I took trips to Grecia on two consecutive days, which is unheard of. But that’s because Cindy couldn’t walk yesterday (she had an early bank appointment) and I didn’t want to go two days without walking with her.

So, I hopped on the bus yesterday to go grocery shopping. My main reason for shopping this week was that Charli was out of creamy treats and that cannot stand.  So, I went down for those mostly.

But while I was there

…I stopped at Pali for cheddar cheese, pouches of wet cat food and some other things, then headed down to get a Subway sandwich.

As I passed El Gallo de Grecia at about 8:00, I noticed they had brought in some lapa (macaw) resin sculptures — scarlet and blue and gold — but since the place doesn’t open until 8:30, I figured I’d go back later this week because my cart was already heavily laden with groceries.

When I Got Back Home

…I started obsessing over the fact that here in Costa Rica, if you see something you want, you’d better get it because the stores don’t keep multiples of any “luxury”/impulse item (or even a great many staples). They may have two, if you’re lucky. And I knew for sure that Gallo’s doesn’t keep two of the same resin sculptures.  They’re one of a kind (at a time) items. They aren’t big into in the home/outdoor decor niche.

So, I fretted most of the afternoon and evening, wondering which of the two lapas I should choose — the Scarlet or the Blue and Gold.  I wasn’t planning to get TWO different lapas, even with the discount I was pretty sure I could get.

Didn’t really decide which one to get overnight because I hadn’t seen either of the two long enough or close enough to decide between the two.

This Morning After Walking with Cindy

…I caught the 8:40 bus to Grecia. As soon as we reached the park, I made a beeline to El Gallo’s, went in, parked my cart, and asked permission to enter the resin sculptures and electronics room.

As soon as I walked in, I spotted three lapa resin sculptures. One of them consisted of a duo Scarlet and Blue and Gold.  The other two were separates.  So, naturally I chose the duo because then I didn’t have to decide which of the other two to take home.

Yes, I know that “birds of a feather flock together”

… and that blue and golds are from South America while Scarlets are Central American species, including Costa Rica.  But, for the sake of my bird shelf and anemic finances, these two best buddies/odd fellows came home with me:

So here is my El Gallo Resin Sculpture Display

(to date)

LOVE IT!  It will be making my first anniversary in Costa Rica (two days hence) feel as special as it should!

Now, if I can just find a gecko and an iguana…

and the perfect sloth …

and the perfect monkey

before my fifth anniversary…

Only one a year from now on!

Oh!  And on the way home today

…while I waited for the bus to arrive and start boarding, I walked to DIMI and got two huge rolls of paper towels which fit perfectly into my cart (luckily, the gentleman at El Gallo had put the macaw sculpture box into a huge separate plastic bag with handles for me), and then I walked to a panaderia and reposteria (bread and dessert shop) and got a couple packages of cupcake-like treats and cinnamon roll treats, which fit stop the macaw box in the big plastic bag.

Walked back to the benches at the bus terminal

and was soon joined there by two ticas (about ten minutes apart from each other) who were waiting for the same bus.  I said hello to each in Spanish as they arrived and offered them a sweet treat.

The first one declined the treat but began talking to me in Spanish.  I was amazed!  I could understand every single word she said, and she talked pretty much nonstop for a good five minutes. She spoke slowly enough that I was able to follow along fine.

After she quieted for a minute, I told her in Spanish that I’m not a native speaker but I’m studying a lot and that I had understood everything she had conveyed. (It felt freaking miraculous to me! That was the first time ever that I knew I had understood perfectly every word and sentiment/sensibility expressed.)

She asked me where I’m from, how long I’ve been here, how well I like Costa Rica, and more. Of course, I was able to respond fluently to those in Spanish because I’ve been here almost a year and everybody I meet who’s a native or an immigrant asks those questions.

At about this time, the other lady came over and sat on the other side of me.  I offered her a treat and she took it, with thanks. They knew each other, so I asked if they wanted to sit together, side by side.  They said no, they were fine sitting on either side of me.

And then Emily, sitting on my right (with whom I’d been chatting for five or ten minutes) told the new arrival that I speak Spanish very well  (I’m assuming she meant Spanish pronunciation and the fact I was able to understand and answer her most basic questions and had understood her earlier soliloquy). I chuckled, smiled, and added, “Mas o menos!” (More or less!)

Then they started chatting with each other in rapid fire Spanish.  When they finally took a breath after about two minutes, I interjected with a big grin, “Intendi’ ‘Costa Rica’ and San Francisco!” (“I understood “Costa Rica” and “San Francisco”!”) and they both laughed!

I told them I understand small children because they speak slowly and clearly but “los adultos hablan muy rápido y no puedo decir dónde termina una palabra y comienza otra!!” (“Adults speak very fast and I can’t tell where one word ends and another begins!”)

They understood that, too.  Emily says sometimes even they have the same problem!

Anyway, the 45 minutes we waited for the bus doors to open flew right by because we were having such a good time together. It truly made my day!

I’m getting there! Next year at this time I hope I’m as much a chatterbox in Spanish as they are!