PUNTARENAS, COSTA RICA
I spent much of today standing on a street corner simply trying to stay dry. The biggest business in this small coastal town of PUNTARENAS - where it is sunny 300 days a year - is the selling of lottery tickets. Everyone that passes me lowers their umbrella just long enough to buy one or two. By comparison, the parcel of young women standing outside the Good Fortune Hotel/Bar, in rayon tops and short-shorts are having absolutely no luck luring anyone inside. The only intent of those scurrying past is to avoid the remnants of Hurricanes Norbert and Odile pouring by the bucket-full out of drain spouts directly onto the sidewalks.
Rain is so infrequent along this sand-and-palm-tree-lined coast that few buildings have gutters, the streets no storm sewers, so floodwaters reach knee-deep along the main streets. Miguelita (his nickname - "Little Mike" - belies a sizable beer belly) owns a corner bar and a Chevy pickup truck with monster tires and blackened windows. He assures me that by tomorrow the rain will be forgotten. "We needed it," he says, rolling up soaked pants-legs. "It's been six months since we've had a good soaking. That's too long, even for me, we love the sun here." Across the street young boys surf despite the downpour.
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