Are you brave enough to travel to a place you
M y h u b b y a n d I r e c e n t l y d e c i d e d t o i s i t C a b o S a n L u c a s . I t ’ s o n h i s b u c k e t l i s t . W e w e r e r e a d t o s e c u r e i t w h e n a f r i e n d o f m i n e s a i d , “ W h d o n ’ t o u g o t o C o s t a R i c a i n s t e a d ? ” . I s s h e c r a ? I s n ’ t i t d a n g e r o u s ?
A f t e r r e s e a r c h i n g t h e c o u n t r y , a n d t h e n f i n d i n g a b e a u t i f u l 5 - s t a r r e s o r t n e a r t h e s i d e o f a n a c t i e o l c a n o , I w a s i n ! E d d i e … n o t s o m u c h . H e w a n t e d t o s t a y b y t h e o c e a n , I w a n t e d t o s t a y i n t h e j u n g l e . W e e n j o y d e e p - s e a f i s h i n g ; i t w a s o n o u r l i s t o f t h i n g s t o d o . I w o n , a n d o h m y , i t w a s b e a u t i f u l ! T h e r e s o r t h o u s e s a r o u n d 3 0 h o t s p r i n g s t h r o u g h o u t t h e p r o p e r t , a n d a i e w p r e t t i e r t h a n a b r a n d - n e w p u p p y . Y e s , I w a n t a n e w p u p p y , b u t I d i g r e s s .
T h e i e w f r o m o u r b a l c o n y w a s a m a j e s t i c o l c a n o , a p p r o p r i a t e l y n a m e d
A r e n a l . A c c o r d i n g t o a r e n a l . n e t , A r e n a l i s C o s t a R i c a ’ s b e s t - k n o w n o l c a n o .
I t ’ s a s t r a t o o l c a n o – a l a r g e , s y m m e t r i c a l o l c a n o t h a t ’ s b u i l t u p o n l a y e r s o f a s h , r o c k , a n d l a a – a n d a t 5 , 4 3 7 f e e t ( 1 , 6 5 7 m e t e r s ) , i t s t a n d s h i g h a b o e t h e r e s t o f t h e c o u n t r y s i d e .
A m u s t - s e e i f y o u i s i t C o s t a R i c a .
W e m a n a g e d t o f i t i n a c h o c o l a t e a n d c o f f e e t o u r . I l e a r n e d a b o u t c o f f e e a n d
w a s a b l e t o m a k e m o w n c h o c o l a t e , b u t I f a i l e d a t m s h o r t s t i n t a s a c h o c o l a t i e r . W e w e r e a l s o t a u g h t t h e p r o c e s s o f t h e c a c a o a n d c o f f e e b e a n s .
Editor Editor L E T T E R F R O M T H E LETTER FROM THE 8
T h e k n o w l e d g e o f o u r t o u r g u i d e , Y e n M a t a , w a s s u p e r b , n o t o n l y w i t h t h e
c h o c o l a t e s a n d c o f f e e b u t a l o a b o u t h i s c o u n t r y .
O u r n e t a d e n t u r e l e d u s t o a f r e s h w a t e r l a k e f i h i n g t r i p o n L a k e A r e n a l .
L a k e A r e n a l s i t s b e n e a t h t h e A r e n a l V o l c a n o i n t h e n o r t h e r n p a r t o f C o s t a
R i c a . I t i s t h e b i g g e s t m a n - m a d e l a k e i n C o s t a R i c a a n d p r o i d e s e s s e n t i a l h y d r o e l e c t r i c p o w e r g e n e r a t i o n f o r t h e c o u n t r y .
E d d i e w a s a b l e t o s n a g a R a i n b o w B a s s . N o t j u s t a n y R a i n b o w B a s . T h i b a s s w a s o e r 1 1 l b s . M o s t b a s s i n t h i s l a k e a r e b e t w e e n 5 – 7 l b s . , t h e r e c o r d w a s
1 2 l b s . 9 o . c a u g h t b a c k i n 1 9 9 9 . H e a p p a r e n t l y c a u g h t t h e g r a n d f a t h e r o f
t h i s t y p e o f f i s h .
C o s t a R i c a i s e t r e m e l y c l e a n . Y o u w o u l d b e h a r d - p r e s e d t o f i n d e e n o n e p i e c e o f p a p e r o n t h e g r o u n d . E e n t h e a i r p o r t w a s i m m a c u l a t e . I t w a
i n s p i r i n g t o w i t n e s s t h e p r i d e t h a t t h e y t a k e i n t h e i r e n i r o n m e n t .
Now, make memories with the one you love!
ive, a h, ove, d Tr vel, K e
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STaRs
COOK WITH COOK WITH YOUR KIDS YOUR KIDS
I haven’t always enjoyed cooking but the older I have gotten the more I have learned to love it. I was definitely not the best at it either and I will admit that! Growing up and having children, I realized that I had to make meals differently and to be a bit creative with some. Now, am I saying chicky nuggies and macaroni are never on the menu? Definitely not! That is still my go-to easy meal when the kids are cranky, if I have had a long exhausting day or that is simply what they want.
My oldest son just turned 12 years old and over the last few years he has been more involved in the kitchen with me. He has also learned to grill, with adult supervision of course. Having all boys, they seem to shadow each other and want to do what the older ones are doing. So, my 8-year-old son has also picked up cooking and grilling as well. I am optimistic the youngest will not be far behind him.
I grew up with a dad who has always cooked the most amazing meals and best barbecue you will ever have! (Yes, I am biased) He has cooked our big family meals and my favorite thing he does is cook-offs. As a younger child, I used to think cook-offs were boring. There were a lot of us having to sit around and just watch him cook. I had no interest in cooking. Now, anytime he has a cook-off, and we are able to make it, I make sure we are there.
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We always check if there are kids-cue. This is an event where the kids get to grill for the contest. My older two boys started doing these just over a year ago at a Polish cook-off in Bremond, TX. The meat, they were provided, was a pork chop. My dad laid out all kinds of seasonings for them to try so they could season their own, and then grill it themselves. They enjoyed it, and now we look forward to all cook-offs where they get to cook, even if it's just helping their PaPa.
My boys have also loved cooking at home with me, usually with easier foods. My oldest will offer to help since he can reach everything and wants to test the flavor before cooking. The easiest meals I have learned to cook with them are pasta because the sauces are easy to make. Yes, from scratch because it is usually very few simple ingredients. Another fun recipe to cook with kids are tacos, which are a weekly meal in our household because tacos are delicious. Tacos are easy to prepare and cook and kids love them! You do not always have to focus on the main courses. Kids like to bake too. I believe it is because they like to lick the mixing utensils and bowls, but helping is helping.
Letting your kids cook with you and teaching them are memories and moments that you will remember forever, and most importantly, so will they.
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by Amanda Luksha
