Grand Canyon Update

Visiting the Canyon is a must! Don't stay too long, you may take it for granted. The colors are spectacular at beginning and end of day. To get more perceptive take a day hike on the South Kiabab Trail. We were there two full days, and of course we could have stayed longer. We experienced hiking the rim (south), sunrise, sunset and a hike down into the canyon. There are museums to see and if you want to camp take a mule ride to the bottom and camp over night. We stayed just outside the Nat'l Park with many amenities at the Best Western. If you choose to stay in the park you can camp or stay in rustic accommodations that have been there for many years. It is hard to believe that the combination of geology, geography, water and time have shaped such a wonder. The present day amount of water going through the canyon is just a trickle compared to days of old. Now the water is put to use generating power and supplying water to millions. A lot of hard work and a great deal of politics created the present day system.

Back in Costa Rica

I have been back in Costa Rica for a week now. First thing I did was try to get the phone going at the airport, apparently an IPhone needs to be configured for Costa Rica. The Govt power and communications company can't do it or won't. So much fun! Looking forward to seeing how the new solar works at my jungle cabin. The next day I purchased groceries and refrigerator  and headed out to my place. After paying way too much for a cab, I plugged in the refrigerator, just my luck the one in the store that doesn't work. So another trip to town, oh well next week. I was able to exchange the refrigerator for another, more $'s for the a cab and yes the fridge works. However, after about six hours I noticed the warning light on the batteries was showing red. Well, we have had two and a half days of rain, we all know that if the sun doesn't shine on the solar panels, that the batteries don't get charged. I'm thinking propane refrigeration now. I'm enjoying the peace and quite of the rain forest. I'll head back to the States the end of September to be with family and do some traveling in the Midwest.

Solar Array

Saw this and had to stop and take a look. It looks like this is an option for areas where the Sun does shine.

An update on this, I was testing a  post from my handheld device (I-phone) just a quick blurb. I needed to take more pictures of the actual solar panels. At this time I'm glad I caught the web site of the builder, www.blueoakenergy.com. You can go to the web site check out some of the projects they have done. It was somehow very intriguing to me to see a City setting aside land to power BART in the Bay Area, some 180 miles away.

Tico vs. Nica

Gollo Pinto is a Costa Rican dish, sometimes breakfast, lunch and diner. Of course there is a long running conversation over the origination of Gollo Pinto, when it comes to Costa Ricans' (Tico's) and Nicaraguans' (Nica's). And that's where the conversation started, although some times more heated than just casual. I had talked with one of the workers earlier and learned that he (Fernando) was Nicaraguan and was here for a few more months and then will return to his home. It was lunch time, another worker (Doris) asked me, "Se habla Espanol?" of course my response, "Poco". And of course she goes way to fast for me to understand. Next question "Do you know the origination of of Gollo Pinto?". Very interesting to hear them go at each other, not always understood by me. However, I could tell by the body language and volume, they were arguing. Well anyway, a great way for me to learn more Spanish and for someone else to learn more English. The conversation drifted toward the word "Gringo". Doris wondered why some people are offended with the term. I think she was alluding that some do use it in a derogatory way. She used the words Gringo Verde and Guerra (which I translated later to mean war). I could speculate on all the hidden meanings and uses of the word. Until coming to Costa Rica, five years ago, I thought it was only used in Mexico, silly uh? Growing up in San Diego County, California and traveling to Mexico a lot, I identify with endearment, in it's use. Three people got to learn more about others, themselves and another language. Doris, is a student working three jobs, paying $228 per quarter for three courses at university. Fernando, does calligraphy and talked quite a bit about the many different dialects in Nicaragua. There is a higher percentage of indigenes peoples in Nicaragua than Costa Rica. Some of the dialects are, Samo, Misquito, Ingles and Ramol.  Not sure of the spelling on Ramol can't read his writing. All are different dialects of Spanish. With Misquito, he alluded to them more of maybe a class, all doctors or other professionals. He also used to term retraso(delay) in association with Spanish. While it's important to retain the indigenes identity, it does present a problem with education and possible separatism. There are eight different regions in Nicaragua. The last little dig Doris had was that Nico's don't pronounce their "s".

I made a travel bowl

Well I made myself a travel bowl. It is the bottom of a two liter plastic bottle.Works well and lite on the weight in the back pack. And now you know what was for breakfast also.The picture is taken from the balcony overlooking the central plaza, San Isidro, Costa Rica.

Politics

What in the H is going on in this country? We have the third in line for the President under fire for accusing the CIA of misleading congress. I call for a national strike, to boot them out, all of them. 

Did we all drink the cool aid?

WOW! Some have drank the cool aid. I refuse to drink it! Weather we like it or not we'll get some change. The years ahead will only tell. Yes, some of the issues do have to be tackled for this nation to move forward. My hope is that someone has the courage to at least work on the issues.

MELTDOWN

WOW!!! HAVEN'T SEEN THIS IN MY LIFE TIME!!!

Have been resting my arm, major tendinitis going on. Thank goodness I'm not going to use my IRA any time soon, will have to wait to see what happens with that. Glad the 401k is mostly set up for early retirement. Love my new windows, have been watching temperature variations, not much of a swing.

Well, the DOW took another dive today, as of this morning. UMM! Wasn't the bailout supposed to stabilize the markets? I guess I've been mislead by the MEDIA. Oh yeah, it will take awhile for all that tax payer money to help, HA HA HA!!! Now is the time to go for good deals in real estate or gold. Of course the problem with that is liquidity, just depends on goals. Where are all of you on this matter? Statistics show that we as Americans don't save for the rainy day. However, consumerism does fuel the economy. Will be interesting to see what the debates yield or shed light on the economy.