New place for a while

On Monday, while some were watching groundhogs nibble on people we started a hunt for a apartment here in Pereira. The house was fine and in a great neighborhood but I guess I was just looking for a little more privacy. We were sharing her place with her son and family. Has been a great three weeks and now we will try something new.
We found a furnished unit on the 11th floor in a building called Alquitrabe in the area known as Pinares. After viewing we talked with the owner and negotiated a rate including all utilities, including internet and cable tv for a period of three months for about $400/month. The balcony was set up with brackets for a hammock, so I was happy. The microwave has a toaster built into the right side, first
I ever have seen that. There is lots of natural light as we have two outside walls.

Guest bath

Balcony view left

Balcony view center

Balcony view right

Gloria's younger son Mauricio with Estefany and Miguel Angelo

Local wood I thought was bamboo, but is bigger and called Guadua

Love the colors on this guy

Beautiful bridge made of guadua

There is an indoor garage space if I feel the urge to get a car, or motorcycle. It is on a dead end street on the edge of town so it is very quiet. We are only 3 blocks from the Arboleda Mall that has a theatre, grocery store and mall stuff. Lots of restaurants and shops nearby too.
Seeing how my only source of funds is my one tyme card, I thought it would be a good idea to open a debit account with a local bank. No big deal, pretty much the same stuff as USA except for the fingerprints.
Last Sunday we went to a park with her son's family called Comfamiliar. Very large with zoo, aviary, historical trails, sugar cane process, swimming pools, restaurants and trails all over. Very cool, we had a great time. Been in a pattern of afternoon showers leaving the evenings cool, but I am not complaining after hearing what Wisconsin has gone through in the last week. Stay warm my friends!

First impressions of Colombia

Arrived late on Jan 14 in Pereira to the welcoming open arms of Gloria. Weather is great here, averaging 75 to 80 in days and mid to low 60s at night. The town is about 750,000, so quite a lot to offer. Got settled quick with new phone SIM card (320-623-0421) and am very impressed by the friendliness and politeness of all here. You have the small local stores you expect but also large retail and many malls. Everything is very reasonable. Taxis are 2 to 3 dollars. We went out for breakfast a couple days ago and the total for both was about 4 dollars. I was due for a physical, doctor $26 (includes his cell #, please call anytime), lab $50, electrocardiogram $18. Very happy with results, after losing 40+ pounds this last year my numbers are better than ever. I just asked about cable, just to be curious, it is $30/month including phone and internet and a lot of tv channels, including USA normals. House taxes about $100/year.
Went up into the mountains last weekend to a national park area. Walked the trails in the jungle (they say forest here) and looked for monkeys, only heard them. Lots of birds and beautiful scenery. The ride from town was in a Chiva, a bus with bench seats all across and open on the right side for access. Ours was not too full, but we met some with people in and on top, crammed full.
Pereira is in a valley surrounded by the mountains, not near any beaches, which explains the near perfect climate. Also being very close to the equator, there is almost 12 hours of daylight all year long!
Having computer issues again so no photos at this time, hopefully soon!
Computer works!

Happy New Year and All That It May Bring!

The month in Costa Rica is now over. The country is living up to it's name-rich coast, as the cost of living was way more than I remembered form two years ago. But it was a great time with the kids! The first morning out we stopped at the edge of town to get photos of the scarlet macaws that were in a tree near the beach, 8 of them. Then we saw sloths, toucans, monkeys, snakes, lizards, a 4 inch locust, waterfalls, mountains and beaches, for a start. Carly, alias Tanny the Toucan, (she tans very quick) enjoyed swimming night and day and can now keep up with her dad snorkeling. Very warm Christmas, and for New Years there was a huge celebration on the beach, sending off sky lanterns, fireworks and bonfires with music in the background. We were all in awe, that was the neatest fireworks display I ever saw, covering about 3 miles of beach. Then we went north for the last few days to the Arenal Volcano area, stopping the first day at a resort with about 7 pools, all at a different temperature. They were built along a stream in the jungle. They also had a horseback ride in to the mountain nearby. We got caught in the rain coming out of the Arenal National Park, more monkeys, birds, etc. Now they are back in WI and I took the bus back up to Nicaragua to finish my dental implant. So far, so good, all that is left is for the new tooth to be installed this weekend. Feels like home back in Leon, enjoying visiting friends from here. One more week till I journey to Colombia, after another 10 hour bus ride back to San Jose, CR.
PS. It has been just over a year now into this new adventure, it has been truly awesome. The doors keep opening up to new adventure, and for now, I am quite willing to step through to see what's next.