Treading Lightly in Costa Rica

I now share my apartment with a common gecko.  I'm not being mean, I looked it up.  It's a common gecko.  It doesn't seem so common to me; I'd rather name it the streaking gecko, or the fast-as-hell gecko.  It was waiting for me when I opened the door this morning, and I admit to screaming as it shot past me into the corner.  From there, it slipped under the closed bathroom door, and hid behind the toilet.  I poked around with a broom for a bit, but it had disappeared.  I was leaving for an adventure in San Pedro, so I closed as many doors as I have, and hoped the little creature would find the open window and climb out.  I learned they can climb walls! 

After abandoning my bathroom to the gecko, I walked down to Mall San Pedro.  I actually found it by accident; I saw a movie theatre I didn't recognize, and walked down to it.  I ended up in Mall San Pedro, where I had only entered from the front before!  It's not a very long walk as long as it's nice out.  Of course, before I got to the mall, I went in completely the wrong direction, and would have ended up in Guanacaste if the nice man in the bank hadn't pointed me in the right direction.  My Spanish provided many laughs for the native speakers today!  I took this picture from the top of a pedestrian overpass (the first I've seen, but much appreciated!)  I have no idea what the picture is; bonus points to whomever can identify all the white boxes!

I have no idea what these are!

Once I got to the mall, there were too many people around to have my camera just hanging out with me.  I slipped it away into my purse, and did a bit of shopping.  Two pairs of school shoes (one with heels, one pair of flats) and a shirt later, I decided to keep walking.  After all, all I had to do to get home was get on a bus that either said Sabanilla (the area where I live) or San Pedro-San Jose.  Simple.

I walked up what I think was Avenida Central in San Pedro; remember, there aren't street signs.  I found the Outlet Mall, which is sadder than most malls in Canada.  For those in Swift Current, there are more shops in the Co-op Mall than this Outlet Mall.  A slightly scary moment:  I was up on the third floor exploring what wasn't there, and an older janitor struck up a conversation.  He seemed to love the fact that I couldn't understand him, and he really tried to be understood.  He chose words I knew, and kept asking for my address and phone number.  I put him off by telling him I didn't know my telephone number, and all of my mail went to the school.  He even went into a business to get a piece of paper so he could write down his name, phone number and email address!  I think I need to get a fake wedding ring.  I don't like lying, but it was a bit creepy.  "Victor" was just a little too friendly, and I was a little bit too alone!

I left the outlet mall and kind of recognized the area.  It was only about 1 pm, so I kept walking.  I could still spot buses that said San Pedro-San Jose, so we were good.  A few ladies at work had suggested Ya Muni, a department store, as a good place to get clothes for a frame that is so not tiny Latin-American.  I knew if I kept walking, it was on this street.  I found it, and tried on some things, but air-conditioning is not what it is at home.  The store felt cooler than the street for about 5 minutes, then the humidity kicked in.  I had lost all patience for trying on clothes, so I just explored.  Found some oven mitts and a cheese grater, all important items, then decided I was done.  Now to catch a bus.

In Costa Rica, there are very few bus stops that are marked.  I wasn't even sure at this point what direction was home.  I started on one side of the street, then decided that wasn't the right direction, and crossed the street.  Later, I would kick myself for second-guessing myself.  I debated just getting a cab home, but a bus with the right name pulled up at a red light, and I got on in the middle of the intersection.

We started in the right direction. Then I didn't remember seeing some of the businesses before.  Then, all of a sudden, I was the only person on the bus, and the driver stopped and looked at me.  The engine was off and everything.  One more opportunity to provide entertainment.  To his credit, the driver was very helpful, and explained that I had gotten on the right bus going the wrong direction.  I think that's what he said.  All I know is that I ended up in Santa Marta, which is nowhere close to the El Christo that I thought I was going to.  I hopped off that bus, and got on one headed in the right direction, and ended up just about back at the Mall San Pedro. 

I would have stayed on the bus longer, but there was a parrot fight in the tree next to the bus stop.  How can I not get off and take a picture!  I took some video, but I'm a fledgling at it (pun intended), and it turned out pretty shaky.  Here are some pictures of the squakers!  These are the guys that wake me up in the morning.

I provided entertainment for two full buses, and a number of people on the street as I stood on the sidewalk and took the pictures.  They must have thought I was insane, taking pictures of these ubiquitious birds.  I smiled, waved, and jumped in a taxi.  He dropped me off at the AM/PM Mercado on my corner, and it only cost 1000 colones (about 2 dollars).  It was worth it to get home quickly, comfortably, and without having to walk another three blocks to catch the (hopefully) correct bus.  I bought some breakfast things, and a couple cans of Pepsi, and came home to see if the gecko had invited all of his friends.  I haven't seen him since, but I'm watching the baseboards carefully; he blends right in!

On a different note, I had to take the following picture this morning.  I was so relieved to be able to quit the gym in Swift Current as I never had time/motivation to attend.  I had a reason: I was moving to Costa Rica, and I was sure there weren't any Curves gyms down here.  No worries.  Guess what I found two short blocks from my apartment?

What are the odds?