Today was our first full day of physical labor! I ended up working on a septic drainage pipe trench digging crew with Bob Boerman, Stewart Nelson, Ken Kool (Karen Edwards’ brother) and our foreman, Ken. We figured that we dug a ditch about 80 feet long by one foot wide and 3 feet deep. By my calculations we moved 9 cubic yards of earth!

BULL FIGHTS!
After our “Crew Meeting,” we went to a local version of a bull fight. The Tico’s had constructed something like a small town fair that I remember from growing up in Fisher, Illinois. In one area of the carnival was a large round structure… obviously temporarily built. We entered and went up the rickety, creaky stairs, and walked along planks we were not sure would hold us! After finding our seats, and watching the pre-show warm-ups, they released a bull into the center ring. Several “clowns” flashed the red capes to attract attention and the bull charged.

The whole idea seemed to be to antagonize and frustrate the bull, and gain much hilarious entertainment in the process. Men and boys from the audience would also climb over the protective railings and either enter the ring with the clowns, or hang on the edges to kick and worry the bull as he came by. The more drinking went on the more daring the men became.

All in all it was entertaining – especially when two of our “crew” jumped in as well! Mike (yellow) and Eddie (red) performed admirably, avoiding the charges of several bulls. They did look quite funny running away and hiding behind protective fencing!

THREE AMIGOS
Three of us went across the street to a local pub after we returned from the bull fights. The place was very busy and loud! A couple Tico’s recognized Mike as one of the Gringo’s who had been in the bull ring! It was fun to get to know Pat and Mike a bit more. We talked about our spiritual journeys, how we met our wives, about divorce and remarriage issues, as well as the good things God had done in our lives in spite of our immaturity and mistakes. It was a great way to end a long hard work day.

I went to bed very tired, with my hands and wrists in tingling pain from the workout they received during the day.