PURA VIDA "Living the Good Life" in Costa Rica

The Spirit of Christmas in Jaco!

2011-12-10T21:35:00.006-06:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Jaco and Special Thanks go to the an energetic and enthusiastic group of young ladies over at Jaco Living! The special event held in Jaco's Central Park on the eve of December 8th was an overwhelming success! Complete with face painting, dancing, Christmas carols and colorful mimes on skates, stilts and bouncing shoes the children were thrilled by the visit from Santa Claus (Known as Papá Noel in Costa Rica) accompanied by Mrs. Claus. They all took a turn on his knee to share their secret wishes for what they would like him to bring to them for Christmas.

Funds for this event were raised with the Thanksgiving Cup, a charity golf event that took place in November in Los Suenos.

Kudos to Jaco Living for a job well done!

We look forward to your future events and activities!

Illumination in The Park

For the first time the town of Jaco is putting on Christmas, the Christmas lights of the park throughout the month of December.The inaugural event will be the next December 8th at 5:00 pm and activities for children to tell the company in Pozuelo, a concert of carols by the choir of the Falcon School and the presentation of the Municipal Band. The hope

Jaco Living was founded in 2011 by three local enthusiasts and Jaco Beach, to create community events to benefit the people and the inhabitants of the Central Pacific. After many years of living in Jaco feel the need to create and bring more activities to the community for the welfare of its residents: activities for children, for the physical and social good are the reason for our company.

You can follow this exciting new group and their future events on Facebook @ JACO LIVING

To view more photos of this grand event please visit...

The Spirit of Christmas ~ The Lighting of the Park!

Ho Ho Ho . . . Merry Christmas!

An American Thanksgiving in Costa Rica!

2011-11-23T06:55:00.001-06:00

The Pilgrims have traveled all the way

from America to join us in a Costa Rica style

Thanksgiving Dinner!

This dinner will be shared with friends

from all around the world!

America

~ Alabama, Tennessee,

Florida, Georgia, California ~

Central America, New Zealand, Germany

and Canada!

Our menu is growing daily!

Grande Mimosas

Turkey & Dressing with Giblet Gravy

Honey Baked Spiral Ham

Green Bean Casserole

Dave's Special Dressing

Fresh Cranberry Sauce

Gingered Pears

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Veggie Dish

Scalloped Potatoes

Veggie Casserole

Green Salad

Lima Beans

Corn Pie

Deviled Eggs

Pickle Tray

Pecan Pie ~ Pumpkin Pie

Chocolate Cake

Amazin' Raisin Spice Cake

Ice Tea (Sweet & Unsweet)

Jack Daniels (An Alabama Tradition)

Guaro and Centinario

(A Costa Rica Tradition)

Wine/Beer/Mixers

It will be a very special

Thanksgiving indeed!

We will miss our amigos that will not be here

to share this special day with us!

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

PURA VIDA!

Sunny Skies Ahead!

2011-11-03T07:55:00.000-05:00

Enjoy this great article in A.M. Costa Rica about the upcoming weather! It is time to get ready to enjoy sunny skies, hotter temps with cool ocean breezes and fun times at the beach with friends! A time when we can plan outdoor activities and not get pushed indoors due to the large buckets of agua being poured from the skies. Adventure travels will increase with better road conditions and drier walking trails in the rainforest. Goodbye mud, umbrellas and puddles. . . Come on AMAZING SUNSETS!

The end is in sight, weather institute promises

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The official word has come from the weather experts. The notification is what expats and would-be tourists have been awaiting.

The country has begun to enter the transitional phase between the rainy season and the dry, although that may not be obvious from the weather Tuesday.

The Instituto Meteorológico Nacional said that everywhere but in the south Pacific, the onset of the dry season is delayed this year from five to seven days at least.

The weather institute released a list of probable dates Tuesday for the start of the dry season. As usual, the northern Pacific benefits from the northerly winds that drive away the rains. The institute estimated that the dry season would arrive there between Nov. 11 and 19. The normal date is Nov. 4, the institute said. The transition period is generally the week before the onset of the dry season. The transition period is characterized by alternating days of rain and days without rain.

In the Central Valley, the dry season should have arrived by Thanksgiving. The weather institute said that the likely time this year would be Nov. 14 to Nov. 24, which happens to be U.S. Thanksgiving. The normal date is Nov. 9.

The central Pacific is about a month later. The institute said that the dry season would arrive there in time for Christmas. The experts estimated from Dec. 14 to Dec. 24. The normal date is Dec. 9, they said.

Because of its location, the southern Pacific always welcomes the dry season the latest and sees it leave the soonest. This year, the institute estimated from Dec. 20 to Dec. 29. That probably means an early arrival when compared to the average date of Dec. 29.

On the Caribbean coast, where the weather seasons are reversed, November means the arrival of more rain, pushed there by the northern cold fronts. The weather institute is predicting more rain there through February and warns of flooding and other rain-related problems.

On the Pacific and in the Central Valley, the dry season frequently contains several cold spells that are amplified by stronger winds.

I have my beach chair, hammock,

grill, ice chest, picnic basket

and boogie board ready

and waiting by the door!

Who is going to be on standby

to join me!

PURA VIDA!

You may also view this article online at http://www.amcostarica.com/

Boys and their Toys! Costa Rica Cool!

2011-10-29T18:32:00.003-05:00

They say that Costa Ricans are the happiest people in the world because they live a simple and pure life known as the Pura Vida....

But I have come to notice that "the Boys" also known as Ticos are quiet fond of their Toys! Oh yes there is the occasional fancy sports car to be seen, mostly in the city, but the toys of choice here in this country appear to be motorcycles and off road vehicles. We have a Defender Land Rover that turns a lot of heads when we are out and about. It seems to be a very popular vehicle, probably because it looks more like something you would take on a safari in the jungle and it is great for driving through water and down rough roads and river beds! And if one of the male species visits our home and ends up in the garage there is usually a bit of a drooling session over the BMW RI200 that made it's journey all the way through Central America from Alabama. I think it is a testosterone thing myself....the sound of the engine....the sparkle of the chrome....the SPEED!

Anyway, I was not at all surprised when we heard a horn going beep-beep in our driveway and went out to find our good friend German in this 1959 Restored Land Cruiser! I am not sure if it was the candy apple red that got me or the big smile on Germans face as he showed me this amazing jeep but I got as excited as "the Boys" did! I really could not believe it was as old as it is because it looks brand new and I can not even imagine taking something so beautiful into the mud holes on an off rode expedition. Something tells me German might feel the same way, but I am sure his friends probably enjoy cruising around town and with the jump seat in the back it will take 4 for a very comfortable spin.

They say that the Pura Vida is all about simplicity .... but sometimes a little candy apple red antique cruiser can make it just a little bit brighter!

PURA VIDA

to the 'Boys and their Toys'!

Enjoy the Ride!

Mamon Chinos! . . . Rico!

2011-10-24T12:25:00.006-05:00

Mamon chino is an exotic fruit sporting a red shell with soft spines growing all over it. It resembles a fat, round, red caterpillar and has a large delicious grape like fruit inside its outrageously interesting shell. It is also known as a Rambutan which means hairy!

The tasty meat of the fruit, which is easily broken apart, is typically just popped in your mouth to suck and chew on the sweet juicy pulp, but be sure and spit out the large seed.

It is most convenient to just eat the fruit fresh as it is a lot of work to open and remove the seed from a large number of fruit. Sometimes the fruit is used to make jellies and jams. If you are patient enough to open enough of the fruit a jam can be made by cooking equal weights of the pulp and sugar together with sufficient lime juice (about 5%) or pectin to help the jam set.

And if you are interested in something really different try this recipe!

Savory Stuffed Rambutans

2 cloves garlic, firmed.
2 teaspoons (approx) firmed coriander roots
2 tablespoons fresh coriander leaves (or sage) vegetable oil
4 tablespoons ground roasted peanuts
4 teaspoons soy sauce.
4 tablespoons palm sugar .
1 chopped de-seeded chili pepper
2 cups fresh or canned rambutans

Drop the edible oil to fry the crushed garlic and coriander roots. When garlic becomes golden brown , add all the other ingredients except rambutans into this mixture . Cook well and stir until the mixture turns brown and fairly dry. Add rambutans into the ingredients. Cook and mix well for about 2 minutes. Serve as an entree or as a main course with rice...

Mamons do not store well, but if kept cool sealed in plastic with high humidity, they can be kept for about 2 weeks.

To learn more about this amazing fruit check out the Wiki article Rambutan.

Enjoy your Mamons

that are also rich in Vitamin C!

Pura Vida!

Hallelujah!

2011-08-29T19:05:00.001-05:00

hallelujah ... hallelujah ... hallelujah ... hallelujah ... hallelujah

Why all the shouts of praise?
Hombres Trabajando! Men at Work!

And whatever are they doing?

They are paving the carretara!

...the highway north of Parrita!

The bumpiest road in all of Costa Rica

that leads to our wonderful neighborhood

in Playa Bejuco

will now be smooth with no potholes!

H A L L E L U J A H !

PURA VIDA

H A L L E L U J A H !

Ze Plane!

2011-08-24T08:36:00.004-05:00

Costa Rica....life is an adventure and you wake up every morning not really knowing what that adventure might be....

And sometimes you are awakened....
By the sound of a loud, low flying beautiful yellow biplane that swoops by your window in the early morning hours on his way to perform some sort of duty I presume.

But the forced rise and shine is really not a problem because if it was not "ze plane" it would be the loud crowing rooster across the way or the sound of our basilisk lizard making a loud splash as it jumps into the pool or even just the bright and inviting sunshine peeking through the curtains accompanied by the singing birds in their chorus of "Get up and enjoy this beautiful day!"

The challenge of recent days has become the ability to rise and shine fast enough to catch "Ze Plane" with my video so that I could share him with you! And jump and run I did on many a morning in an effort to capture this new friend of mine on tape.
Sometimes you just start to feel a little silly when you are bounding out of the bed and dashing to the backyard in your pajamas (or not) with your flip video in hand that you carefully placed on the bedside table the night before so as to be armed and ready on the morning of the attack.

And so you have it.....
Dedication and perseverance do pay off in the long run!
ENJOY!

TURN UP THE SOUND

TO ENJOY MY MORNING ALARM!

My next challenge will be to catch him on one of his
"Hey Watch This!" trips where he appears to be trying to walk with me on the beach and I question if I should enjoy his performance or hit the ground for safety! Who knows....maybe he WILL land it on the beach one day and we will say hello and continue our friendship.

PURA VIDA!

Fish Tacos for Dinner? Try this Tropical Salsa for a yummy topping!

2011-08-01T17:03:00.000-05:00

Tropical Salsa

1 cup diced mango
1 cup diced papaya
1 cup diced pineapple
1 cup diced red onion
1/2 cup chopped cilantro leaves
1/4 cup cider vinegar
2 fresh red or green chile peppers, seeded and minced
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
1 teaspoon sugar

In a medium mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Let stand for 20 minutes in the refrigerator before serving.

Yield: 3 cups

One of the perks of living in Costa Rica is the availability of fresh fish purchased directly from the fishermen right off of their boats, from one of the many fish markets or maybe even some you caught yourself on an adventurous fishing trip. This Tropical Salsa is a great way to top off your fish entree, fish tacos or just serve it up with some tortilla chips!

It is delicioso!!

Peep-Eye!

2011-07-22T21:49:00.006-05:00

Peep-Eye! I see you!

. . . No I'm not! . . . I am not peeping at you through the window....

but I would like a little chicken please. . .

Our mamma basilisk lizard that resides in our backyard is typically the shy one that runs and hides when us Gringos step out into the yard. But this week she is feeling bold and flirty! She started by running into the house and flew right by my feet under the desk where I worked on the computer! We had to catch her and put her back out in the yard. Today she was scrambling all around on the terrace and jumped up on the couch to look at me in the window like Mr Loco does on many occasion. We decided that maybe she was hungry so we fed her some fresh pineapple and chicharones, a nice piece of pork that is juicy and tender. Mr Loco of course came out to join her in the feast and afterward they took a nice refreshing plunge into the pool!

Who new that upon moving to Costa Rica to retire and live the pura vida life that we would be sharing our space with a family of lizards?

Off to see the lizard...check it out!

Can they really walk on the water? ...watch this and see!

Please enjoy my previous "lizard" blog posts! . . . J.C. SUPERSTAR

Off to see the lizard
Deja deja deja vu, believe it
And it will come true
Veja Veja Veja du
What works for me
might work for you!

Pura Vida from the Loco family!

Playa Bejuco Welcomed the Martial Art of Aikido!

2011-05-14T10:36:00.001-05:00

Costa Rica was proud to welcome Instructors George Kennedy and Edwin Stearns of The Aikido Center of Atlanta and Blue Spruell of Peachtree Aikikai Atlanta both in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States to offer their teachings in a seminar sponsored by Pavel Prikryl. The seminar was held for two days Saturday and Sunday, May 7th and 8th and took place outdoors in the tranquil setting overlooking the beach of beautiful Playa Bejuco on the Central Pacific Coast They were welcomed to The Delfin Beachfront Hotel a restored Costa Rican landmark with a lush tropical setting where they could enjoy comfortable accommodations, fine dining, fun social gatherings and the refreshing pool and beach. Aikidoka were in attendance from the United States and also many local Costa Ricans came out from the San Jose area to participate.

CLICK HERE to read full article view photos and learn more about Aikido.

"the Way of harmonious spirit"

combined with Pura Vida . . .

come and join us!

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

2011-05-05T09:16:00.004-05:00

Let's celebrate
with some guilt free
Skinny Margaritas!
Salud!
Check out this video to learn how to make one!

Pura Vida!

Yikes! What is in my shoe wiggling around my toes?

2011-05-04T18:15:00.001-05:00

I have in my retirement years, along with the blessing of living a pura vida lifestyle a short walk from the Pacific ocean and the tranquil Playa Bejuco, started a regimen of walking every morning to rev up my heart rate, increase the flow of oxygen to the brain (they say that helps ward off dementia) and hopefully shed some of the pounds brought on from the wonderful bakery items available here in Costa Rica, not to mention a very tranquil lifestyle.

Some days I just throw on my sandals and head out while Jim loads Bimbo on the golf cart and they meet me at the beach where I dump the shoes and we continue on in the sand at the waters edge. But other days I feel the need to perform more along the lines of a runner and don my sneakers and get a little more with the program of physical fitness. On this day I was feeling the snugness of my shorts and decided the running shoes were the ticket.

I grabbed my shoes off the garage floor, pulled on my socks, then my shoes and laced them up tight. But wait a minute . . . what is that wiggling around my toes? I wiggled my toes . . . it wiggled back!
Then I had a scary feeling as I remembered the stories of the many scorpions that had been found all around the house in the yard, on the porch and in the garage and even a few inside the house. Oh NO!
I untied my shoe and carefully slid it off my foot and peered down inside the dark cave like cavity to see what it could possibly be when out popped a gecko lizard! He looked me in the eye and then jumped out of the shoe and landed on the bench. It was the typical scenario of not knowing whom had scared whom.

Being the photo enthusiast that I have grown to be, my camera is always nearby so I quickly grabbed it to take a picture before the little guy scurried off. That is when I realized that he did not appear to have a tail. My memory of these little guys scurrying around on the ceiling of our porch seemed to recall that they did indeed have tails so back to the shoe I went to investigate further. And there it was! This poor little guys tail . . . amputated from his little body . . . possibly by my little toe! Alas, poor gecko, as he scurried off into the bushes, I can only hope that it will grow back in time. And I will continue to observe these nocturnal little creatures on the ceiling of our porch at night as they feast on the bugs and mosquitoes that we appreciate so much and wonder if I will ever again see my little friend with no tail.

To learn more about this interesting creature found in abundance here in Costa Rica click on this link
TROPICAL GECKO LIZARD where you will also see noted under diet that they also eat SCORPIONS! Yep, I really like having these little guys hang around.
And also this link COMMON HOUSE GECKO where I happily learned that like many geckos, this species can lose its tail when alarmed and though fragile, the tail regenerates to its original shape if detached.

Pura Vida from Costa Rica!

Pucci Pizza & Pub

2011-04-30T22:33:00.004-05:00

Want to dine out and thinking about some

pizza or spaghetti?

There is a new pizza place in town!

Check it out!

Pucci Pizza & Pub

Just 10 minutes from
Costa del Sol
in Parrita

(on the left ~ across from the cemetery)

We had the Margarita with fresh Costa Rican pineapple!

YUMMY!

Our first starfruit off of our new starfruit tree!

2011-04-17T12:48:00.007-05:00

LOOK!

We just picked our very first starfruit!

One of the charms of living in the wonderful tropical climate of Costa Rica is being able to grow your own tropical fruits in your backyard.
There of course is an abundance of so many fruits and vegetables at the farmers market, on most every corner fruit stand and a great selection in the grocery stores, but there is just something about growing your own and picking it right off the tree to enjoy!

When designing the landscape of our new home we of course went all out with the many tropical flowering trees, plants and bushes that give such pleasure to the ambiance of outdoor living but also included a nice assortment of the edible varieties.

In our back yard we have planted a lovely herb garden complete with basil, rosemary, oregano, peppers and even a vanilla bean vine! Our assortment of fruit bearing trees includes a lemon and lime tree, the starfruit tree and a guanabana tree which bears a strange looking sweet fruit that is used locally to make smoothies.

I was amazed that our starfruit tree was bearing so much fruit so quickly and at such a short height, it is only about 4 feet tall. The limbs are loaded with flowers and when you look closely you can see how each flower is transforming into a lovely little fruit. Some of the fruits are quiet large but still green so they need to ripen before we pick them. The tiny little fruit pictured below is the size of a thimble.

So now that we know we will soon be blessed with a lovely crop of starfruit I guess I should start looking at some ideas on how to prepare this interesting fruit! Let's see. . . fruit smoothies. . . well of course! . . . fruit pizza, fruit platter, fruit salad, fruit cocktail, fruit relish, Sangria (yum).... Let's serve it over some fish, cook it in some bread, saute it in a stir fry, make a lovely sauce. . . oh the ideas are endless! But when all else fails we can just slice it up and eat it or use it to decorate the rim of a nice fruity adult beverage!

       Please share with me your ideas of what to do
                        with starfruit. . . and better yet
        . . . come and have some with me!

PURA VIDA!

Border Crossings ~ A trip to Chiriqui Panama!

2011-03-13T08:35:00.003-05:00

Living in Costa Rica without residency status means that you have to leave the country every 90 days....or so we thought.

United States and Canadian Citizen Entry Requirements: U.S. and Canadian citizens may enter Costa Rica without a tourist visa and can stay up to
90 days
with a valid passport.

U.S. and Canadian citizens - regardless of their age (*) - need the following documents to enter Costa Rica:

    *     A valid passport with at least one blank visa page. The expiration date of your passport must be greater than 30 days from your date of entry to Costa Rica.

    *     A pre-paid airline ticket to exit Costa Rica and/or ticket either to return to your home country or to go to another country.

    *    If a U.S. or Canadian minor (under the age of 18) does not have his/her own passport, he or she must have a joint passport with one of his/her parents, legal guardian or the person traveling with him/her.

Overstay Fines Effective March 2010: It is important that you depart on or before the last day you are authorized to be in Costa Rica on any given trip. This is based on the arrival date stamped in your passport at the Immigration port of entry. You will be allowed to stay in Costa Rica for 30, 60, or 90 days depending on your nationality.

Any person that overstays his/her authorized time to be in the country, as allowed by the Immigration and Naturalization Services of Costa Rica, will be required to pay a penalty charge of $100.00 U.S. dollars for each month in country without authorization, or expulsion equivalent to triple the time of violation. Example: A three month overstay violation equals a $300 U.S. dollar fine or a 9 month expulsion from Costa Rica.

And so we took a three day vacation to beautiful Panama to enjoy some shopping in David and a very interesting sightseeing drive through the mountains to the quaint town of Boquete and the base of the Volcan. Some of our local friends needed to go also so we made it a foursome and headed out early in the morning.

All went well on the exit with a pleasurable 4 1/2 hour drive to the border and finding a very nice fully gated hotel in the border town of Paso Canoas to safely park our car. You can of course take your car across the border, as we did on a previous trip to Panama, but the paper work can be a huge headache at the border if it is not suitable from "their" point of view and cause long delays. Due to lack of planning to update our ownership papers for the crossing we elected to leave the car at the border and take a taxi to David and rent a car for our touring activities.

The hotel only wanted $4 per night to accommodate our car so we checked it in and loaded our travel bags into the taxi that the concierge so nicely called for us. He dropped us off back at the border offices and we stamped out of Costa Rica and walked down to the next point to stamp in to Panama. Here we had a slight delay when the serious worker behind the window requested our proof of exit from Panama. We did have return airline tickets to the U.S. with confirmations in our email so we walked across the street to the Internet Store and rented a computer for 5 minutes to download and print our proof of exit. Back on track in a few more minutes we were in a taxi ($25) and headed to the capital city of David!

David is a charming city with a beautiful town square and lots of historical buildings. We checked in to the downtown Hotel Puerta del Sol for only $38 per night, strolled around town for a while, had some lunch and then headed out for a little shopping in the rental car we had for the next few days. A nice dinner of Italian cuisine topped off with some nice wine ($13.95 all you could eat including wine) and we were ready to call it a night so that we could get an early start on a trip up into the mountains to the quaint town of Boquete. Please click on the link below to read more about this amazing area filled with places to explore and learn more about the province of Chiriqui and also view our sideshow of photographs of our trip.

Focus on Chiriqui

CLICK ON ARROW TO SCROLL THROUGH PHOTOS

Yes it was an amazing visit to Chiriqui but we can not stop there. We do need to share with you the rebound of our border crossing which was not so pleasant....

After a hearty breakfast in the hotel restaurant (one of the nicest in the city I might add) we called our taxi driver Ellio to meet us at the car rental to return our little red roller skate car ($33 per day) and drop us back off at the border.

And that is when it got really interesting and NOT in a good way!

Little did we know that with the beginning of Carnaval March 5 - 8 that many locals take advantage of this vacation time to leave the country. Yes, we were dropped off at the border with our bags and shopping in tow and rounded the corner to see what appeared to be a majority of the population of Panama standing in line to stamp out! Oh dias mia!    . . . we were then told that the line to the window would include a 6 hour wait!
That is when we saw our American friend, with bleached blonde Buddha style ponytail and beautiful wood hand carved walking cane, that we met coming into Panama. As he walked by we ran to catch up and ask him if we might have any hope of a faster process.

A few minutes later we found ourselves in a crowded area just steps from the window with a great deal of pushing and shoving going on as the anxious crowd fought for their place in line to be processed through to begin their wonderful vacation in Costa Rica! Our 6 hour wait was reduced to only 2 hours and we happily moved on to the Costa Rica side to stamp back in to our country of choice.

....only to end up with a stamp that read 30 Days!
What? .....we are U.S. Citizens and the rulebook says we are allowed a 90 day stamp!

After taking our nice friend to enjoy a lunch of yummy fresh shrimp and listening to his many stories of the trials and tribulations of border crossing we realized that the person in the booth can pretty much do whatever they want and that this particular, always unhappy lady, was known for doling out 30 day stamps. He also recommended that we not try to use our airline ticket as an exit strategy and always buy the $15 return bus ticket (1 each for Exit and Entry) that will never get used but does make the process easier. Amazing how much money that bus company is making on tickets that are not really needed and never utilized. Our friend also advised that if we pay him for his services that he can assure us of the duty schedule and make sure we stamp in when the grumpy girl is not on duty! We were also told by him and others that you do not have to stay out of the country 3 days. You can stamp out and back in in the same day but you cannot utilize the $500 duty free purchases allowed with a 72 hour departure. And always check the calendar to find out if there are any carnivals or festivals going on that could create an unusually large crowd coming through the border. Of course my easy answer to that would be to plan on going and STAY IN PANAMA for the Carnival.

And so the story goes....
In the meantime we have learned of other modes of exiting the country that may lend themselves to a much more pleasant experience. See the links below of what may be our next trips out of Costa Rica to renew our Visa status.

Take a River Cruise! Enjoy this video

                      Costa Rica Nicaragua Border Crossing Los Chiles

a trip that some friends told us about . They said it was a very enjoyable trip!

Nature Air offers two trips out of the country with very reasonable airfare:

       Bocas Del Toro, Panama     Manaagua, Nicaragua

Now . . . .
Where are those papers on how to apply for permanent residency?

But that is a story for another day! For now let's just go and enjoy the Pura Vida!

A Fun Day at the Parrita Tope!

2011-02-13T13:00:00.000-06:00

Festival de las Mulas - Parrita, Puntarenas, Costa Rica - The people of Parrita have taken what was once a bored farmers' pastime and turned it into a national festival. The mule race is the main event, with horse races, tractor rallies, bull running and riding and agricultural exhibitions. Food and crafts are also sold at the fairgrounds and of course there is always lots of festive music to put you in the mood! On the last weekend Saturday of the event the ever popular Tope or Parade of the Horses is held in an event where the proud horse and mule owners meet up in Parrita enjoy some good food and drink, win some great door prizes - saddles, blankets, reins, etc and line up to prance their high stepping horses down main street to the fairgrounds where they hold the Mule Festival.

We of course were excited to check out this showing of the horses and asked around and were told that it would start at 12:00. In true Gringo fashion we decided that if we planned this around a nice lunch at La Canada (one of our favorite restaraunt/bars in Parrita) that just happens to be open air and sits on the main corner of main street by the park where the parade would begin, we could also have prime seats for the parade! We gathered a few of our friends together and arrived at La Canada around 11:00 ordered up some michaladas and frijoles and tortillas to munch on while our lunch was prepared and settled in to wait for the parade. And WAIT we did! We were later to find out that the "meet up" started at noon but the parade would not take place until 3:00.....so . . . we ordered another round of beer!

While we waited we were entertained by the many vendors selling their wares on the street which for this event the most interesting item of interest was "Cowboy Hats"! Yep, a little 'YeeHaw ride that pony' western hats of many styles....straw, leather, suede and in every color and design you could think of. Realizing we had several hours to kill we took turns walking down to the pavilion where the Ticos had gathered together with their horses and were having a great time winning the many door prizes.
They were all pleased to pose for the camera to show off their prized animals...even the local policia wanted to have a pic made with us by his motorcycle! There were many families gathered in the park watching their little ones play on the swings, slides and see-saws. The wonderful smells of beef, pork and chicken on the grills and the fresh aroma of bread baking in the Musmanni bakery across the street kept our appetites going and we ordered more cervasa to quench our thirst.

As 3:00 approached and we found our spots on the street for the best view the horses and mules began their journey down the block to make their turn onto main street to show off their beautiful horses, riding skills and fancy steps. And step they did! Enjoy our video of these amazingly beautiful horses that were working so hard to impress the crowd.

Just another, as always fun, outing as we enjoy our life of adventure in beautiful Costa Rica! Yes I know, it is a tough job they say, but someone has to do it! Why don't you join us and do it too? You never know what it is in store to capture your fancy and lead you off on the path of curiosity to learn more about the culture of this amazing country...or maybe you might just want to go lay on the beach all day...

Pura Vida mi amigo!

Jaco Art Festival 2011

2011-02-09T07:19:00.000-06:00

The Jaco Arts Festival kicked off last weekend with

parades, marching bands, carnival dancers, Latin

music, a nice selection of food offerings

and rides for the children.

There will be more to come this weekend

February 11, 12 , 13

so make your plans to attend and enjoy the festivities!

Enjoy the videos below of last weekends

parades and entertainment!

There is always something fun to do in Costa Rica!

February is a month filled with festivals....

After you have enjoyed some cultural art in

Jaco

be sure to head on down to

Parrita

and take in some cowboy style fun at the

Festival of the Mules!

The Festival Nacional de las Mulas

If you would like to own a beautiful vacation home located between these two exciting places check out

www.CostaRicaNewHomes.com

PURA VIDA!

The Festival of the Mules has begun!

2011-02-03T20:03:00.002-06:00

It is that exciting time of year again when Parrita is busy with the hustle and bustle of setting up the grandstands, mowing the fields and bringing in the mules, tractors, bulls, carnival rides and local cuisine to put on the show of

The Festival Nacional de las Mulas

Thursday February 3rd to

Sunday February 13

FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES
This Festival is held every year the first week of February and the second week of February.

This begins with the election of Miss PARRITA , which takes place in an activity in the ballroom of the fair grounds, this conclusion is driven by one or more leaders of the national entertainment, plus always has highly qualified jury. QUEEN Once elected, the community celebrates with a dance she entertains with one of the best national teams of the moment.
The purpose of this is to give young girls an opportunity to perform at higher levels of which are used, we want Parritena women have a greater vision of life, and crave to be a professional in the future.
Bullfights: are held the second Thursday of the event runs free for people without the purchasing power of attending this event, also the two Saturdays and Sundays are held the better, with groups at national are in the best way.
The aim of these activities is to satisfy a taste for cattle that have most of the inhabitants of the area.
Rodeo: This is held the first Friday of activities to give the audience diversity in bullfighting.
Activity For Kids: This is held the first Saturday, is scheduled for more than 500 children, who enjoy various activities within the fair grounds such as: Planting trees, clowns, horses, wooden ceiling, traditional games Children's plays, snacks, choice of PARRITA PRINCESS.
The objective of this activity is fun and yet be children with good values, so in the future have a more responsible youth to the environment and its surroundings.
PARADE OF BANDS: This activity takes place the first Saturday, are invited to the best bands in the country with the aim that children and young people in the canton see that humans like themselves have developed in music and imitate .
TRACTOR RALLY: This is held the first Sunday morning, what makes us remember and teach visitors that this machinery is working every day in the county plowing the land for planting rice, watermelon, melon or other crops, the rally out of "Mulodromo" runs several farms and returns to finish the "Mulodromo."
SPORTS GROUP: This activity takes place in the square of field sports center on the first Sunday, and aims to invite companies or families in the area to participate in traditional games and others, the achievement of united the Parritena family.
CONCERTS: Normally we give emphasis to three national and one international concerts, this in order to attract people from around the country to the conclusion also adding a bit of entertainment to youth.
RANCHERO FESTIVAL AND EXHIBITION OF HORSES: This activity is held the second Friday of the Festival, the objective is to discover talent in the area and "touching them" with the best exponents of this type nationwide. Additionally the activity of horses is to give an entree to the activity, teaching the community must educate a horse, etc.
MULES AND HORSES STOP: This is held the second Saturday of the Festival, aims to bring together as many horsemen in the area, plus all the national territory, the way the top looks the horse to look for the main streets of Canton and thus receive recognition from the fans.
TYPICAL FOOD SALE: The kitchen "native", is sold to someone in the area, this with the objective within the menu includes all the food that identifies the canton of Parrita.
LUMBERJACK ACTIVITY: This activity is quite important because it brings together all the people involved in the canton to join the tables every day are sold nationally and internationally, this because the canton of Parrita is rich in various species of wood .
RACE OF MULES: This is the grand event, because that is where it pays homage to this brave animal, which helped settle this land, this activity takes place on the last Sunday of the Festival, takes place in the Mulodromo where attended by people from all over the country.

Also within the fair grounds you can enjoy traditional food, Chinese food, craft sales, Pizza Hut, Chicken As De Oros, fast foods, roast beef, and sweet churros, ice cream, bars differentiated normal bars as "the mule" exhibition of machinery, vehicles and various trading houses.

The above information was provided by the Welfare Association Parrita Canton for the National Festival of Mules Parrita

Please enjoy our videos from last years event...

So be sure and mark your calendars

to attend this exciting event to enjoy a taste

of the amazing culture of Costa Rica!

We will see you there for some rodeo style

Pura Vida fun!

Yeeeee Haw!!!

“Fiesta de los Diablitos”

2011-01-31T06:48:00.004-06:00

While visiting a friend in the Talamanca Mountains we decided to go in search of the Boruca Indian Reserve where they make the popular masks that are so beautiful to hang on the wall to decorate your home. After a long ride along the Rio General and across the mountain ridge on a long and winding dirt road we found the village quiet and deserted and were approached by a young Indian boy named Edgar (nicknamed YoYo) asking if we would give him a ride down the mountain to the village of Rey Curré to the Fiesta de los Diablitos. He was surprised that we did not know about the festival as it is a big event and said we would enjoy it. The reservation was not very big so we made a quick tour around and loaded YoYo along with his brother Columbo into the back of our Defender and headed back down the mountain. On the long ride back down the mountain we enjoyed learning about YoYo and a little about his tribe since he spoke excellent English. His brother could understand some when hearing it but could not speak it very well. YoYo is 25 years old and had been to England when he was 20 to study and become an Iron Chef!

When we arrived to Curré they told us we could walk or drive through the village to find the Festival. We drove around for a while with no luck and stopped at the little store where there was a group gathered outside. We were told that they had just come by and to listen for the horn blowing. There was an old Indian man standing under a shade tree selling fresh squeezed orange juice so we stopped to have some and it was very refreshing. Then we saw a large group of Indians climbing the path up the hill nearby and we hurried and drove around to where they would come out. We found the Diabilitos in the yard of one of the Casa's putting on their show. It was fascinating to watch them push and shove one another and beat the bull with their branches. As the procession was leaving the yard a young girl stopped and offered us a drink of the Chicha from a half of a coconut shell that they were drinking as a ritual at every home that they visited. It was very tangy and had a little bite to it. We noticed that many of the participants appeared to be drunk. We were told that they would perform this parade throughout the day and then have a big party at night. The Festival will be through the weekend and is held every year.

About the Festival:
The most famous of Boruca festivals is the three day New Year’s festival, called the “Juego de los Diablos” or the “Fiesta de los Diablitos,”. The history behind the modern festival begins with the Spanish conquest. The early Spanish conquistadors called the indigenous people devils because they noticed that the indigenous were not baptized and therefore assumed that they worshiped the devil. For this reason, one of the characters in the festival is called the “diablo,” or devil. The diablos dress in intricate masks carved from balsa wood. The masks represent the defense of the indigenous against the Spanish; in the face of the Spanish’s advanced weaponry, the indigenous had only natural defenses and believed in the power of animals like the jaguar. Thus, the masks display fierce animal and devil designs painted in bright, acrylic colors. The diablos also dress in “sacos” made from the cloth of “gangoche,” which are covered in large banana leaves, or “munshi” in the Brunka language. This costume represents the natural spirit of the indigenous, and practically, can help protect players during the festival. The Spanish conquistadors are represented as one character is the festival—the “torro,” or bull. All interactions between the diablos and the torro are symbolic of the historical struggles between the indigenous people and the Spanish. The ultimate triumph of the indigenous, or diablos, at the end of the festival symbolizes the survival of the Brunka and their culture in spite of Spanish colonial power.
The festival, also called the dance. Around 9 pm, the diablos, played by local males ages 14 or older, assemble in a clearing in the mountains near the town of Boruca. This location is said to be the birthplace of the diablos. There, they organize themselves and wait for the signal of the “Diablo Mayor,” or elder devil. The Mayor is typically an older male in the community that has participated in the festival for many years. The Mayor directs the festival proceedings. Carrying his conch, he instructs the other diablos where to dance and how long to remain at each location. At midnight on the night of the 30th, which soon becomes the morning of the 31st, the Mayor blows his conch to signal to the diablos the beginning of the celebration. To notify the rest of the town, the church bells ring to the tune of the funerary song, marking the death the year. At the commencement of the festival, the diablos stream down the hill and dance to the central square, where they celebrate together until the early morning hours. The dance of involves jumping and connecting back to back in order to raise a fellow diablo off the ground. The tune of the dance is set by one drum accompanied by a flute. Unlike the role of the Mayor, the role of the drummer and flautist is exchanged between many different men in the community. Around 2 am on the 31st, the celebration pauses and is set to resume later in the morning.
Around 9 am on the 31st, the Mayor sounds his conch to awaken and call the diablos, who then spend the entire day in the community dancing on the porches of every household and drinking chicha, a traditional alcoholic beverage made from corn seedlings fermented with yeast, and eating tamales. In the festival commemorating the end of 2009, there were 80 diablos that danced. Because the festival has grown so large, the proceedings now involve “arrediadores,” or herders, who stay at the back of the procession to make sure that no diablo is left behind. The diablos pass through the town three times during the day. This part of the celebration represents the glory of the Brunka prior to the Spanish conquest. On the morning of January 1, the historical significance shifts because the torro, representing the relentless conquest of the Spanish, joins the dance. The role of the torro is played by many different men in the community. The costume is constructed out of light balsa wood and filled with dry leaves that burn easily at the end of the festival. The mask on the costume is constructed of a durable cedar wood, but has horns from a real bull. The torro chases the diablos around the town, still guided by the sound of the Mayor’s conch. The dance between the two characters involves the diablos taunting the torro until the torro affords them a durable blow. At first, the diablos are able to taunt and resist the torro, but as dancing progresses through the evening and into the morning of the 2nd, the torro begins to dominate, as is true in the history of the Spanish colonization. By 3 pm on the 2nd, the torro has killed all of the diablos. Following the death of the last diablo, an action that represents the subjugation of the Brunka by the Spanish, the diablos begin to resurrect themselves one by one. As the diablos come back to life, the tides of the celebration begin to turn once more. The torro hides as the diablos begin to hunt for him with the help of a new character, the “perro,” or the dog. The diablos and the perro dance through the town looking for the torro. When they finally find and capture him, female diablitos, played by males, plead on his behalf. Their pleads, however, go unanswered, and the torro is taken to the river where his costume, with the exception of the mask, is burned. The burning of the torro marks both the end of the festival and the ultimate survival of the Brunka.
There are many different roles in the dance of the Juego de los Diablos, but no roles include women. This may be due to the fact that historically, Brunka women did not have much power in the organization and traditions of the community. More recently, however, women have assumed an active role in the festival by participating in activities such as the Organizational Committee. This committee is composed of males and females and begins meeting in early November to plan the festivities. The festival is by far the largest event in Boruca during the year, and it attracts many tourists, so the committee must organize purchasing of food, housing for the tourists, and the logistics of the dance itself. During the actual festival, many women prepare and provide food for the diablos and the tourists. The festival involves the diablos stopping outside of every house to dance, and after which they break for tamales and chicha. Certain women in the community volunteer to provide lunch for all of the diablos at the town “salon”, or community center. The women in the household also take charge of the tourists. If the family has room, the woman will rent spare bedrooms to tourists, feed them, and tend to their needs. Lastly, some women and children follow the dancing diablos to watch the festival up-close. This procession is most prominent around the time when the torro is killing diablos and later, when it is burned.

This information was provided by: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boruca

Please enjoy our photo medley of our visit to this fascinating place!

This is just one of the many adventures that
we have enjoyed since we retired to
this beautiful country of Costa Rica!

If you are thinking of retiring
or interested in a vacation home

you should come and visit us in Costa del Sol

on the Central Pacific Coast.

There is so much to see and do here.....

Pura Vida!

www.CostaRicaNewHomes.com

Whale Watching!

2011-01-13T13:59:00.005-06:00

Our friends Peter and Anke invited us to take a trip down to Uvita in the Osa area to go whale watching in Marino Ballena National Park and celebrate Peter's birthday! We packed a small bag with a few essentials and our cameras and headed out. Uvita is only about a 1 1/2 hour drive on the Costanera Highway from Bejuco on what we deem to be the nicest newly paved road in Costa Rica. It is approx 25 kilometers south of Dominical. The boat was due to depart the sandy shore around 8 am so we gulped down some hot java, grabbed some snacks for the road and headed out at 6 am.

Upon arrival we were walked down to the beautiful Playa Arco where we could enjoy the beach, take a dip in the water and watch the various boat tours launch their boats for the day. The four wheel drive SUV backed the boat down the beach to the water and with quick release our boat taxi for the the day was ready for us to wade out and board. In just a few minutes with a short cruise offshore we were in the spot where a mamma whale and baby calf were lounging in the water and would roll over the top every few minutes to replenish their air supply and of course offer us a photo op to share their presence with the world. They never did breach (rise up in the water like standing) but it was so amazing just to see them there and hear the amazing sounds of them breathing! These whales called Humpbacks grow to be 40 50 feet in length and can weigh from 50,000 to 80,000 lbs! The calves are typically 10 -15 ft and can weigh up to 2000 lbs when born. This drawing above gives you an idea of their size in relationship to an average size man. This area is known as a place where the whales spend the longest amount of time in a year with the South American population migrating north during the Antartic winter season to breed in the warm water August to October and the Northern whales making the long journey south from the Artic and staying from December through April.

After enjoying these amazing water creatures we headed down to see the the sights of the Isla Ballena which means "the island of the whales", Playa Ventena's (Windows Beach) and Las Tres Hermanas known as the Three Sisters Islands and to search for dolphins. Windows Beach is appropriately named for it's sea caves that line the north and south end of the shore and when the tide is low you can actually walk inside these very large and deep caverns. I am sure they are also a great place for divers to explore during the high tides along with the largest coral reef of Costa Rica that is also here. Some of the caves that jut out on a peninsula pass all the way through and when in a smaller boat you can ride through to the other side. We did not have the pleasure of finding any dolphins on this day and were told that there were many out and about the day before jumping and showing off for everyone. I guess they were tired and napping all day!

To end the tour we were taken to the Punta Uvita Tombolo, a unique island of rocks that when the tide goes out exposes a large sand bar that connects the island to the shore and forms the shape of a whales tale which is why many people call it "The Whales Tail". This beach has been named in the top 6 most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica. The island is formed by solid rock that shows the wear and tear of the waters rise and fall creating many interesting crevices and designs. It is a great place to go shelling and there is an interesting square structure that is said to have been the base for a lighthouse. When exploring the island or just lounging in the sun and enjoying the water for the day you must be aware of the tide charts and ready for the high tides to return so as not to get caught in the water! When we first arrived to the beach in the morning the whales tale was not visible at all but when we came back to the area mid day it was magically there.

The tour also included snorkeling but the water was not clear enough to see on this particular day so everyone just enjoyed the beach and water instead. We were served freshly cut watermelon and pineapple as a refreshment and after everyone returned to the boat, but one couple that opted to walk back along the beach, we were ferried back to our starting point to end our fun tour for the day.

MAP OF AREA

The Puntarenas, Osa area is known for it's golden sand beaches, cliffs, caves, islands mangroves, ecosystems and rock and coral reefs. There is an abundance of iguanas, seabirds, dolphins, turtles and whales that can be viewed on the many tours available. You will find red, black, tea, white and buttonwood mangroves that are so interesting to view by boat.

It was a great tour but we were not through for the day. Now it was time to go and enjoy a lovely birthday lunch in honor of our friend Peter's birthday and his choice was CITRUS in Ojachal a quaint little town with several nice International restaurants just a few minutes south of Uvita. We had a lovely lunch with a

toast to the birthday boy! See link above for my Trip Advisor review of this great dining experience.

I highly recommend this trip for the whale watching and for the beauty of the area and this very interesting beach that comes and goes. There are many different and exciting tours available in this area or you may just want to bring a picnic and relax!

PURA VIDA!

Costa del Sol Welcomes in 2011!

2011-01-01T10:27:00.001-06:00

Costa del Sol rang in the New Year with parties, music, bonfires on the beach and of course.... fireworks!

It has been a wonderful year of many accomplishments with the completion of many neighborhood projects and the annual Homeowners meeting with a look back at where we have been, what we have accomplished and where we are going.

With the election of a new Administrator and board, we bid farewell to the past team of volunteers that worked so hard to accomplish so much for our great community. We thank each and every one of you that has given of yourselves to reach our goals of 2010! And as we enter into 2011 we offer our support to our new team that has already moved forward with positive enthusiasm. We excitedly anticipate another FABULOUS year to enjoy the magic of Pura Vida in Costa del Sol!

We would also like to take this time of moving forward into a New Year to WELCOME all of the new homeowners, long term renters and vacationers that have chosen to be a part of Costa del Sol! We all love Costa del Sol for it's many amenities and beauty but "community" is really more about the residents....the people that have come together to live in one place and share in the joy of the experience of good times whether it is for a lifetime, a few months, a week or even a long weekend.

1.1.11 marks the beginning of a fresh start to a new year that we look forward to with a grateful perspective of what is to come. And how could it be anything but wonderful when we have so much to be grateful for?

We also open our gates and arms to welcome those that have not had the experience to come and join us! Costa del Sol has many beautiful homes that are available to rent for a weekend, a week, a month or longer. There are also homes available to purchase if you see that Costa del Sol is the place for you!

Come and put your footprints in the sand on our beautiful Playa Bejuco in 2011! You will be glad you did!

Happy New Year and Pura Vida to All!

May your New Year be blessed with a grateful perspective!

If you would like to learn more about Costa del Sol please visit our website and photo gallery!
Join us on Facebook and enjoy our videos on YouTube!
Share links to our Pura Vida with your friends and family!

Mark Your Calendars ~ Envision Festival ~ Uvita, Costa Rica

2010-12-25T11:00:00.007-06:00

ENVISION yourself in the mystical Costa Rican jungle listening to diverse beats and enjoying VIP treatment. The vibe here is “Pura Vida” – The pure life.. and the energy that embraces the soul and recharges the mind and spirit. This is a world where time slows down, warm waves embrace crimson sunsets and howler monkeys rule the canopy. The locals are friendly and the traditional cuisine is simple and delicious with something for every taste. Enjoy fresh squeezed juice from ripe fruit on the beach in the morning while your dinner arrives straight from the sea. Hike to an enchanted waterfall, zip-line through the rain forest or take a sea kayak out to greet migrating dolphins. Southern-Pacific Costa Rica is one of the most biologically diverse places in the world and the scenery is breath taking. Experience everything from sunrise yoga to fire belly dancing with countless opportunities for adventure and self exploration. This exotic and culturally rich experience is much more attainable than you may think… Be a part of the ENVISION Festival and let your imagination travel.

WOW! With an intro like that why would you want to be anywhere else on March 4th - 6th, 2011?!

The above Intro is taken from the website of the Envison Festival, an annual event that will take place in one of the most virgin environments of the world, where the consciousness of people from all over the world will unite during 3 days to share experiences, music, art and participate in different social movements while embracing the natural beauty of our planet. In addition to the music and art you will enjoy workshops that include holistic hooping, flying yoga, belly dancing and fire dancing!

For more information on this amazing event visit their website:

ENVISION

Music ~ Art ~ Sacred Movement

While there you will discover the breath taking National Park Marino Ballena, Located in Uvita de Osa, Puntarenas, Marino Ballena. To learn more about Uvita visit http://www.uvita.net/

Uvita, located in the Ballena National Park offers an abundance of amazing sea life, some of the best diving in the world and the world famous Uvita Whales Tail.

So mark your calendars and plan to attend this life enriching event! If you have not booked your vacation in Costa Rica yet, this is an excellent time to do it! For updates you can register on the Envision website for updates to be sent to your email or you can join them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter!

PURA VIDA....

WE WILL SEE YOU THERE!

Costa del Sol is a wonderful gated community centrally located on the Central Pacific Coast at Playa Bejuco between Quepos and Jaco. An easy drive to enjoy the many National Parks of Costa Rica it is only a 2 hour drive from Costa del Sol to Uvita. For more information on owning a NEW home in Costa del Sol visit our website www.CostaRicaNewHomes.com

For the love of a beach!

2010-11-20T16:00:00.001-06:00

Recently Costa Rica was ravaged by flood waters and landslides created by Hurricane Tomas in the Caribbean Ocean. See my previous post for an update and to view video footage of the devastation suffered by many in this beautiful country that is so proud of its ecological bio-diverse landscape.
"Pura Vida is on hold due to severe weather conditions....."

Costa del Sol a wonderful gated community located in Playa Bejuco on the Central Pacific Coast suffered no damaged at all and all of the homes sat high and dry as the flood waters rushed through. It was a thankful experience to be bypassed from damage but bittersweet to see the losses of so many of our Tico neighbors in Parrita and the surrounding area.

Playa Bejuco before the storm

Our beach at Playa Bejuco did not weather the storm so well though. The heavy rains, flooding waters and landslides in the mountain areas sent amazing amounts of trees, limbs and debris down through the rivers and out into the ocean where it all was washed back ashore along the Pacific coastline. Playa Bejuco went from being a beautiful clean palm tree lined paradise to a huge mass of destruction that was very difficult to maneuver to gain access to the beach and water.

Some said that the high tides would eventually wash it all back out to sea but how long could that take? Our daily visits showed no signs of any of the debris going away. I know that there is probably a government office with the designated duties of preserving the beauty of the beaches with maintenance and clean up crews but with so much damage inland that affected cities, towns, major roads and homes along with so much debris on such a long coastline there is no telling how long it could be before they came to work on Bejuco.

And so the work began.....

Playa Bejuco after the storm

A few home owners in Costa del Sol started with some shovels and some rakes piling up the debris to build some bonfires to at least create a nice pathway to the water. It turned into a fun event with marshmallow roasting and S'mores and beautiful sunsets! Once the fires were started it was just a matter of adding logs to keep them going and that worked fine for a couple of days....until the rains came again and put the fires out and wet the wood.

So that is when it was decided to call in the forces and face this problem head on!
It is amazing how much wood and debris can be moved in such a short time with a backhoe with a few $20 donations to pay for the services. We now have one beautiful small section of beach on our very special Playa Bejuco that is loved by us all.

Sounds like it is time to return to the Pura Vida and enjoy some more of those inspiring sunsets on the beach maybe with a ice cold cervaza or a nice chilled glass of vino....after all....it is 5:00 somewhere!

Enjoy our video of the journey to clean up our beach Bejuco and get our Pura Vida back! For best viewing click to full screen.

Won't you join us on our beautiful beach at Playa Bejuco for some Pura Vida of your own?

We would love to have you!

Visit Costa Rica New Homes for more information on how you can own your own vacation/retirement home in Costa del Sol.

Chicken 'n' Ribs!

2010-11-16T22:55:00.004-06:00

There is nothing like a fun get together at someones Casa in Costa del Sol to share a "pot luck" dinner with friends! On this occasion the gathering was at Dave and Donna's lovely Casa where the backyard is a perfect spot for a party. Put together two Master grillin' Southern boys to produce some of the finest Chicken 'n' Ribs that you will ever put in your mouth, a nice variety of sides to accompany and top it off with a Chocolate Brownie Surprise fit for a crowd and you will end up with a happy bunch with full bellies!

It is that wonderful time of year in Costa Rica as we ease out of the Green Season (RAINY) into the High Season (SUMMER) when many Homeowners and vacationers start filling up the beautiful homes in this great gated community in Playa Bejuco. The permanent residents that have weathered the storms are excited to see them all and welcome them in with open arms! Less rain, bright sunny days, gorgeous sunsets, great surf, beach barbecues and pot luck dinners are definitely looked forward to.

This night brought out a good group with some other Bejuco and Hermosa friends also. The grill was fired up, beverages poured and the party was underway. We even had a little entertainment when Mark who was suffering with severe back pain was treated by our gracious hostess Donna with a very interesting pain relieving treatment called cupping! Donna is an Acupuncture Physician and Chinese Herbalist, Board Certified by the National Commission for Certification of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine. Oh yes you will find a smorgasbord of many interesting professionals in Costa del Sol.

The massage table was set up under the grass top palapa by the pool and Mark received the royal treatment! Donna is also a certified Yoga instructor so we are hoping to get some groups together to work on a little Ommmm.

After a wonderful dinner and some interesting pool shark matches a few gathered under the stars on the upper deck of the backyard bodega to gaze at the moon and enjoy the nite breezes that blow in from the Pacific ocean. This private retreat is the perfect place to hide-a-way with a good book too!

Thanks Dave and Donna!

It was ANOTHER fun nite in the neighborhood!

Check out our video of pics to preserve the moment. We would love for you to join us at our next "potluck"! Come on down to Costa del Sol and enjoy some of this Pura Vida! We will keep the grill warm!

Pura Vida is on hold due to severe weather conditions....

2010-11-05T16:44:00.001-05:00

Tis the season for rain, rain and more rain....but this season has been enhanced by hurricane Tomás in the Caribbean. The rains in Costa Rica created by Tomas have flooded homes, washed out bridges and created many landslides. There were many people killed in a landslide in Escazu and many still missing. Parrita is under water from a broken dam and the raging Parrita river and many families have been forced into shelters. According to the Tico Times the main road in Manuel Antonio has caved in and stranded many people on the other side.

According to Costa Rica’s National Meteorological Institute, between 200 and 390 millimeters of rain accumulated in areas along the Pacific slope Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. That is 15.35 inches! ....and today is Friday and it is still raining.
It has been sad to watch the local news and see the devastation and the families affected by this tragic event. We have been very fortunate to remain high and dry here in Costa del Sol at Playa Bejuco with only some flooding in the streets during the heavy rains and the high tides. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the many locals that we know and love as you move forward in Tico fashion to put your lives back together and resume that special way of living that you call the Pura Vida.

During this Red Alert Daystar Properties, Red Cross, Jaco Canopy Tour, Municipal Police, Fuerza Pública, Fire Department, Ministry of Health, Chamber of Commerce and Catholic Chuch have joined forces and created a temporary station at the Daystar Properties offices. In order to help the people affected by the rains they are requesting for non-perishable food and water mainly. Also they need clothes, baby diapers, toilet paper, bath towel, personal hygiene items, toothpaste, toothbrush, blankets, among others. Please help these people that need it. Your donation can be delivered in the Daystar Properties offices located 50 southeast from Municipality of Garabito.

It would also be a good time to help those victims that you personally know by checking in to see what items they might need and see what items that you have to offer.
God Bless all for a speedy recovery!