A must share recipe after many inquiries…Non-foodies, please bear with us…New readers, why do we eat this way?

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The repeat photo is shown in yesterday’s post. After many inquiries, more details and the recipe is included here today. Food is a big part of our world travels, as we’re sure it is for most of you when traveling, whether homemade or dining in restaurants. We tripled the recipe below to result in four meals, freezing part of it.

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica

This is a Social Flycatcher, a different species from that which we presented in earlier posts. Thanks to new friend and neighbor Charlie, he named this species for us. Thanks, Charlie!

Many moons ago, Tom suggested I stop frequently mentioning food in our posts. But, based on my special diet, which has enabled me to be well enough to travel the world for this past almost five years, it’s somewhat difficult to stay mum on the topic.  

When I wrote about Tom’s comments, many readers immediately wrote to say it was fine to mention food, recipes, and meals. They wanted to see what we were eating. And, let’s face it, food is a part of our daily lives in one way or another.

Many of our readers continue to inquire about recipes we mention in posts when something sounds appealing to their tastes and desires. Such was the case and motivation for today’s post when we posted a photo of a meal we made on Wednesday with a photo we posted yesterday.

I often suggest readers contact me by email, and I’ll send them the recipe. In this particular case, we had dozens of inquiries which led us to decide we needed to post the recipe and photos once again and update the reasons for this way of eating with those who may not be aware, having started reading our posts since the last time we posted this information.

We continue to be looking for new and taste-tempting recipes that fulfill our mutual desire for good food, healthy and rich in taste and nutrients. It’s a constant challenge when we strive for variety to introduce new local foods we may encounter along the way. 

For our new readers, let me reiterate what the diet consists of on a simple basis:

  • Grain free
  • Sugar-free (no fruit except avocado and tomato)), no agave, no honey, etc.
  • Starch free – no potatoes of any type, no corn, no beans, no rice, no quinoa (or other gluten-free grains)
  • High fat
  • Moderate protein
  • Low carb – from 20 to 30 grams of carbohydrates per day

What is allowed on this way of eating:

  • Grass-fed meat, free-range chicken and eggs, and wild-caught fish (avoid farmed fish) when available
  • Butter, full-fat cream, hard natural cheeses, cream cheese in blocks, full-fat sour cream, and other full-fat dairy products in moderation (if you tolerate dairy)
  • Olive oil, coconut oil (unrefined, organic, high quality)
  • Nuts (in moderation), except cashews (high sugar), peanuts (not a nut but a bean), and nut flours, including almond flour, coconut flour, ground flaxseed, etc.
  • Vegetables, non-starchy (no corn, no potatoes), mostly green – unlimited quantities (easy on carrots and beets that contain a lot of natural sugar);  celery, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, green beans, zucchini, lettuce, kale, etc.

By following this strict eating method, I became totally pain-free after three months of eating this way, from a chronic spinal condition from which I suffered for decades. Since beginning this way of eating, the condition is held at bay, and we can continue to travel the world, albeit with caution to avoid injuring my spine.

Although I still have the condition, I experience no pain due to a lack of inflammation in my spine. This diet doesn’t make me (or anyone) exempt from other painful situations, conditions, or pain of injuries, such as in Bali in 2016 when I injured my back in the pool, bumping into a stone wall. It took five months to heal. But, for me, it works for this heredity condition. It may or may not work for you.

My elder sister (four years) has by lying in bed 24/7 for 12 years with the same condition. Lying in bed, unable to cook has made it impossible for her to eat this way of eating easily. It breaks my heart to know she’s in pain, but she has an amazing spirit and positive attitude. When we were in Las Vegas in July, I spent considerable time with her, staying in close touch since we left.

Following this way of eating isn’t easy. But, for me, the fear of pain keeps me on track. In the past six years since I began this diet, I haven’t put one morsel of food not included in this way of eating in my mouth…not a cookie, cracker, candy, taste of a dessert, ice cream, or french fry…not a bite.

Not everyone is motivated enough to do this. But as time goes on, more and more people have come to understand that the bill of goods sold to us by the government is not producing a world of healthy people. I won’t get into this.

Over these past years of eating this way, I’ve continually searched online for new main dish recipes.  I used to make low-carb desserts but gave up eating after dinner when none were worth the effort. I’ve rid myself of my sweet tooth, although I still have voyeuristic tendencies when walking past a bakery.

Generally, Tom follows me on this way of eating although lately he’s been eating fruit and he hasn’t suffered any ill effects, no weight gain, no illness. Everyone’s body is different. We all react differently to foods and substances in our environment. One must choose what works for them.

We took this photo before basting the “bakes” with egg white and parmesan cheese before baking. Then, we made them and placed them in the refrigerator, adding the egg white and parmesan before placing them in the oven.

Since we began posting in March 2012 and discussing this way of eating, many of our readers have inquired about how to commence on this eating this way. In each case, I suggested they read some books on the topic, which will lead them in the right direction. I am happy to send each reader inquiring a book list I put together that helped me on this path. 

Upon reading a book or two, they can decide along with their medical professional if this way of eating is suitable for them. This is not a “hit and miss” process. It’s a lifetime commitment to changing one’s diet. For most health will return, the weight will be lost, blood sugar will stabilize (work with a doctor on this), energy will increase, and more positive effects will become evident.

Anyway, after all the email inquires for yesterday’s mentioned recipe, here it is. Please keep in mind that we always make huge portions last for three or four meals, freezing part of each recipe for those days we don’t want to cook. 

This recipe is enough for two to three servings or more based on the preferred portion size. We liked it so much we each ate one of these huge portions per dinner. 

However, we only eat once a day (less Tom’s fruit in the morning) and may enjoy a little larger portion for our evening meal than others who eat three times a day plus snacks. (Our way of eating reduces appetite so much that it is the primary reason we only eat one meal a day). 

We don’t eat when we’re not hungry but, 24 hours (intermittent fasting) after my last meal, I’m always looking forward to dinner. Once dinner is over, I don’t put another morsel in my mouth. Tom may have a few pieces of hard natural cheese, such as a quality cheddar which we always keep on hand in case hunger pops up during the day.

Here’s the recipe, renamed after I found it online and after I’d made several changes to it to enhance its flavor, which proved worthwhile:

Jess’s Low Carb Chicken Bake – Grain Free
Prep time, 1 hour. Cook time, 40 minutes
It may be fully prepared in the morning, refrigerated, and cooked later for dinner
Yields 3 or 4 chicken bakes, based on size preference
Dough Ingredients
·   8 oz. shredded mozzarella
·   3 oz. cream cheese
·   1 egg (the dough mixes easier if it is room temperature)
·   1/3 cup almond flour
·   1/3 cup coconut flour

·   1/3 cup ground golden flaxseeds

Filling Ingredients:
·    2 cups chicken, shredded or cubed (for easy prep, use already cooked roasted chickens)
·    1/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese
·    1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
·    1/4 cup bacon crumbles
·    3 T sour cream
·    3 T mayo
·    1 tsp garlic powder
·    1 tsp salt
Topping Ingredients
½ egg beaten white
Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
1.  Preheat oven to 350F, 178C.
2.  Put mozzarella cheese and 2 ounces of the cream cheese in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for one minute. Stir. Microwave 30 seconds. Stir. At this point, all the cheese should be melted. Microwave 30 more seconds until uniform and gloopy (it should look like cheese fondue at this point). Mix in the egg and baking mix. You will need to dump it onto wax paper and knead it by hand to incorporate the ingredients thoroughly, or you can do this in a food processor with the dough blade.
3.  Press or roll into a large rectangle on a piece of parchment paper. It helps to use wet hands or cover the top with the second piece of parchment. Cut the dough into 3 or 4 rectangles.
4.  Combine all the ingredients for the filling. Divide the filling between them. Gently pull the sides up and around the filling pressing the seams together to stay closed. Brush with the egg white and sprinkle with the parmesan.
5.  Bake on a pizza stone or baking sheet covered in nonstick foil or parchment paper for 40-50 minutes until golden brown.
Happy dining!
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Photo from one year ago today, September 22, 2016:
Sunset from the veranda in Bali.  For more photos, please click here.

Colorful Costa Rica depicted in a village church… Check out what we made for dinner!

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The church’s attendant encouraged us to reach high above a window to capture this beautiful scene in the yard at Iglesia de Catholica Zarcero.

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica”

We smelled smoke to discover this fire not far from us, as shown from the veranda.

It’s Thursday morning in Atenas, Costa Rica. The sun is shining but based on the mountains’ cloud perimeter, it won’t be for long. The birds sing in their usual manner, a cacophony of varying sounds from a high-pitched chirp to a low roar.

Tom continuously checks out every nook and cranny to ensure we don’t miss a thing.
What appears to be smoke to the right in the photo are clouds. Unfortunately, it rained the entire time we visited Iglesia Catolica de Zarcero and the topiary garden.

One of many cows (or bulls) moos loudly throughout the day. They are doing so with gusto this morning. Now that the day has dawned, only an occasional rooster’s crow permeates the air. Only a few hours ago, their sounds dominated the plethora of sounds.

We’ve seen many churches in our travels, but we’re always intrigued with yet another, as was the case in seeing Iglesia Catolica de Zarcero in Zarcero, Costa Rica.
The hummingbird feeder we’ve kept fully supplied with homemade sugar water is surrounded by a half dozen of these tiny fluttering creatures aggressively taking turns for a beak full of the syrupy liquid.
Beautiful fresco in the church’s ceiling.
They chirp during this process, either from sheer happiness or with a sense of determination in keeping the others away. They don’t seem to like sharing, with only two in a pair ever sipping simultaneously. Yet, we can’t seem to keep our eyes off of them during the many hours we spend each day outdoors.
Although it was raining with a heavy cloud cover, the light reflected in this shot.

Tonight’s dinner is already made when yesterday I worked tirelessly to create a new item, a knockoff and revised (by me) recipe for Costco’s Low Carb Chicken Bake. If you’d like the recipe, please email me or comment here.  Here’s a photo of the finished product after baking. It was amazing!

Oh, my. These low-carb almond flour, coconut flour, and ground flaxseed pastries stuffed with a creamy, cheesy chicken and bacon filling were “to die for!” See me for the recipe.
We froze enough for dinner for the night we return from Nicaragua in about five and a half weeks.  We like planning for such occasions. It’s not as if we can call for carry-out or pop into our favorite restaurant for dinner.
Churches in various countries offer their unique design commensurate with the local culture.
Speaking of restaurants, today we’re going to lunch with our neighbor Charlie who lives down the steep road about four houses. We met at an Atenas group on Facebook. It will be fun to visit with a neighbor and try one of Atenas’ local restaurants at long last. 
Few of the pillars and design consisted of solid wood, but the plan was rich and appealing.

I doubt there will be anything I can eat when so much of the local foods include sugar, starch, and grains. But, it’s the get-together holding the significance, not the food, although I will try to find something suitable.

We can easily imagine the workers, decades ago, giving this structure their attention to detail and love.
Tomorrow, in the morning, we plan to go to the Friday Atenas Farmers Market to pick up more veggies to last through next week. Afterward, we’re off on the road again, taking advantage of having the rental car and hoping (weather providing) to head to the beach.
A side chapel/altar within the walls of the church.
Since we’ll be gone in the early morning, tomorrow’s post will be available approximately eight hours later than usual unless I get ambitious tonight and prepare it to post it before we take off. We shall see.
More fresh flowers at the base of this crucifix.
Fresh flowers.
On a rare occasion, my desire for a leisurely day supersedes my determination to have each day’s post become available at a predictable time. It’s never a case of becoming tired of doing it. That hasn’t happened. Nor will it ever happen based on what I can ascertain thus far. There’s still so much to share going forward.
Representation of Jesus after His death.
Have a stress-free and easy day!    
Photo from one year ago today, September 21, 2016:
In Bali, the main pipe for the water heater broke on the roof, pouring water into the house. None of our belongings were damaged, although the owner’s digital equipment was destroyed, including a flat-screen TV. For more details, please click here.

A long and harrowing drive on a sightseeing outing on a rainy day…The photos are well worth it!

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I walked through the archways in the topiary garden at Senor Scissorhands Topiary Garden in the small town of Zarcero.

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica”

Today must be weed wacker day. Ulysses is getting the gas ready to do the massive lawn by hand with a weed wacker instead of a lawnmower. Unfortunately, it seems to take two days to complete the monumental task when it usually rains in the afternoons when he stops during the storm.

Yesterday morning we dashed out the door early, hoping to get to our planned destination in the town of Zarcero before the storms started. Unfortunately, the drive proved to be much longer than the listed 71 minutes of “Maps.”

Upon entering the grounds of Parque Francisco Alvarado from the parking lot behind the church, the topiary art began. 

About Zarcero: “Zarcero is the capital city of the canton of Zarcero in Alajuela province in Costa Rica. It is also the name of the distrito (district) that includes the city. The district of Zarcero covers an area of 12.01 km and has a population of 4,277.

The city lies at an elevation of 1,736 meters above sea level in the Cordillera Central (Central Mountain Range) of Costa Rica, 50 kilometers northwest of the provincial capital city of Alajuela and 27 kilometers southeast of Ciudad Quesada.  Zarcero, known for its brisk mountain climate, lies in a dairy and agricultural area also noted for the local enterprises that practice organic farming. Distinctive jams, cheese, and other dairy products are among the items produced.”

No sooner than exiting the car, it began to rain.  I was determined to take photos regardless of the weather. While Tom waited in the church, I scoured the grounds taking the photos. I was soaked when done but didn’t care.  It was worth it.

Driving through the hills and mountains in Costa Rica is challenging. The roads are some the steepest and most winding we’ve seen in our travels since the mountains of Tuscany Italy four years ago.

The church and topiary gardens are located in the center of the town.

Once it starts raining, the steep roads become slippery and dangerous, a breeding ground for many fatal crashes, including vehicles going off the roadway where there are no guard rails into the massive ravines below. 

Is this a dinosaur?

As I’ve mentioned many times in past posts, Tom is a good driver, and generally, I have no fear as we maneuver through rough terrain. However, there were a few times yesterday on the return drive we both expressed concern when the slippery steep road suddenly loomed before us, turn after turn, bend after bend.

Sure, it was disappointing it was raining, but it didn’t deter our enthusiasm for this unique venue.

At specific points, we both said we’d never seen anything like it. Once we were down to a lower elevation, we both sighed with relief, although the rain pelted the windshield with surprising force.  The wipers could not keep up.

Upon commencing the drive to our destination, which included numerous road changes and turns, we suddenly found ourselves at a standstill in traffic about halfway through. Other passengers were getting out of their vehicles to see the cause of the long delay.

A topiary duck.

A guy in a truck in front of us even got out to purchase a beverage at a nearby restaurant returning to his vehicle, a bottle of Coke in hand, to continue the wait. Tom’s not the most patient driver in traffic, but he stayed calm while waiting until we began moving again about 30 minutes later.

Could this be Topiary Gumby?

We drove through another city, Naranjo, described as follows: “The town of Naranjo, settled in 1830, was originally known as “Los Naranjos” (the Orange Groves) due to the abundance of orange trees in the surrounding area. Although the name has been shortened and several orange trees lessened, this city of 35,000 has remained an important agricultural hub for Costa Rica.”

While in Naranjo, we parked and walked about, taking photos of another church under construction. Photos will be posted as this story continues over the next few days.

The beautiful church, Iglesia Catolica de Zarcero, is the church located on the ground with the topiary garden.

Upon finally arriving in Zarcero, we were both in awe. The historic church, the topiary grounds, and the lovely woman sweeping the floors in the church who directed us to the best advantages for photos all impressed us.

It was challenging to determine precisely which animal(s) this may have been, but it was interesting nonetheless.

It’s during times like this when our mouths are agape with beauty and creativity before us, whether manufactured or made by nature, that the very purpose of our travels lies before us. Rain or shine, we weren’t going to miss a thing.

These archways were most fascinating, especially when considering how much work goes into the upkeep.

The camera and I were soaked after taking photos outdoors during the downpour, but I didn’t care. Of course, I looked like a drowned rat, but still, it didn’t matter to me. The only issue was the cool temperature in the town hovering in the high 50F’s (10C’s), making me shiver once we were back in the car.

Aside from trips to San Jose, the capital city, this was the worst traffic we’d seen in Costa Riva thus far when we were stuck in traffic for over 30 minutes due to road construction which continued for about 10 km. We saw two ambulances stuck in this mess with the lights flashing.

But then, when we passed some rapids on the return drive, I was hanging out the window of the car, getting soaked once again while taking photos. Unfortunately, there are no shoulders on the roads in Costa Rica in most areas, and the two-lane roads make it difficult to slow down for photos when there’s often a car behind us. Nevertheless, we do the best we can.

On the return drive, when the rain had stopped, and the sun came back out, we had “safari luck” and didn’t get delayed in the construction traffic when the vehicles traveling in the opposite direction were standing still to let us pass.

We’ll be back over the next few days with more photos from yesterday’s road trip. We can’t stop smiling over the beautiful day!

May you have a memorable day!

Photo from one year ago today,  20, 2016:

In Negara Bali, this guy on a motorbike had an attached basket carrying live chickens for sale at the markets. For more details, please click here.

Sightseeing day…Rental car pick up issues…More museum photos…

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These characters were most likely used in parades and local celebration.

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica”

“The variegated squirrel is a tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus found in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, southern Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama. Fifteen subspecies are recognized.”  Tom spotted this squirrel in the yard, alerted me and I took this photo through the glass wall to avoid scaring it away.

Yesterday morning at 11:00 am we were scheduled to pick up the five-day rental car at the Mercado Coopeatenas cafe as we’d done a few times over these past weeks.

Miscellaneous antique items.

We called for a taxi at 10:30 which arrived at our gate five minutes later.  By 10:47 am we were seated in the outdoor cafe waiting for Edgar to arrive with the vehicle.  When 11 came and went, we were a little concerned but decided to wait patiently for 30 more minutes after which we’d call Aad to see what happened.

A collection of voice control devices and more toy cars and trucks.

We’d heard on the news that there was traffic stalling protesting occurring in San Jose on Monday which could easily attribute to delays in Edgar getting to us on time. 

Old equipment used by the railroad.

It’s always our intent to be patient and avoid being the “ugly American” and complaining when life often moves at a slower pace than we’d be used to in the US.  Some refer to is as “island time” regardless of whether one is on an island or not.

At 11:30, we called Aad.  Ten minutes later we received a call from the agency to explain the car we’d booked “broke down” and another car would arrive within an hour.  At this point, it was 11:42.  OK.  We would wait the hour.

A piano and variety of electronic devices used in years past.

Our intention had been to get the car and explore a little, then return to the market to do our main weekly grocery shopping, avoiding keeping perishables in the car in the warm weather. 

Decorative representation of the railway.

With an hour left to wait for the car, I suggested we should forgo the plans to explore and grocery shop during the hour we had to wait.  Instead, we’d head out on Tuesday morning after I’d uploaded today’s post.

Display of toy cars and trucks.

Thus, today, I’m rushing a bit to get done and off we go, free as birds to see our next chosen spot to tour.  We’ve mapped out a location and will share photos and details in days to come.

A clock in the design of a watch.

At 12:50 pm, with our grocery cart filled with the week’s purchases, Edgar arrived having no knowledge of our almost two-hour wait.  We asked him what had happened and he hesitated unsure of the reasons for the almost two-hour delay. 

What could we do?  This is the best car rental deal in town and we weren’t willing to make a fuss and ruin the opportunity to rent a car again.  We smiled while Tom filled out the paperwork, paid our US $1250 (CRC 720,494) and inspected the car with Edgar for any dents or dings.

Syringes used for medical treatment.  Ouch!

Edgar was proud he’d brought us an upgraded vehicle, a Corolla as opposed to a cheaper Yaris.  We were thrilled the car had automatic door locks which in manly cases is a luxury upgrade.  Humm…

Tom is interactive in the museum operating a high stand switch.

By 1:30 we were back at the villa spending the majority of the afternoon putting everything away, taking care of the produce and making dinner.  The time flew by and at 5:00 pm, we were ready for dinner.

Old computers on display.  Brings back memories, don’t they?

Since we only eat one meal each day with an occasional low carb snack, the early dining time seems best, especially for me, allowing plenty of time for the meal to digest considering my ongoing gastrointestinal issues which continue to improve in baby steps.  By eating early, my meal has more time to digest before going to bed.

Juan Ramon was proud of everything in the museum showing off a few of his favorites, in this case a whistle.

So, I’m wrapping it up earlier today hoping I haven’t made any errors we’ve missed.  The sun is out and we want to get on the road before the afternoon rains and thunderstorms begin.

Have a fabulous sunny day!

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Photo from one year ago today, September 19, 2016:

Collecting coconuts on the beach in Bali.  For more photos, please cllick here.

Yeah!…Rental car day…Out and about at last…More museum photos including some unusual items…

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Juan Ramon was excited to show us this bottle with a marble inside.

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica”

Oranges growing in the yard. 

Soon, at 11:00 am, we’re picking up the rental car at the grocery store cafe. We’ll get most of the grocery shopping done, and then on Saturday, when we return the car, we’ll pick up a few more items to last until we rent the car again, nine days later.

This schedule is working well for us, leaving us stranded for only a part of each month. Also, we’re saving thousands of dollars in outrageous rental fees, insurance, and taxes while we’re continuing our strict budget during this period in Costa Rica.

A bucket and miscellaneous tools.

After today, we’ll have paid for the upcoming 30-night back-to-back cruises on which we’ll embark in 66 days.  Next month, we’ll pay the balance of the expensive Antarctica cruise at US $13,875 (CRC 8,003,794). 

A stone toilet for an outhouse.  Notice the corn cobs which were used in place of toilet paper.

At that point, we won’t have to pay for another cruise until January 1, 2019, for a cruise on March 24, 2019, which sails from Santiago, Chile, to San Diego, California. From there, we’ll spend some time visiting family in the US once again how the time flies! That’s only 19 months from now!

Push mowers.  We’ve yet to see a power mower being used in Atenas.

We’ll be jumping around a bit, but this schedule worked out best for us when we were determined to spend about a year in Africa beginning this upcoming February. 

Some heating equipment.

Shortly after we decide where we’ll travel after visiting the US in 2019, we’ll be posting a new itinerary. We continue to discuss our options, but the world is a huge place. At that point, we’ll have visited all seven continents and be returning to countries we’d yet to visit.

A small kiln is used for cooking.

Also, watching the world news on TV while in Costa Rica has convinced us it’s unlikely we’ll stay in many big cities where we’d be inclined to use public transportation, dine at outdoor cafes and tour popular tourist venues. The risks are higher in these areas than in more remote locations. 

Antique jugs and jars.

Every country has a “countryside” or outlying area packed with desirable vacation/holiday homes, and we have no concern over finding and booking extraordinary properties befitting our tastes and desires as we have over this past almost five years.

In the interim, we’re content in Atenas. We knew we’d be here during the rainy season, but there’s no way to avoid these types of situations when we’re traveling year-round. 

Coffee-making utensils.

With most of the rain occurring after 12:00 pm, we’ve managed to spend time in and around the pool as soon as we’ve uploaded the daily post. A day like today, which has started cloudy, almost always ensures we won’t see any sunshine today, putting a damper on the possibility of sightseeing.

Instead, we’ll shop for groceries, pick up a few items at the pharmacy and return to the villa. Putting away all the groceries is a time-consuming process when washing and preparing the produce can take upwards of an hour. I often wonder if it’s just me that takes so long. 

A potpourri of old tools and other items.

Do you spend an hour or more time prepping vegetables for the upcoming week? I’d love to hear from you.  I understand some shoppers may wash their vegetables as they use them. But, with dirt, excess leaves, and overgrown vegetation on many of the items, I can’t see the point of placing anything into the refrigerator until everything is washed, dried, and appropriately bagged.

Although we’ll still go to the Friday Atenas Farmers Market, we need to purchase enough produce today to last through the next four nights. With our way of eating, we go through tremendous amounts of fresh produce each week. 

An old-fashioned scale.

For example, for last night’s dinner alone, we used the following vegetables: onions, tomatoes, celery, cabbage, carrots, green beans, zucchini, bell peppers, and fresh garlic. This results in considerable time spent prepping the veggies upon returning from the market and subsequently chopping and dicing as needed for the specific meal—busy work.

With a taxi coming in 30 minutes to take us to Mercado Coopeatenas to get the car, I’m wrapping this up now. We’ll be back with more new photos again tomorrow. This week, regardless of the weather, we’ll get out and take new photos to share with all of you each day.

Have a pleasant day filled with happy surprises!

Photo from one year ago today, September 18, 2016:

Family gatherings on the beach in Sumbersari Bali amid the trash that rolls in with the tide along with trash left behind by locals and visitors.  Bali hasn’t yet embraced the concept of keeping its island and beaches less cluttered with garbage. However, a large portion of the beach trash is a result of that left at sea by others. For more details, please click here.

More photos…The museum at Puente Ferrocarril Rio Grande Atenas… Another power outage…

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Juan Ramon showed us a railroad calendar. As Tom went though the pages, month by month, he was excited to find this page with the Great Northern Railway (photo from 1964). In the background is the Mississippi River, the Hennepin Ave Bridge and behind it, the Great Northern Railroad Bridge.

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica”

In this photo, taken yesterday before the big storm, the mountains almost appear as a tidal wave.  Freaky.

Yesterday afternoon, about 30 minutes prior to our plan to walk down the steep road to a neighbor’s home who’d generously offered to take us with her to the restaurant where the rock and roll fiesta was being held from 4:00 to 7:00 pm, a downpour occurred of such magnitude that we decided not to go. 

The rain didn’t let up for hours.

Juan and his family in this old photo.

Not wanting to inconvenience her by asking her to come get us in the downpour, coupled with our lack of interest in getting soaked and the consideration that many others may have decided to stay home anyway, made staying in an easy decision.

Juan Ramon photo as he became in charge of managing the historic depot.

Moments after we notified the kindly neighbor that we wouldn’t be coming, the power went out during a close flash of lightning. This was around 3:00 pm. Unfortunately,  shortly before the power outage, I’d been using my laptop to watch a Netflix movie without using the power supply. 

The depot in the early 1900’s.

Subsequently, my battery was partially drained, leaving me with only a few hours of use remaining should the power not come back on. Again, I reminded myself of the recent hurricanes in the US and the thousands that continue to be without power, including thousands whose homes were uninhabitable due to the devastation from the storms. A short-term outage here in Costa Rica is nothing, comparatively.

The walls in this area were covered in old railroad photos.

My phone’s battery was half drained as well. Tom’s laptop was fully charged so if we were stuck in the dark all evening, we could use his laptop to watch a movie as opposed to sitting in the dark. There are only a few candles in the villa. All of our books are on our phones on Kindle apps.

Train arriving at the station in late 1800’s or early 1900’s.

I knew my laptop wouldn’t make it through one entire movie so I used our portable hard drive, plugged it into my laptop and downloaded several shows and movies. This way I could transfer them to Tom’s laptop where we could watch them there if need be.

In 1926, a tragic derailment resulted in the death of 14 passengers and crew.

At this point, Tom decided to take a nap, a rare occurrence for him. He laid down on the comfy bed and in minutes, was sound asleep. I wandered about the house, looking for something to read.

Many photos of the 1926 derailments lined the walls of the museum.

Although some vacation/holiday homes have somewhat of a “library” along with puzzles and games,  this particular property had only one paperback book, a military-type thriller in the desk drawer. I picked it up and began reading.

Axel and wheels of an old cart as shown in above old photo. Not all items in the museum were related to the railroad.

I hadn’t read a paper book in years. Even in our old lives, years ago I began reading books online, long before it was popular to do so. I loved the technology and simplicity of always having my “book” with me wherever I might be. Now, due to weight and space restrictions, neither of us ever carries a paper book.

The museum was a hodgepodge of antique items, including these tools and handmade masks.

The book kept me busy for the half hour Tom dozed. He awoke with a start asking if the power had returned. With not much to do and with it still pouring rain, we walked around the house, staring out in the sheer wonder of how it can rain so much day after day. Thank goodness for the usually sunny mornings.

By 4:30, we decided we may as well make dinner since it’s usually dark by 6:00 pm, hopefully only opening the refrigerator a few times until the power came back on. We busied ourselves in the kitchen.  Luckily, I’d already done most of the prep for the meal earlier in the day. 

When planning to go out to the music fest we figured it would be best to have a meal ready to cook in the event the food at the restaurant wasn’t suitable for my way of eating. 

Railroad switch locks.

We had Asian burger patties ready to cook (luckily the range runs on propane gas); a salad made and ready for dressing; vegetables to throw into a pot of water on the stove.  Dinner would be easy to prepare without electricity.

As for keeping the refrigerated food cold, Tom had been saving ice in the bottom bin of the freezer in a large plastic bag. He had enough ice to keep the refrigerated products cold overnight, if necessary.  If the power didn’t come back on the next day, we could begin eating everything in the freezer. We had a plan. 

Old seats from a passenger train.

By 5:15 we were seated at the dining room table with our plates of food in front of us, while we watched an episode of Master Chef. If the power didn’t come back on overnight, we had it covered.

Just about the time we’d finished our meal and the show ended, the lights flashed when the power came back on. We looked at each other, smiled and jumped up starting to clear the table. As always, Tom washed the dishes while I busied myself with other cleanup tasks.

Tom wrote in the guestbook as he often does as we travel the world.

By the time darkness fell, we made our way to the screening room, selecting a few shows on Netflix to watch until bedtime. Sure, we were disappointed not to go out with our neighbor but we do have other social plans on the horizon.

As for today’s photos, enjoy these museum treasures that Juan Ramon excitedly shared with us as we toured through the dusty old museum on the grounds of the railway depot. He was delightful and we appreciated every moment he spent with us.

Soon, Tom will watch the Minnesota Vikings game on the app on his laptop with the HDMI cord plugged into the huge flat screen TV while I prepare tonight’s meal. It’s a typical Sunday in the life of retirees.

Gee…I just might get back into that paper book!

Photo from one year ago today, September 17, 2016:

What a lovely family in their colorful holiday clothing as they walk to a local shrine with their offerings. Gede, our house man in Bali, stopped by for a visit with his wife and two daughters.  hey have since added a son to their family after we left almost a year ago.  For more details please click here.

Part 2… A journey to yesteryear in Costa Rica… A railroad depot and freight house… Puente Ferrocarril Rio Grande Atenas… Culture and history…

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No, thanks. We had no interest in walking on this bridge at Puente Ferrocarril Rio Grande Atenas.

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica”

Inca Doves can mate for life and typically spend considerable time preening one another during the mating season. Tom took this great photo from the veranda.

After we toured the locomotive and the museum (photos coming soon) with Juan Ramon, he enthusiastically encouraged us to make the walk down the railroad tracks to the abandoned bridge at the end of the tracks.

A railroad high stand switch was used to switch the train from one track to another.

It has been raining every day for these past weeks since we arrived, and the ground was muddy and slippery in spots. Luckily, we were both wearing our water shoes which we could easily wash with the garden hose when we returned to the villa.

Several houses line the railroad tracks.

With the issue of ruining our shoes out of the way, I contemplated whether this long walk over rough terrain would work for me. At the same time, I continue to recuperate after all these months, having yet to restore my previous level of fitness and stamina. 

There was no road accessible by car to reach the houses along the railroad track.

Hesitating to go at all and realizing how long Tom and Juan Ramon would be gone, I decided “what the heck,” and I began the trek along with them. At a few points, as shown in a photo in yesterday’s post, they stopped to wait for me. 

Although difficult to see in these photos, the river runs under the bridge.

Tom stuck close to me at other points, holding my hand as we navigated the more difficult spots. The trek was much further than anticipated, although some TripAdvisor reviewers mentioned it in their comments. I knew that the more walks we do like this, the stronger I’ll become.

Walking on the bridge didn’t appeal to us.

Finally, after stopping from time to time to take photos, we made it to the bridge. Oddly, Juan Ramon and I communicated a little while I explained that our world travels in my choppy Spanish. He asked me to name some of the countries we’ve visited and seemed most intrigued with those in Africa, as is often the case.

We didn’t see any reason to walk on the old rickety bridge, so we went as far as we could without doing so.

He told me about his family and his years of working on the railroad.  He was particularly fascinated with Tom’s 42½  years spent working for Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. He kept this in mind as we toured the property and museum, knowing Tom was a highly experienced railroad man.

At a few points, we could see the Rio Grande River.

Moving on to more current events of today, we finally reached out to make social contacts in Atenas. A few weeks ago, I joined an Atenas ex-pat group on Facebook, spending a few minutes each day lurking without commenting.

Although the ground was pretty level as we walked toward the bridge, walking was precarious at times. It has been raining daily, and some spots on the dirt path were slippery and muddy. At many points, we had to walk in the center of the track. 

Yesterday afternoon, I stuck my neck out and wrote the following post on Facebook:
“Hello, we’re world travelers staying in Atenas for almost four months in Roca Verde. We’d love to meet some of you. Any suggestions on where and when we could hang out and have an opportunity to make some friends would be appreciated. On October 31st, it will be five years since we sold everything we own and started this journey. We don’t own a home, have an apartment or condo anywhere, or have storage anywhere. We’d love to hear about your travel experiences and more about Atenas. Please message me or click my email on our blog at www.worldwidewaftage.com”

A least half of the way, we walked on the gravel on the tracks when the dirt path ended. The railroad ties were a combination of wood, concrete, and steel.

We’d heard ex-pats in Costa Rica were as friendly as the locals. After receiving 12 comments following my post, we already have plans for tonight to go with a neighbor living in our gated community of Roca Verda to an event in town, a rock and roll festival, and a barbecue at a local restaurant. Next week on Wednesday, we’ll attend a luncheon, mainly a women’s group, but the men come along and sit at a separate table.

At 3:30 today, we’ll walk down the steep road to Barb’s home and ride with her to the event. We’ll explain we’ll arrange a taxi to take us home so she doesn’t have to give a thought as to when we’d like to go or stay. Easy peasy. 

This house on stilts along the tracks appeared to be occupied.

Then, we received a few email messages for more plans for next week when we’ll have a car again. How fun is this! Tom and I both shook our heads, wondering why we hadn’t done this sooner.  After all, we’ve already been here for over six weeks.

We have no doubt we’ll have a good time as we often do with other retirees, many of us who’ve stepped outside the box to live a different life from what they knew living in their native country. It’s always interesting to hear “why” others have chosen this path.

We’ll be back tomorrow with the story of what we discovered when spending the late afternoon and evening with ex-pats from several countries. Of course, we’ll be taking photos to share here.

Have a fabulous Saturday! 

Photo from one year ago today, September 16, 2016:

Locals fishing along the shore in Sumbersari Bali as seen from our villa’s veranda, one year ago today.  For more photos, please click here.

Part 1… A journey to yesteryear in Costa Rica… A railroad depot and freight house… Puente Ferrocarril Rio Grande Atenas… Culture and history…

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The blue locomotive at the train depot, Puente Ferrocarril Rio Grande Atenas, with a dual cab.

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica”

This morning’s view of the veranda at 5:30 am.

Tom and I frequently accommodate each other’s interests when we decide on where we’ll go sightseeing. Sometimes, it’s botanical gardens which I particularly love, and at other times, it’s a military museum.

Tom was walking toward the depot and museum.

Undoubtedly we are stereotypical for our genders with many of our interests besides our mutual passion for wildlife; for me, the flowers and quaint shops; for him, military tanks and railroad history and memorabilia.

Signage at the depot.

Over these past years of world travel, we’ve found we can easily cross over to each other’s interests with little hesitation. I no longer roll my eyes when he stops to read every word on historical signs posted at various locations. He’ll freely pause to show me an unusual flower.

Juan Ramon’s home is located across the tracks. 

We share endless interests in wildlife and nature, which have proven to be in abundance in many countries. Based on our transportation limitations and mountainous location in Costa Rica, birds have proven to be of our most significant interest as we spend hours each day watching and listening for varied species. 

Dog at the train depot, Puente Ferrocarril Rio Grande Atenas.

As shown in our many bird photos, Costa Rica doesn’t disappoint its colorful and varied wildlife and vegetation. Both of us are thoroughly enjoying each day, including the bird sounds and songs, including the nearly constant crowing of roosters.

Locomotive drive wheels on display at the depot.

As for sightseeing, we continue to get out several times every other week when we have the five-day car rental, which is upcoming again on Monday. In the interim, we’ll continue to share photos and stories from our recent sightseeing expeditions and outings when we last had the car.

Control stands inside the locomotive cab.

We’d read about Puente Ferrocarril Rio Grande Atenas at the TripAdvisor site with many rave reviews. Those less interested in railroad history wrote some wishy-washy reviews. In contrast, others reveled in the fascinating history and museum, leaving us smiling hours after exploring several areas of this exciting spot.

Engine compartment.

We parked the car and walked the short distance to the depot.  There were only a few visitors on-site who may have been from some news agency when we noted they had sophisticated camera equipment set up and were taking photos. Shortly after we arrived, they left. 

The opposite side of the engine compartment.

Moments later, Juan Ramon came out of a single-story house located on the property to greet us, warmly shaking our hands.  He spoke no English, but somehow we were able was able to understand he’d been managing the property for the past 10 years since the trains stopped running and he moved his family into the tiny house.

Inside the cab of the locomotive.

A warm and friendly man, Juan Ramon couldn’t have been more thrilled to share the treasures of the location, including allowing us to tour the blue locomotive (Tom gave me a shove to get me up the metal ladder while I hung on tightly on the grab-irons), the roadbed/right-of-way to the railroad bridge and considerable time in the museum.

In railroad jargon, an overly zealous train enthusiast is often referred to as a “former,” implying they “foam at the mouth” when around anything railroad, whether its modern-day train and railroad equipment or memorabilia. 

The opposite side of the locomotive cab.

Tom’s no foamer.  He’s more interested in the local history and culture of the railroad in the country we’re visiting at any given time than in railroad equipment itself. Based on the extent of photo ops at train stations and depots, I’ve learned to find it all rather interesting as well.

Tomorrow, we’ll share photos from the long hike to the railroad bridge, a hike we’d hesitated to embark upon when some reviewers mentioned how far it was from the depot and the rigor of the walk along the tracks, now overgrown with vegetation (as shown in the photo below) when unused over the past 10 years. 

Tom and Juan Ramon were waiting for me to catch up on the long hike.

But, our wonderful and thoughtful host, Juan Ramon, who lives at the depot and oversees its operation and visitors, insisted on walking the long distance to the bridge with us. Although there’s no fee to visit the facility, we left Juan Ramon a generous tip for the time he spent with us, especially when the facility wasn’t opened to the public that day. 

Please check back for more with many photos from the adjoining museum, there again, presented to us by our generous host, Juan Ramon.

Photo from one year ago today, September 15, 2016:

This duck seemed perfectly content in our pool in Bali until realizing it could be tricky getting out, so she swam to the steps as shown and walked out. Animals are amazing!  For more photos, please click here.

Immigration status resolved…We’re flying out of the country…Check out our year ago photo!!!

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This mom and her calf are our neighbors in this gated community of Roco Verde.

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica”

Great Kiskadees visit each day.

We knew we’d have an immigration issue to resolve once we’d decided to stay in Costa Rica until we fly to Miami, where we’ll spend one night to then board a 30-night cruise to South America on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 2017. 

Costa Rica allows US citizens 90 days in their country. The best solution for us based on the strict requirements for a visa extension, leaving the country and coming back in seemed like the best solution. However, we’d research other options while in the country.

Thus, we had to decide which country to visit for two nights, staying in a hotel not too far from the airport and yet in an excellent location to ensure we’d take advantage of the situation and have a great time.

Rooster in the neighborhood with several hens and chicks.

With October 31st, our fifth anniversary of traveling the world on the horizon, this short two-night “get-away” could easily be considered an opportunity to celebrate this special date. This won’t be the first time we booked a few nights away for our annual event.

When we flew from Nevada to Costa Rica on August 1st, immigration requires an exiting flight within 90 days. So at that time, we picked a “cheap” flying on the 89th day to Managua, Nicaragua, never sure we’d use it if we found other immigration options where we’d be able to extend the 90 days.

After considerable research, our best option was to use that flight we’d already booked to Managua, book a two-night stay in a hotel in Managua, and return to Atenas.

Last Saturday, there was a carnival at Supermercado Coopeatenas.

In addition, it was time to book the flight to Miami on November 22nd. Unfortunately, with all that’s tragically transpired in Florida this past week, it could be difficult, if not impossible, to book a flight to Miami the day before Thanksgiving.

We got to work. We research all our options using the links for Expedia and Hotels.com on our site simultaneously on each of our computers. We often find varying prices for flights and hotels when researching using our laptops, based on cookies that may have been set on previous searches. (Sometimes it pays to delete the cookies, and other times it does not).

Here’s what we found and subsequently booked (includes fares for both of us):

October 28, 2017 – US $128.70 (CRC 74,358) – Flight (nonstop) from San Jose Costa Rica to Managua Nicaragua
October 28, 2017 – US $199.84 (CRC 115,460) – Hotel – (Two nights including complimentary breakfast)) – Real Intercontinental Hotel Managua at MetroCenter Mall
October 30, 2017 – US $179.42 (CRC 103,662) Flight (nonstop) from Managua Nicaragua to San Jose Costa Rica
November 22, 2017 – US $246.42 (CRC 142,372) – Flight (nonstop) from San Jose Costa Rica to Miami, Florida (We’d already booked the hotel in Miami for one night some time ago).

Adults and kids were having a good time at the carnival.

We’re thrilled with the hotel and its pricing for this five-star property in Managua and also the fact it’s located in a popular upscale mall. Undoubtedly, there will be plenty of great restaurants and enough to see over the two-night stay. 

We are equally pleased with the pricing on the flight to Miami in November, primarily based on the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, which often results in pumped-up airline pricing. 

Sure, meeting the immigration requirement of leaving Costa Rica will cost us a total of US $507.96 (CRC 293,479) plus meals and taxis estimated at another US $200 (CRC 115,552), but we’re OK with this. It was better than the alternative and provided us with a mini-vacation for our fifth anniversary in yet another country.

Baskets of food were being raffled for charity.

Suppose we hadn’t extended our stay in Costa Rica to accommodate the upcoming 30-night cruise on November 23rd. In that case, we’d have had to spend 25 extra days in Florida, which would have cost us a lot more than we’re paying for this outstanding villa and the two flights and hotel in Nicaragua. 

Today, a very cloudy and overcast day, we’re staying in, making a great dinner with enough for three nights while we’ll continue to research plans. The hummingbirds are going nuts over the sugar water, and we’re as content as we could be.

May your day bring you contentment as well.

Photo from one year ago today, September 14, 2016:

Big Buffalo was not happy to see Tom again, coming out of the water to show his displeasure. (He’d quickly went out of the water when he saw Tom standing up by the cabana at our villa). As soon as Tom sat back down, he backed up into the water and sat back down. This occurred several times. We have more photos here!

Feeding hummingbirds…A simple syrup…a simple task…for simply wonderful bird watching…

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It’s fun to watch the hummingbirds stab their delicate pointed beaks into the tiny holes of the feeder. See below for our easy recipe for the syrup.

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica”

This is a brown recluse spider we found on the veranda near our bedroom. Yikes. This morning Tom found a can of spray and sprayed it around the doorway and bedroom. Most insects don’t bother us, but anything venomous like this makes us take action.

When we arrived in Atenas, Costa Rica, 44 days ago, we noticed a hummingbird feeder hanging from a hook under the veranda roof. We had a red plastic feeder hanging from a tree in our old lives, but it was often blown to the ground in the spring and summer winds and storms.

Besides, no sooner than I’d make the sweet solution and refill the container, it was empty. Our lives were action-packed with work and responsibilities, and keeping this up was hardly a priority.

It’s rare to see more than one bird feeding at a time. They noisily fight with one another for dominance.

When we contemplated filling the feeder here in Atenas over these past weeks, we decided we’d give this a try and see if we could attract hummingbirds after spotting many beautiful and unique birds. 

At this point in our lives, we certainly can’t say we don’t have time, especially when we don’t have a rental car every other week during which we spend most of our time at the villa.

I looked up my old simple hummingbird feeder recipe to find this easy to make the concoction which the birds always seemed to love:

Hummingbird Feeder Syrup
4 cups water
1 cup granulated white sugar

Place water and sugar in a saucepan. Stir well. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and let simmer for about 10 minutes. Cool thoroughly.  Pour into the feeder. Any leftovers may be kept in a glass jar in the refrigerator for a week.

Soon, I’ll get a better photo.  Some of these hummingbirds are colorful.

Since neither Tom nor I consume any sugar, finding a good-sized container in the cupboard for guests to use certainly was an inspiration. In the past week, we’ve made three batches. Now for the first time in years, granulated sugar is on our grocery list app on my phone.

As we watched the feeder, which is in plain view as we’re seated on the veranda most days, until the rain and the wind make it impossible in the late afternoon, we’ve been thrilled to see dozens of hummingbird hits a day. They love it.

Over the first few days of filling the container, Tom stood on a wooden chair from the outdoor dining table, carefully reaching up to avoid dropping the feeder and maintaining sturdy footing on the chair. 

Yesterday, (duh) we decided he could avoid the risk of standing on the chair. As it turned out, the feeder is hanging from a hook attached to an outdoor rolling shade. 

If he rolls down the shade to eye level, he can avoid standing on the chair to take the feeder down to refill it over the sink in the kitchen. His fact is a huge motivator in keeping us interested in keeping up this refilling process. The below photo illustrates what we mean by lowering the rolling shade.

Tom was rolling down the veranda shade for easy access to the hummingbird feeder.

Speaking of photos, I’ve yet to take a decent photo of the hummingbirds partaking of the sugary syrup. The timing is crucial, and each time I attempt to take a photo, I’m either in the wrong spot with too bright a background or too dark and rainy. I’ll continue to work on this.

Over these past few days, something was baffling us. We could see a slight reduction in the amount of syrup in the feeder at the end of each day, perhaps down an inch or so, but most, if not all, of the syrup was gone in the mornings. Again, we’d make a new batch and refill the container, only to awaken the next day for the same scenario.

Last night, we decided to keep watch in the dark to see precisely what was happening. Much to our surprise, about a dozen hummingbirds were swarming around the feeder, fighting with one another for dominance and access to the sugar water. We laughed. Who knew they’d come at night in the dark.

At this point, we decided we’d bring the feeder inside at night to return it to its usual spot first thing in the morning. After all, isn’t the feeder intended to satisfy our greedy observation…as well as provide sustenance for the birds? This way, it’s a win-win.

The bright background makes photo-taking tricky.  I’ll keep trying.

This makes us laugh. “Just think,” I told Tom yesterday while we kept a watchful eye on the feeder while we lounged in the pool, “In only five months, we’ll be busy dropping pellets in the bush to attract 350 pounds (159 kg) warthogs to stop by for a visit.

From a tiny hummingbird to a giant pig…hmm…life is good.

Photo from one year ago today, September 13, 2016:

Upon further inspection at this restroom stop on the five-hour harrowing drive in Bali, we realized the narrow trough was the toilet. The bucket of water and scoop was for tidying up, not washing hands. Luckily, we always keep antibacterial wipes on hand. This facility was clean compared to others we encountered.  For more details, please click here.