Little Town- Big Busy

As I’ve made abundantly clear on this blog, I am not used to small town life; so, maybe, my experience in Monteverde is similar to small town life elsewhere, but, to me, it’s entirely unique and surprising in its delights. I’m starting to find that Rob’s and my social life is almost more packed here than it’s been anywhere else and one of the main reasons that I don’t miss watching TV at all (except, of course, for occasional Law & Order cravings) is because I honestly don’t know when I’d find the time for TV.

Friday was open-mike night at a local restaurant, organized by the theater/music teacher in town. We went with several friends and of course a large gathering from town was there to support the students who were singing. I was very proud of my talented students who shared their music and I thought, “If I can’t have Duplex (the best piano bar in New York City) right now, this is really just as good.” I constantly enjoy learning how everyone in the town is related and spending more time with the families of my students. After open-mike night, we sauntered down to another café where we enjoyed more talking and drinks with friends at Reggae Night. This café is smack in the middle of a hostel neighborhood and I was pleasantly pleased to discover that my previous envy of the tourists (they get to come and enjoy and then move on) has turned into pity that they don’t get to stay and become a real part of the community. I guess this is acceptance, a kind of growth.

On Saturday, we met friends and went horseback riding to a hot spring. And, yes, I love that an easy option for Saturday afternoon is horseback riding through the most glorious landscape (I felt, alternately, like I was in Lord of the Rings and A Midsummer Night’s Dream) to a secluded hot spring. “Paradise” does not over-state the situation. Perhaps the highlight was when Milton, our guide and colleague at the CEC (this outing was a group of fellow CEC teachers), turned to one friend and I and said, “Le gusta aventura?” And, we found that when your trusted colleague asks is you like adventure and indicates taking the horses off the steep trail and leading them vertically up the side of a mountain, the only real answer is, “Pura Vida!”

The rest of the weekend has included lovely dinners at two different friends’ houses, reading, and more walking. The amazing thing is that the impending Monday morning does not fill me with any stress whatsoever; I’ll read and write and explore interesting questions with my students. And we’ll do all of this as the mist rolls in over the treetops and the toucanets and mot-mots chirp away. Did I mention that there’s a Quetzal who lives across the street from our house? I greet him everyday on my way to work and there’s always a group of tourists gathered around in awe. Of course, they have to leave, and I get to see him the next day too.