride, we finally arrived in Tortuguero with a few other tourists that we ended up hanging out with a bit - an Australian woman and two Lousianan women. We didn't do much that first night, played guitar a bit, broke a string and then it sounded terrible, but that didn't stop us... I went for a late night walk on the beach in the dark and finally to bed.
The next day, we arranged a new hotel, since ours was full for that night and I had some friends - Clare, Karen and Cheryl - coming to join us. So we got 2 rooms in a rustic little place. After breakfast, I went for a hike with the girls while Berj rested and read. In the afternoon, I napped and then read on the dock, waiting for my friends to arrive. We settled in, chatted, went for a coffee and arranged a tour for the next day in canoes. A quiet night followed of cards and 5 minute mysteries. On Friday, people slept in, but I couldn't, after being eaten alive the night before, so I got up and read a bit. After an amazing breakfast at a great restaurant that we discovered - Miss Miriam's - we went on the canoe tour. We paddled up the river Tortuguero and its tributaries, seeing cayman, Jesus Christ lizards, Spider monkeys, Howler monkeys, Tiger herons, kingfishers, poison dart frogs (so small!), etc. The forest is so lush there, just seeing the greenness of the vegetation is amazing. It was great, but after four hours we were ready to eat - or at least, I was, as I usually am...
The afternoon was spent eating, drinking coffee and tea, chatting and playing billiards. At night we had a hike on the beach to search for turtles, but we had no luck. A bit disappointing I guess, but I have seen turtles nesting before, so it wasn't too bad for me. Perhaps a good excuse to come back though...
I've been reading more of the Ishmael series by Daniel Quinn of late - the Story of B and Beyond Civilisation. Excellent books and very accessible if anyone is interested in a new paradigm for the world.
Back to work tomorrow, but it should be fun, I have sent out some proposals to potential partners in Nicaragua so I'll be following up on that in the next few days before we go to do the feasibility study visit to Nicaragua in late May.
With nothing else of import to write about, I will leave you with pleasant thoughts of Quebec City, here's hoping for a peaceful and fruitful protest next week...
Rob