Carmen and Stephane's wedding:preparations/ Le mariage de Carmen et Stephane: les preparations

Carmen and Stephane's wedding: the next day/ Ghislaine's birthday/ Le mariage de Carmen et de Stephane: le lendemain/anniversaire de Ghislaine

The party is not finished! Time to open the wedding gifts and celebrate my birthday while everybody is still here.
La partie n'est pas finie! C'est l'heure d'ouvrir les cadeaux de mariage et de celebrer mon anniversaire pendant que tout le monde est encore la.

Carmen and Stephane's wedding: the big day/ le mariage de Carmen et Stephane: le grand jour

Our older son, Gael, shared some beautiful words at the ceremony which reflect very well the spirit of that moment.
A la ceremonie, notre fils aine, Gael, a partage ces tres beaux mots qui refletent bien l'esprit du moment.

(Domi plays his guitar while Carmen walks down the trail to the beach and Stephane waits).
Gael speaks.

We are brought together today to celebrate the love of Carmen and Stephane.
I am now going to recite a few words that they have given me to speak on their behalf.

Every one of you has been a shinning light in our lives. You have always given us guidance and accepted us for who we are. Now as a couple, we feel the love and support grow to far greater strengths than we could have ever imagined. Knowing that we have so many people in our hearts is a comfort that cannot be described. Between friendship, love, laughter and even a shoulder to cry on, we can never thank you enough. We are truly fortunate to have all of you in our lives. Thank you.

Now on a personal note, I would also like to thank you all for being witnesses to this event and to thank Carmen and Stephane personally. I know that all of us are here today because we have been selectively chosen by you both to attend and in that regard I find it to be an extremely high honot that we can all share this wondrous moment between you two.

And thinking about why we are here led me to contemplate this mariage, this ceremony and the interesting dynamic of it all. I was thinking about how communal this gathering of people is as all weddings tend to be, but usually the norm in many weddings is that you get your invitation, you dress up, you show up and you celebrate for a few hours and that's it. But here, and I believe that it is a testament to how all of us feel about you two, we have been in celebration for several days, and not just in celebration but in organizing, building, gathering, cleaning and preparing for this precise moment. To be honest, I don't know how many people, how many friends and family members would be so willing to chop down coconuts, sweeps up leaves from the yard, build makeshift beach bars, lend their house and property, cut down palm leaves, cook, tend bar, waitress, assemble tents and run around doing all kind of errands up and down the costa Rican Coast, but here we all are and this is what we have done and we have done it because that is a testament to Stephane and Carmen's love, and its ability to bring us all together. I truly believe that we all feel as passionately about them as they do for each other. Because with them, we see precisely what love is all about, about sharing, without ego, and giving to them what they have given to us and as they continually give to each other.

When Stephane and Carmen asked me to witness this ceremony, I had no idea why as I felt that I knew them less as a couple than any of you present here today, but it took me only seconds to realize that this community is exactly what true love is all about. This union between all of us is a direct reflection on the incredible and radiant love that is Carmen and Stephane. We love you guys and I am so proud of you both.

Now, as a further continuation of this communal gathering and as a small surprise, I would like to call upon the parents, Rose, Dave, Dominique and Ghislaine to come up and share some words directly with Carmen and Stephane as they continue to embark on this new path forged together.

Parents say their speeches.

Carmen and Sephane will now share their vows.
Carmen says vows/Stephane says vows.
Ceremony of rings.
Carmen, do you take Stephane to be your husband?
Stephane, do you take Carmen to be your wife?
Friends and family, I now officially present to you Mr and Mrs Geneau.
You may both now seal the deal with a kiss!!!

Back in Europe/De retour en Europe

Domi finishes his work at the Santa Ana's store before going back to the boat while I fly to France. My Dad, 91, is still enjoying riding his bike, cutting the lawn, trimming the trees, playing tarot and petanque, taking very good care of himself and the house. We enjoy each other's company while I do my best to share his interests and his no-salt-diet!
On my way to the East of France to visit Domi's parents, brother and sister, I meet my dear american friend Suzanne and hubby Randy in Paris where they are staying for a couple of days on their way to Ireland and they treat me with a lovely lunch between two trains. As usual, I am received with so much kindness and generosity by Domi's family and I am delighted to find them all in good spirits.
Then I take the train to Austria to spend a couple of days with my dear friend Dietmar, lovely wife Bettina and adorable little Sarah. I love the fresh smell of the Alps, the invigorating dip in a beautiful creek but above all their delightful little girl.
Back to my father for another two weeks with lots of invitations for "aperitifs", visit of my old university friends, Martine and Michel in their limousine farm,visit of Daniele and Gerard who abandons for a day their old Bergerie in Donzenac where they have settled down after years of cruising then on the train again to Tours where Karim, Laila receive me in their beautiful remodelled kitchen. Celine's parents cook a somptouos feast for us.
In Paris, my old friend Marie-France takes me to see her pregnant daughter and grandchild while Pierre is following the transat where their son, Simon is competing.
And back on the plane to Costa Rica for Stephane and Carmen's wedding. Gael arrives from Mexico and the excitment is mounting as friends arrive from Canada and the last details for the ceremony are taking care off.

Domi finit son travail au magasin de Santa Ana et rejoint le bateau pendant que je m'envole vers la France. Mon papa qui a maintenant 91 ans continuent a faire de la bicyclette, a couper son gazon, a elaguer les arbres, a jouer au tarot et a la petanque et en general prend bien soin de lui et de sa maison.
Nous sommes heureux de profiter de ces moments et je fais de mon mieux de partager ses interets et sa diete sans sel.
En chemin vers l'Est pour rendre visite aux parents, frere et soeur de Domi, je m'arrete a Paris pour retrouver ma chere amie americaine Suzanne et son ami Randy qui sont la pour une couple de jours avant de rejoindre l'Irlande et ils m'offrent un bon dejeuner entre deux trains.
Comme d'habitude, la famille Geneau me recoit avec beaucoup de gentillesse et de generosite et je suis heureuse de les trouver en bonne forme.
Puis je prend le train pour l'Autriche afin de passer une couple de jours avec mon ami Dietmar, sa charmante femme Bettina et leur adorable petite Sarah. J'aime la fraicheur des Alpes, un plongeon rejunevateur dans un torrent mais surtout leur fascinante petite fille.
De retour en France chez mon pere pour deux autres semaines, aperitifs, une visite chez ma copine d'universite Martine et epoux Michel dans leur ferme Limousine, visite de Daniele et Gerard qui ont abandonne pour une journee leur vieille bergerie de Donzenac ou ils se sont installes apres des annees de vagabondage en bateau et je suis a nouveau dans le train pour Tours ou Karim et Laila me recoivent dans leur belle cuisine renovee. Les parents de Celine nous preparent un festin somptueux et le train m'amene a Paris ou Marie-france me recoit et m'amene visiter sa fille enceinte et son petit fils pendant que Pierre suit son fils Simon qui fait la Transat.
Et de retour a Costa Rica pour le mariage de Stephane et Carmen. Gael arrive du Mexique et l'excitement grandit alors que les amis arrivent du Canada et que les derniers details pour la ceremoniesont regles.

The new store is opened and kicking! / Le nouveau magasin est ouvert et en plein boum!

Our 4th honeymoon in Nicaragua, San Juan del Sol/Notre 4ieme lune de miel au Nicaragua, San Juan del Sol

Our stay in San Juan del Sol, a big village on the pacific in south Nicaragua reminds us of our childhood hollydays in a french resort in the fifties. We enjoy the view from the balcony of a very funky pink hotel right on the busy street, (especially at night!) along the beach and the many signs provided by the Flor de Cana compagny, the local rhum!

Notre sejour a San Juan del Sol, gros village au bord de l'ocean Pacifique au sud du Nicaragua nous rappelle les vacances de notre jeunesse dans une station balneaires des annees 50. Nous apprecions la vue depuis le balcon de notre hotel rose et veillot situe sur la rue tres passante( surtout pendant la nuit!) qui suit la plage et les nombreux panneaux dont a fait don la compagnie Flor de Cana qui produit le rhum local!

The making of the new fish market in Santa Ana-San/Jose/La construction de la nouvelle poissonnerie a Santa Ana-San Jose

Located in Santa Ana, 20 minutes from downtown San Jose, the chosen space was occupied by real estate offices but Demian worked his magic again, with the financial help of the two investors, Norman and Sergio and envisionned a beautiful store/restaurant on the front and in the back, a spacious fish processing plant. The location is superb, 5minutes drive from our appartment and two blocks away from the new freeway going to the coast, where the fresh fish is, a 45 minutes drive instead of the 3 hours of bad mountain road. While Domi and Demian work 12 hours a day to meet the dead line for the opening, Stephane handles alone the store in Malpais and Samy passes with 107% an exam, in spanish, to become a personal trainer in Pilate and I make sure there is food on the table and that the laundry is done which leaves me plenty of time to enjoy the swimming pool and the lovely weather here.

Situe a Santa Ana, a 20 minutes du centre de San Jose, l'espace choisi etait occupe par des bureaux d'une compagnie immobiliere mais Damien , avec l'aide financiere des deux investisseurs, Norman et Sergio, a transforme, avec sa vision et sa magie coutumiere, la partie qui donne sur la rue en un magnifique magasin/restaurant et l'arriere, spacieux, est reserve pour la preparation du poisson. La location est superbe, a 5 minutes de notre appartement et a deux coins de rue de la nouvelles autoroutes qui permettra d'atteindre la cote, ou le poisson frais est, en 45 minutes au lieu des trois heures de mauvaise route de montagne. Pendant que Domi et Damien travaillent 12 heures par jour afin d'ouvrir comme prevu, Stephane s'occupe tout seul du magasin de Malpais et Samy vient d'etre recue avec 107% a son examen pour devenir un entraineur prive de Pilate et je m'assure que les repas sont sur la table et la lessive est faite ce qui me donne encore beaucoup de temps libre pour profiter de la piscine et de la belle temperature d'ici.

Visit of the Scotto and high tide combined with big waves in Malpais/Visite des Scotto et grande maree avec grosses vagues a Malpais

A quick trip to Seattle and Canada/ Une visite rapide a Seattle et au Canada

Swagman2 recent haul out/ La toute recente mise en carene de Swaggi

When the diver changed one of the zincs, he poked a hole in the hull Knowing the crocodiles abound in this estuary, we really can't be mad at him! The pump started to work and we could hear the water rushing inside the boat. Panic! Domi figured out right away what was the problem as the diver didn't have a clue that the screw he was using to put the zinc in place was too long and they stopped the flow! But it was the kick on the butt we needed to get the boat out of the water and check the hull.

The holes were repaired at Sam Manley, a very professional Puntarenas boat yard. The boss, Sam, an english man whose father came to work on the railway is a sweet 82 years old man, still vibrant and passionate about his boatyard and the big machinery in his shop. We found that the work on the fiber glass that was done on the hull in Mexico, Guayamas, was poorly done and will need attention so we did a quick clean up, painting and back in the water the next day as we need a very high tide to do this kind of operations, (deep keel on the boat and channel filling up with sand). Domi and I have been putting a lot of work on the boat and Swaggi looks good.

Quand le plongeur a change les zincs, il a perce un trou dans la coque. Comme on sait que l'estuaire ici est plein de crocodiles, on ne peut pas vraiment se facher! La pompe de cale s'est mise en route et on pouvait entendre l'eau qui rentrait a flot. Panique a bord! Domi a realise tout de suite quel etait le probleme car le plongeur n'avait pas la moindre idee que la vis qu'il utilisait pour poser le zinc etait trop longue et ils ont arrete l'inondation. Mais c'etait le coup de pied dans le derriere dont on avait besoin pour sortir le bateau de l'eau et verifier la coque.

Les trous ont ete repare au chantier naval de Sam Manley de Puntarenas, tres professionnel. Le patron, Sam, un anglais de 82 ans dont le pere etait venu a Costa Rica pour travailler sur le chemin de fer est un homme encore vibrant et passionne par son chantier et son atelier pleins de machines. On a decouvert que le travail de fibre de verre fait a Guyamas, au Mexique sur la coque n'avait pas ete bien fait and demandera des soins. Alors cette fois ci, on a fait juste un nettoyage et une peinture et on etait de retour a l'eau le jour suivant car on a besoin d'une grande maree pour ce genre d'operations ( quille profonde du bateau et enssablement de l'estuaire) . Domi et moi travaillons dur sur le bateau et il a l'air tres beau.