Riding Lessons - Now in Hermosa

While I was in California Sylwia moved her horses to Hermosa - 20 minutes UP the coast.  Sunday morning Gry had another lesson scheduled - I wanted to check out the new place.  I loved it.

The main reason I post these photos is because these lessons are not in the states where you would find a nice professional arena, nice facilities for the horses.  Those places do exist here in Costa Rica, but not with Sylwia. Sylwia is only 27, barely gets by, but is the most amazing rider I have ever known.  Her passion is her horses and dogs, she knows her stuff.  She is a professional and when she is in teaching mode.....she is tough! Doesn't matter if you are male or female, when you are the student....she calls you "Darling".

During this lesson there was a moment when both the rider (sorry Gry) and the horse were both acting up. Sylwia got after both of them and by the end of this lesson, everyone was in sync and it turned out to be a great learning lesson for everyone - including me.

Pura Vida

Just Because We Can........

The Original - Caitlin, Desirae, Judy, Anna

Yesterday - Election Day - Kate had invited me and Desirae over to her house to have dinner and watch a movie - Dave is currently in the states so it was just us girls.  Individual, custom made pizzas and a lot of... red, red wine.  In honor of the day, we watched "The Candidate", checked in and out as to the ongoing voting results, lots of girl talk.  Before we knew it -it was very, very late.

Rather than have Desirae walk up the hill in the dark and rain, she came home with me as I live about 5 minutes from Kate's house.

I was up early as usual, Des slept in an extra hour.  While she was checking e-mail, etc - I made breakfast - my guess is that was about 8 am.

About 2 pm we were hungry again and so I made my very tasty avocado, grilled cheese sandwiches - finished off the remaining bottle of wine from the night before.

About 5 pm, we started discussing the option of her going home........knowing her husband had been wondering all day where she was - even tho he did know.  It was after 6 pm when she finally headed out the door.

So.....what did we do ALL day long?

We talked, we ate, we played on the computer, talked, ate, more computer.

The photos I am posting are from a site Des discovered because I wanted to be able to do something similar to Instagram but don't have a device to install the app required onto.  Des told me to pick a photo to "play" with. I have no idea why this one came to mind other than it makes me happy.  This photo was taken back in July when my then brand new friend Judy and her daughter Caitlin were here in EO for their first time ever.  Anna was also in town and all of us were at a party at "The Backyard" in Hermosa.  I like this photo because each and everyone one of them simply look so beautiful.

These photos are the only thing productive we did - Why???  - Just because we can :)

Pura Vida

Lady Gaga

November 3, 2012 - Lady Gaga's "Born This Way Ball" International concert in San Jose, Costa Rica

When this concert was first announced my friend Gry asked me if I wanted to go.  Considered it for half a second - Yes!!!  I was IN.

Unfortunately this concert would be held on the same night a huge party was also being held here in Esterillos - Karen's "Grand Opening" of her restaurant Los Almendros with live music.  With the cost of the concert, travel expenses, etc - only 4 of us where able to commit - Gry and her husband Robby, me and Melisa.

Then.......last Monday Gry was sent to Miami by the radio station she helps produce in Denmark to help cover the election.  On Thursday, Melisa returned to Utah with her children to take care of family business.  This left just me and Robby with 2 extra tickets.  In the end......it was me, Robby and Esteban who works at the surf shop Robby co-owns with Adam - that went.

On the way to San Jose I told the guys that this concert was something that for awhile has been on my must do list while I still live in Costa Rica - Go to a concert at the huge, amazing new 2 year old stadium and attend a concert.  The Lady Gaga concert to date is the biggest event held as it was predicted people would come from all over as this was her only stop in central america.  This is exactly what I had in mind but never considered just who it would be until this came up.

Having Esteban with us, who is Tico and actually grew up in San Jose close to where the new national stadium is and where the concert was being held - help make the coming and going so much easier.  Before the concert we went to a local Chinese restaurant Esteban also knew very well.

When we first got there it was a little drizzly and thus the no so stylin rain gear I bought on site.  Fortunately it cleared up before the concert began and we were all left with a perfect cool evening under a cloudy but more than half full moon shining down upon us.

In short - This concert was amazing.  The set, the music, the audience was fully charged and operating at full throttle.  One of the first things I did this morning after getting up late - It was 2:30 am when I got to bed - was to download all my now new favorite Lady Gaga songs :)

Thank you Robby and Esteban for this truly unforgettable evening!!

Pura Vida