Blogs from Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica, Central America Caribbean - page 3

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Central America Caribbean » Costa Rica » Alajuela » Atenas February 23rd 2011

I was pretty ambitious this morning as I walked to the bank and store before taking a taxi up to Barb's lovely casita. I was feeling slightly better before lunch but then started feeling lousy right afterwards. So she encouraged me to schedule an appointment with a doctor she went to see a few weeks earlier. I was able to get an appointment for 4pm today. So we took a taxi there. As I had suspected I had the common stomach upset that often happens to Gringos.....otherwise known as Montezuma's Revenge! I guess there's a first time for everything! Before the female doctor came in the male paramedic took my vitals and they were all normal. Then Dr. Candy Midence Noquera entered and asked many questions about my health in general. She seemed familiar with scleroderma ... read more
Also delicate but lavender color
Love the shape of this tree
Delicate white flowers

Central America Caribbean » Costa Rica » Alajuela » Atenas February 22nd 2011

Well it's nice to be back online after 24-hours of no connection! I'm told this wasn't connected with the earthquake. I guess if there was a good time to not be able to blog it was the past 24-hours as not much has happened. I've still been having some digestive "issues" that started several days ago. But tomorrow I plan to go to Barb's house so we can plan our trip to the Orosi Vally and Heredia. The latter will likely be this Saturday or Sunday with her Tica friend Maria Elena, who drives. The valley trip we're not sure yet. A couple of observations to share.... there are security guards at some pharmacies/farmacias including the one near me...not all though eggs are not kept in refrigerators in the stores and of course not at the ... read more

Central America Caribbean » Costa Rica » Alajuela » Atenas February 20th 2011

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/usb0001hud.php#details... read more

Central America Caribbean » Costa Rica » Alajuela » Atenas February 20th 2011

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

Central America Caribbean » Costa Rica » Alajuela » Atenas February 19th 2011

I forgot to mention about zip lining in my last blog entries. The three of us were not interested in doing it at Arenal due to the wet conditions and fog plus Barb had heard from a few people that particular zip line location had some history of accidents where people ran into trees :( So I'm exploring places to zip line where it's not in the rain forest or cloud forest and not too far away......will keep you posted! I have just about 2 1/2 weeks until I leave CR to go to Maryland for a week to stay with my sister before heading back to Central Oregon! I've been pretty lazy this weekend, which means I've been using the Internet and catching up on emails. I think my body was telling me to take ... read more

Central America Caribbean » Costa Rica » Alajuela » Atenas February 14th 2011

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

Central America Caribbean » Costa Rica » Alajuela » Atenas February 13th 2011

I can't say it's been a real quiet Sunday since the next-door neighbors have been having quite a party with live music. I even recording a bit of it for you to listen to. Of course we can't them so it's just the audio with some video of the surrounding area by my apartment again. It hasn't been bothersome at all, rather I've enjoyed the music. I'm guessing alcohol is involved since they're louder now that they were several hours ago;) I met my new neighbors last night. Like the past three they were just staying one night on their way to the beach. They're a Tico couple from San Jose, Juan and Caroline. He's a lawyer practicing business law, like someone else we know! He's one of the attorneys for BCR, Bank of Costa Rica. ... read more

Central America Caribbean » Costa Rica » Alajuela » Atenas February 12th 2011

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

Central America Caribbean » Costa Rica » Alajuela » Atenas February 11th 2011

This being Friday I went to the Feria this morning and bought mangoes, bananas, strawberries, tomatoes, onions, carrots, oranges, avocados, cilantro. And that's less than usual since Barb and I are leaving for our trip with her friend on Monday. While I was there I met a group of 5 Gringos wearing matching bright orange t-shirts saying "My Friends are all Crazy". They had just arrived in CR a couple days before and decided to wear the shirts to make it easier to find each other in a crowd! What a good idea. If I remember correctly they were from the midwest. Since I had all the fresh ingredients, I made Pico de Gallo with Avocado to have with chips for an early supper. It was wonderful. Earlier this afternoon I had half of one of ... read more
Odd Pod...do you know what it is?
Inside of pod
Pico de Gallo Fresca

Central America Caribbean » Costa Rica » Alajuela » Atenas February 9th 2011

Today's day trip to Grecia and Sarchi began about 8:30am when Barb & Claude picked me up and we were on our way! I don't think they know how to build straight roads here in Costa Rica. Not just are the windy but there are many hairpin turns when of course it's possible to meet a bus or truck. Oh and these roads are narrow. Many bridges are one way. Regardless the drive was scenic and fun. We must have arrived in Grecia around 9am. Grecia is known for being the cleanest town in Central America as well as their metal red church. The metal panels to build the church were made in Belgium and were shipped by boat to the Port of Limon on the Caribbean side of the country and transported by wooden oxcarts ... read more
Passing by a creek/river
Cafe where we had breakfast in Grecia
inside church




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