Entering 2012!

The First Day

Went on a mini picnic with Stefan's family. We had a good time even though it was very short as it started raining pretty quickly after we got there. When we got home and was drinking the afternoon coffee, the sky was blue again. Of course!

Angie y Ariel

Carlos David. Muy contento con la comida!

The Second Day
We went on a tour around the cities close to Juan Viñas and saw a lot of different things and beautiful views!

Stefan & Ashley enfrente de las ruinas

A tree con "Barba del viejo" (Old man'd beard) Que bonito!

La perrita más linda de 2012!

La iglesia más vieja de Costa Rica - The oldest church in Costa Rica

El lago de Cachí.

Best thing: The cute little white dog! (no mentiras!)

The Third Day

Stefan, Ashley and I went to the biiiiiiig property of the people who own the coffee farm. They have a lot of horses and we were so lucky to get to borrow one. I haven't been on a horse for many years now, so I was extremely excited about doing it again! We had a good time and everyone got a ride, even though some liked it more than others!

Me riding the horse solo. The guy warned us that it was hard get him to stop, but of course that didn't stop me.
Now, two days after, my legs still hurt like ****.

In the evening I went back to San Jose and met Freiser's 14 year old brother Brandon for the first time. He's going to live with us from now. It's going to be very interesting, and I hope we can all get along. Yesterday (The Fourth Day!) we all went to see "Las Aventuras de Tin Tin." Awesome movie! And a nice way of "bonding" a little with Brandon. He's super sweet.

A Costa Rican New Year's

I was a "little" sad when my family left the 29th and still didn't have exact plans for what to do for New Year's. Luckily, my good friends here stroke once again and gave me more than one option for new year's (which made it really hard to choose!) Everyone I know here are extremely open and welcoming and it's always a joy to visit the tico families!

I ended up going to Juan Viñas to celebrate with Stefan and his family. We were nine around the table and I had a great time with the whole family!

La mesilla como se vió para Año Nuevo. Después la juntamos con la mesa grande para que pudimos comer todos juntos. The little table as it looked for New Year's. Afterwards we put it together with the big one so we could all eat together.

Stefan, being the chef of the family, made almost all the food (with a little help from the rest of us). Everything was super delicious, and he even made fish for me as a special dish as I (still) don't eat red meat!

La comida del nuevo año (el plato de Stefan). Todo muy rico y con la pierna de cerdo tradicional. Las papas morenos (brunede kartofler) fueron el toque danés ;)

Just a picture of us:

Stefan y yo muy felices!

It was really late when we finished eating, so we left the kitchen as it was and went to the "living room" waiting for the new year to come. Every country has it's own traditions, so this year I didn't drink champagne, we didn't jump into the new year and I didn't kiss anyone at midnight.

Instead, we all stood in a circle waiting for the new year to come and so at twelve, we entered the new year together. Afterwards, there was a lot of grape eating (one for each moth of the year for good luck) and throwing lentils for there always to be enough to eat in the new year.

La última foto de 2011
Toda la familia!
Stefan, Carlitos, Ashley, Rosario, Roy, Angie y la novia de Roy, Alejandra

Afterwards, we went out on the street to say happy new year's to all the rest of the city (at least the rest of the family - who all live in the same city - and whoever else we met on our way). Later we went on a short visit to the neighbouring barrio to see the carnival. Mucha fiesta!

I had a really good night and it was very interesting and enriching to experience a Costa Rican new year's!

Stefan and I ended the night by throwing lentils at each other until around 3 in the morning. Great start of 2012!