We’ve spent this past month in a villa with three bedrooms on one side and an open-air, screened-in kitchen/dining/living area on other, all surrounding a pool. We don’t really have any immediate neighbors other than the trees and birds, which is great for critter-spotting and not needing to worry about Theo’s noise level.
Hacienda Barú
There are many cheaper places to spend a month at the beach than Costa Rica. One of the reasons that I was drawn here, instead of one of those many other places, is that I’m fascinated by the country itself. For example, after a (short) bloody civil war, Costa Rica abolished its military entirely in 1948. Its medical care and life expectancy are both ranked higher than the United States, even though it has a much smaller budget to work with. (We had a pleasant and affordable trial of the medical system this week after Theo fell and hit his head while jumping on a bed. He’s fine and is still jumping on beds.)
Arriving in Buenos Aires
We spent the first part of our trip jumping much shorter distances between European countries. Now, in moving from Costa Rica to Argentina, we’ve very quickly shifted regions, climates, and gone from village to metropolis.
Ceilings of Leaves
As a child in rural Ohio, I’d explore deeply forested areas and sometimes suddenly come to a clearing. Stumbling on a defined, open space among the thickness of the trees and undergrowth felt like something magical; a naturally formed room with a soaring, leafy ceiling.
Books I Read About Costa Rica While In Costa Rica
Subway Sales
While Buenos Aires is not an inexpensive city, the subway is a bargain at about 50 cents USD. Unfortunately, the subway only stays open until a little after 10 pm. In a city where the residents don’t even eat dinner until 9 or 10 pm – and later on the weekends – this seems very early.
Buenos Aires Market
After almost a week of daily rain, it was lovely and sunny yesterday! To celebrate, we went to the Buenos Aires Market which was held at the posh Palermo polo fields this weekend. (Seriously posh. There was a woman who seemed to be assigned to sweep up the innocuous looking, small fuzzy things that were falling off of the trees.)
Buenos Aires Street Art
Nanny Extraordinaire
My sister Joanna spent the summer with us as nanny extraordinaire, before heading back to the United States last week to start her first year of college as a musical theater major. We’ll miss her smiles, random bursts into song, and the opportunity to leave the house for dinner without a toddler in tow. Theo now periodically chides us with “well, Joanna said” or “Joanna would let me” as Brian and I transition back into split work/childcare schedules.
Los Gatos Ocultos
Theo and I have made two visits to the beautiful Recoleta Cemetery in search of the 50 -80 cats that theoretically live there. (Most other cemetery visitors seem to be searching for Eva Perón’s grave.)