Sorry I disapparated, I discovered Pottermore… ...

Sorry I disapparated, I discovered Pottermore…

The seasons are changing here in Costa Rica. Along with the first rains came the refreshing scent of a well-drenched Earth, and consequently, the harvest of the mangos. I have never had a mango before, and I can truly say that it was love at first bite. A few weeks ago, after having finally tried one, we arrived at Granjero’s farm in hopes of snagging a few more. He showed us to an enormous tree (both tree and Granjero pictured above), and upon close inspection we noticed the branches were dripping with colorful ovals, full of succulent juices, just hanging in their clusters waiting to be enjoyed. Granjero brandished a stick, about three times his height, and explained that he was going to hit the mangos out of the tree and Jon was going to catch them. Granjero did his part all right, but the mangos tumbled so haphazardly that Jon couldn’t catch a single one. I picked the fruits up off the ground and placed them into our bag, quickly following the men, and the dogs, as Granjero ran away from the trunk of the tree swatting around his ears and shouting “avispas! (wasps!)”. Since that day we have returned to the farm multiple times and Jon has become an expert in mango catching. The sheer abundance of free, delicious, organic fruit inspired us to do a fruit fast (for 3 days we ate only mangos and avocados-we both missed coffee more than grains).

The other colorful species that the rains have brought forth from the planet are the crabs. Like clockwork, at dusk, the sands of the Beach House are inhabited by hermits of all sizes, along with a particularly vibrant species known as Tajalines (the latter have more than once stood up to a broom-wielding Jon, boxing-glove claws aloft). They take over the shower and the kitchen tiles, the hermits attacking one another for the choicest shells and both species introducing the cats to the delicacy of crab legs. This particular one is our favorite- he traded in his vintage shell for a modern plastic cap.

So the Green Season has begun, and as the thunder rolls through the clouds and the dusty, parched plants regain their vibrant green, we soak in our last few weeks here in Costa Rica. There are many things we will miss about this magical place: the sound and smell of the sea, the laisse-faire rhythm of life in the jungle, the mind-blowing landscapes, and of course all the friends we have made along the way, both two and four-legged…