OUR LAST WEEK IN ATHENAS COSTA RICA

Found this post that had not been published -so thought before  we left I would post it for yo all to -ENJOY!

After fifteen  hours travelling from San Salvador City through El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua we crossed the boarder into Costa Rica to familiar country.  The Tica Bus provided us with reasonable comfort, three meals and ease of entering and exciting four Central American Countries.  It did not take long before we made Friends with our fellow bus riders.  It is amazing even with our limited Spanish how easy it was to begin conversations. 

The  little farms- fincas and villages filled with the usual tiendas- stores and centros that include a church and a parque-park --filled the window as  the bus made its way across the countries.  Their is beauty in that view if one looks closely; the spots of color amongst the old and broken, the early blossoms amongst the palms and regional vegetation.  Each region offering its own produce and or cattle, horses or chickens..........some place appearing very  very poor and in some cases dirty........others wealthier clean................it is difficult to see as it is such a beautiful country and the people so tender for the most part.  Having been among them now and having read some of their history teaching us  their stories I am saddened.  The pain of war and devastation caused by it or tropical storms  is so evident in their casas and in their faces, in the lines that mark the hurt and disappointment in their lives.....even some of the young ones have that look of sadness and it breaks my heart.   

If your asking why do we come here why do we put ourselves in that environment?  Not to be martyrs I assure you but to learn about the countries we travel and if we can to lessen their pain in which ever way we can.  If our small amount of expenses cause us to  spend money  in their countries and that  helps then that is good but mostly we want them to know that we  care.  That is not always something we can do as we  still are limited in our Spanish.......and we don't stay long enough.............but our presence-- our smiles and our prayers are what we hope make a difference.  In our hearts we are  certain of it.


After traversing the countries I mentioned and attempting to sleep we arrived at the Costa Rican boarder after over 19 hours........
Gerald and his dad attempted as we did to talk the bus drivers into letting us disembark at the toll booth in Athena's.............but no was the answer.  We could see them on the tarmac as we drove by and  onto the city of San Jose we went inside the bus.

San Jose  has grown into a huge gathering of city life. December 10th was the Festival of Lights in the city so the streets were still filled with people dispersing from the event.  Everyone is preparing for the celebration of Christmas!!!!   We were concerned that Gerald would get stuck in the traffic but no--there he was minutes after the bus pulled in.  Getting our luggage was quite a challenge as the freight guys just piled all the baggage one onto of each other and we stepped forward with the other hundred people presenting our baggage ticket.............and away we went with Gerald back to Atena's after many hugs of course!!!!

By the time we arrived at the casa it was at least 11:30 pm but everyone was up and waiting for us.  Xenia had a nice hot bowl of soup waiting for us then off to our bedroom we went.............oh, sleep was such a welcome.
Sunday, began with a typical Costa Rican breakfast, complete with with beans, rice, fruit and eggs.  Oh, it tasted so good and we knew just the beginning of many more treats for our taste buds.

Lue and Claes