Raineer

Raineer is a quiet charming fellow. At 26 (he was very embarrassed to tell me this...a cultural or personal thing?) he is manager of a hotel, bakery, internet cafe, restaurant, and bar, all of which is called Cafe de Paris (I have not yet heard even one french person here). I asked if he had some training in hotel management. No, only 3 months here, at the office. Later he told me that the office also supplied English lessons. I thought he might have some training. He speaks quite well, a boon to a Tico's existence here.

When planning my trip, I'd found it extremely difficult to confirm the existence of the house we're staying in. All hotels and B and Bs are registered, but houses aren't. All of my research seemed to point to Cafe de Paris as somewhat central to Nosara (it's only central to this part of Nosara, which houses more foreigners). I called. Raineer confirmed that he knew both of Craig and Casa Caribe. We talked a bit, and I think he tried to sell me then on staying at Cafe de Paris. I looked it up and thought it beautiful, but not conducive to our needs. I wanted to invite friends and the rooms with a kitchen weren't big enough and the price was a little highter. At his insistence, I agreed to come introduce myself when we got there.!

I've sat in the internet cafe...the lobby, really, and seen him at work. He seems efficient, even keeled and tireless. When we got here, I came to buy our week's internet and was greeted with a native-style hug. Sort of like the European kiss, which you know is just the standard.

Raineer and I have had a few conversations, either to buy more internet, to get directions, or just to wave in the street. Last night, after our tiring day, we splashed in the pool beside the restaurant. Raineer's long shift was done, so he came and talked to me. As a good salesman, he explained how we could most likely stay at Cafe de Paris for less than our current abode. I also got a lesson on local life, his mother's farm, his long work weeks of 6 days/week.

We discussed common pests here, for gardens; the Pesote (please look this up, I don't have a good picture of the one we saw...wikipedia has some), who eat vegetables and chickens if they can't find enough shrimp in the river. Crocodiles like to eat dogs who go to the river to drink (you don't have to remind me not to swim there!).

He especially lit up when talking about teaching youngsters the value of growing one's own food. When he was in elementary school, the teachers took he and his classmates outside and showed them how to use their heel to dig a hole, put the corn in, and cover it again with their shoe. A cousin's child goes to the same school. The don't do this anymore, he says somberly. "This is very important, what you are doing."

I put the bug in his ear that we are looking for land outside the Del Mar Academy. Raineer is a good connection in all senses of the word.