Our Tour to Alajuela's "Feria" or Local Farmers market

Guanabana

Our small group of tourist were in the Central Valley of Costa Rica and wanted to have a unique cultural experience so our guide said, “Let’s go into Alajuela's farmers market better know in Spanish as the “feria.”  It was a wonderful sunny Saturday morning in July.
When we arrived we were amazed at the dozens of individual stalls where all these  farmers had come to sell their  fruits and vegetables..all grown on their own plots of land .  Some even used  organic farming methods.  The whole scene was  joyful and  very colorful, with a marimba band playing the  favorite songs  of Costa Rica.  Plus a very beautiful booth selling fresh cut flowers of all varieties including orchids.

An added plus is that we were able to interact with some of the locals. They came in droves, all the family members from the small children in strollers to old people with walking canes.  They smiled, seemed to know each other, and caught up on the latest gossip.

We bought some of the more exotic tropical fruits as well as some of the usual- bananas, mangos, papaya, watermelon, and pineapple.  The more exotic ones however got most of our attention.  There was the strange looking fruit called guanabana, a very large round green fruit with what looked like scales on its peel.  This one was very expensive, around $3.00 per pound.   The lady selling it told us that this is grown on the Caribbean coast and is not plentiful.  We bought only a small slice to take home and make the exotic   drink.  In the blender mix the fruit pulp with fresh milk and sugar.  Also,we bought a fresh coconut, cut it cross wise and drank the coconut water through a straw.  Costa Ricans callcoconuts "pipas"  My first experience with a pipa!  The taste was very refreshing but quiet different.

The vegetables were all fresh and neatly arranged.  I never saw such variety.  The chayote caught my eye because we had recently eaten a “picadilla de chayote”, a typical Costa Rica dish, eaten almost daily. The chayote is finely chopped and slowly cooked with a tinly amount of cooking oil or butter, and seasoned with salt and pepper. This vegetable grows on a vine, almost wild, very inexpensive to buy-around five cents each.

You name the vegetable and it was at this market, all freshly harvested.  And very inexpensive.  I was completely amazed!   And very happy I had brought my camera.

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Six Months After major Earthquake hit Costa Rica

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Earthquake January 2009 Vara Blanca, Costa Rica

At 1:21 p.m. on January 8, 2009 a massive 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck Costa Rica with it’s epicenter  nineteen miles NW of the capital city of San Jose , on the southeastern  flank of the Poas Volcano.  The populated areas of Vara Blanca and Cinchona were greatly affected.   Homes were destroyed, mudslides occured, and bridges were downed. Forty seven people were killed and over one hundred were injured.
Tourism to this area was completely disrupted.
Now, six months later, homes are being repaired and rebuilt with the help of many volunteer groups and the roads are under reconstruction by the Costa Rican government.
Tourism is back to normal except one cannot drive to the Arenal Volcano going the “back route”  around the eastern flank of the Poas Volcano.

The biggest tourism attraction in the area, The La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Peace Lodge was hard hit.  However, it is now July and they have reopened to tourism after a major reconstruction.  The road leading to the lodge is under major repair but is navigable.  Tourist buses as well as cars are getting there  without any problems.the Poas

The Volcano National Park Entrance station, the small museum, and coffee shop located near the walk up to the crater did not sustain much damage and  was open for tourism after one week of repairs.  And now hundreds of visitors each day arrive and enjoy the park.
I include these photos so you can see the major damage that some of the homes sustained.  Also you can see the massive  reconstruction under way to rebuild  the roads.

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Want to See Birds, Travel to Palo Verde National Park, Costa Rica

If birds are what you want to see  travel  to Palo Verde National Park in Costa Rica's northern province of Guanacaste,  because the  biggest attraction in the park is the BIRDS.  The months of mid December through mid March over one half million birds migrate south to Palo Verde,  escaping the extreme cold weather in North America, and feed here in these shallow marshlands  rich in small fish and plant life.  You see for many different species of birds!  Egrets, storks, spoonbills, herons, ibis, ducks and many many other species.
There is an island in the middle of the Tempisque River (within the park) called bird island or Isla de Pajaros.  I had  never seen so many birds in one place, so be sure you bring your binoculars.

We departed from San Jose early on a January morning  for our "Unique Costa Rica Journey."  Destination Palo Verde National Park.  We headed north on the interamerican highway (highway 1).  We were a group of 10 very enthusiastic tourist hoping to see lots of birds.    Four hours later we arrived to a very small settlement named  Bagaces, then we turned west on a dirt gravel road (across from the gas station)  The road forked and we thought we were lost but kept following signs to Refugio de Fauna Silvestre and Palo Verde National Park. I think we drove around 17 miles or 28 km.  It seemed a really long way on this beat up road, luckily we were in a jeep-not a small car.
We were to spend the night at the Organization of Tropical Studies Biological Station inside the park. We had called ahead to make reservations 2 524 0607. The station is rustic,  like camping when we were girl scouts but had really good typico Costa Rica food.
There are three main walking trails within the park. We started out early in the morning, and our guide explained that Palo Verde National Park was established to protect not only the birds but also the tropical dry forest of this area, (meaning there is less annual rainfall in this area of Costa Rica)  Also for the protection of the  brackish and freshwater marshlands, and mangrove swamps, and also the wildlife within the park.   These trails wind  in and out of the wetlands.   We were lucky to see a group of howler monkeys on their morning outing.

There were birds and more birds, big ones, little ones...I spotted a Jabiru Stork.  Our guide said that he resides permanently in the park. The Jabiru Stork is an endangered and rare bird. It is the tallest flying bird in South and Central America, weighing around 8K or 17.6 lb, and  is one of the largest birds in the world.  The male stands  5 feet tall  with a wing span of eight feet, and is powerful and graceful in flight.

As we continued our walk along the trails we saw a few white egrets wading in the marshes eating small fish.  Further along we spotted a small group of blue herons.

The next morning we hired a small boat to take us to bird island, and I have never seen so many birds!  Most of them were white, making the island look like snow had fallen.

I highly recommend this tour for bird lovers.  I would say it is the best place in Costa Rica for birding, with the added plus of  seeing other wildlife such as the howler monkeys, whitetail deer,  and the capuchin monkey.

Best time of year to visit: Costa Rica's dry season of mid December through mid March ( to see the migratory birds)

Bring mosquito spray because I encountered quite a few mosquitoes.  Binoculars, camera (great photo opportunities)

Weather here is very warm so dress in cottons and wear good walking shoes such as your most comfortable tennis.  (don't need hiking boots)

If you don't stay overnight at the Organization of Tropical Studies Biological Station in the park, then bring along a sack lunch and bottled water.  There is no public restaurant.  Although there are restrooms at the ranger station.

I highly recommend Palo Verde National Park!

If you have visited Palo Verde or have questions I would like to hear from  you and share your thoughts with my readers.  Please post a comment.  Just click on no comment at bottom of this post.  Ann  Thanks for choosing costaricalearn.com

Leatherback Sea Turtles Nesting in Costa Rica By Jan Yatsko

Pura Vida in Costa Rica

Take a bi-monthly peek into artist Jan Yatsko’s daily life in Costa Rica.

Humor, reflection and inspiration are woven into her experiences that revolve around her passion for art, nature, culture and food.

June 2009

“Creation is a huge beginning not a finished end.”       John O’Donohue

A month ago I witnessed ecological history.  Under the night sky and with the help of infrared light, I saw a 5 foot long endangered leatherback turtle lay her eggs on a beach about 10 miles north of Limón, Costa Rica. To arrive at this special private reserve called La Estación de las Tortugas (The Turtle Station), I traveled several hours by van and another 30 minutes by outboard boat on the only “road” (canal) system north of Limon, located on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica.  For the leatherback to arrive at this beach she traveled the ocean waters from North and South America until the pink spot on the top of her head told her that it was the right time of day and the right place to be to lay her eggs.  From February to June, these soft shelled sea turtles leave the comfort of the water to drag their 1200+ lb. body across the sand and dig a 2’ deep hole with her back flippers to lay up to 100 white 2” diameter eggs.  The effort is so difficult that she groans with every step.  It is a mystical rhythm dating back 150 million years.

Protected nest area at La Estacion de las Tortugas                I drew the back half of the turtle in the dark as we were not allowed to take photos with flash.

Sea turtles become disoriented and frightened by light and if this happens a female will return to the sea without laying her eggs.  Infrared light directed at the back half of the turtle was the only available means of seeing the egg laying process.  I had to rely on my five senses to observe what was happening.  I looked up and saw a partially cloudy sky with the moon peeking through.  I heard the constant and rhythmic waves behind me.  I looked real hard and under the night sky I blindly began to draw the turtle as she dropped her eggs into the nest.  I felt the sand against by face and body as the turtle used her powerful front and back flippers to cover her nest.  Then there was silence as she entered the sea.

Positive and negative intervention by man will determine the ecological fate of the leatherback turtles.  Poachers eat the eggs and meat; bright lights from development disorient the turtles; plastic bags mistaken for jellyfish (their favorite food) plug up the stomach cavity; commercial fishing nets entangle them and global warming is tipping the sexual orientation scale of the eggs to mostly female.  Private and national reserves are scrambling to reverse the accelerated decline.  Volunteers gather the eggs and place them in protected nest areas, hatchlings are protected from bird predators as they scamper to the ocean and turtles are measured, checked and tagged in an effort to learn more about their behaviors.  Even with all the effort, out of 2,000 eggs that are laid, 1,000 will hatch (50% natural/50% from private reserve) and only one will survive to adulthood.  The animal symbolism of the turtle represents Order, Creation, Patience, Strength, Stability, Longevity, Innocence, and Endurance…characteristics that are needed for them to continue for another million years.

Copy write 2009

Jan Yatsko is a very talented writer and artist who lives in Atenas, Costa Rica.  She and her  husband came to Costa Rica several years ago on a biking excursion, fell in love with Costa Rica and have been able to make it their permanent home.   You can visit Jan at her web site to learn more about her beautiful artwork www.janyatsko.com

Jan  writes a bi monthly newsletter titled "Pura Vida in Costa Rica" about daily living in her adopted country of Costa Rica.  To subscribe to her newsletters you can go to her web site www.janyatsko.com

Costa Ricans "Some of the World's Happiest People"

Costa Rica has some of the world's happiest people. They live long lives with an average life expectancy is 78.5 years,  and many live longer into their nineties.   Costa Rica ranks second in the world in life expectancy.  Canada is number one.

So, why is that?    It seems that Costa Rica has a very positive ecological footprint.  Sounds scientific doesn't it?  Well what is the definition of a positive  ecological footprint:  To achieve this a country (it's people) must consume only it's share of the earths natural resources:  Achieve a goal defined as "one planet living."

But how is this measured?  By measuring the amount of land necessary to provide for all the  personal resource requirements  of each individual.  And then add  other measurements to this:  Measure the amount of vegetated land required to absorb the carbon dioxide emission each individual produces,  and also  measure the carbon dioxide emission of the products consumed by each individual.

So how does Costa Rica fit into this?   By converting  it's natural resources into longer and happier lives for it's people.  One of  it's major achievements:   setting  aside more than 20% of it's land surface under protection and  conservation by the establishment of national parks and wildlife reserves.  Much of this land contains valuable and irreplaceable  primary rain forest which absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thus reducing global warming.  These forest are also home to many endangered species of plants and animals.

Additionally, Costa Ricans eat healthy. Much of the food is locally grown by small farmers often using organic methods.  Not by large corporations and then shipped hundred, even thousands of miles to the grocery stores.  You can find every week end in most Costa Rica towns a local farmers market where all the freshly harvested  fruits and vegetables are beautifully displayed and sold at very reasonable prices.

And the weather, it's wonderful.  Lots of sunshine and sunshine makes people happy.  Then comes the soft warm rain, and rain makes people relaxed.

Costa Ricans walk a lot, thus exercising more.   Many do not own cars.  On the streets of the towns and along the roadsides we see them happily walking with friends and family.   They love the  beautiful sunny mornings and get outside to enjoy the warm weather.

Costa Rica is politically stable and operates as a social democracy.  Basic public education is provided to all, thus  90% of Costa Ricans are literate, although a large percentage of the youth do not pursue a university education.

A universal system of health care administered by the government is available to all.  Not for free...each has to pay according to his earnings.  A private health care system is also available and is ranked among the world's best. This is more expensive but one can avoid the long lines and long waits for elective procedures associated with the government run system.

Also most Costa Ricans are not in deep debt.  Many do not have a credit card, and are not tempted to purchase unless they really need something.

Talk to the average Costa Rican, he or she will tell you that he is happy with his life and lifestyle.  Most live simply  with close family ties and valuable  friendships.

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The Mojito, Costa Rica's Famous Rum Drink

No one call tell you better than Marina Villatoro, the Travel Experta  about this wonderful drink made with rum called the Mojito.

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Hey you cocktailers! Welcome to the monthly International Cocktail Hour - Drinks 'Round the World. Your two lovely hostesses Lifecruiser and Travel Experta(Me) are super happy to have you here.And guess what - this round is on us!!!!!

Today I want to share my absolute favorite, hands down, drink in the whole wide World - the Mojito! I can't even tell you how much I love this drink.

Since I live in Costa Rica, I've figured I'll try a little Costa Rican flavor to yummy up my Mojito. Instead of the customary Cuban rum, I've added Cacique - Guaro to the mix. And so far, I'm loving it!

So here's one on me!

Ingredients

1.25 oz Cacique - Guaro
12 mint leaves
1 tbsp brown sugar
freshly squeezed lime juice
2 oz water

Shake It Up!
Get out your favorite cocktail glasses and stick them in the fridge for a cooler effect.

In a cocktail mixer pour in the Guaro (or rum), water, lime juice and crushed ice. Now shake it up!

Take out the glasses, throw in the mint leaves and mash it around to get the juice out, now pour and enjoy.
Your turn! What's your drink specia

Read more of Marina's fun filled articles about Costa Rica travel and Costa Rica daily life at www.travelexperta.com

Travel Tip: Did you Know About the Tamarindo Shuttle?

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Travel tip:  If you are planning to travel to Costa Rica let me tell you about the Tamarindo Shuttle.   From the Liberia international airport to Tamarindo it's only $18 per person (one way)  with a minimum of 2 persons.  Can't beat that!

Their fleet of buses are up to date, air conditioned, and very comfortable, and the drivers speak English.    The Tamarindo shuttle also offers transportation  all around the NW Pacific beache areas.  Additionally:  they offer GREAT tours to the many exciting sites around  the NW Pacific Beaches.    Their tours include white water rafting,  Palo Verde National Park, Canopy or zip line tours,  and  fishing.  Also tours to Arenal Volcano National Park and  Rincon de la Vieja National Park, and much more.  I thought it very interesting that they do also do tours to Nicaragua.  Day tours and well as overnight.  Granada is a wonderful tour. It is a beautiful Spanish colonial city founded in 1524 by a Spaniard named Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba.    Best part is they include the Masaya Volcano in the tour, plus the handicraft markets.  The Nicaraguan people make beautiful hand crafted pottery, hammocks in all styles and colors, fine wood crafted bowls, vases, and much more.  All at very reasonable prices.  Much cheaper than in Costa Rica.

A  little about Granada,  Nicaragua  because it is one of my favorite places to visit.  Granada is only about 40 km south east of Managua.   From the NW Pacific beaches around Tamarindo in Costa Rica-the ride by van to Granada is not so far  (however you have to pass thru the border check points and this can take time.)  Granada is a gorgeous old Spanish Colonial City and a special treat because we don't  have anything like it in Costa Rica.  (no Spanish Colonial Cities filled with this grand architecture)  Granada has twenty Spanish Colonial Churches, each is different with its own unique design.  This reflects the strong influence of the Catholic Church when Catholicism was brought to the New World by the Spanish conquerors.

Tamarindo Shuttle also has tours to San Juan del Sur,   located on the pacific coast in South Western Nicaragua. It's basically a fishing town,  however every year more and more tourist are going for the beautiful beaches and great surfing.  It's very low keyed  unhurried and less expensive than Costa Rica.  The weather here is warm  but most hotels have air conditioning.   Also the snorkeling and diving is good and you can purchase these tours near  the beach areas.

To contact Tamarindo Shuttle go to their web site   www.tamarindoshuttle.com for  all the transportation routes, daily tours to the NW Pacific beach areas  and also the tours to Nicaragua.

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