Goodbye to Arenal

It's taken a time but at the end of June we were able to move house. Our 3 years in Arenal, in a large and spacious house, served us well but the time came to look elsewhere, to save precious cash and to perhaps get away from the incessant sandy duststorms and from those awful weekend fiestas - boom! boom! boom! reggaethon. At least twice a year each of our neighbours (seemingly anyone who lived within a few kilometres) hired a tent and 2o chairs, bought in as many crates of Pilsner as the budget allowed and then contracted a sound system of the most immense proportions. The multi-decibel speakers - at least the height of the house on whose roof they were mounted - were always well able to throw their monstrous noise to anyone living within normal satellite distance! The fun often started on Friday evening or Saturday lunchtime and finished Sunday night, by when anyone still alive was probably asleep in a nearby ditch. The awful monotony of the reggaethon boomed on to the bitter end, regardless of demand or interest. Perhaps I am being cynical! Despite the fiestas - and did I mention the homemade fireworks which frightened the life out Robbie and Maia in the middle of the night? - we had super neighbours, a great landlady, Ximena, a wonderfully supportive live-in family - thanks so much Rosa, César, Edison and Anita! - and superb views for our three years in Arenal.