"The Boys" Our garage door mural behind.

Less than 3 wks. until we return to the states!

Just as we have begun to get so comfortable here in this place often referred to as a "paradise", and as the place of "perpetual Spring", we have to think about going back North.

Our experience over 4+ mo. here has at times been exaspirating, challenging, compromising - but wonderful all the same.  Examples:  The boys across the street finished the 2nd fl. of their casa over a couple of weeks. It started as an open, concrete shell and is now beautiful!  It was fun to watch and listen to them.  Think Karaoke Extraordinaire!  They listened to a 70's oldie radio station and sang loudly (and nicely) to the songs they liked - loudly (but poorly) to those they didn't. Knew all the English words : )  Here everyone loves the Beatles, Annie Lenox, Billy Joel, Elton John,  Springsteen and any of the pop stuff from back then - within a 6 wk. period Paul McCartney, Elton John, Bob Dylan and Carlos Santana all played in Guad. this Spring  : ) Then there was the car repair that should've taken 4-5 days that took over 3 weeks causing us to need a rental car, and adding $900US to cost of the repair : (  The maid (paid for by the owners) comes once a week, we have to vacate the house by 9 am every Fri. for 5 hrs. since she tears the place up while she cleans : (  So we go out and explore the area and then eat lunch at one of our two favorite places. : )  Fun, but it costs extra money for gas and lunch  - and we have no choice about it. : ( We have seen some really nice places we would like to secure for our next trip down here, but amazingly no one will take a down payment for next November!  They will not tie anything down now for that time period : (  We just don;t get it, but are resigned, as that's just the way it is.

And through it all - the weather remains fabulous day after day.  Makes it all OK, you know? ...