The Right Direction Makes All The Difference

Corteza amarilla shedding flowers.

A clay-colored thrush, the national bird of Costa Rica, sang its rain song earlier this week. Soon after the song was sung it began to rain. February tends to be hot and windy. March brings a gradual change from the dry to rainy season. It has rained two inches so far this month.

On Saturday it rained almost half an inch over an hour. John and Sally were going about their business in the house. Just as the rain eased up, they heard a woman yelling "Upe, Upe, Upe!" Her voice was loud and sounded close to the house. "Upe" (pronounced oo-pay) is used when someone arrives at a gate or house. It replaces door bells or clanging on a metal gate. John got up to see what was happening while Sally peeked out a window. Both were not expecting to see someone inside the locked gate, frantically trying to get their attention. 

Several corteza amarilla trees blooming in the valley.

The Tica was confused and excitedly explained how they had been on a walk and got lost. At this time, two dogs appeared from behind the house and then two young girls. All of them were soaking wet. John talked with the woman while Sally did her best to listen from inside the house.

The exact story from the Tica was unclear. It sounded as if they were walking down river and panicked when it began to rain and the river rose slightly. Her story suggested they took a left and headed up the hill on the otro lado. It's unclear how far they got before turning around, crossing the river and ended up at the house. She was looking for a way out to the main road.

John went back into the house to get the gate key. This action confused the woman even more and she began walking towards the guest area, looking for an escape route. It was as if she never saw the main gate she walked past. John returned with the key, called her back and opened the gate. Once the gate was open, a few more women appeared from behind the house. They all walked single file out the gate. 

Cows rest under a flowering tree in Puriscal.

A neighbor across the street was watching the drama unfold as the wet group began to walk down the street, towards the river. They were essentially walking back to where they came from before beginning the ascent to the house. Fortunately for them the neighbor intervened. He found out where they wanted to go and turned them around in the right direction.