Age has its benefits! Another bank experience today. ATM wouldn't work so we decided to try again inside. We were directed to the line for the old, pregnant and handicapped ! And then were told to use the ATM in the Supermarket - that was for international transactions. Didn't work. So we found another bank and it worked and I think the first few we tried didn't have the cirrus, visa, MasterCard labels on it. Problem solved and colones in our pocket.
We went back to the first national park of a few days ago. We were greeted by Maurice, loaded with binoculars and a telescope and bird books and all manner of reference material. He was for hire and we joined a young couple from Russia, now living in New Jersey. He took us a on a three hour walk in the forest / jungle and we saw many, many birds, bats, and monkeys,and were informed about many things. He was a very happy, knowledgable Costa Rican. If we had gone by ourselves we would have missed most of what we saw. He had a great sense of humour and could call the howler monkeys and they would answer. He said," They are my cousins"
After the tour, wonder of wonders, we found an air conditioned restaurant. I didn't need any more ambience.
We have several pictures that Maurice took with our camera held to the telescope. Worked really well.
No propane barbecue here, instead there are briquettes. I can see the neighbors have one and I am coveting my neighbor's goods, but not her husband. So I sit here, inhaling the smell of the starter and wondering how long they will take. That will be on my list of complaints along with the corkscrew.