http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Costaricasteven/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Costaricasteven en-us Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:57:49 +0000 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:57:49 +0000 Being a former restaurant owner and foodie I love learning about local foods. Costa Rica is blessed with some of the best fruits vegetables fish etc. in the world but local cuisine is sometimes lacking creativity and strong flavors.Since moving to the country my neighbor Mariellas has been inspirational in teaching me some local favorites. We just planted an organic vegetable garden that both http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-380236.html Thursday Costa Rica had a major earthquake. The current information is 23 are dead 11 are missing and 2300 people have been left homeless. The epicenter was near Poas Volcano just a few hours from my home in San Ramon. President Arias declared some areas uninhabitable in the future. There were photos of people walking away with just a garbage bag filled with a few possessions with all else lost. http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-380235.html While many foreigners are buying up land and houses at the beach my San Ramon friends always share their wisdom of living in San Ramon the mountains and vacationing at the beach. There is some special connection between Samara and San Ramon for many Ramonense San Ramon folks. Many families from San Ramon also have houses at Samara and the standard joke is during Christmas or Semana Santa you http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Guanacaste/Samara/blog-340680.html Irsquom heading back to San Ramon tomorrow July 4th after spending some time in my other home Ithaca NY. Irsquom in NYC at the moment the ultimate contrast to San Ramon.When I was growing up in the 1960rsquos the United States and NYC was the land of opportunity for working and middle class people. Now the rich are richer and life is challenging for most. Watching the news leaves you wi http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-340678.html Today is Costa Rica Independence Day a festive colorful celebration. San Ramon is rocking with parades costumes music and general festivities. On this day in 1821 Costa Rica declared itrsquos independence from Spain. It is a treat to live in a country that has used itrsquos independence to create a vibrant democracy with no military national health care and education for all. It is neithe http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-340676.html As someone who has spent most of his life in cities and college towns it remains an unexpected turn to own an organic coffee and fruit farm. These are THE crops of Costa Rica and before tourism and foreign investment became such a powerful part of the economy coffee and bananas ruled.My farm in El Empalme has an amazing ocean view and the sunset in the Pacific is an inspiring experience. El Empa http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-267713.html Here in San Ramon people live by the wisdom of living in the mild weather of the Central Valley and vacationing at the beach. Most locals and tourists visit the Pacific beaches such as Samara Jaco Tamarindo or Manuel Antonio but the Caribbean beaches are a whole other experience hellip and worth the trip.The Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica is not Latin but rather settled by Black and Indigenou http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Limon/Puerto-Viejo-de-Talamanca/blog-248986.html In Costa Rica there is only one sport hellip soccerfutbol. So watching the NFL is an exotic mysterious thing for Ticos. For me and a very small group of friends it is a pleasure when it is time for the NFL playoffs and Super Bowl. Herersquos an idea of what itrsquos likehellipLast Saturday after a hard day of working I went home to watch the Patriots and Jaguars game but things don http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-238438.html While therersquos something charming about a white Christmas itrsquos way overrated. I barely escaped a week of snow and ice storms in Upstate NY to return to the mild weather and festive Latino scene here in San Ramon. Our partners Pablo and Mary welcomed us back as family and our neighbors and friends shout their greetings as we walk the streets of San Ramon. After 6 years here I feel acc http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-228909.html I donrsquot consider myself a funny person but when I met my first and best friend here in San Ramon Pablo Hidalgo hellip making him laugh was a joyful part of our time together. Now many years later our friendship has deepened and the laughs are a regular part of our day. Here in San Ramon making people smile and laugh is held in higher regard than showing how smart or knowledgeable you a http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-219001.html