Bob Freeman's Surfing Memories

... Que hora es?

Story 1996 Costa Rica
Peggy and I were enjoying fresh homemade icecream outside the donas shop in Jaco Beach. We were sitting on the sidewalk, backs resting against the shop's wall... enjoying the shade. We were contemplating our options for the remainder of the afternoon and wondering what the time is.

Sitting nearby was a local worker, who was also taking a little break. He had been patching pot holes around town. He was using a large wooden cart with car tires and axle; and pulled by a single white bull. He was sitting under the shade of a large ficas tree with the bull standing next to him still harnassed to the cart.

"Senior, por favor" I asked him... "Que hora es?"
He looks at us, then leans over towards the bull, reaches under him and lifts the bull's massive balls a little.
"What the heck?" we thought.
"Is one" he says

"What the..." how could feeling the weight of the bull' s balls have to do with the time of day?" "Maybe something to do with weight, drinking, peeing? We didn't know so I asked him again"

"Senior, que hora por favor?" He responds, lifts the bull's balls again and confirms..."is one now."

"Amazing! Had we learned something new?" So I asked him..."how do you know the time by lifting the balls" (as I make a lifting hand guesture).

He smiled and replied..."so I see clock on wall"

I believe he is still laughing