Exploring Moravia: 24 may

The 24th of May marked my official independence in the Costa Rican area of Moravia. I woke up with a breakfast of eggs, bread and butter, and orange juice and walked over to Tammy’s house to go for a walk. I gave my obligatory hugs and kisses to her family and then both and Tammy and I went off to the center of Moravia: a quick walk around the park to my house, and up the steep street to el Banco de Moravia and el JUMBO supermercado. We stood in line for the ATM guarded by an older man with a reflecting hunting vest on with his dog who freely walked around the area (it seems like there are no leashes in Costa Rica or mean dogs for that matter). I took out 20,000 colones (about $38) and waited for Tammy who left her debit card at home. From the bank we crossed the street and entered the orange and red JUMBO supermercado filled with fruits, snacks, booze, a café and everything else in between. One water, Fanta Kolita, orange Fanta water, and Jack’s picaronas queso nacho picante tortillitas de maiz later we left and walked towards el centro to the parque de Moravia and the church. On the way a man from Texas stopped us who owned a small pizza shop with his Costa Rican wife. After talking about chess, his times in Alaska, and the upcoming soccer game we left Michael with an open invitation to eat pizza or just talk whenever we felt like it. We crossed the church and went up the street for two blocks and came across the internet café that Tammy’s host mother told us about and then walked about a block down to this building with a giant bird on the roof that her host father told us about. I entered it in total shock and disgust when realizing that it was a tourist trap. The walls were decorated in over-priced souvenirs and there were at least five older American women wearing their big hats, fanny packs, white shorts, and stereotypical tourist wear. We decided to keep on walking into the store and followed it all the way to the café which was just amazing. It lead outside to this secluded area with couches covered with pillows looking out onto a tropical garden filled with trees and birds that I would never expect to find in the city. It was only us two and the owners so we sat and enjoyed a small lunch while letting daily afternoon rain pass. We left the café and walked further down the street to the “Mega Super” which was almost like a K-Mart crossed with a CVS and Stop and Shop so I could look for a phone card to call home. I had no luck so we left and walked back outside to the half-raining weather and walked back to el parque robles (in front of my house) and we went our own ways. I entered my house and was greeted by the music of Tango, an old Spanish singer, and William who gave me some sweet bread with dates and some of that herb water that we always drink. I really liked sweetness and chewiness of the dates. We talked for a while and then we went to church with Tammy at four. To my surprise it was nothing like what I had seen in Latin American Catholic culture. There was no Meringue church music, no dancing, no overzealous offering of the peace, or anything exciting. It was the same as a white Catholic mass only in Spanish. After leaving disappointed, Tammy and I took a cab to el Mall San Pedro for around 2000 colones ($3.50) to go see Angels and Demons…unfortunately it was sold out by the time we got there so we got Subway and just walked around the crowded mall filled with three stories of food courts, shoe stores, and even sex shops. After a couple of hours we took a taxi back home which was a disaster. I argued with the guy because he didn’t start the meter. I had to say “ponga la maría” and he responded by saying that it was broken. I then tried to set a price for the trip of 1500 colones but he wouldn’t negotiate so I just gave up. He weaved in an out of traffic, passed through red lights, and drove on the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic to pass by cars at the stop lights. I also had to tell him where to go when we got to the center of Moravia since there are no street addresses in Costa Rica. After the fast and dangerous ride Tammy and I went into my house and were served arroz con pollo y frijoles which is a chicken fried rice with mashed up black beans on the side. It was also followed with a homemade Tamarind juice which was also amazing. We watched Day of the Dead: the Extinction (I think that was the name) with William and his brother and then walked Tammy back home through the park with our night sticks on this warm winter (yes, winter has just begun in Costa Rica) night. And now I’m going to bed so I can pick up Tammy to go to school…at 6h45am!