a quick update. (un actualización rápido.)

Since my last post was more observational and less narrative, here's a quick update as to what Ashley and I have been up to.

Yesterday was another full day. Thankfully, we managed to sneak in a nap between all the chaos, and there was less adventure, but I was able to see more of her life here and experience things as she does. After lunch (another delicious meal--they've all been incredible here), we relaxed for a while and dozed off, after which we packed our things and moved over to the hotel we're staying in. It's called Casa Blanca (white house), and I'd link you, but it's a small, locally-owned place and is without a web site. It's easily the most beautiful and creative place I've ever stayed, and has the most character of any hotel I've seen. Each room is themed after an island here--ours is the Floriana room, which Ashley hand-picked because Floriana is known for its blue-footed boobies (pictured, right, dancing) and she knew that I was really looking forward to seeing those. It's painted beautifully, all done by hand by the owner, Jackie, and her young daughters. The room is just off a balcony with a view of the pier and the bay. It's small, but never feels cramped. It's perfect.

After we moved in, it was off to the speakers (mentioned below). Then we walked along a path toward a beach until it grew too dark to proceed. We returned to the hotel and left for dinner, a high-end restaurant owned by the parents of one of Ashley's classmates (the only local/native in her program, I believe). The food, of course, was incredible. I had beef loin in a mushroom sauce, which was covered with fresh diced tomatoes, chopped green peppers, chopped onions and, of course, mushrooms. It came with rice and french fries. Ashley ordered the fish cevicha, a very popular dish here. It was like sushi, only the fish is "cooked" in lime juice--while it never touches the grill, the acid from the fruit essentially cooks the fish. This was served in sort of a clear broth with lots of vegetables (again onions, peppers, tomatoes, etc) and two slices of lime on the side, which we used for more garnish. Talk about flavorful. These dishes had my tongue dancing. Of course, we couldn't eat our meal without some fried plantains with cheese, and Ashley got a small side salad to boot (and there was no lettuce in the salad!). This was all served with some fried plantain chips on the side. Top it off with some coffee and a bottle of water and the entire meal cost us barely $20. And that's top-notch San Cristóbal living.

After dinner we were hoping to dye Ashley's hair and head out to meet her friends at a bar, but the hair project took longer than we expected (as usual) and we ended up conking out around 1:30 this morning. Now we're up, fulfilled after a morning run to La Lobería (a beach named for its sea lions), a quick on-the-run breakfast of a banana, batido and coffee, and soon it will be off to lunch on the beach, right when Ashley's out of class. Speaking of which, I have to go pick up the hamburguesas (con queso, of course).

Hoping to post pictures this afternoon when Ashley takes her test! I keep forgetting my camera's cord, but I'll pick it up and upload today. Check back later!