3 things- new to Costa Rica

My family arrived in Costa Rica about 9 days ago, and little by little, poco a poco, we are feeling less overwhelmed and more at ease with life in a new place.  I didn't do much homework before coming to Costa Rica, so I didn't have a lot of expectations.  We live in a neighborhood, San Francisco de los Rios, close to the school, and we haven't ventured too far outside the 'hood yet.  But we will!  Three quick observations on living in Costa Rica-

1.  There are NO addresses.  No street names.  No house numbers.  Directions are given from local landmarks.  One friend lives 100 meters south of La Margarita Dry Cleaners, on the right, in the house with a red sidewalk and three palm trees.  We live between Parque Bosque and Parque Copa, 100 meters south of Parque Copa, turn left, 30 meters on the right, the yellow house.  (and yes, I can tell it in Spanish and the taxi driver took me to the correct house!)  Amazingly, this works.  Those are the directions we gave to the internet people, and they arrived.  However, it doesn't impress GPS systems so much...  

2.  It is not hot here.  Right now is the rainy season.  The 10 day forecast reads- 77/thunderstorms, 78/thunderstorms, 81/thunderstorms, 81/thunderstorms, 81/thunderstorms...  It has rained, POURED, every day we have been here except one.  The mornings have typically been sunny, but dark clouds roll in by noon, and eventually, the rain begins.  I am told it will get even increasingly rainy through October, and that it will change to mostly sunny by the end of  December.  That will be nice!  (we don't have a dryer, which is a bit problematic in the rainy season...)  Also, San Jose is at about 3700 ft. altitude, and that keeps the temperatures moderate, as well.

3. Pineapples.  Limes.  Coffee.   Fresh fresh fresh! 
On Saturday morning, there is a farmers market in our neighborhood.  Bananas everywhere!  Some fruits that I have never ever seen before and can't even make a guess on.  Stay tuned. 

And that doesn't include the crazy taxi drivers, drivers that could care less about pedestrians, green green plants and beautiful flowers, spiders, locks on locks, beans and rice, worship music...
Today, just
three things.