EARLY MORNING

Well...I tried to sleep in and catch up on lack of sleep these past weeks...I did okay. However the buses started moving down the street, honking and screeching their brakes at 5am...

I am actually feeling pretty good this morning. It is foggy and rainy outside (which is strange, because we are not supposed to be in the rainy season right now).

My only complaint is the bed...it is VERY firm. I have found another use for it though. Since the floors are tile, I was able to do my push-ups and sit-ups using it as a surface (not joking, that is truly how firm it is).

Anyhow...LONG day ahead...more posts tonight!

Pura Vida!

Costa Rica Claims me Again!!

We made it...the flight was pleasent, bags were waiting for us when we got through customs and our host and personal driver, Rodrigo Duran, was waiting for us when we stepped out of the airport.

Why am I back again, 3rd time in less than a year?...

WELL....(and before I tell you why...yes, that is me at Steak and Shake before we got on the plane for Costa Rica).

Back to my story....

Through a student proposal at FSU, my packet was chosen for the Promising Artists of the 21st Century Recital Tour in Costa Rica. So I have returned for a 9 day quasi ambassordship with my friend and colleague and SUPERB pianist Melissa Loehnig.

I did not think I would have returned again so soon, as I was also here in November for the Santa Ana Baroque Festival.

Anyhow! Here I am and I am thrilled to be back. This program focuses on bringing in artists from the USA to work with costa rican students and give recitals throughout the week.

Our day tomorrow starts at 8am and will end at 10pm. We start with a wonderful breakfast here at our bed-and-breakfast hotel and then off to a rehersal at the theater than 2 master classes, 2 hours each. I am excited to here the voices and work with the students. We will work with college students at the University of Costa Rica first and then to a small opera company to work with some of their singers.

Melissa is getting upset with me as I keep threatning (joking of course) to leave her stranded in the streets of San Jose...as she doesn't speak Spanish. I am going to have to pull a prank on her at SOME point, or I just wouldn't be me :) HA!!!

Well.. need to get some rest...more tomorrow, along with pictures.

Ciao for now!

One more post left...

Well, here we are, it is 12:30am...we just got back from dress rehearsal #2, for the Costa Rican cast. Things were a little smoother and then bumpy in other parts. Everything will be great for the performance on Saturday night.

I ordered a carrot cake today for the cast, they have been a joy. It has been wonderful to see everyone pull together to make it all happen. We have no stage-mangers, no props manager, no costume assistants and no set changers. I am told this is normal in Costa Rica. Amazingly, we all just chip in and things get done. I think I will probably have zero tolerance in future productions if one of my colleagues isn't ready for the entrance...there is really no excuse to not be at the correct side of the stage before your entrance!!!

Tomorrow we have the small recital for and American school here called Marion Baker. In between the time we have to go to the main bank and pay our "exit tax", so we can leave the country. I also need to pack all my bags, since we need to move out on Saturday morning, since the girl who normally rents here returns then.

Then it will be on to performance night and I leave on Sunday morning back to the USA!!

Dress Rehearsal Domani!

It has been a busy past few days. Saturday was a full run-thru with the orchestra, Sunday we had free, but used our time to practice and catch up on much needed sleep. Monday was another run-thru with Cast B, just to iron out any problem spots. Tonight was our Vandelprobe (sing and walk your staging with orchestra). There are still some little problem spots, but with two dress rehearsals, everything should be perfect for opening night Saturday.

I have started trying to pack and organize my things, as Sunday morning is quickly approaching.

I have really enjoyed working with my colleagues, they are a wonderful group.

Here is to a successful dress rehearsal. It will be my only one in the theater, first time in makeup and costume.

TOI TOI a TUTTI!

Condensed milk, bag of ice and bad frozen pizza...

We are finally a week from opening night. Today I will be heading into downtown San Jose with a few of the cast members in search of last minute items for the opera. (fake lashes, blue sparkly eye shadow, hair extensions, hair-dye etc..)

Yesterday was a strange day...I think my body is really affected by the rain and the incredible pressure it brings. I was lathargic all day...and this morning, sunny outside and I jumped up out of bed at 6:45am.

After rehearsal last night we went to the grocery store. I needed to buy items to make a flan for Gustavo's mother's birthday, which is today. While standing in the store the can of condensed milk rolled out of the top of the cart and fell smack down on the top of my foot. I was standing with Cynthia and started crying...it hurt that bad. The red "dent" within minutes turned purple. We were standing in the meat department (which is hard for Cynthia, since she is a Vegetarian) and the meat man ran and got me a bag of ice, which I tied to my sandal in order to continue walking.

We have really been craving pizza, but it was too late to order one, so we got 3 frozen ones...not very good :( I am hoping today is a better day.

Tonight is our last run-thru without orchestra. Our Sitzprobe is on Saturday (run-thru without staging), tech is Tuesday, my dress Wednesday...last days are approaching!

ciao for now!

Home...alone

So, tonight was supposed to be a "touch-up" rehearsal, but I was not needed, so I am home alone. Going to straighten up things a little and just relax.

Today, we did another mountain climb, much farther and then went to see the big mall called Multiplaza, it was amazing!!!! I bought a great new pair of shoes and 2 cute tops, all on sale and all super cute. They had so many stores I have never heard of and also a rice-pudding stand (instead of an ice-cream one I guess), I got a small cup, tre yummy!

That is all for tonight...

Ciao!

I survived!!!

We returned home from our adventure last night.. What an experience!

We decided to travel north the cheapest way possible so we could spend money on various tours and I wanted to be able to bring back some gifts.

We woke on Friday morning at 6am in order to catch the 8:40am bus from San Jose to La Fortuna.
The bus ticket cost $3.75 in total...and for good reason. Yes, eventually we made it to our desination, but it took almost 6 hours (direct would have only been a 2 hour drive). We made several small town stops and pickups. It was amazing to see how people knew where the bus-stops were, since there are no signs and no maps that give you the bus routes. You literally have to ask the bus when it stops where they are headed. Cynthia and I have severe motion sickness, so we felt pretty awful.

We finally arrived in Fortuna and I just needed to get out and smell the fresh mountain air. Immediately we were swarmed by locals, some young boys asking if we need help. I said "No thank you and to please leave me be." I guess he misunderstood me cause the next thing out of his mouth was "Get back on the bus and go back to your country...I am TICO and this is my country." Well, know you all know me very well....of course I didn't just smile at him and allow him to keep screaming at me. SO, since he yelled at me in English, I yelled back "ARE you really trying to fight with me when I get off the bus...you better shut it or I just might throw up on you..." He walked away.

We settled into our hotel and found out there was a tour leaving at 5pm that would take us to the Arenal Volcano and then to the hot springs of Baldi (resort). Each of the 25 pools had different tempartures and were heated naturally by the volcano...YIKES! The tour also included dinner, so we were happy with the price ($45 total for everything).

We passed out when we got back to get ready for day two...

For whatever reason I have been waking up everyday at 6:30 or 7:00am...so I went to the pool and waited for Jim and Cynthia. We decided to book the horse-back riding tour. We started on horse back and went up a HUGE hill, trotting and running through old river beads till we reached the top of the small mountain. There we left the horses in a corral and had to walk down very steep steps to reach the waterfall. The hike down left us pretty tired...beautiful trees and animals along the way.

We climbed a few more steps, over rocks and there at the end was the 125 foot Fortuna Waterfall.

After splashing around a bit, we had to make the treak back-up, at one point my legs were shaking so much, that I had to take a break halfway up. Thank goodness the rain came at that moment, made the hike much easier. We all made it up safely and proceeded back on horseback. Jim (a.k.a. Indiana Jones) ran off ahead of us (accidently dumping out from my backpack towels and the bathing suits...luckily we recovered it all from the ground).

Our guide was a little nutz, which made the tour all the more fun! We all made it back, covered in mud and with a big smile on our face!

The next morning, after breakfast, we braved the roads again on the bus. We took a different route, which may have been shorter, but still rough for me. I was able to get some meds to help with the nausea...but grateful to get back, take a shower and get to bed.

Tonight is a small master class for the singers, hope we have some wisdom that we can share...

ciao for now!