Monkey Business

I was back to Manuel Antonio with Rita this week (I’m becoming quite a regular!). She’s still down there. Can you believe that I’m still on my holidays? I don’t start back in work until Tuesday!

La Playa!
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Whenever I ask students what they like to do for the weekend, or on a holiday, the answer is always the same ‘Go to the beach’. So having frozen Rita on the trip to Monteverde I brought her to Manuel Antonio to thaw her out. I guess I’ve begun to take it for granted, this being my third trip. But Rita’s reaction reminded me how beautiful it really is. The beach is completely lined by trees, the area being surrounded by rain forest. So any hotels, buildings, and even the town itself, are completely hidden behind the trees, so it continues to look completely unspoilt.

Monkey news
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We went into the national park on Wednesday. There are 5 beaches inside the park in Manuel Antonio, and two outside. On the beach where we stayed for several hours in the morning the monkeys staged several raids on unsuspecting tourists. They know exactly what they are doing. They come in groups through the trees, and then make a lightning strike on the bags. They always get a bag with fruit, presumably by smell. They drag the plastic bag with the fruits up the tree with them, and eat them up there. They did it 3 times with different people while we were there.

Rita
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I came back on Thursday, but Rita’s staying down in Manuel Antonio for the weekend. She wants time to totally chill out before heading back next weekend and starting work the following week.

The Elections
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As I travelled back across the country it impossible to miss the posters for the elections, which take place on 5th Feb. The votes for president, parliament and local government take place in three separate ballots on the one day.

There are about 8 candidates for president. But the hot favourite is a guy called Oscar Arias. He was president before, when they could only serve one term. He’s also won the Nobel Peace Prize. He’s now running about 45% in the opinion polls. If he gets over 40% he’ll win it outright. If he polls less than 40% he’ll contest a run-off with the highest other candidate on April 2nd.

Election rally in my apartment
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I woke up this morning to really loud music. Rock concert loud. And it sounded like it was inside the apartment. It turned out that there was a major political rally just outside and they were testing the sound equipment. It turned into a type of fiesta. There was a large crowd. Latin music. Dancing. Not exactly Fianna Fáil at the hustings. It was a campaign rally for the same Oscar Arias, and they were selling hats, t-shirts and souvenirs, all in his campaign green and white colours. It was like a football match. There was even a hamburger vendor beneath my balcony.

No drink
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When I went to the supermarket I saw that all the areas of the shop selling alcohol were sealed with black plastic, and little signs that said – Closed temporarily. Municipality of Heredia. The sale of alcohol is forbidden under the electoral act. It turns out that when there is a political rally there can be no alcohol sales throughout the day within a 1km radius of the rally! And all bars and off-licences will be closed throughout the country, not only on the day of the election, but for three days! The election is on Sunday, and all bars will be closed Saturday to Monday!
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So that’s the last week of my holidays over. I’m back in school for training this week. And we’re back in classes the following week.

So until next week,

Pura Vida,

Éamon