weeks 4-5..... the lovely life in costa rica

Hola Friends and Family!


Sorry most of you are stuck in snow and ice and under grey skies.  I hate to tell you but Costa Rica has been beautiful these past few weeks!  The "chill" of early January (that means under 70 degrees) has gone, and now the days are sunny and warm.  Based on what I've been hearing and reading in the Times, I think we picked the perfect winter to move to Central America.


So far, both of our jobs have been going really well.  Dan is continuing the work he started in DC, and it now looks like he might have a chance to do additional work for a law firm here as well.  The "fruit lady" that brings him his daily papaya and watermelon now even knows how he takes his coffee.  Rough life!


I've started working on a really interesting case about the rights of indigenous scuba divers along Honduras' Atlantic Coast.  Its definitely challenging work-- especially in Spanish, but I'm very happy to be there.


We've had some fun adventures in the past two weeks.  Last weekend we headed to the Cafe Britt coffee farm (a big Costa Rican coffee company) with a friend from work, Carmen.  The tour was pretty cheesy--- tour guides in character and a play about the history of coffee-- but nonetheless a nice way to spend the afternoon.  

Getting Ready for the Tour.
Note: This was also the last day of Dan's Happy-Channukah-Jill beard  Sniff. Sniff.

Carmen and I in the giant mascaras
(traditional Costa Rican puppets)

Dan was selected to learn how to taste coffee (and won a very ugly hat for his participation).  




Last night, we had another AMAZING adventure.  We went out with our former language school professor, Jenny, and her roommate, Julio.  Dan and I were so excited to finally make some tico (Costa Rican) friends!  They took us to a chicharoneria ( a restaurant that specializes in chicharones or fried pork rinds).  It may have been the place of Dan's dreams--- all pork, all the time.   Even the menu was in the shape of a pig!  (Thankfully there was one, yes only one, chicken dish on the menu for me).   This is pretty much what Dan ate last night:





Even better, about two minutes after we sat down the traditional Costa Rican entertainment began!  AMAZING! An eight-piece band followed by people dressed in giant masks dancing.  The masks must have been at least 6 feet tall with one giant mask that was almost 10 feet! They looked kind of these:

After endless amounts of fried yucca, pork, and arroz con pollo we headed out to a local bar to meet Jenny's friends.  As it turns out they were in the middle of a bachelorette party, so Dan and I joined the celebration.  Next thing I know, I'm singing karaoke in Spanish with the members of the bridal party.  Oh how I wish I had my camera.    


If you need an escape from the snow, please don't forget that visits are welcome!


Pura Vida!


Jill y Dan