The Adventure Continues

Let me begin this entry by cautioning the reader that I have not necessarily been recounting our journey chronologically-- if anyone would like clarification, please feel free to comment or email me.

With that said, our journey through Costa Rican towns chronologically has been thus: San Jose, in the hills- La Fortuna and then the ranching town of Tilaran, then traveling through Puntarenas, where we caught the ferry to the Nicoya Peninsula on the Pacific coast to end up in the largely hippie/ beachbum/ and rasta town of Montezuma. We are currently situated halfway between Montezuma and the outpost town of Cabuya, on the Southern most tip of the Peninsula. In the past two weeks we have lived constantly about 30 meters away from the ocean.

Already I am feeling like a different person. It's hard to be able to convey everything.

Many days went by, along the coast here, where it was too hot to do much; getting hot by 8 a.m., and not cooling off until about 5 p.m. Some days it wouldn't peacefully cool off until the wee hours of the morning. One can begin to understand the "art of doing nothing", as the Italians say, which has been fine with me as I've been too tired and lie in a hammock in the shade if I can.

In Montezuma, Danielle took us to see two waterfalls, both with cold, fresh water, and they felt so refreshing. The ocean does too, but it's still pretty warm, and then one wants to rinse off the salt. One of the waterfalls is called, "La Cascada de Los Piedras Coloradas", or the Waterfall of the Colored Stones, and they are amazing gems. The entire shore line is one big treasure chest, filled with amazing stones and crystals, and shells of all varieties, including pukas and other items with naturally formed holes. So many wear the sea of jewels on themselves.

We met a meditation teacher, who ended up privately guiding us (Loic and I) in meditation at dusk on the beaches, daily for about a week. I was so delighted that Loic went out of his way to participate in this, without any prompting from me. This fulfilled a secret dream of mine for Loic and I to meditate together, and I hope that we can pick it up again, soon. The first or second time we meditated with Mateo, it was a larger group sit at Viktoras Kulvinskas'house in the hills (the raw food guru and Danielle's mentor and employer here--she's been his personal assistant). We had another, although distant, view of the ocean on this open hut-like veranda, and it was the first time in years that I had a floating sensation, and transcendant perception of consciousness while meditating.

At one point during the meditation I peeked at Loic, who was sitting next to me, and saw his hands resting on his knees. He looked very beautiful. I don't think I could have been happier, more peaceful, or felt more alive at that point. I began to cry towards the end, out of joy, and as we were completing, Danielles' kitten "Puma" crawled onto my lap and fell asleep. It was all such a precious gift.

I feel that I have been detoxifying in my mind and body. Where we are staying is called, "Estudio Los Almendros", and the owner has let us rent one of the tiny screened in cabins. This is my sanctuary in the jungle. We have been greeted just outside of our "hut" by families of Howler and Capuchin Monkeys, and one day a group of Agouti, which is a brite orange-brown cross between a ground hog and a wombat. And the iguanas, geckos, other lizards on the trees and ground-- everywhere. Last night while preparing dinner in the kitchen house, a tarantula crawled past me. I hollered for Loic to come look. Of course there are photos....

I have learned from the owner how to strengthen my feet, which, she says, are connected to my diabetes. The orthotics I stopped wearing had made my feet really weak, and created horrible knee pain and limitation in my right knee. I still am unable to sit cross-legged in meditation, but at least my entire body has been pain-free here!

The owner has also said to another resident, Letitia, that we must learn to move from our organs, mainly our intestines, instead of our limbs-- the intestines are the first thing to form in the fetus, and if we learn to move and breathe from them, we can increase our vitality and prevent a lot of dysfunction and pain. I am intrigued and already I am feeling good employing what is perhaps our true "core".

I've been told by Mateo and others that we are just on the fringe of what is known as a Blue Zone, or a place in the world, independent of it's monetary wealth, is a place of happiness and longevity. Some people think it is because the water here is some of the best quality in the world. So I am drinking from the tap for the first time since I was 12. But I think there is more to it-- the culture is a healthy one, and like the Italians, the Ticos know how to be content and slow down.

I have been covering myself in Lavendar oil at bedtime, to prevent some tiny bugs from biting me at night, and it works like a charm. It has the added benefit of knocking me out like a tranquilizer. I can't keep my eyes open after slathering it on. The blend called "Purification" has been fabulous for warding off mosquitoes, which are pretty scarce anyway here in the dry season. But since I am running out of it, I keep it for when I get a bite and apply a drop to that. Takes away itch and sting immediately. Amazing stuff.

We have mastered the art of hitchiking, safe and very common here, so that we can get into the towns for provisions when we need to. We meet a lot of interesting people this way-- local Ticos, Italians, Germans, French, a Colombian couple here on holiday, and of course, Americans vacationing.

I am loving Loic more and more, and despite the bumps we've had, really enjoy being around him and being with him. My dear friend Michele said we would resolve our conflict and learn how to blend-- be the Yin and Yang. I told Loic I was the Yin to Yang, and have addressed him as Monsieur Yang or something like that. It feels good to acknowledge that although we are so different we can be very good partners and compliment eachother.

More to come!