Rain

We just survived our very first storm (the new Spanish word I will never forget: la tormenta), and it is quite a different beast from the typical Nantucket storm. There was little to no wind involved, and my first reaction upon its onset was to think, you call this a storm?

But as the rain fell and continued to fall, we drove around the newly formed ponds and inundations over the roads realizing just what a factor the rain is here. Trees and telephone poles are down where the mud simply gave way beneath them. What already looks like a scotch tape job on electrical wires and cable winding along the jungle canopy has been pulled down and tangled by fallen branches and downed trees. Almost the entire area is/was without electricity and wifi, and many are still stranded on the far side of flooded rivers. We fortunately are not living in such an area but warily watched our backyard jungle change into a swamp as the very land seemed to fill up over three days of non stop tropical downpour. School was cancelled for two days because the roads were impassable. Surrounding every path and road was this welling up of water; not like a river flooding, but an entire water table rising. The good folks of Nosara seemed impressed by this storm; apparently this is not a normal occurrence even here at the peak of rainy season. I can’t even imagine how horrific it would be if you sprinkled in a little gale force wind…

But halfway through October we are beginning to see an end on the calendar to this rainy season. We have so enjoyed the quiet on the beaches and in the restaurants! At times we are the only ones on the vast expanse of Guiones beach. The Ticos, in their upbeat way, look forward to the arrival of the tourists and the prospect of steady work in the months ahead.

See how good I’m getting inserting pictures? The dog in the picture above has adopted us, and we have named her Maria. She has not been allowed into the house yet, but she did chase our car halfway to school one morning. I think we might be one flea bath away from breaking down.