Red Eyes

we were on the plane
the plane took off
becca sat by the window
katherine sat by alex
katherine sat by dad
katherine sat in the middle
it was dark
it was hard to sleep
alex slept by the window
katherine slept on dad
dad didn't sleep much
rebecca woke up
dad carried her around
they looked for cookies
there were no cookies
not in the front of the plane
not in the back of the plane
but we walked to the front of the plane anyway
and we walked to the rear of the plane anyway
and we did that again
we did get some water, though
we landed in costa rica early
the airport wasn't ready
we had to sit on the plane 10 minutes
and wait for the airport
then we pulled up to our gate
we got off the plane
we went through immigration
we're tourists
we waited for our bags
we went through customs
we offered our illegal bag of cut apples
but they gave them back
there was a shuttle to the car rental
it was economy rent a car
we had to pay an additional $28/day for insurance
that was too much
that was not on our initial bill
not that economic after all
we waited for the car
it was a grey mitsubishi sport
it was a diesel
we checked the car
it has a lot of scratches
they didn't worry about the small dings
we loaded the car
everyone fit
even the luggage
and the stroller
and the kids
yep
everyone fit

I looked for an ATM
it's called cajero automatico
there wasn't one
the one in the airport was out of service
the foreign exchange booth was also down
I went to the hotel
the exchange rate was 497/$
they buy at 520/$

We got on the highway
good thing the directions were so clear
because we immediately knew that the
intersection was a mess
nice shuttle driver let me in
and we're off to the races
with a wrong turn into town here
driving down the street
that's not where we're going
turn around
past a bright blue school
and a park
and a church
back to the highway

the two things to know:
don't get off the highway unless
you know you want to
it ends
otherwise you will probably be in the wrong place
these highways go around towns
and the towns are all pretty small

another early exit
and turning back around we learn these lessons

After that, no problem
everything is measured in kilometers
they are like miles only a little shorter

We turned at the airstrip sign
Drove down a very rough road
the airstrip is a dirt patch
a little wider than most roads
and a little rougher
hope there are no planes

we arrived early
I slept in a hammock
everyone else swam in the pool
and went to the ocean
this is paradise
katherine says
we checked in to our cabin
loralee fell asleep
everyone else went to the ocean
alex fell in the surf
becca fell in the surf
we got a little sunburned
I fell asleep
loralee fed kids
brown apples
granola bars
melted chocolate granola bars
but they're still hungry
lets get out of here
loralee says
about 4 hours is our limit in paradise
we drove for groceries
the prices are pretty high
we bought
bread
milk
jam
juice
water. 3 liters
tuna
mayo
ok, enough for a snack if we need one
back to the cabins
swimming again
we ate dinner at the pelican
it was close
prices were higher than we expected
the food was good
katherine had the house plate
black beans
rice
fried fish
salad
alex had arroz con pollo
salad on the side
it reminded me of my mission
plus salad
becca shared
I had mahi-mahi
fish & vegetables
green beans
celery
carrots
broccoli
califlour
the vegetables were crunchy
the fish was salty
loralee won
she had ceviche
it was very good
a walk back
time to quiet the kids
and off to bed
except alex wanted to snuggle
and becca wouldn't sleep
so we cuddled
I fell asleep
I put alex in bed sometime in the middle of the night