Rain, Rain

Before we got here, I was a little bit worried about the rain in Costa Rica. They get a lot of rain, some parts get 25 feet (not a typo) of rain per year.  San Jose gets 72 inches/year, with 12 inches in October.  So far, though, it's the best kind of rain.  It's beautiful and sunny in the morning, then clouds build in the afternoon for an hour or so of heavy rain, and then it clears up again.  

So, let's say, you are newly arrived to Costa Rica - not unaware of the rainfall potential, and you decide, one afternoon, that the family needs to walk to the nearby Auto Mercado (grocery store) for a gallon of milk.  You could go to the Fresh Express (convenience store) a mere 3 minutes away, but no, Senor Fascist Fitbit says 'we need more steps.'  So, off we trek for a 15 minute forced march.  As we exit the building, having walked down 8 flights of stairs, we feel a drop.  Just one.  Some clouds.  Seems fine?  Do we really need to walk back up 8 flights of stairs to fetch umbrellas?  It will probably be just fine! 

A smart family would have gone back... maybe even consented to take the elevator.  Not so the Rivers Family.  Nope.  we made it all the way to the Auto Mercado, confident in our decision. But on the way back.... we got S.O.A.K.E.D.  Costa Rica 1, Rivers 0.  Lesson learned.

Before I left, my hairdresser sold me some humidity blocker for my hair.  I want my money back.