While people watching in Costa Rica....

I have noticed that toddlers on the beach DO NOT wear swimsuits.  I haven't seen one swimsuit yet.  All wee ones are naked as a jaybird, and SO cute, as they run around, covered in sand.

I also noticed a North American girl trotting down the beach, with fronds from a coconut tree slung over her shoulder. On her head,  she wore a bright green hat woven from the same fronds.  They also use fronds from palm trees to make fences here.  Our villa owner, Peter, had a big load delivered the morning my siblings left.

I have noticed that NOTHING goes to waste here.  For example, baskets on bicycles that we rent, are often an empty plastic pail, or even a milk carton.  The latter a bright neon green, to boot!

While sitting in our favourite taco hangout, I noticed what sounded like a car backfiring, every minute or so.  It was a little disconcerting, not knowing what it is was.  Our waitress, a young Canadian from St.Catherines, told us the noise was driving her crazy and explained what it was.  It was FIGS dropping off the trees overnhead, and landing on the plastic roof of the café.  LOL  To add insult to injury, you couldn't even eat them, because they weren't ripe.  When you crack them open, they are brown, instead of pink.

I guess you have to be here in July, when all the crabs that live in the jungle, come out to mate for a few days.  They can be heard clicking and clacking through parking lots, roads and beaches. Honestly!  Patrons of this same café, sitting at their table, we were told by another waiter, will certainly notice the crabs making their way over their feet!  Crazy!

I have also noticed that many of the flowers here are very "phallic" looking.  Eric's comment? "Well, it's "natural" selection.

I can smell my perspiration. Now that's bad!  Average day here, temperature wise = 32 degrees Celsius and with 50% plus humidity.

People wear their shirts inside out ALL the time. Why? One side gets dirty? Just turn it inside out!!

The BIGGEST thing I have noticed here, though, is THE much slower pace of life.  It HAS to be. The heat and humidity can be debilitating.  The humidity is often over 80 percent.  I am almost happy that we have an odd day with no sunshine.  I simply could NOT accomplish in one day here, what I do at home.  At home, I don't stop much.  Here, I have done nothing but sit, read, eat, sleep, soak up the sun, swim, bike, observe the flora, fauna AND wildlife, blog and post pictures.  OH, AND get bitten alive by these tiny ants and what I call "no seeums".

A small price to pay for a daily slice of life in the tropical rain forest of this magnificient country.  PURA VIDA!