I guess by reading the title of today's blog you can tell I was focused on food! I just prepared and ate some fried yuca that was wonderful! If you've ever had cassava chips, they're made from yuca. It's a starchy root vegetable similar to a potato. So I boiled the peeled chunks of yuca in water until they were done then flattened them out somewhat like you light do with a potato and then fried the pieces in some olive oil and salted them to taste. Very good indeed! The Tico-style humus I've made before but this time I added fresh cilantro and a bit of hot sauce in addition to fresh garlic and salt to the cooked and pureed garbanzo beans. I have a blender that works pretty well for the pureeing. Since I ... read more

I was a little over-ambitious yesterday & last night with downloading all of the photos from my recent 4-day trip.So now I'll bring you up-to-speed with the text about those last two days. It was wonderful to have the sun again at Monteverde after a couple of very gray, rainy, drizzly (but warm) days at Arenal and La Fortuna! However along with the sunshine came cool temps and very high winds. Very typical for Monteverde. Of course for most people as long as they have ample layers they probably enjoy the brisk winds but for me it was a challenge trying to stay warm. While Barb & Mary went on a hike which included a series of hanging bridges, I sought out something to do that would be more comfortable and thankfully chose a local hummingbird ... read more

FELIZ DIA DEL AMOR Y DE LA AMISTAD! Happy Day of Love and of Friendship! You can read about Valentine's Day in Costa Rica and other Latin American Countries through the link below. http://insidecostarica.com/dailynews/2010/february/14/costarica-10021407.htm Since I'm leaving on another 4-day trip with Barb and her friend Mary today there will not be a blog until Thursday. I'm still trying to post the audio/video of the live music next door from yesterday. Hopefully I'll be successful before I leave. Hasta luego, Barb ... read more

I had a rather slow start to the morning...well slow for me. I wasn't dressed by 6am! After eating almost all that salsa with chips yesterday my stomach was protesting a bit this morning. Not surprising with all the raw onions, tomatoes & garlic in there! It was definitely worth it! So I've been eating light today. Today I did some reading online about Intentional Communities & Cohousing. Very interesting! It's too soon to tell but it might be a more affordable way to live somewhere warm in the states for a few months. The concept intrigues me...there are many different kinds out there. Not all in warm climates! Please feel free to share if you have some knowledge about this lifestyle. Barb really came through with solidifying our transportation plans for both leaving on Monday ... read more

I met my friends first friends from Atenas, Kat & Layne, at Cafe El Balcon (The Balcony Cafe) in Atenas. It's a popular place for Gringos, run by a woman named Melanie who seems to know and remember everyone. She has an accent but I'm not sure's a Tica...speaks both English & Spanish very well. I ordered their Tico breakfast with Gallo Pico (beans & rice), Huevos (eggs), Queso Frito (fried cheese), Platanos Fritos (fried plantains> and Jugo Naranja (orange juice). Coffee was included but alas I am not a coffee drinker...almost seems criminal in Costa Rica! The food was delicious and the three of us were busy talking about my recent travels in CR as well as their experiences. It was a big breakfast but I ate it all!!!! I came home right afterwards and ... read more