Friday, November 25, 2005
ART PEEKEL
I just created this BLOG. Stay tuned!
These postings will be primarily about my experiences while living in Costa Rica.
Unless otherwise indicated, they refer to the southeastern coast, specifically the Talamanca region between Puerto Viejo and Manzanilla.
I arrived on Nov. 9, 2005 and will be here until March 21, 2006.
Yes! I celebrated “Turkey Day” here in Costa Rica. Neighbors whom I met at a local restaurant during dinner last Friday invited me. He’s an older American who has lived here for over 20 years. His wife is a native and principal of an elementary school in Manzanilla, a tiny coastal town southeast of here. There were over 30 of us feasting on the traditional “big bird” with all the trimmings.
Life my first two weeks in CR has been wonder filled. Hard to believe it’s already been that long. Only four more months remaining. Got the feeling it will really fly by. Still exploring the area. Been riding my bike a lot. Takes about 40 minutes one way to Puerto Viejo. Have made the trip nearly every other day. Good exercise! Also go to the shore at least once a day. The Caribbean Sea is really something spectacular! Often make it in the early morning for a quick dip and an hour or so walk along the beach. Sometimes there’s no one else there. Very special!
Trying to stay out of the mid-day sun. Easy to get a burn down here (so much closer to the equator, you know). Plenty of wildlife around. Actually getting used to the white-faced monkeys climbing, swinging and jumping in the trees just outside my windows on a daily basis. I’ve almost gotten used to the rather disturbing sound of the howler monkeys at all hours of the day and night, but they are seldom seen. Saw my first sloth the other day in a tree less than 25 feet from my window. Didn’t get a photo, unfortunately. Keeping a lookout for it. Plenty of birds, especially the humming variety, and bugs. Oh, my, the bugs! (Enought said!) Only wish you could see the beautiful butterflies.
Doing lots of reading. Enjoyed Dan Brown’s ANGELS & DEMONS. Read his THE DA VINCI CODE and found it very intriguing. (Hard to believe that he was this very young kid who lived next door to me with his parents who were also on the staff at the Phillips Exeter Academy.) I highlyrecommend THE FOUR AGREEMENTS--A Toltec Wisdom Book byDon Miguel Ruiz. I think you will find it well worth reading! Also BEING PEACE by Thich Nhat Hanh. He's written quite a few books. I had already read his LIVING BUDHA, LIVING CHRIST and thought it was very thought-provoking. Just picked up“WHAT HAPPEN”--A Folk-History of Costa Rica’s Talamanca Coast by Paula Palmer. Mel Baker is my landlady’s husbandand and is quoted in the book, as is Selven Bryant, owner and cook at the best little restaurant just down the road from where I'm staying. The two of us are becoming acquainted.
Savoring a couple poems a night from THE BEST OF ROBERT SERVICE, a poet of the late 19th-early 20th century whom you might like to sample sometime. About to get into CHRIST--A Crisis in the Life of God by Jack Miles, PulitzerPrize--winning author of GOD: A Biography. Oh, the luxury of having time to read!
Will be good to hear from my friends, former students, others I've met along the way and those out there who wish to respond. My e-mail dial-up connection has been problematical at the cabin where I'm staying, but I can always go into Puerto Viejo where there’s a “high-speed” Internet connection for just a couple dollars an hour.That's where I am at this moment.
These postings will be primarily about my experiences while living in Costa Rica.
Unless otherwise indicated, they refer to the southeastern coast, specifically the Talamanca region between Puerto Viejo and Manzanilla.
I arrived on Nov. 9, 2005 and will be here until March 21, 2006.
Yes! I celebrated “Turkey Day” here in Costa Rica. Neighbors whom I met at a local restaurant during dinner last Friday invited me. He’s an older American who has lived here for over 20 years. His wife is a native and principal of an elementary school in Manzanilla, a tiny coastal town southeast of here. There were over 30 of us feasting on the traditional “big bird” with all the trimmings.
Life my first two weeks in CR has been wonder filled. Hard to believe it’s already been that long. Only four more months remaining. Got the feeling it will really fly by. Still exploring the area. Been riding my bike a lot. Takes about 40 minutes one way to Puerto Viejo. Have made the trip nearly every other day. Good exercise! Also go to the shore at least once a day. The Caribbean Sea is really something spectacular! Often make it in the early morning for a quick dip and an hour or so walk along the beach. Sometimes there’s no one else there. Very special!
Trying to stay out of the mid-day sun. Easy to get a burn down here (so much closer to the equator, you know). Plenty of wildlife around. Actually getting used to the white-faced monkeys climbing, swinging and jumping in the trees just outside my windows on a daily basis. I’ve almost gotten used to the rather disturbing sound of the howler monkeys at all hours of the day and night, but they are seldom seen. Saw my first sloth the other day in a tree less than 25 feet from my window. Didn’t get a photo, unfortunately. Keeping a lookout for it. Plenty of birds, especially the humming variety, and bugs. Oh, my, the bugs! (Enought said!) Only wish you could see the beautiful butterflies.
Doing lots of reading. Enjoyed Dan Brown’s ANGELS & DEMONS. Read his THE DA VINCI CODE and found it very intriguing. (Hard to believe that he was this very young kid who lived next door to me with his parents who were also on the staff at the Phillips Exeter Academy.) I highlyrecommend THE FOUR AGREEMENTS--A Toltec Wisdom Book byDon Miguel Ruiz. I think you will find it well worth reading! Also BEING PEACE by Thich Nhat Hanh. He's written quite a few books. I had already read his LIVING BUDHA, LIVING CHRIST and thought it was very thought-provoking. Just picked up“WHAT HAPPEN”--A Folk-History of Costa Rica’s Talamanca Coast by Paula Palmer. Mel Baker is my landlady’s husbandand and is quoted in the book, as is Selven Bryant, owner and cook at the best little restaurant just down the road from where I'm staying. The two of us are becoming acquainted.
Savoring a couple poems a night from THE BEST OF ROBERT SERVICE, a poet of the late 19th-early 20th century whom you might like to sample sometime. About to get into CHRIST--A Crisis in the Life of God by Jack Miles, PulitzerPrize--winning author of GOD: A Biography. Oh, the luxury of having time to read!
Will be good to hear from my friends, former students, others I've met along the way and those out there who wish to respond. My e-mail dial-up connection has been problematical at the cabin where I'm staying, but I can always go into Puerto Viejo where there’s a “high-speed” Internet connection for just a couple dollars an hour.That's where I am at this moment.
# posted by Art Peekel @ 10:37 PM
