Editorís Note After only 40 years, the new highway from San José to Caldera, via Ciudad Colón and Orotina, has been opened by Dr. Arias, bringing the Pacific coast to within 45 minutes of the capital, at a toll cost of ¢1,500 per car. What’s in it for us? It should take a lot of traffic away from the main carretera through Esparza. It seems that the high season is shaping up well. After a very busy Christmas and New Year, which saw the Gold Coast flooded with visitors from far and wide, there are still many tourists on the coast and businesses are enjoying their most prosperous season in the last few years. And there is more to come. Hotel, restaurant and tour operators tell me that they have heavy bookings for February and March. Costa Rica schools go back in February so it should quieten down a little, but that is not our biggest revenue base, and with the unusually severe winter being experienced in North America and Europe, Costa Rica is a nice place to be. We actually got a taste of the US cold front which reached all the way down here. In Tamarindo the nighttime temperature dropped to a frigid 24oC (75oF). Some locals were spotted actually wearing shirts! But we are wondering what the dreaded Global Warming is about, when half the world is freezing to death. The Howler is offering a new range of advertising sizes – 1/3, 1/6 and 1/12-page. The new sizes and prices are shown on page 6. In response to many requests, we will also offer a Classified Ad section for your small announcements. Ads must be prepaid by bank deposit.
Benno knows where the best articles are. He is the son of Philine Nugteren and John Brown of Tamarindo.
The Howler Since 1996
February 2010
FEATURES 8 Dining Out
Under new management, Tamarindo’s La Laguna del Cocodrilo is still serving delicious meals.
14 Around Town Openings, closings, parties, music. The Gold Coast has it all, and bar-hoppin’ David is in the groove.
15 Surf Report
The new season is under way, and the CoralLime Classic in Palo Seco de Parrita is won by Luis Vindas, of Jacó.
16 Pioneers of Potrero Al Heesaker passed away in March, 2009, after leaving Canada to live in Potrero 34 years ago.
17 Cashews, Cannonballs & Food Coloring
The smaller trees of the Guanacaste countryside give us some strange but useful fruits.
20 Chocolate The delicious product of the cacao tree, much beloved at Valentine’s Day, is grown right here in Costa Rica.
26 What’s Developing? The region south of Junquillal appears to be the up-and-coming favourite of developers.
33 Chillin’ Out
As a very hot summer starts, our columnist looks for new ways to keep his home cool.
34 Surviving Costa Rica
February 7 is the national day to elect Costa Rica’s next president. Jesse gives us an overview of the candidates.
Cover Caption: Susana models the latest in Gold Coast beach fashion. Cover design and photo: John Lyman Photos www.johnlymanphotos.com
DEPARTMENTS 10
CD Review
11
Book Review
12 Yoga 13
Soccer
24 Slice of Life 27 Puzzle 29 Tide Chart 32 February Forecasts 36 Sun & Moon 37 Student Voices
The Howler Founded in 1996 Vol. 15, No. 2 - February 2010 Issue No. 161 Editorial Office: Casa Equinox, Playa Tamarindo Guanacaste, Costa Rica Ced. Juridica: 3-101-331333 Publisher, editor and production David Mills dmills@racsa.co.cr www.howlermag.com Tel/fax: 2-653-0545 Contributors: TONY OREZ TOM PEIFER JOHN LYMAN ELLEN ZOE GOLDEN CYNTHIA CHARPENTIER JEANNE CALLAHAN JESSE BISHOP NINA WEBER KAY DODGE
Deadline for March: February 15
Howler advertising
Advertise in the Howler and improve your business. The Howler now offers a wide range of advertising sizes and formats to suit all needs. Please contact: David Mills - 2-653-0545 dmills@racsa.co.cr Advertising rates (color) Size
Casagua Horses The greatest variety of tours and riding experiences for all ages, featuring spectacular countryside, howler monkeys, colorful small towns and fun-filled fiestas. Cantina Tour - Nature Tour Fiesta & Tope Rental - Old Tempate Trail Tour Located near Portegolpe on the main road, opposite the Monkey Park, just 20 minutes from the beach.
Phone us at: 2-653-8041 • kaydodge@racsa.co.cr www.paintedponyguestranch.com The best horses on Guanacaste’s Gold Coast!
1/12-page 1/8 1/6 1/4 1/3 1/2 Full
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www.tamarindobeach.net www.tamarindohomepage.com
David Mills
Dining Out
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a Laguna del Cocodrilo in Tamarindo is under new management since November 2009, but the new operators, Alicia Repetto and Alejandro Sauma, are maintaining the high level of dining for which the restaurant is renowned. The menu is fine international dining, the dishes served up as a feast for the eye as well as the palate. Chef is Manfred Martínez. La Laguna opens for cocktails at the bar at 4 p.m., and the kitchen starts at 5. Seating is either under cover or out in the tropical garden amid the palm trees on the beach. For those wishing a light snack there is a boca menu of red pepper stuffed with fish & shrimp; garbanzos with pork; chifrijo; potatoes stuffed with fish & langoustines; and Neapolitan fishballs. Appetizers include a herbed goat cheese soufflé; seabass ceviche; spiced scallops; duck confit salad; and tropical salad. We started with green salad and crab (surimi) salad, both very tasty. Main dishes are seafood tagliatelle; tropical lobster; Tamarindo mahi-mahi; pistachio-wrapped tuna; chicken breast in Flor de Caña rum reduction; ribeye steak; Costa Rican bouillabaisse. Our choices were pork tenderloin stuffed with apple and goat cheese in orange ginger glaze, and red snapper with roasted eggplant and cherry tomatoes. All of our dishes were delicious. A range of wines includes Chile, Argentina, France, California, Spain and Italy. Wednesday has Happy Hour from 5 to 7 with 2-for-1 mojitos. A special Valentine’s menu is planned for February 14th. La Laguna del Cocodrilo is closed Sunday, open by request; hours are 4-10 p.m. All credit cards accepted. Reservations at 2-6533897. Website is at www.lalagunatamarindo.com.
Mardi Gras Flamingo 2010
Photos 2009 by Caterine Milinaire www.globalfiestas.com Get your Masks and wild 2:30 pm in Potrero outfits ready and join the - near Las Brisas resfun! Mardi Gras Carnival taurant. is about to show its full colors under the GuanaAn assortment of caste sun. music bands, creative decorated The Mystics of Flamingo floats, clowns and for the past six years have sexy dancers, will organized a Mardi Gras slowly make their parade to the delight of way to Flamingo children and locals. where dancing in the . streets, at the plaza Queen Marie and her cosand sometimes in the tumed court will arrive by bars continues way boat on Fat Tuesday the into the night. Don’t 16th of February - at about miss it!
CD Review Brazilian Café Tony Orez
A
s the world’s largest coffee producer, café scenes have become an integral part of Brazilian culture and landscape, as has its unique style of music, blending samba, Portuguese, bossa nova, Spanish and jazz into a unique indigenous blend. According to popular legend, Brazilian songwriters Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes were sitting in one of their favorite cafés in Ipanema, a fashionable district of Rio de Janeiro, watching all the pretty women walk by, especially the knockout from the neighborhood, Helo Pinheiro. Their ode to her has become a timeless, internationally recognized song, “The Girl from Ipanema”. I have already mightily extolled the virtues of the Putumayo label in previous editions of this column, so I will simply cut to the chase this time. Lately, they have been growing thematic titles, with their “lounge” and “groove” compilation albums from different regions of the world. The best of each of these, I believe, have been the “Brazilian Lounge” and “Brazilian Groove” CDs. Ditto, the “Acoustic Brasil”. Putumayo’s new vein has been a café series. I have heard the French and Cuba café albums and I like them, but I’ve been anticipating the Brazilian Café CD and last week, Putumayo released it in Costa Rica. This collection of twelve songs is diverse and as with the other Putumayo Brazilian CDs, I think that with few exceptions the female vocalists best portray the sensuous side of Brazilian music. The Teresa Cristina offering, “Para Nao Contrariar Voce”, with her three-piece band Grupo Semente, is a good example. Originally a manicurist and cosmetic salesperson, Teresa broke onto the Rio club scene at the age of twenty-six and never looked back. The song selected is one from the legendary samba singer/ composer Paulinho Da Viola, a great choice, as the torch is passed to the next generation of Brazilian torch singers. Another great cut on this disc is the live track of “Feliz e Triste” by Ceumar. Ceumar’s pristine voice shines through on this acoustic bossa nova number. Rosa Passo’s contribution “Pequena Musica Nocturna” is another standout. In addition, Marcia Salomon contributes her rendition of “Quando o Carnaval Chegar”, by famed singer composer Chico Baurque, with her own stamp of style on the song. My personal favorite project on the disc is “Arranco de Varsovia” by the Brazilian samba band Forca da Imaginacao, formed by pianist Arranco de Varsovia. The band specializes in updating classic samba songs while putting their own spin on them at the same time. It’s a statement about the all-encompassing modernization and face lifts currently going on throughout Brazil, in lieu of hosting the upcoming World Cup there. All the Brazilian music on the Putumayo label that has been mentioned in this article can be purchased at the Jaime Peligro book stores in Playa Tamarindo, Tilaran and Quepos, where they will gladly sample the music for their customers.
Book Review Allende Beckons a New Audience Tony Orez
T
he renowned Chilean author Isabel Allende has garnered an esteemed reputation for her myriad of historical novels, including Daughter of Fortune, Eva Luna and House of Spirits. She has also become recognized as a strong Latina spirit who writes about other strong Latin women and the Latin cultures in general, especially those originating in South America. Along the way, she has also carved a niche for herself as a kind of “other worldly” writer of what has come to be called “magic realism”, using alternative spiritualisms as themes for some of her novels, a total of twelve at last count. Ms. Allende has recently ventured onto new turf with “City of the Beasts”. Make no mistake; there are still powerful Latina characters and a lot of mystical occurrences in the new work, but this time she reaches out to a younger readership and I wholeheartedly approve the current wave of new writing for young readers. But there is a motto among successful writers to “write what you know” and it is here that I think Isabel falters in her new work. Alexander Cold, the main character in this novel, is a fifteen-year-old boy from a small town in Northern California, very similar to where I also grew up. I had a difficult time believing the naïveté of this character. To be sure, when I was fifteen (forty years ago), I had a lot more savvy and street sense than Alex does. But then, Isabel Allende has never been a fifteen-year-old male. I honestly thought that Alex was about nine or ten years old and, considering the wealth of exposure to the internet, cable TV, etc., that every American teenager has in the Twenty-first Century, I found the actions and ineptitude of the kid a bit implausible. That being said, the storyline is still a good one; it is entertaining and informative at the same time. The main character’s mother is stricken with cancer and in dire need of immediate therapy. So, his two sisters go to stay with an aunt, while his father stays with his wife and Alex flies alone to NYC, where he meets up with his grandmother, a semi-crotchety travel writer (Allende poking fun at herself?), who brings him with her on an adventure in search of a lost tribe in the Amazon, the fabled “children of the mist”, in addition to “the beast”, a kind of Neanderthal missing link, and the legendary treasured city of El Dorado. Here is where the real tale unfurls, with lots of ecological lessons and easily discernable heroes and villains. It’s a good tale with some memorable gems as lessons in this story, a fantasy with enough diversions and suspense to keep the young readers’ attention and to help make the information included in the story a little more digestible. The cover of the novel proclaim2s “City of the Beasts” to be the first part of a trilogy. Let’s hope with their experiences in this first adventure, Alex Cold and Isabel Allende both mature a bit.
TANO
for great Italian Food Gian Luca and Tano bring you authentic Italian pizza and pasta from Calabria to Huacas. Menu includes appetizers and soups; Spaghetti Bolognese; Frutti di Mare; alla Diavola; shrimp or clams; Fettuccini Alfredo or with Mushrooms. Brick oven Pizza choices are Napoli; Seafood;Four Cheeses; Spicy Pepperoni; Calzone; Prosciutto and Mushrooms; Roast Beef; Q u a t t r o S t a g i o n i ; H a w a i i a n a n d Ve g e t a r i a n . Dine al fresco at this great people-watching restaurant, in the old Guaymi Bar, 100 meters west of the SuperCompro in H u a c a s . Tel: 2-653-8341
on the Beach By Nina Weber Certified Yoga Instructor
YOGA AT CASA AZUL in Tamarindo Beachfront provides a combination of Dynamic * Challenging * Inspiring * Encouraging and Relaxing Yoga * Small groups and individual adjustments *Most important.: Yoga is fun !!!
Beach Yoga Live your yoga and embrace the beauty of the Gold Coast of Costa Rica The mirror of the sky reflects your soul. Divine golden rays of sunlight fuel your inner strength and prana intensifies, as Vayu (Hindu god of wind) unexpectedly blows through, offering you relief from the heat, and challenges your equanimity here on earth. As passing clouds float by they encourage us to release our thoughts and remain present, and the ocean symbolizes infinite possibilities, reminding us to let go of control and go with the flow. When we listen to nature’s transitional language and take directional cues from the physical world, we begin to connect to the living environment, freeing us from human constraints and giving us the ability to move like divine beings. At the moment your breath syncs with the ebb and flow of the tide and the waves guide your body through sun salutations, meditation in motion is realized and the true beach experience begins. True yoga works with nature and has the ability to awaken the higher powers of nature within us, making the beach
For more information email me at nina@tamarindoyoga.com. www.tamarindoyoga.com
an ideal place to realize your dharma (spiritual purpose in life). Whether you choose to practice down in the sand or up on Casa Azul’s veranda overlooking the ocean, don’t miss this opportunity to fuse a day at the beach with your yoga practice and perhaps discover inner peace, universal connection and sincere gratitude like never before! Carrie is a beach yoga instructor in the USA. She is also the designer of Twisted Guru Beach Mats (shown in photos). Twisted Guru Beach Mats were originally designed for beach yoga, at the Jersey Shore. The oversized fabric offers a large sand-free space to practice, while the built-in sand pockets kept the mat in place even on windy days. Today, surfsiders up use the mats for sunbathing, picnics and home decorating. Each mat is individually crafted with traditional Indian batik fabric and contemporary organic cotton to achieve the perfect balance between Hypnotic Comfort and Pure Sensibility. For more information: bodyknowledge.us.
T
National Cup Final
he Winter Cup Final of Costa Rican football was won, after two boring games, by Brujas Football Club.
Why so boring? The Costa Rican winter season was disrupted by the qualifying rounds for the World Cup, to be held in June and July this year in South Africa. As the national team La Seleccion (La Sele) comprises players from the first division teams, mainly Saprissa and La Liga, when a World Cup qualifier coincided with a national game, the national teams were depleted and fared badly. The situation was exacerbated when La Sele was forced into an unscheduled two-game repercharge with Uruguay, which they lost, denying Costa Rica a trip to South Africa. The result was that the major performers Saprissa and La Liga, the usual participants in the season championship, lost position in the league, while other teams climbed to the top. Thus, the two-game final was played between Puntarenas and Brujas. Lacking the top teams, the series was of little interest around Costa Rica. Both games were embarrassing displays of poor football, worse acting and a plethora of fouls. The series was decided by penalty kicks, by which Brujas just managed to scrape in. Not the best season for Costa Rican football. Summer Season 2010 The season began January 17 and runs to May 2, with quarter-finals May 5 and 9; semi-finals May 12 and 16; and championship May 23 and 30. Major League teams are Liga, San Carlos, Cartaginenses, UCR, Saprissa, Brujas, San Ramón, Pérez Zéledon, Liberia, Heredia, Puntarenos and Santos
Fusion Futbol Club
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oman’s Soccer has finally arrived at the coast! For the first time Tamarindo and the surrounding towns will have a Second Division Women’s soccer team right in our own “backyard.” We call ourselves Fusion F.C. because our club is made up of a mixture of cultures, languages and ages. The goals of Fusion F.C. is to promote woman’s soccer in Guanacaste, to create a supportive environment for women, motivation to perform at their best, make lasting friendships, gain role models, provide opportunities to grow and travel throughout the country, and at the same time improving skills as soccer players. (continued page 16)
I
f you would like to help the Haitian people in their hour of tragedy, you can donate money through Banco Nacional on-line. Look for “Donacion a pueblo de Haiti”.
Tamarindo Preserve has opened its Beach Club behind the offices on the Langosta Road, complete with pool, bar and restaurant. For the immediate future the club will be open to the general public. Farmacia El Cruce of Huacas has opened another store in Plaza Arenas in Flamingo, bringing to three the outlets in the area (third is in Garden Plaza in Tamarindo). The Banana Kings are playing at Maxwell’s in Surfside, Potrero, Friday evenings 6:30 – 9:30. The Guaymy Bar in Huacas has changed ownership and is now the Tano Restaurant y Pizzeria After a month’s break for renovations, Punto Tranquilo Restaurant in Huacas is open for business with a brand-new rancho roof and the same great cuisine. La Laguna del Cocodrilo is under new management. Alicia Repetto and Alejandro Sauma have taken over where Ben left off and are serving great meals. Nature’s Art is open for silk floral designs and arrangements at Paseo del Mar in Huacas. Don Brasilito’s Mexican Restaurant and Video Bar has opened on the beach in Brasilito, 200 meters north of the town center, for a fun-filled place for the family. For the month of February, El Pescador Restaurant is offering a special romantic Valentine’s menu. Call 2-653- 2523 or 2-653-1001 for reservations. The popular Bar Tuanis in Huacas has added a row of cabinas with a/c and cable television, just a short drive to Playa Grande and Tamarindo. Amigos de la Educacion celebrates its tenth “Have a Heart” Golf Tournament on Valentine’s Day at Hacienda Pinilla. Amigos supports local schools from kindergarten to university level throughout Guanacaste. Sponsors are urged to contact amigoseducacioncr@gmail. com to donate items for the silent auction and raffle. To register a team call 2-653-0270 or 8-825-2127 or drop in to the office next door to ABC Real Estate.
Surf Report
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Story: Ellen Zoe Golden
he first two dates of the Circuito Nacional de Surf DayStar presented by LimeCoral are in the can and we have two distinct winners. The first contest was in December, and the second in January. As the Howler deadlines fall way in advance the play-by-play are always late. But it’s always good to get caught up. I’ve reprinted the press information here so we can be up-to-date and ready for the third date which will run in Cocles in Limón this month. In a contest that saw talent dominating, the prevailing leader, Jacó’s Luis Vindas, became the first winner of the LimeCoral Classic which had its debut in the waves of Palo Seco de Parrita on January 16 and 17. In this tournament’s final were four athletes who did not compete in the first date of the Circuito Nacional de Surf DayStar in Jacó, but indeed were favorites in Esterillos. That final battle with Vindas (photo) included Carlos Muñoz of Esterillos (8.86)—the current Open, Junior and Boys champion—Jason Torres of Jacó (10.67) and Isaac Vega of Tamarindo (11.77), the last of which returned to the end of the Open after several seasons. The series was carried out near 2 p.m. in high tide with more public than Saturday—800 people—in front of the facilities of Aparta-HoFabián Sánchez tel La Isla, with waves of 5 and 6 feet (2.5 meters) in height with aerial attacks from all the finalists. Nevertheless, the surfing of Vindas ended up being the most impressive, starting with the first wave that initiated the heat, seizing a right where he landed an aerial backside without holding the surfboard. That score was 8.87. He kept in it for 15 minutes not wanting to run any more good waves until the last 5 minutes when he was pressured by Vegas who had a sturdy right, which opened Vindas up to the middle. He did not waste it and with those maneuvers added to his score a 15.93 in unattainable combination and a lack of time. Vindas, 22, affirmed that if he won at Palo Seco de Parrita, he would fight in the Circuito for the national title, which he has yet to obtain. The Billabong-sponsored surfer was sub-National champion in the 20072008 season when Gilbert Brown was champion, and the last time he won a date of the Circuito was in 2007 in Hermosa Beach in Jacó. “I am motivated to play a good role in this Circuito because I want to put up a fight for the Championship. I am going to be in all the dates of the Circuito to come. Next, I am going to Limón,” affirmed Vindas, also the winner of the Triple Crown of Summer 2008. In the Women’s, Junior and Longboard categories of the LimeCoral Class, the winners are athletes who took the spots in the previous Cir (continued page 25)
(from page 13)
Pioneers of Potrero - Al Heesaker
Sunset Farewell We had amazing success in the tournament 2009 in Lagunilla, Santa Cruz where we fought against 15 teams from Guanacaste. We were able to win the Championship on December 27th, 2009, against Trapiche 2-1. We were awarded a trophy, ¢100,000 and a new team uniform. Fusion F.C. was run 100% independently and relied solely on individual efforts from our fellow team mates to be able to afford the costs of playing in the tournament. This meant countless Sundays filling water bottles, negotiating rates to transport us to the games with local busetas, preparing food to sell at the games, raffling off soccer cleats, money, and don’t forget the chicken! Now that we have registered the team to advance into 2nd division we would like to thank the sports committee from Santa Rosa (comité de deportes de Santa Rosa) who have offered to help support us as much as they can during the upcoming season. Special thanks to Julio Ceasar Rojas, José Pablo Zúñiga, Marixta Ortega, Graciela, y Alvaro. We would like to invite young women from Tamarindo and the surrounding area to contact us if they are interested in trying out for our 2nd Division team (contact information below).
Diane Madson
A More.
lbert Heesaker of ‘Palmira Royale’ has bade a final farewell to the community he fell in love with in 1975 when he and his wife, June first set foot here at the invitation of Pearl June, her family and many Surfside local friends gathered on Playa Potrero at sunset on December 12, 2009, to bid their farewells to Al and to return his ashes to the small country that had become more dear to him even than his native country, Canada.
Peninsula of Canada’s west coast.
Albert was a man of many skills and abilities – made his way before age 20 working at Britannia Copper Mine on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, joined the army at age 22 (after fulfilling his high school graduation requirements in one year), went on to electrical engineer training and work with General Electric, then realized he should be a teacher, pursuing that career at age 35 - and was, thus, well prepared to make his transition to a whole new life in the tropics a delightful challenge and labour of love. Al had built some homes, including three of his own, in British Columbia during his summers as a teacher. In Potrero he built five houses, as well as the seven apartments at Palmira Royale,
Please come out and support our program beginning February 27th every other Sunday at the “Plaza Nueva” soccer field in Santa Rosa! If you can offer help in covering our operating expenses it would be much appreciated. . For more information contact Danielle Hollander at 8-922-9000 or daniellehollander@yahoo.com story by Danielle Hollander
When Al retired from teaching physics and mathematics at Vancouver Tech in 1978 he and June began spending winters in Surfside and Canadian summers on the Sechelt
where he and June lived while also renting units to locals, tourists and friends. Al and June actually joined forces after the break-down of each one’s original marriage. They married on June 28, 1969, bringing together a blended family, two sons for June and one son and two daughters for Al. (continued page 37)
Cashews, Cannonballs and Food Coloring by Kay T. Dodge Ph.D
S
o you know Guanacaste. What are tasty, but poisonous until the toxic gases are roasted off; cannonballs used to tote water and carved for the tourist market; and the red paste used to color faces and hair by indigenous cultures? If you said the products of some of Guanacaste’s small, but important, trees, you would be right. Tourists and scientist alike are attracted to the dry tropical forest trees, spectacular giants like Guanacaste, Cinícero, Ceiba, Espavél and Zandal. Often reaching over 15 stories high, these tropical hardwoods are easily recognized by characteristic shape, flowers or seed pods. But look again, some of the “little guys”, small tropical trees, 20 to occasionally 40 feet, have fascinating stories and are an important part of the dry forest ecosystem and culture of the Neotropics. Often seen planted along fencerows or as ornamentals, these small trees are a colorful warp of the tapestry of Guanacaste’s tropical vegetation. One of the main reasons I was drawn to Guanacaste (beside horses and Guanacastecos) was the dry tropical forest trees. On the finca in our tree nursery we planted from seed over 35 native hardwoods for reforestation and education programs. It was later, as I began to recognize the common trees of Guanacaste, that I added stories of some of the smaller, but fascinating trees, to our Natural History horseback tours. As we wander the old oxcart trails and small towns on horseback, riders are always interested in Guanacaste’s trees, especially the stories of three unique shrubby tree species - the Marañón (Cashew), Jícaro (Calabash, Guacal, Gourd or Cannon Ball Tree), and the Achiote (Annatto or Lipstick Tree). The Marañón or Cashew Nut (Anacardium occidentale) is a small tree which originated in the West Indies and South America. Prized for its tasty nut, the cashew tree has a most interesting fleshy red or yellow pear-shaped fruit with the kidney-shaped seed suspended below. This evergreen tree rarely reaches over 40 feet and has leathery leaves. It survives well in full sun, open areas and along fencerows. The cashew tree has clusters of tiny pink or pale yellow flowers which develop into the fruit and nut. The nuts are poisonous until roasted, containing toxic cardol oil which can cause blisters on the skin. Cashews are commercially grown, collected and roasted for sale or grown in many back yards for home use. The juice from the fleshy fruit is squeezed and sweetened with sugar and used as a fruit drink; it has a dry, walnut flavor and is certainly an acquired taste. Jícaro, Calabash, Guacal or Cannonball Tree (Crescentia cujete, Crescentia alata) Known as a Jícaro tree among Guanacasteco, there are many common names for the two species of this unusual evergreen tree. A native of Central and South America, the many seeds found in the gourd-like pods have been widely dispersed by horses who feed on the pulp and seed of the ripe fruits as they lie (continued page 24)
WHAT ARE WE DOING COSTA RICA? Cynthia Osborne Charpentier
Elections in Costa Rica
What do you think about the elections? “I don’t have an opinion because I don’t know anything and I am not interested” - Mariana R. My dear friend G.W. told me: “You are a voice of this country”. I think that is true, but there are many voices telling the truth. The pre-election polls were not able to predict Costarrican voices. I am apolitical. My last vote was when I was 22 years old. I am glad that I didn’t vote anymore. I found out that if I decided to vote I will have to do it in Potrero School. Who told the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE) that I was living around here? I never changed my address from San José to vote here. But they know everything to find you and make you go to vote. I received many phone calls from different parties giving me “commercial comments” and asking me if I was going to vote for them. Who gave them my phone number? Who knows! But it is true. I decided not to answer those phone calls anymore or say I am not going to vote! Then what? They were trying to convince me by phone to vote for them. When I was a kid I helped at the elections as a guide. I had a great time. My mom was always happy about that and used to take a picture of my sisters and me with our “uniforms” to go and help. There were many people, flags and cars those days. Now... Everything is cold. “Que la gente elija y disfrute su derecho a la Libertad que en otros países no existe” (people should choose and enjoy the rights that do not exist in some other countries) - M.R., Canada. More comments: “All politicians are the same. They take advantage of poor people to get rich” - Ana. “Nobody wants to vote, we will have a new President, but nothing changes. And now some of them are stealing. We want something different” - X from Flamingo Store. What can I tell you? Do you think that I will vote again? Mystery! (Like everything happening now...). People think that there is inefficiency in the Government. Costa Rica has more than 100 years of democracy. (continued page 19)
WHAT ARE WE DOING COSTA RICA? (from page 18) It has been a hard year for Costa Rica and the world. Everybody is attacking the Government. Let me tell you some of the problems: - Using airplanes from the state. - Using restaurants for meetings. - Corruption, even with policemen. - Expenses without control in the Government. - Violence. - Drug dealers. - Laundering money. We need a police training system. There’s no equipment. There is discord between state institutions. They eradicate the families and housing section. The campaign started with confusing issues. The final confrontation is between two candidates, Laura Chinchilla and Otto Guevara. Laura wants to run and Oscar Arias wants to still be President. To vote is getting people to listen to us. We have democracy, freedom, rights. The candidates have to respect the country. They have to discern their dialogues. We need economy, integrity, security, education, work, a dignified life, and health. Some challenges that should be addressed: - Education - Make decisions - Moment for changes - Fight against poverty - Fight for equality - Better roads and bridges - Citizen security - Information on Internet about the Government. We need to know a different country. This electoral time has been to attract votes and destroy the rivals. The campaign doesn’t have clear ideas, only talks about security and jobs. We don’t understand what they say. And fighting about where the money for their campaigns comes from. There is too much humor and offence in campaigns. They should be serious. Many Costarricans don’t want to say for whom they are going to vote. “It is all the same, only different names” - Norman, EEUU. To vote is a responsibility for the future of the country. This doesn’t happen in all countries. All the candidates have to offer positive changes. Party for the democracy! QUE LINDA ES MI COSTA RICA!
Guaitil Tours Visit Guaitil town and workshop where traditional Costa Rican pottery is made by hand in the Chorotega Indian Style One-hour horse ride to natural waterfall, crystal river, mountain views • • • From 2-8 persons includes fruit, water and drinks Daily 8:30 to 12:30 T.T.R. Lajas del Pacifico
José M. Vallejos Tel: 8-888-8668
Crime Reporting System Needed in Tamarindo OIJ may open local office
C
rime is still causing problems in Tamarindo, and it is increasing, with gangs coming in from out of town to rip off what and whom they can. Some are pretty sophisticated and know the inner workings of security systems and communication systems. Crime guru Terry Anderson recently met with the chief of OIJ (Costa Rica’s top police organization) and the head of Fuerza Publica about setting up an OIJ office here. The chief said that there are not enough crimes reported here (by official denuncia at OIJ in Santa Cruz) to warrant an office here. We all know that much crime is being committed here, but so m a n y victims fail to file a denuncia, as it takes a lot of time to go to OIJ in Santa Cruz. Tourists do not want to waste their vacation time to do this; residents are so cynical that nothing will be done, so they don’t file. Catch 22! If an OIJ office were opened in Tamarindo it is a certainty that many more denuncias would be filed, and the OIJ would see that there is a real problem. The solution would be to increase the number of denuncias filed by going to Santa Cruz. An on-line form has been developed just for information purposes, but does not replace the need to file in Santa Cruz. The form is available at policereport.0fees.net (no www, and that is a zero before fees). Please help by completing a form for every crime of which you are a victim, and go to Santa Cruz to file a denuncia. Hopefully, we will soon get an OIJ office in Tamarindo. Terry can be reached for information at 2-653-0315, or dterryandersson@gmail.com.
by Stephen
T
oday when you think of Valentine’s Day gifts for your beloved, chocolate and flowers may come to mind. Flowers are an ancient traditional gift of one human to another in times of love, tragedy, friendship, and celebration. How old a tradition? Very old. Archaeologists have found evidence of flowers used in a Neanderthal burial in what is now Iraq dating back 60-80,000 years ago. Chocolate is not as old as flowers as a token of love and affection, but what it lacks in ancient pedigree it makes up for in profoundly deep symbolism in the part of the world where it originated—right here in Central America. Chocolate was a drink that literally held the world of Meso-America together. Today, it’s simple. Chocolate symbolizes love. And although it’s obvious that a box of elegant Swiss or Belgian chocolates is an impressive gift of love to another person, it is probably just as potent a symbol of the primal love of self, at least as much as for someone else. So maybe chocolate is first a symbol of autoeroticism. If you love yourself (which psychologists tell you it is necessary to do before you can love another person) then you will eat chocolates. That makes you your number one Valentine. So buy yourself some great chocolates and be happy. The giving and the receiving of a box of chocolates is the symbolic part. But when the chocolate is eaten is when the real pleasure starts. There is no symbolism necessary. Probably a new word for the experience is needed. How about “choco-erotic”? Any chocolate lover knows what this means. The pleasure in the luscious mouth feelings, the creamy-rich sweetness, and the subtlety of the intertwined and deep flavors is where the aphrodisiac effect begins. I say begins, because the biochemistry of chocolate takes over after those luscious first bites and slow, sensuous chews. The real love potion effect begins in the brain when the chemistry of chocolate neurotransmitters meets those receptor sites deep inside our heads. Chocolate and Health: Even if chocolate had no deep symbolic, mystical, or aphrodisiac powers, it would still be worth eating because frankly, it’s so damn healthy for you! Maybe even better than the love symbolism is that a gift of chocolates is the gift of health and longevity. This is not an exaggeration. Chocolate is crammed with polyphenols, antioxidant flavenols, and catechins along with all the lip-smacking flavors that do the trick. And let’s not forget chocolate’s phenylethylmine––the neurotransmitter found in the brains of people in love. You won’t find those listed in the ingredients on the box, but they are in there doing this important work.
Floristeria Cristal wishes everyone a Romantic Valentine’s Day
Chocolate has more antioxidants by far than any other fruit and vegetable, but you ever heard your mother say, “Now eat your chocolate and vegetables, sweetie!” That’s because this information is fairly recent.
PIP
AS
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! S A
Duplantier
P I P
PIP
Chocolate is complex because it has more than 300 hard-working chemicals in each luscious bite. The polyphenols quickly enter the blood stream, lower blood pressure, and have a beneficial effect on cholesterol levels. These polyphenols increase HDL - the good cholesterol - and they act to reduce platelet clumping, the tragic factor that leads to infarctions and strokes. Chocolate ingredients block cancer and heart disease and slow down aging. Mainly, they reduce the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the culprit in atherosclerosis. The flavenols reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stimulate the heart; keep your veins and arteries open and running clear; lessen anxiety and provide brain-boosting alertness and relaxation and also relieve pain; prevent persistent coughing and diarrhea. (Tip to guys: I don’t recommend using the anti-diarrhea argument on Valentine’s Day or as a pick-up line in a bar!) Chocolate contains phenylethylenes, which stimulate serotonins and endorphins. These are the feel-good brain chemicals. They are the same neurotransmitters released when you are in love. So which came first, the chocolate or the love? It hardly matters. But if you lose your beloved, then a box of chocolates is a good substitute for stimulating the brain chemicals that are released to assuage your loss. Most of the world’s chocolate supplies come from Africa. The problem is that unleaded gasoline is still permitted in West Africa countries and the lead aerosols raise the lead in the cacao pods to an amount over what is considered safe levels. Although this is a serious health concern, there is an easy solution to this problem: eat organic chocolate grown and sold right here in Costa Rica! History of Cacao and Chocolate in Costa Rica: In Pre-Columbian Costa Rica the Chorotega of Nicoya were part of the cacao exchange system and used it as money, apparently part of the Meso-American common trading market. The Guatusos, inhabitants of the plains between the Costa Rican cordilleras and the volcanoes of Nicaragua, used beverage chocolate as offerings to their sun god. This may be a local adaptation of the chocolate symbolic complex of the Mayan and Aztecs of Mexico. We do know that cacao was traded from Costa Rica to Mexico. Cacao beans were first seen by the redoubtable Columbus who was always scouting for treasure and on keen alert for valuable substances. On his fourth voyage, his sailors stopped a coastal trade canoe off the coast of (continued page 30)
! S A PIP Fresh Coconut Juice
! AS
Few suspected that something so enjoyable would be better for you than broccoli!
Thank You!
S
ome people in our community really make the difference!!! Our deepest gratitude goes to CEPIA’s volunteers who took care of the children and teenagers from poor backgrounds of our community during the year 2009: Alejandra Parody, Gabriela Alvarez Rodriguez, Katia Mortelmans, Orlando Gonzales Gutierrez, Muriel Cuny, Maartje Sels, Leen Serbrugns, Melina d �Alolio, Andrey Caravan, Veronica Russo, Yerlin Martinez, Gabriel Malowicty, Olivier Besombes, Heather Allenby, Adela Rosales, Maria Felix Rosales, Carolina Ruiz, Jeanne Cordes, Cathy Deweer, Christian Desmond, Tina Soucie, Mary Byerly and Debby Marcos from Panacea, Andrea Spencer, Karol Solano, Jamie Pascucci, Diane Taylor, Peggy Pease, Janet , Sussie Keller, Octavio Suarez, Diane Barry, Diane Alcantara, Barbara Belanger, Isabelle Furet–Pignon, Avery Brighten, Joe Kirschner, Esteban Yong, Rebecca Clower, Mayra Dressen, Silvia Mora, Claudine Vigne, Sarah Huan, Dustin Short, Dian Taylor, Sue Kallis, Carol Davis, Heike Kulzer, Laura Murillo, Janyce Ellis, Julia Berry, Karen Arsenault, Mauricio de Sostoa, Olman Ovares, Ricardo Cañas, Suzanne Katus. We really hope they join us again this year in the fight for a better community for all children!! If one of you, readers, is tempted to enter the adventure, know that you are more than welcome to become part of this great project. Contact CEPIA at 2-653-8533 or cepiadirector@racsa.co.cr and be part of the volunteers’ team! Thanks to Gerardo Brenes, Isabelle Vandevelde, Caroline Lemaire, Olivia Benavides, Van Salcedo, Ana Graciela Mejía, Laetitia Deweer and Julian Chaves for their dedication on the Board of Directors Ana Francis Rosales, psychologist, Sandrine Tcherniack, director and Max Chaves, office manager are CEPIA’s staff 2010. CEPIA acknowledges the sustainable support of Paradisus Playa Conchal, Robert August Surf & Turf and Endless Fun Productions, Catholic Church of Calgary in Canada, Mr Pfeiffer of Sugar Beach Hotel, Country Day School, Super Massai, Bill Nevins, Bougainvillea Homeowners Association at Reserva Conchal, Restaurante NIBBANA, Ferreteria Buenaventura, Casa Puros Dieces. The non-profit organization CEPIA wishes you a healthy and joyful year 2010! www.cepiacostarica.org
¡Qué Tuánis!
Bar Restaurant & Cabinas
I
f you enjoy lunch or dinner and a drink in a typical Tico atmosphere, take a side trip off the main road in Huacas to Bar Qué Tuánis, a new restaurant with rustic wood accents, wide screens and music videos. The restaurant opens at 12 for lunch. Full menu of typical foods is served (casados at $2,000) and steaks and seafood, or choose a boca from the extensive menu at very reasonable prices. For would-be songbirds, there is karaoke on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, and every night is dance night in true Tico style.
Cabinas $30 double
Last month a row of cabinas with private bathrooms, cable TV and A/C was opened, just a 15-minute drive to the beaches.
Turn at the Boya sign 300 meters east of Huacas junction.
Reservations Tel: 2-653-6231 / 8-354-1041
D I S T R I B U T O O F P R O D U C T F O R H O T E L S R E S T A U R A N T
R S & S
TEL: (506) 2680-0139 FAX: (506) 2680-0679 E-mail: INFO@KION.CO.CR WWW.KION.CO.CR GUANACASTE
Missing Person in Tamarindo David Dixon appeals to readers for any assistance in locating his missing brother, Michael, or any information about him. Michael was last seen on Sunday, October 18, after leaving his cabina at Villas Macondo in Tamarindo. An extensive search by family, friends, police, dogs and investigators failed to reveal any clues to his whereabouts or activities at the time of his disappearance, and his family is desperate to know something. They have ruled out a swimming accident, and do not believe he would willingly disappear. They believe that he is the victim of a crime. If any reader has information regarding this disappearance, or anyone who saw him on or about October 18, they can call (+507) 836 5065 or (+44) 7541 161 093 or visit the “Help find Michael” Facebook site with over 2500 members. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=36812959#/group.php?gid=165326214690&ref=mf Michael’s description: Height: 1.70 m; Weight: 65 Kg; Age: 33; Build: Slender; Hair: Black short and balding; Sideburns, Eye colour: Light brown; Shoe size: 7 US.
Taberna y Restaurante
El Rinconcito de Doña Elda Restaurant Local and International Cuisine Delicious Bocas Catering Service
Tavern available for
Parties • Meetings Concerts • Weddings Live Music • Wide Screen • Dance Floor Opposite Gas Station Oasis in El Llano Tel: 8-842-2635 / 8-356-1370
A Slice of Life
A
Watching Paint Dry
fter moving along smoothly on the mountain road between Esparza and San Ramón, the traffic stream slowed down then came to a stop. Due to the bends in the road, we couldn’t see more than 100 meters ahead, so we had no idea what was causing the hold-up. After 15 minutes, no traffic had passed in the opposite direction, suggesting that it was not a single-lane road repair problem, so my driver decided to do some investigation. She walked forward a few hundred meters to find a guy sitting on a folding chair in the middle of the road. “What’s the hold-up?” she asked. “No problem.” came the answer. “They just painted lines down the middle of the road and we are waiting for the paint to dry.” “How long does it take?” she asked. “Don’t know,” he replied. “Maybe thirty minutes.” “That’s not good enough,” she said. “I have a sick friend in the car and have to get him to hospital in San José.” “O.K.” he answered. “Bring the car up and go through, but don’t drive on any yellow lines.” I tried to look real sick as we passed him, and we enjoyed a traffic-free ride all the way to town.
Cashews... (from page 17)
on the ground. The spreading branches have spirals of leathery, bright green leaves that seem to emerge directly from the branches, and the bell-shaped flowers are pollinated by bats. The hard green globular fruits grow into a variety of round and oval gourds that hang on the tree for five to seven months, and only ripen after they drop to the ground. The heavy green fruits appear to be cannonballs attached directly to the branches. In moist areas, orchids and bromeliads often attach to the branches of this small tree. From the Precolombian Indians to modern rural Guanacasteco cultures, the hard shells of the gourds have been used for water containers, bowls, and other uses. Today, the dried gourds are polished and intricately carved souvenirs made for the tourist trade. Achiote, Annatto or Lipstick Tree (Bixa orellana) Prized by the warriors of the South American Amazon since pre-Colombian times, the reddish orange Annatto Dye from the achiote tree was used to ritually paint their bodies and palliate their hair. The Mayas and Caribbean Indians also used the dye, extracted from the red pulp around the tiny black seeds, to dye cloth and color foods. Clusters of single pink flowers develop into the 2” spiny pods, each containing approximately 50 seeds. The bright red pods have been termed pincushions or “corazon de Jesús”. Growing throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America this small evergreen tree is commercially raised to extract the food dye, called achiote in Costa Rica. It is processed with vegetable oil and sold in tubs to color many traditional dishes. The oil-soluble dye also has been used to color lips, chocolate, soap, margarine and paint. Throughout rural Guanacaste, many homes have their own achiote tree growing in the garden. Little tubs of achiote can be purchased in any supermarket if you can’t wait for your tree to grow. There are many more of the small trees, equally fascinating, some natives to the Americas, others naturalized from other tropical areas around the world. Orchid Trees, and Indian Almond (Beach Almond) from Asia, Malinche (Flame Tree or Royal Poinciana) from Madagascar, and Yellow Poui and Cacáo (Chocolate Tree) from the New World. But my favorite is one that is more often seen blooming profusely on the Guanacaste hillsides after the first rains, the Corteza Amarilla (Tabebuia ochracea). This mass flowering with the first rains is referred to as the “big bang” in which all individuals of a species bloom the same day and the flowers last just 4 or 5 days. If there is a shower during the dry season, several bursts of blossoms may occur on the bare branches of these small deciduous trees. The wood is slow-growing and durable, making it one of the heaviest and hardest tropical woods. So, after you look up at the giants of the tropical forest canopy, look down and see some of the other amazing trees that may be smaller, but definitely not less important. If you want to know more, check out Costa Rican Natural History edited by Dan Janzen or the many small guide books on Tropical Trees and Trees of the Caribbean, or of course, you may join us on one of our tours.
Surf Report (from page 15) cuito date, the Copa Mango in Jacó. Lisbeth Vindas (Jacó), Maykol Torres (Esterillos) and Antony Flores (Jacó), respectively each have 3,000 points total in the ranking (1,500 each for the first two dates). Lisbeth won her spot in front of two new guests to her finals, Merary Jiménez of Jacó and Mariana Samudio of Jacó, in addition to her eternal rival Nataly Bernold, also of Jacó. “This I want to be a good year for me and I am starting out very well. I have trained and I feel great physically and mentally so this combines with an international agenda that I will begin in February,” said Lisbeth. In Junior, where it has been customary to see Carlos Muñoz, this season we keep seeing Maykol Torres instead since the beginning of the series, having won in Jacó and now in Esterillos. The same is the case with 19-year-old longboarder Antony Flores who won without many complications, doubling in points to his rivals with a combination 14.17. The next date of the Circuito Nacional de Surf DayStar is February 27 and 28, at Westfalia de Limón, for the first time a date has taken place in that locale. After a final that he dominated from the start, Jair Pérez won the first date of the Circuito Nacional de Surf DayStar in mid-December called Copa Mango in his hometown of Jacó. Placing in front of the Puerto Viejan Gilbert Brown, the surfer from Montezuma Matías Braun, and Jacó’s Anderson Tascon, Pérez surpassed the expectations of his opponents by earning the highest points on a stunning right. Pérez, who was the leader during the first twelve minutes of the final with more than 13 points combined, then happened to lock-in the heat at minute sixteen with that last right wave earning 8 points, improving his results and making it impossible for anyone to catch him. With this win in Jacó, “the small giant of Latin America” gains his second Circuit Open 1st place trophy, the first being a 2008-2009 date in Nosara. Pérez scored an important Asociación of Latinamericana Surfing (ALAS) Latin Pro Tour win in 2008, also in Jacó. For that date, he won $4,000. “The truth is I do not know how they let only me surf in that right that broke perfect and until the border. For the Copa Mango, I concentrated very hard because it is a beach I know very well, and by all means, I am satisfied to win in my homebreak,” said an euphoric Pérez, who places #1 in the rankings with this win. Jacó beach exploded today with the best conditions of surfing in which any competition has been run there. At first there was a heavy rain shower, but then the wind stopped completely and glassed out the sea. Approximately 700 people were on the beach for the final series of this first appointment. (continued page 28)
THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE!!! CANOPY, HORSEBACK RIDING AND ATV www.CanopyPuraAventura.com info@CanopyPuraAventura.com Tel: 2-658-0781 / 8-883-5703 / 8-873-7236
Posada del Sol Lomas de Marbella Vista Bella
P
What’s developing?
eople often ask me “Well, where is the next Tamarindo?”, meaning where is the next developing area going to happen. I would have to answer that the region south of Junquillal would be a good
bet, especially as the new super-road to Paraiso is now in, bringing the beaches within a short drive to the shops and services of Santa Cruz, though the area is still very under-developed. Several new projects are springing up along beaches and in the hills of Nevado, San Juanillo, Playa Lagarto and Marbella. Three such developments are Posada del Sol, Lomas de Marbella and Vista Bella.
Lomas de Marbella
Posada del Sol
Vista Bella
David Mills
Posada del Sol Located less than one mile away from the best waves on the Pacific Ocean in Costa Rica, Posada de Sol residential community offers a wide variety of incredible properties. Posada del Sol has ocean view lots and luxury homes and villas. Unlike other developments, Posada del Sol features the best in infrastructure: wide roads, electricity and water supply system. All 3 phases in Posada Del Sol have incredible green zones, natural parks and waterfall amenities. Lot prices run between $15 and $20 per square meter. Lomas de Marbella Located on the highest hills in north Marbella, this residential community features lots with wonderful ocean and valley views. Lomas de Marbella is less than two miles away from the Pacific Coast as the crow flies. Surrounding the properties you will find magnificent trees which support beautiful fauna such as howler monkeys and a wide variety of birds. Water springs and pristine creeks add freshness to these breezy hills; there are acres of open green forest, trails to the park area, picnic benches and hammocks rest and retreat area. Lot prices are $15 per square meter. Vista Bella Just 5 minutes from Playa Pitahaya, and 10 minutes from Marbella’s worldrenowned beach break is Vista Bella, 104 lots with the most incredible views of the coastline. Featuring the best in infrastructure, this development combines privacy and tranquility in a unique way. Wide terrazas with plenty of space for building your dreamhouse are surrounded by incredible nature and fauna. Getting there: From Tamarindo area or Santa Cruz take the road to 27 Abril, then a right turn puts you on the new Paraiso road. Just after Río Seco take the left turn to the beaches, and continue to Marbella Real Estate opposite the football field. Phone: 2-682-8118 or in the U.S. (760) 685-3749, e-mail info@marbellacostarica.com, or visit the website at www.marbellacostarica. com.
Word puzzle Miscellany
All words from the list below can be found in the word block on the right. Answers may be forward, backward, upwards, downwards and diagonal. alcantarilla erroneous mensual sasquatch utilizar carpenter gonfalon parada sluice wirecutter cotidiano homenaje parasol sustainable ecotourism
incipient patagonia sybarite cascabel leather payaso terremoto didactic manhandle pedagogue terrestre elevator mennonite propaganda universidad
David Mills
Surf Report (from page 25)
The current National Women’s Champion, and another Jacó beach native, Lisbeth Vindas, was once again a strong competitor, and demonstrated why she is a surfer who has so much respect. She was putting points on her waves one right after the other. Today she ended in the finals with eternal rival Nataly Bernold (Jacó), as well as Jordan Hundley (Jacó) and Ericka Valverde (Dominical). The wife of Diego Naranjo (Jacó) cornered her rivals in the first minutes with a wave of 6 points earned on concrete maneuvers and high risk. Altogether, she scored 12.84 with two good routes against 9.10 of Bernold. For Vindas, this is the first step toward an 8th Costa Rica National Women’s Surf Championship, yet the season is just underway.
Enquire about special rates for residents
And in the Junior category, Maykol Torres (Jacó, photo) has finally won a 1st place trophy after many visits to the podium in the lesser spots. He gains the win against Limón’s Jorndan Herndez, Malpais’ Anthony Fillingim, and the ever-revelatory surfer from Pavones Noe Mar McGonagle (all of 13 years old). “I want to first congratulate Noe Mar McGonagle because he surfed incredibly. I am thankful that they make the Circuito Nacional DayStar possible because it is here where one’s level rises,” expressed Torres when leaving the water.
Fabián Sánchez
As to Noe Mar, today he earned the highest combination of the event with a 16.37 in the Grommet (Under 14) category, which he won. Speaking of that division, McGonagle and Manuel Mesen (Jacó) count as two of the promises of Tico surf. Mesen scored a 13.43.
TAMARINDO - LOTS 1,200 TO 4,000 M2 Fully titled, water and electricity Very quiet location 5 min. from Tamarindo and beaches 3 min. from Hacienda Pinilla Golf Best prices, below the Bank’s appraisal!! Financing available!
Lot 2B: 1201 m2 - $42.000 Lot 12A: 1322 m2 - $46.000 Lot 9A: 1601 m2 - $51.000
Lot 3A: 1734 m2 - $60.000 Lot 3B: 2044 m2 - $71.000 Lot 22: 4000 m2 - $84.000
Web Site: www.fincaarwen.com Email: finca.arwen@gmail.com TEL: 8885.8706
According to José Ureña, President of the Federación de Surf de Costa Rica, this date served to measure the interest of the public in the Circuito Nacional DayStar 2009-2010 in the post Billabong International Surfing Association (ISA) Costa 2009 era. In addition, he noted that the level in the smaller categories, particularly around 16 years of age, have seen a boost in inscriptions due to the World Surfing Games’ influence and the desire of kids to get into the system that will pick the Costa Rica National Surf Team. “It is a very good time to begin a Circuito, especially the smaller categories, thanks to the good waves, we will see the maximum expression of surfing,” affirmed Ureña. “Thanks to the fact that the non-common brands are supporting us more and more and more, it shows that this is a sport that promises much to the country.”
That’s all I’ve got. Looking forward to hearing what you think. Keep those emails coming at EllenZoe@aol.com. Send your comments, information, errors or praise, because I can’t do this column without you, the real surfers.
1M
2T
3W
4T
5F Last Qtr
04:01 10:09 04:29 10:36 04:49 10:56 05:16 11:25 05:37 11:42 06:04
10.1 6S -1.3 10.4 -1.0 10.1 7S -1.3 10.5 -1.0 9.8 8M -1.0 10.2
00:14 06:26 12:29 18:52 01:04 07:17 01:18 19:44
-0.6 9T 9.2 -0.5 9.7 -0.1 10W 8.5 -0.2 9.1
01:58 08:13 14:11 20:40 02:58 09:15 15:11 21:42 04:05 10:26 16:21 22:50 05:17 11:38 17:36 23:57 06:24 12:42 18:42
0.5 7.8 1.0 8.4 1.1 7.2 1.7 7.8 1.6 6.8 2.1 7.4 1.7 6.7 2.3 7.3 1.6 6.9 2.2
11T
12F
13S New Moon 14S
15M
FEBRUARY TIDE CHART 00:55 07:18 13:34 19:35 01:45 08:02 14:18 20:19 02:27 08:39 14:55 20:57 03:06 09:14 15:30 21:32 03:41 09:46 16:03 22:06
7.5 1.3 7.3 1.8 7.7 1.0 7.7 1.4 8.0 0.6 8.1 1.0 8.3 0.4 8.5 0.7 8.5 0.2 8.8 0.4
16T
17W
18T
19F
20S
21S 1st Qtr
03:41 09:46 16:03 22:06 04:50 10:50 17:09 23:14 05:24 11:22 17:41 23:48 05:59 11:55 18:16
8.5 0.1 8.9 0.3 8.5 0.1 8.9 0.3 8.3 0.3 8.8 0.4 8.0 0.5 8.6
00:26 06:36 12:32 18:54
0.6 25T 7.6 0.8 8.3
22M
23T
24W
01:07 07:17 13:13 19:38 01:55 08:08 14:05 20:33 02:53 09:12 15:09 21:41 04:02 10:27 16:24 22:56 05:15 11:41 17:41
0.9 7.2 1.2 8.0 1.2 6.9 1.5 7.7 1.4 6.7 1.8 7.5 1.5 6.8 1.7 7.6 1.2 7.3 1.3
26F
27S
28S Full Moon 1M March 2T
00:07 06:22 12:45 18:49 01:09 07:20 13:41 19:48 02:04 08:13 14:32 20:40 02:54 09:01 15:20 21:29 03:42 09:47 16:06 22:16
8.0 0.7 8.0 0.7 8.6 0.0 8.9 -0.1 9.2 -0.6 9.6 -0.7 9.6 -1.1 10.2 -1.2 9.9 -1.4 10.5 -1.4
3W
4T
5F
6S
7S Last Qtr
04:29 10:33 16:52 23:03 05:15 11:18 17:38 23:49 06:02 12:03 18:24
9.9 -1.4 10.5 -1.4 9.6 -1.0 10.1 -0.9 9.1 -0.4 9.5
00:37 06:51 12:50 19:13 01:27 07:45 13:42 20:07
-0.3 8.4 0.3 8.7 0.4 7.6 1.1 8.0
(from page 21) Honduras and confiscated the goods which consisted of loads of dyed cotton cloth, stone and copper weapons, and cacao beans. The Spanish called them almendras—almonds. But they weren’t almonds—they were the coin of the realm, literally. Cacao was like gold, a commodity with the highest religious and symbolic importance and also it was a currency—that is, it had a symbolic replacement value as the money of Meso-America. The Spanish chronicler of the Aztec conquest Sahagún noted that a simple cacao bean was the smallest denomination in this currency system. There is no way to compare the value of a single bean, but it took 80-100 of them to buy a woven mantle or a canoe load of fresh water. For comparison sake, a prostitute charged 10 beans for her services. So either the public women were cheap or woven mantles were expensive, or maybe both were true. Whatever the exchange rate was in the early 16th century on the local cacao market, the elites craved chocolate badly for affairs of state. Cacao continues in importance in Costa Rica and is related to those sorry chapters of its history that can be lumped under the phrase “banana republics.” This era saw the tragic rise of corporate domination of Central American states and politics. Minor Keith, the entrepreneur who built Costa Rica’s first railroad in the 1870s-90s, looked around for cargo to transport on his huge railroad project that went from Limón and the coastal rainforests up through the mountains and the cloud forests to San José at the cost of the lives of 5,000 men. The first candidate commodity he chose for filling his railcars was cacao, but he could not get enough of it to make it economically justifiable. He looked around and settled on bananas as his export crop. The rest is history. Cacao production continues in Costa Rica as it had since ancient pre-Spanish Conquest days and as it does today, even more because of small-scale sustainable practices that help avoid the cacao blights that have devastated crops in the Americas and reduced Costa Rica’s exports by 95% after the fungal disease attacked in the late 1970’s. Today, on the shelves of better supermarkets in Costa Rica, you can buy very high-quality organic cocoa. The Chocolate Drink: Chocolate was the drink of the Aztecan royalty, but also used publicly in rituals. The Aztec ruler at the time of the conquest, Montezuma, may or may not have been typical, but he
drank 50 cups a day. Middle Americans drank their heady concoction from specially made earthenware vessels. These were usually tripod vessels. The three legs made for stability but also allowed the (continued page 35)
by Jeanne Callahan
October orecasts F ebruary F F orecasts
Aries: 21 March - 20 April
28
This month has the energy present for reviewing your home situation in regard to its suitability for you at present. It might be time to think about updating or changing something about your residence, even moving. You are also involved in power struggles with work, employees or government changes or restrictions. Tread carefully and fully understand what you are doing before doing anything. Best days are the 17th and 18th.
Taurus: 21 April - 21 May
Time to take a step back and re-evaluate how you are handling your professional life. Something from the past needs to be addressed. Communications are also a factor now—you need to be more effective in marketing your considerable gifts and talents. There’s good fortune coming from people you network with this year. Opportunities will present themselves after the 11th. Days of power are the 19th and 20th.
Gemini: 22 May - 21 June
Lots of energy in your tenth house of profession and public image so get busy putting yourself out there. The entire year can bring you much gain if you work it and keep the ball rolling. You’ll gain followers and momentum if you keep building on your successes. Don’t be afraid to try new things but stick with it. Your versatility will serve you well right now. The 22nd and 23rd have very positive aspects for you.
Cancer: 22 June - 22 July
You are poised to gain some interesting insights about philosophy, other cultures and/or higher consciousness this month as Jupiter moves through your ninth house. Pay attention to your dreams at this time for clues of your next direction. A personal breakthrough comes in March after Mars moves into direct motion in your first house. Still some stagnation in your mundane working world; find new ways to communicate your needs with your co-workers. Days for a break are 24th and 25th.
Leo: 23 July - 23 August
With the planet Mars still retrograde in your sign you have to go back to the past in some way to clear something up within yourself. Maybe taking a solitary retreat will help you clarify what issues are preventing you from gaining momentum right now. There are certain financial changes coming but you should receive some gains through your spouse. Best days to make your case are the 26th and 27th.
Virgo: 24 August - 22 September
Life isn’t that smooth right now but you can gain if you take on a new partner. The energy for joining together in a business or personal partnership is high and positive for the year. There are still challenges surrounding money and your home but hang in there as it will greatly improve in March. Stay out of the perfection game and just keep busy. The full moon on the 28th is your best day.
Visit Jeanne’s site at CelestialAdvisor.com
Libra: 23 September - 23 October
You are being challenged to reinvent yourself as a voice of authority without being too heavy. Mars is retrograde in your tenth house of profession so you need to contact people from the past to help you. Your creative juices start to flow after the 11th when you’ll find you have so many ideas you can’t keep track of them all. Work relationships are your priority this month and keep your eyes out for some eccentric but helpful people at the end of the month. The 2nd and 3rd are your best days.
Scorpio: 24 October - 22 November
This can be an extremely fruitful creative cycle for you, if you put your energy into that and not just chasing after lovers! The romance vibe is activated too, so if you are available you can find someone. However, I caution you about too much involvement until after March 10th. Watch your words at work as you might possibly be coming off as too authoritarian right now. The end of the month gets a little crazy but you can handle and even enjoy the excitement. Your more positive days are the 4th and 5th.
Sagittarius: 23 November - 21 December
This is a good month for home improvements or investing in another piece of real estate. While there’s still not much going on professionally you can set in motion new energy after the 11th. Look to find someone to partner with on a project to get the ball rolling. Relationships with women will flourish this month so make contacts and connections where women congregate. The 7th and 8th are your most positive days for the month.
Capricorn: 22 December - 21 January
With Pluto in your first house being squared by Saturn you are still more than a little grumpy and gruff. Somehow you must find a way to lighten up and not take everything so seriously. Spend some time just winding down, visiting your neighbors, siblings, or take short trips around your area to stay in touch with other people’s lives and energy. Show appreciation for what people are doing for you is a start. The 9th and 10th are days to rejuvenate and not work.
Aquarius: 22 January - 19 February
The energy is very good for you in terms of networking with professional groups and money. Investments should take an upswing this month and your ability to take your current project to the next level is excellent after the 11th. Stay on track and guard against getting too many balls in the air. Romance is possible after the 15th. Your best days are the 12th and the new moon on the 13th.
Pisces: 20 February - 20 March
With Jupiter in your sign now and able to do some good you should find yourself excited about the new prospects in your life. If interested in romance, put yourself out there after the 15th and you should find plenty of people interested. Don’t rush into anything too fast until you find out the real scoop about their past in March. The 14th and 15th are profitable days for you.
Namasté
Chillin’ Out
in the heat of summer
Tom Peifer
Hot town, summer in the city. Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty.... Lovin’ Spoonful
S
ometimes, life in Guanacaste seems like an endless stream of ‘bad news/good news’ jokes. Take last week for instance.
The fierce winds that blew in the new decade left hundreds without roofs in Puntarenas, but mercifully calmed down before my entire banana crop was on the ground. Then came the heat. There was something about the color at dawn. A certain yellow in the sky. Leaves hanging dead still on the trees. By mid-day it was merciless, a harbinger of months to come as the sun moves directly overhead. In my case it’s becoming increasingly hard to deal with the dry season heat. Be it global warming, advancing age or the shortcomings of my home design, each year becomes harder to survive until the rains bring a dose of welcome relief. Some people claim that help arrives when you most need it. Mine arrived in the nick of time. An old friend from the construction trades, fresh off the plane after ten years of energy-efficiency design and project management in California and ready to teach this old dog some new tricks. Granted, I had a few ideas about ways to beat the heat, implemented some of them and wrote an article on the subject a few years ago. (At Home in Paradise-Naturally, The Howler, April 2005) The concepts and techniques are still relevant—if almost never applied on construction projects in Guanacaste—But, ‘we’ve come a long way baby’, and for me it is back to the books.
My friend Colin had barely unpacked before clambering up on the roof to get some solar angles and immediately started on a series of renderings showing a cross-section of the new roof we are going to build. “In this climate we have to make every effort to avoid heat gain, and this roof is the biggest area with the most exposure to incoming UV radiation.” I groaned inwardly thinking of how to explain to my workers that we were going to put another layer of the shiny, reflective insulation that had left them temporarily blinded the last time. “You need a minimum 3-inch air space for this stuff to work,” he explained, “and that also means we have to vent the hot air out the sides wherever possible, along the edge of the roof where you usually run a line of blocks.” While I was mentally preparing for how to break all the changes to the crew, Colin was merrily adding to his ‘short list’, the first iteration of cooling down my domestic life. Low vents in the shaded area under the banana plants in the sunken bed. A solar chimney to suck heat out of the kitchen. Some kind of weird hollow microspheres mixed into the paint on exterior walls to bounce back 90% of the incoming solar radiation. I winced every time he flipped to a new page and began to jot down more ideas. The basics haven’t changed a bit. Thermodynamics is still applicable in the known universe. Heat may come into your house as a ‘freebie,’ but in this climate, the more you let in, the more you have to pay to pump it back out. And the electricity rates just went up again. There is a reason why traditional houses in the tropics have wide porches. As well as keeping out the rain, wide overhangs minimize the solar energy striking masonry walls and turning into a net ‘gain’ of heat energy inside the structure. The rigorous roof reworking is one part of the (continued page 36
Surviving
C hapter MCCLVIII
T
COSTA RICA
his February 7th Costa Ricans go to the polls to elect their latest president. In order to make you a more informed non-participant we’ll start with some of the basic elements involved in electing a new chief executive. 1- Alcohol Consumption: Even though you don’t get to cast a vote, the election directly affects the foreign community which is unable to purchase strong spirits or visit places of ill repute for three days. Old timers rush to the local alcoholic beverage dispensers to stock up for the three-day ordeal. For the uninitiated and unprepared it could be a pretty thirsty and sober time unless you have a friend who’ll share. Don’t come to my place. 2- Political Parties: There are thirteen or so political parties running presidential candidates this year. Each has its own set of colors for its members to identify eliminating the pesky task of reading. Of these parties only two really matter. Sound familiar? Several parties, such as the LCB (Lesbian Conservative Buddhists) or the LCN (Liberal Catholic Nudists) receive as few as thirteen votes but are none-the-less stirring examples of the Costa Rican Democratic experience.
Presidential Elections Story by Jesse Bishop
a hundred fold when a recent constitutional amendment allows for a second term for anyone crazy to want one.
gan “Moto Por Todo”. His colors are also tie-dyed and he promises to go easy on crime and keep everything the way it is.
It must be said that the last two Presidents have had no legal problems to speak of, although there have been rumors about the current president being investigated for swindling a group of Northern Costa Rican Developers in a money for a street paving deal.
Fernando Alvarez Garcia Alvarez Rodriguez Boatman-Miller is the leader of the far right National Socialist Wannabe party (NSW) and represents a growing belief in a certain segment of the population that things have gone to hell in a hand basket and they know what to do it about it. Their party platform calls for a group of radical reforms that will set the county on a proper path.
For yours truly this is my fifth election in country and though I’ve never been able to legally cast a vote I can still place a bet on who’s gonna win this time. Let’s review the list of candidates: I’m putting my money on Laura Cuchara, the first woman to run for president in Costa Rica and, in my humble opinion, by far the best looking of the bunch. Anybody who can afford the number of posters attached to every other tree in Costa Rica deserves the job if only to recoup her expenses. Her Progressive Conservative Liberal party (PCL) is identified by the colors Lime and Off White. If elected Laura has promised to be tough on crime and set the country on a course of prodigious progress for a better future.
But talk about a political party.... The whole country has one for three days as most citizens figured out that “stock up” thing a long time ago. Those citizens not in the process of casting a vote can be found rapidly driving around in packed pick-up trucks wildly waving flags embossed with their particular candidate’s colors or just having a wild good time in general.
Her closest rival is Otto Fernando of the Peoples Conservative Progressive party (PCP), kind of the Democrat to Laura’s you know what. This is the third time he’s run for president and is in desperate need for a Hollywood makeover. Otto promises to punish thieves, catch robbers and create a totally new Costa Rica where every one will be happy...... except foreigners. His colors are blue and purple.
3- The Dangers of Candidacy: Those elected to the presidential office face the now overwhelming possibility of being sent to prison if they steal too much. It is recommended to have a current oneway ticket to Switzerland available just in case. The possibility of danger increased
Political newcomer Fernando Otto from the recently formed Liberal Separation Democratic party (LSD) has been really coming up in the polls lately. Appearing at political rallies wearing a tie-dyed tee shirt and no pants he has electrified the country’s youth vote with his popular slo-
First, reinstate the army. Every one else has one, we want it back. After which we’ll declare war on Venezuela thus endearing the country to Dick Cheney who the NSW firmly believes will be the next American President. Second, reform the country’s outdated immigration policy. All Nicaraguans will be asked to leave the country and be replaced by Columbians. Next they propose changing residency requirements. Anyone with a million dollars will be given a cedula for either lifetime or whenever they run out of money. Other foreigners in current residence but unable to fit the new requirements will be rounded up and sent to special camps in the mountains where they will pick coffee for the rest of their lives. Thirdly, FAGARB-M promises that if he is elected President he will remain so for the rest of his life. His colors are Red and Blacked adorned with broken crosses. HOLY SMOKES!!!!!!! THIS JUST IN. Taking advantage of the latest constitutional amendment passed about two minutes ago The American Embassy announced that Barrack Obama has entered the Costa Rican election as a “Guest Candidate”. If he wins he will be the country’s first black president to be chief executive of two countries simultaneously!
(from page 30) passing around of the chocolate pot to be sipped from communally. The legs of the chocolate pot were hollow and had a free-floating clay ball in them that would rattle when passed around imitating the sound of the pods of the cacao tree make when shaken. The Recipe for the Drink: The recipe for chocolate calls for cacao that has been previously fermented and dried to be ground to a fine powder on a metate. This was mixed with chili powder, which contributed the fiery fresh taste and counterpointed the bitterness of the cacao. Corn flour was added, probably as an emulsifier and binding agent for the cacao and chili. Various other ingredients made up the different recipes for chocolate. Annato seeds (achiote) were added for color—to make the chocolate even a brighter red. The cacao supplied fat to the fat-starved people in the form of cocoa butter, plus the health-giving antioxidant flavenols. The chili supplied other nutrients and vitamin C, and the masa supplied carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins. This drink was a health tonic and a meal in itself! Botany of the Cacao Tree: The cacao tree is a small, understory tree of very wet rainforest environments of Central America. The tree grows well in the densely filtered light of the understory of tallcanopied rainforest giants such as Ceiba trees. The rich floor litter of the rainforest shelters the small midges or flies which pollinate the cacao blossoms. The fertilized flowers produce small oval pods of bright yellowish to reddish color and full of 30-50 almond-shaped seeds, which grow out of the sides of the trunk and big branches directly with no intervening branches. The thick pods which protect the seeds while developing are worth being broken into by monkeys, large birds, and other denizens of the tropical forest. And if the pods are carried off and not broken into, they eventually rot and reveal germinating cacao seeds on the inside, protected and ready to make their brave attempt at survival like everything else in the highly-competitive tropical forest. If the seeds were not bitter, then insects, probably the millions of ubiquitous beetles, would chew them up and render them unable to germinate. Quetzalcoatl: Meso-American mythology described the cacao tree as originating from a divine source. Quetzalcoatl––the feathered serpent of mythology who united heaven and earth–– brought the seeds from the divine realm to cultivate on earth. Quetzalcoatl is the tropical American deity/culture hero, par excellence. Quetzalcoatl apparently brought maize (corn) and cacao of the criollo variety to earth in Central America. In the criollo, as grown in Costa Rica, the yields are less than the hybrids, but the flavor and aroma are better than the strains grown in other parts of the wet, tropical world, especially Africa and Indonesia.
Remodelling & Home Repairs Carpentry • Block Walls Stonework • Ceramic Tile Drywall • Concrete Any Work Undertaken Free estimates Rex Barnes - Tel: 2-653-1432
Alcoholics Anonymous Schedule of Meetings
Flamingo
Tuesdays: 5:30 - 6:30 pm (open) Fridays: 5:30 - 6:30 pm (open)
Location: Hitching Post Plaza Unit 2, Brasilito Contact: Don H. at 2-654-4902
Tamarindo
Saturday: 10:30-11:30 - Open General Meeting Monday: 5:30 Open Meeting Thursday: 6:30-7:30 - Open Meeting Location: Behind Restaurant Fiesta del Mar Contact: Ellen - 2-653-0897
Chillin’ Out (from page 33) strategy to keep out the heat gain. Colin is also working on a couple of different tricks to augment the ‘loss.’ We are framing up a large vented cupola—actually a second, raised roof area—to interact with the prevailing winds and suck the hot air out of the highest point in the structure. The trick here is to get the orientation and overhangs right so that the positive effects in the dry season don’t become negative effects in the rains. As a backup, we may throw in a low-voltage extractor fan to speed things up a bit. The concept is simple: blow the hot air out where it accumulates—up high—rather than blowing it back down into the room as do ordinary ceiling fans. With all due respect to my professed appreciation for the value of lifelong learning, today was a bit much. As I chilled out, closed my eyes and struggled to regain some equanimity, in the distance Colin was elaborating on a plan to re-circulate thin films of water to take advantage of the infinite heat-absorbing capacity of the nighttime sky. I pulled the covers over my face, thankful for the cool evening breeze wafting directly across my bed and up through the high vents in the roof. Tom Peifer is an ecological land use consultant with 16 years experience in Guanacaste. Phone: 2658-8018. peifer@racsa. co.cr El Centro Verde is dedicated to sustainable land use, agriculture and development. Web site: http://www.elcentroverde.org/
Cinderella Panto
Tamarindo Stage Show a Huge Success A standingroom-only crowd filled the Voodoo theatre area for two nights in December to enjoy the hilarious pantomime “Cinderella”.
February ( a l l
t i m e s
2010 l o c a l )
Sun
1st - rise 6:06; set 5:48 15th - rise 6:03; set 5:52 28th - rise 5:58; set 5:54
Last quarter: New: First quarter: Full:
Moon
7th 13th 21st 28th
5:48 p.m. 8:51 p.m. 6:42 p.m. 10:38 a.m.
Producer Paul Belanger introduced this British tradition to the community, assisted by Margo Wilson in the title role, Christy Lalonde, Barry Lawson, Corey Hahn, Jeff Landis, Diana Zimmerman, Sage and August Beckwith, Marie Barry, Fei Petersson, Leilani Martinez, Yoshi Petersson, Max and Katie Herrman.
Pioneers of Potrero (from page 16)
The couple’s new life as one of the North American “Potrero Pioneers” shared many times and events with their friends, Pearl and Vern More. Pearl was the instigator of the original adventure when she and June drove from Canada to Costa Rica in 1975! Al, still being employed as a teacher and head of the department, had to be content with flying in to rendezvous with June for only the length of his Christmas vacation time. Driving to Costa Rica in the early years was a safe journey, the Heesakers making the trip four different times. Consequently Al and June envisioned their new business venture as a trailer park and brought with them from Canada two travel trailers that were used as rental units. This theme held until the Sandinista war times in Nicaragua, combined with more and more complications at the various borders, discouraged further vehicular traffic. Ever the versatile couple, however, Al and June simply re-made their plans and converted to rental suites. As the stories go for those earliest folks, they had no telephone for nine years. Travel was always slow and rarely lacked the makings of an eventful story! Al and June did miss the contact with their native country and language, though this in 1985 resulting in their installation of a 20-foot satellite dish to enable television reception in English. Constant roadwork (on their own property and the community’s) was one of Al’s major interests. Learning was another that Al pursued by travels to other countries, he and June traveling through the Panama Canal four different times, cruising to Australia, going round the tip of South America and exploring Arizona, to name just a few experiences. Around their rental units, horseshoes and horseshoe tournaments were a feature enjoyed by tenants and friends in the community. Sadly, Al passed away on March 28 this year after combating an illness for more than five years that took him away from his beloved tropical home. Now his ashes have been returned to rest in Potrero where Al can once again oversee the community’s progress and smile as the long-awaited paved road curves past his and June’s corner of paradise.
Myths about Marijuana
T
here are many myths and misconceptions about marijuana. A few of them are, Marijuana can cause permanent mental damage; Marijuana is highly addictive; Marijuana is more damaging to the lungs than tobacco, etcetera. Marijuana is said to give users permanent mental illnesses, although there is no convincing scientific fact that states this. Although marijuana users may experience feelings of paranoia, anxiety and panic during and for a short time after marijuana ingestion, these feelings are temporary (Iverson). Few people are affected by toxic psychosis which almost always occurs after marijuana is eaten, not smoked, in large quantities. Marijuana is not addictive! There are no studies that have proven it addictive! Less than one percent of marijuana users in the United States smoke marijuana daily (United States Department of Health). The percentage of those who experience withdrawal symptoms is even less than that. More than 99% of heavy marijuana users have been able to stop with no problem (Hager). Marijuana does not cause physical dependence, those who experience withdrawal symptoms are very rare (United States Department of Health). People say that marijuana damages your lungs more than tobacco, but this is a mere myth, for marijuana smoking poses minimal damage to the lungs although, like tobacco, marijuana contains irritants that might make you cough or choke. There have been no reports of lung damage due solely to marijuana. Marijuana users smoke much less than tobacco users, so the damage is less. Unlike tobacco smokers, marijuana smokers exhibit no obstruction to the airway in the lungs . That indicates that people will not develop emphysema from smoking marijuana (Zimmer). There are hundreds of myths about marijuana, many with no support or logic behind them. Marijuana is not addictive, does not cause permanent mental illness and doesn’t damage your lungs. These have been some of the most important myths that have damaged marijuana’s reputation over the years. Lauren Anderson English 8
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