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Published: November 20th 2011
Rice Pasta
Gluten Free in Costa Rica!We've been here 2 full weeks now and it has been a while since our last post. While we haven't really done much over the last week, a lot has happened.
First item of note - the discovery of gluten-free pasta! Twice!! We found rice pasta here in a grocery store in San Pedro (see photos) and again in Manuel Antonio last weekend (rice/corn penne imported from Italy!). It is always exciting to find GF products while traveling. In keeping with the food theme, we also had a cooking lesson from our Mama Tica and we learned how to make Gallo Pinto (the typical breakfast dish of rice and beans with a secret sauce!). We suspect that it will never taste the same when we make it, but we will try all the same, provided we can ship home some of the special Lizano sauce. When we arrived here we were told that you either get sick of rice and beans, or get to the point where you can't live without them. Thankfully the latter has happened and we thoroughly enjoy gallo pinto every morning.
This past week has been difficult as Liz hasn't been feeling well. The climate
Spaghetti Night
GF with homemade sauce - yum! here takes some getting used to, as any given day will start out looking beautiful (sunny, clear, warm) but ultimately the clouds roll in and rain will show up, typically in the form of a sudden downpour! On Wednesday, whilst walking between buses in San Jose, we were caught in the rain with no umbrella. (We can't say we haven't been warned about this, it's just that the mornings are always so deceiving!). After this Liz started feeling worse, and Thursday and Friday were rough days, but after some R&R she is on the mend and feeling much better! We are thankful that we have a very supportive family here in Costa Rica.
Yesterday we spent the day strolling through downtown San Jose and perusing the markets. There is an artisan market where you can purchase hand made crafts, as well as a central market that sells pretty much everything, including souvenirs, household items, cooked meals and even chicken feet! Chris had his first churro - a deep fried donut-type pastry in the shape of a hot dog bun, which is rolled in sugar and pumped full of dulce de leche - deeee-lish. Now if only we could find
Makeover
Chris looking good with a fresh haircut and new shirt. these GF!!
Since we've been here we have both been in need of a haircut and last night Chris decided that his time had come. Rather than finding a local peluqueria it was decided that even though we did not have the right tools, the head shave could still be done! The results are posted here (see pic) and his wife thinks he looks great 😊
Every month Maximo Nivel hosts a party to celebrate the TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) program graduates, and this month's party was last night. The theme of the party was black & white, food and drinks were included, and there was much salsa (and even line!) dancing enjoyed by all.
A quick update on teaching: we discovered that on Fridays/Mondays, we have grade 2 and 3 classes. This was a nice change, as the younger kids are very sweet and eager to learn. This past week, all of the classes have had a test so we have been helping the kids practice for their exam. So far it seems many of the kids have done quite well!
And finally, the Christmas decorations have come out in full force! It is a little strange to see snowmen on rooftops when there is no sign of snow anywhere, but it is nice to be reminded that the festive season is just around the corner. The other day we saw a car drive by with Christmas trees on top! We are still wondering where they came from, as it seems strange that they would grow here. In any case, as people here are gearing up for the big holiday, we wish you all peace and love as you begin to do the same.
All our love,
Liz & Chris
p.s. Happy Birthday Dad! We are thinking of you today and wish we could be there! We love you!
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Julie
non-member comment
So glad you guys are having a great time!!! Don't worry you guys aren't the only ones who have no snow!!! It was the Toronto Santa Claus parade today and it was a balmy 14 degrees. Kinda hard to get into the spirit :) Miss you Julie and Bill xo P.s. Looking sharp Chris with the new hair cut!