Another first !

This is the first time in over 35 years of marriage that I ever remember Dave mowing the lawn on NewYear’s day. Read more Entry>>

Our first Christmas in Costa Rica

This Christmas was probably the quietest one we have had since before the boys joined our lives. After speaking with family by phone and having our own ‘tree’, we went to Chris & Louise Roe’s house. We had great fun with the Chinese Christmas present swap they had.

We brought a photo (in a frame) of Dave Brink getting his ears flushed by Pam and came away with a great little vase from Nicaragua. I think Dave did a great job swapping!!! After the swap some 30 Gringos had a scrumptious sit down pot luck meal. Read more Entry>>

Live performance of Handel’s Messiah

It seems odd not seeing snow on the ground and not having the temperature outside near or below freezing.
Maneuvering by car or by foot in the snow and ice to do regular errands and/or Christmas shopping has been challenging at best this year in Maine. By reports, nearly 4 feet sits on the ground there! What a challenge it would have been to do what we did last year with all the white stuff continuing to fall every few days! Quite the contrast here, near the equator!!!
All the trees in the central park across from the big church here in San Ramon are decorated with lights. Local businesses each adopted and outfitted a tree to decorate and make a beautiful nighttime glow in the center of San Ramon.

Our tico friend, Andres, a friend of his and his grandmother, joined us last week, to hear and see a FREE live performance of Handel’s Messiah performed by the Costa Rican National Symphony and the National Chorus. This was one of the seven performances held around the country that started in the beginning of December. It was held, appropriately, at the same big church across from the park called Parroquia de San Ramón de Alajuela. Although this isn’t my kind of music, I understand that this is an annual cultural festivity. The acoustics were awesome in that church and it proved to be a special way to bring in the holiday spirit.

Like many cultural events here, it was open and free to all, and paid for by the Ministry of Culture. When a country doesn’t support an Army and war… education, health care, music, art and theater can be funded and given to the people! Read more Entry>>

A Tico Christmas

We are sending this to you in hopes that you would enjoy reading about how Christmas is celebrated in this other part of the world.
No one would ever think there are only 10 days before Christmas as everything seems so laid back and joyful. On second thought, maybe they are waiting for snow! (hope not - we didn't leave a forwarding address for THAT)
Enjoy reading this and have a blessed holiday!!!
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A Tico Christmas

by Michael L. Smith

As in other parts of the world, Christmas in Costa Rica is a time for celebration and parties, sharing and reflecting. The month of December is electric with thoughts of the season, and busy with preparations for festivities, family get togethers and vacations. In late November decorations begin to appear in downtown shops, and by the second week of December everybody has lights strung, cypress wreaths hung and Christmas trees decorated. And you can be sure that here, too, stockings are carefully in place awaiting the arrival of the Baby Jesus. The traditional Christmas tree in Costa Rica is a big evergreen branch, a small cypress tree, or dried coffee branches. The "tree" is decorated with white paint and brightly colored strips of paper. Lights and small colored balls, a variety of small figures and lace are also used to adorn the greenery. A gold star is placed on top as a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem. Christmas was first celebrated in Costa Rica in 1601 when then-Governor Don Gonzalo Vásquez de Coronado organized nationwide festivities.

A very popular Latin American tradition--the portal--is a nativity scene constructed of mosses and grass, colored sawdust, cypress twigs, black paper, silver glitter and figurines representing the birth of Jesus in the manger. Along with the traditional figures of Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, shepherds, the three wise men and the ox and mule, Costa Ricans commonly add extra embellishments like dolls, little farm animals, tiny toys, fruits and berries, and lights. While Costa Rican families spend a great deal of time arranging their portales just right, tradition says that families who don't own a home must use a portal that has been received as a gift--then the holy family will help them get a house of their own. The portal is often placed under the tree (along with the presents) but may sit on a table, platform or on the floor in a corner of the living room. Wherever it is, it occupies a position of honor and is a point of pride in the home. The people put a lot of effort into making each year's portal better than the last and the displays frequently outgrow the space under the tree or on the table and begin to monopolize a large part of the living room.

The figure of Baby Jesus is placed in the portal at midnight on December twenty-fourth. That's also when the adults open their gifts. The children are told that the Baby Jesus brings their gifts while they are sleeping. Nowadays, Saint Nicholas has also become an important part of the custom and his rotund presence is everywhere.
Posadas take place during the nine days before Christmas. Originating in Spain and Mexico, the posada consists of a group of neighbors getting together at a different neighbor's house each day to act out the pilgrimage of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem. This is accompanied by singing and praying, snacks of the season, and lots of tamales. The Misa de Gallo, Christmas Mass, takes place at midnight on December twenty-fifth. That is the night that many families enjoy their traditional Christmas dinner. The origin of the portal is attributed to Saint Francis de Assisi. It is said that in the thirteenth century, St. Francis started making belenes-- representations of the birth of Christ-- with figures of humans and animals.

Throughout the month of December there are parades, carnivals, parties, and religious processions in all corners of the country. The tope has been celebrated in Costa Rica since colonial times. Originally the activity when bulls were cut out of the herd to be used in the bull fights, for the past forty years it has been a formal parade of horses down the main streets of San José. Riders from across the country come to the city to show off their best mounts and formal duds. Today's tope includes much more than stately horses and their proud riders. Other folkloric elements have been introduced such as horse-drawn carriages and the famous hand-painted oxcarts. The tope is complemented with a grand parade complete with floats, marching bands, dancing girls and clowns. This also runs down the main streets of San José, turning the city into a sea of partying humans. For many Costa Ricans this parade is the party event of the year. Bullfights are synonymous with the season's festivities in Costa Rica. Popular since the colonization, they take place in the Zapote Arena every night during the festive season. The bulls are never harmed in the Tico version of the bullfights. The most popular phase of the Tico bullfight is the run when dozens of young men race into the ring en masse with the intention of frightening the bull and provoking it to attack. Although the bull is never harmed; occasionally one of the men is gored. The whole thing is a performance designed to release adrenaline, relieving the frustrations of the past year. Thanks to the Costa Rican government every worker in the country has extra money in December to spend on gifts. The Aguinaldo is a government declared Christmas bonus, given to every employee in the country by his or her employer. It is equivalent to a full month's pay. Costa Rica was a Latin American pioneer in the establishment of this mandatory bonus. There is also a special drawing worth several million colones held during December by the National Lottery Commission. As Christmas Day approaches, much of the electricity in the air can be attributed to this Lotería Navideña. On New Year's Day all Tica housewives prepare for the coming year by sweeping out the house, from one end to the other, removing the past year's bad luck and beginning anew.

Traditional seasonal foods include the tamale (corn flour dough stuffed with potatoes, vegetables and pork or chicken, then boiled in plantain leaves) - (here is a recipe for Costa Rican tamales) ttp://www.cocori.com/library/crinfo/tamal.htm ; puposa (tortilla with with cheese, corn and whatever); vigoron (cabbage, tomato, yucca and fried pork rind, served on a plantain leaf); and grilled pork, chicken and sausage. Many Costa Ricans have adopted the foreign custom of eating turkey and ham, as long as they are accompanied by the traditional Costa Rican tamale. Rompope is also in great supply. Known by North Americans as eggnog, it is generously fortified with dark rum or brandy. The closing ceremony to the Christmas season isn't until January sixth (traditionally the date the three wise men arrived to worship Jesus) when neighbors get together for a special prayer for the Baby Jesus. Family and friends pray the rosary and sing Christmas carols. Then food is offered and the portal disassembled and put away until next year.

Feliz Navidad, Próspero Año Nuevo, and may the Baby Jesus leave a gift for you under the Christmas tree Read more Entry>>

Family arrives!!!

Both David’s mother, Lois and our youngest son, Matthew arrived today on separate flights. Matt is only going to be here a week so we have to move fast to show him this beautiful country!
The first full day we took it easy on them by taking them to a class at UCR, lunch at Aroma’s, a trip to the feria and a ride around San Ramon.
For 2 nights we stayed at the Hotel Arenal Paraiso in a cabin facing Arenal volcano in hopes that they would not only see the volcano in the day but watch it erupt at night.
Because it was so overcast and rainy, they finally got to see Arenal when we drove up to the Arenal Observatory Lodge. Visability is possible at the lodge because it is on the other side of Arenal and higher in elevation.Dave drove me, Mom and Matt to the Basilica in Cartago one day. The next day he drove us to see the topiaries in Zacero and to shop in Sarchi.
On November 25th, we took Mom and Matt to the Brinks to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving sit down meal prepared and presented lovingly by Arden and Dave for 34 Gringos!
The day after that wonderful first Thanksgiving feast celebrated here in Costa Rica, we had to kiss Matt goodbye as he had to go back to Texas.
Before Dave’s Mom left to go back to Florida, we took her to meet other friends, shopping, to the Zoo Ave zoo and to Poas volcano.
WHEW! They both probably needed a vacation from the vacation! Read more Entry>>

Introducing the new addition!

Near the beginning of this month, a small stray dog started coming under our front gate to play with Raffy while we were asleep.
She was seen in the house twice by David and he watched her as she ran back under the fence and down the street. We decided after her third visit that she likes Raffy and has no fear of him - so we adopted her!
She is white with a big black ‘spot’ around her right eye. Because ‘spot’ in Spanish is ‘pinta’, that is what her name became!
Pinta is about 1/4 the size of Raffy and she is fearless! Knowing that she is a stray, we have been able to identify that there was at least a Dalmation and Terrier somewhere in her bloodline. She has black ‘spots’ on her pink skin under her white hair along with the Terrier traits of barking at everything and anything. I have never seen a dog SO small growl and snarl like cujo when playing with a big dog like Raffy. She considers him to be the 'boss' and lets him move her around by the neck with his mouth!!!
Like the song "Ebony and Ivory" they are not only black and white but they "live together in perfect harmony". Read more Entry>>

To Nicaragua we go again!

Where did the last three months go???
Once again we went with the Brinks to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. We asked Andres to stay at our house while we were gone. Not only did he look after the house but he took very good care of Raffy while he healed
This time we went in the Brinks van because it needed its’ paperwork updated. We shared a 2 bedroom/2 bath suite with them at the Park Ave Villas. The suite had a full kitchen, dining room, living room and a courtyard pool right outside our door. It was a nice accomodations even though Dave Brink didn’t get a chance to enjoy it. He was ill the whole time we were gone.
After returning from the three day trip, we decided that in the long run we are better off applying and paying for residency than leaving the country every 3 months. We started the process in August with Javier at Residency in Costa Rica. Read more Entry>>

Our car got 'nationalized'

We waited as long as possible hoping we would not have to pay to get the car nationalized. When we decided to ship the Subaru, we were under the impression that we would not have to pay the tariff on the car because of a law passed in 2007 that gave handicapped people a waiver. Unfortunate for us, the government had difficulty defining who is eligible under that law. By taking the car out of the country in April, it gave us a final 90 days before they either gave us the waiver or we had to get the car ‘nationalized’. As it happened, we ended up paying $5000 for the taxes, RTV, plates, inscription, registration and insurance on our 97’ Subaru Outback. Seems strange to see Costa Rican plates on our car with the “Sugarloaf” and “Brunswick Lacrosse” stickers on the back window! Read more Entry>>

Our first house guests

We had our first houseguests arrive today. We met Gail K. from California and Vicki B. from Texas on George Lundquist’s tour of CR in 2006.
Among other places, we took them to our friends high end gift shop the Iguana Tranquila and Poas volcano.We really enjoyed our short visit with them before they left to go on George’s South Central Tour. Read more Entry>>

Our neighbor knows what we have

Roxanne, our neighbor, stopped by late this afternoon. She stood outside the metal fence with her tea towel slung over one shoulder motioning to Dave (who was in the kitchen) to come out. She wanted him to cut and give her some fresh oregano off our plant in the front yard for her ‘carne y frijoles’ (beef and beans) she was making for supper. She is either very observant when walking by or was friendly with our landlady because we know she hasn’t been inside our gated yard before! Read more Entry>>

Dave gets his drivers license in Costa Rica

Dave along with the Brinks got their Costa Rican drivers licenses today. Speaking little Spanish and not knowing the procedure, they asked Ray Forte from Ship Costa Rica to go with them.
First stop was to park the Subaru in a “free” parking lot. The parking lot is connected somehow to the Doctor that does the “physical” required to get the license. A parking lot attendant led the whole crew down the street to the Doctor’s “office”.
The Doctor’s “office” opened to the sidewalk and was about 12 feet by 6 feet small. The “office” shared a wall with a small Soda (a Tico eatery) next door. The small office was basically one room with a wall that extended half way across. On one side of the wall was an eye chart on the wall and 2 or 3 chairs to sit on. On the other side of the wall was a surface for the Doctor to work from and 2 chairs.
Most of the physical done was done visually as Dave had nothing done, Dave Brink had his blood pressure taken and Arden had her far vision checked. Everyone was charged 10,000 colones ($20.00) and it all took minutes to complete.
Across the street was the MOPT (the Costa Rican DOT). At the top of the flight of stairs (probably 20) Ray went into an office to get everyone’s paperwork stamped (copies of their passports, copies of their valid driver’s licenses, and copies of their entrance stamps). After a woman checked all the stamped paperwork, they were given the paperwork back to be taken to the Banco National branch in the building. After making the $20 or $30 payment at the bank and having a photo taken they all walked out of there with their new Costa Rican driver’s licenses.
FUNNY STORY: Dave was told by a Tica in line that it was his turn. He asked her how she knew that he was a gringo and she stated quite simply “Because of your shirt” (it was a Hawaiian print one!) Read more Entry>>

Blue our 'gift' kitten

Someone put a blue-eyed cutie under our front gate this morning. Raffy alerted us that someone had left him a new toy!
Dave put him on a towel in a laundry basket and off we all went to class at UCR. He was the topic du jour, especially with his Dr. Seuss looks. Mostly black, he had a very interesting loop of white that went around his tail and down one rear leg. The white stopped short above his foot long enough to change back to all black before it resumed to an all white foot. The whole thing certainly looked like a question mark and hence begged the ‘question’ does the universe have a great sense of humor or what?!
After class we stopped by the vet. He washed and examined it, estimating that this little boy was 4 weeks old. We came home with the recipe and all the tools needed for feeding this infant by hand with a dropper.
As time went on, ‘Blue’ became too big for the laundry hamper and then the bath tub but remained too small to ‘play’ with Raffy. We ended up giving ‘Blue’ (along with his food, toys, litter box and litter) to Andres’s family on June 19th (or more specifically to his grandmother and sister). They called him ’Caruca’.
Oh by the way, little ‘boy’ Blue turned out to be a girl!

Read more Entry>>

Bamboo furniture

We had our furniture delivered today.

It was ordered 6 weeks ago with the referral and interpreting assistance coming from our Tica friend, Patricia. The furniture was ordered directly from the maker who has his workshop (and probably his home) on the auto pista (Trans American Highway) before Palmares headed to San Ramon.
And we got just what we ordered – a loveseat and 2 chairs all with custom made zippered cushions (in the fabric of our choice) and a glass top table for the living room, a dining room table and six chairs (each chair had a custom zippered cushion on it in the material of our choice), and two bed side tables. All this for $900.00 USD!
Grade A workmanship, light color bamboo (as opposed to the burnished look) and matte finish (as opposed to the glossy). Not only are we impressed with the quality of the materials used and how it was put together but we KNOW we couldn’t have even gotten the dining room table for $900 in the states!
The only way we would have known about this place and these artisans was from our friend. So a big thank you goes out to you, Patricia!!! Read more Entry>>