The Howler
Volume 19, No. 7 Issue No. 213
July 2014 Founded 1996
TAMARINDO COSTA RICA www.howlermag.com THE HOWLER Ced. Juridica: 3-101-331333
FEATURES
Publisher, editor and production David Mills
dmills@racsa.co.cr Tel: 2-653-0545
8 Dining Out
With the World Cup comes a new Brazilian restaurant, serving authentic food in the center of Tamarindo.
14 Around Town
CONTRIBUTORS
Howler • Mono Congo
JEANNE CALLAHAN JESSE BISHOP MARY BYERLY ROBERT AUGUST KAY DODGE LYNDA ESPADA
ELLEN ZOE GOLDEN TONY OREZ TOM PEIFER JEFFREY WHITLOW BARBARA DEPPE SUSAN SMITH
Deadline for August: July 15 Howler advertising
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www.tamarindohomepage.com
Christian Boos, older surfer, offers advice to youngsters; Maykol Torres takes a first in Copa Fox, in Jacó Beach.
18
World Cup Layout
As we enter the month-long tournament, the enclosed layout may add to your enjoyment as you follow the games.
30 Surviving Costa Rica A trip to Prague is a visit to a beautiful city full of beer and good food, plus a vast amount of smokers.
Return of the Duke
Our columnist again receives a visit from an old friend bringing new news of disaster haunting the planet.
100 140 140 230
Discounts For 6 months, paid in advance, one month is deducted. For 12 months, paid in advance, two months are deducted.
www.tamarindobeach.net
15 Surf Report
31
Advertising rates & sizes Size
Openings, closings, parties, music. The Gold Coast has it all, and bar-hoppin’ David is in the groove.
DEPARTMENTS 5 Shape Up
25 Poetry by Diana Renee
10 Music Review
26 July Forecasts
11 Book Review
27 Word Puzzle
12 August Odysseys
28 Yoga
17 Dharma Corner
32 Sun & Moon
24 Slice of Life
32 Rain Gauge
Cover Caption: Green Turtle - picture by Susan Adams Cover Photo: Susan Adams Web Site Cover Design: David Mills
Shape Up!
Indigenously Delicious
Lynda Espada
Chocolate literally is the “food of the gods”…that is what its botanical name, Theobroma cacao, means. Chocolate is a food considered to be healthy in moderation, especially dark chocolate known for its modern health benefits. Studies being done show how it can improve heart health, blood pressure, reduce LDL “bad” cholesterol, and increase blood flow to the brain. Chocolate dates back thousands of years; the earliest findings are from 1400 to 1418 B.C. The Mayans traded valuable cacao beans, from which chocolate is made, as a commodity. The Aztecs drank the chocolate usually cold and bitter as had been the tradition for many generations. The chocolate bar came along later in the 18th century, by mixing chocolate with milk. The health benefits of chocolate come from flavonoids, a type of phytochemical found in the cacao bean. And the more cocoa a chocolate product contains, the richer its health-promoting content. Look for dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa for the finest dark chocolate rich in healthy flavonoids. Henrik Bodholdt, owner of Beach Chocolate Factory located in Portrero, offers workshops on chocolate making from bean to bar. Henrik learned how to make chocolate from a local BriBri tribe located in the Talamanca mountains on the Caribbean slope of Costa Rica, right on the border with Panama. His passion for chocolate started as a research project but has led Henrik to sharing his passion through making decadent chocolate bars and offering workshops. Henrik invited me to his home in Portrero. He showed me a few small cacao trees planted in his backyard. Cacao trees planted take five years to mature and bear fruit grow to 15-25 feet tall mostly in Central and South America rainforests. Henrik travels to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica to get fresh cacao beans to make his chocolate. He explained about the three different types of cocoa beans which are used in chocolate production today. They are the refined Criollo, the common Forastero and a hybrid between the two Trinitario. Criollo and Trinitario are referred to as flavor cocoa beans, while Forastero is used in most of the world’s cocoa production. Henrik cracked open the tough outer shell of the cocoa pod to expose the beans covered in a white fleshy fruit pulp. He explained how the beans are removed from the pod right after harvest. Then, they are left to ferment in wooden boxes and sun dried for about a week. In a skillet on the stove, Henrik was toasting beans already fermented and dried. After the beans are toasted, the next step was to separate the beans from the husk which is done by hand. The husks are easily removed similar to removing the outside covering of a peanut. Once the husk was removed, we separated the hulls from the nibs. Henrik had a corn grinder setup to do this job. As we turned the handle on the grinder, a decadent chocolate paste emerged and there was a familiar chocolate aroma in the air. We returned back to the kitchen with our chocolate to add sugar and spice and sample our homemade treats. Additions to the chocolate include but not limited to pure vanilla, raw sugar, dulce de leche, chili powder, or sea salt. As I took a bite of my own chocolate, I remembered chocolate is a “food of the gods”, meant to be savored. Yes, life is sweet. For more information, http://beachchocolatefactory.com/
Seems like you can’t go a day or two without someone proclaiming on Facebook the wonders of Costa Rica. Every day a new survey tells us that this is the place to live – and why. But let’s evaluate Costa Rica not on its Gross Product, its Taxable Income, but on its quality of life. When I start the day off with a walk on the beach with my dog, she is free to run, unrestrained, to enjoy the beach. And though Costa Rica is not all on the beach, a couple of hours will get you there. And, conversely, a couple of hours driving will get you to the mountains, too, with their volcanoes, hot spas, mud pools. Back on the beach, my home is often surrounded by the animals that give their name to this magazine, howling at me at 5 a.m. that its time to get up, and it is too, because that is the time for the early birds that flit around – the orioles, trogons, mot-mots – that make living here so interesting. But with the good you must also take the bad. Everyone here has his stories about snakes, scorpions, spiders – but almost all the stories end well. I can’t remember a single story in which the bad guy won. Look around town – choose something to do. From canopy tours, horseback riding, sailboat sunset cruises, yoga, a day being pampered at the spa, mountain bike tour. Of course there is surfing. Any level of surfer, from beginner to expert, is catered to here. And when all that is over, have dinner and night out at one of our local hotspots. And there’s always futbol, which right now has attained fever pitch with Costa Rica’s entry into the Group of 16 in the World Cup. Our local team, from a population of only five million, has already thrashed Uruguay and Italy. And our new government promises to change laws to make easier foreign investment... An ideal place to live?
Center Becomes Reality Guanacaste’s Community Center is becoming a reality. The roof is under way. We miss paint and fans, light balls and furniture! Maybe it is time to refresh your furniture? Maybe you haven’t had a chance yet to donate to charity this year? Please contact CEPIA! We need: White and color water-based paint, tables, chairs, office furniture, couches, white boards, (book)shelves, wardrobes and curtains. For the day care we urgently need: TOYS in good condition, child’s mattresses, chairs and tables for children, and anything you feel suits a day care! Contact cepiacostarica@gmail.com or call 83018282 We have omitted to thank some very supportive people lately…warm thanks to EK Jewelry, Special thank to TIDE academy, doing a great job in Tamarindo and around, from home schooling to surf contests and mural paints in Villarreal! CPI Flamingo has greatly supported CEPIA . On Saturday, May 3rd, more than 300 runners gathered in Playa Flamingo in support of the Alliance for Progress of Education in Guanacaste (Abriendo Mentes, Amigos de la Educación, CEPIA and La Paz Community School). Thanks to race organizer Global Sportx Group and more than 70 community volunteers, race day went out off without a hitch, and the runners enjoyed a beautiful early morning run through Flamingo and Potrero. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, donors and race participants, $26,000 in net income was raised, which will be split among the APEGUA partners. Male 10k Winners Yasser Reyes Sanchez, age 27; Gerardo Juventil Robles, age 45; Cesar Luis Miravete, age 37; Female 10k Winners Gicela Munoz Gutiérrez, age 34; Geysell Mejía Sequeira, age 36; Veronica Bolandi Rojas, age 24 Male 5k Winners Kerry Classen, age 41; Female 5k Winners Adriana Barboza Vásquez, age 29 APEGUA would like to sincerely express our gratitude to our title sponsors Hotel Sugar Beach and Blue Water Properties of Costa Rica. And many others too many to mention here.
I
n the madness that is World Cup Brasil 2014 it makes good sense that a Brazilian restaurant should open its doors right now. And that restaurant is Macumba, occupying the space recently taken by Fisch. Macumba is the word used by the Brasilians for Black Magic, but it can be also be White Magic, as it explained to me by the owner, Rosie Bouali, who herself hails from Brasil. “we serve only authentic Brasilian dishes, made in the authentic style, and supervised by a Brasilian,” she says. The menu offers fast foods such as corvineta a milanesa (fried fish); tuna hamburger; and hamburger; with extras of fries or beans. Salads are shrimps, tuna and palm hearts. We opened with chicken salad, a fine offering with mucho chicken, croutons and vegetables. Appetizers comprise chicken, shrimp, sausage and octopus. Our choice was a seafood salad, with shrimp and various shellfish. Main dishes consist of tuna; tropical chicken; sirloin of beef, red snapper and lobster. We ordered pork cutlet. A special dish is feijoada, the traditional dish of pork, beans, sausage, and served for two. Macumba, located in Tamarindo’s Main street, next to Banco de Costa Rica; open 8:30 to 10, daily, for breakfast, lunch and dinner; tel: 26530540; facebook macumba; credit cards accepted.
Review Taste of Guanacaste
The people of Guanacaste, the Guanacastecans, are a proud people. They are proud of their heritage and their culture. They are proud of their independence, of their homeland and they are proud of their history. Originally, Guanacaste was a part of Nicaragua. Nicoya was the region’s capitol. In 1824, the citizens here decided to secede and they did so. And on July 25 of that year, they voted, by referendum, to annex with Costa Rica. Guanacastecans are quick to point out that it was they who decided to join Costa Rica and not the other way around. This year marks the 190th anniversary of that annexation and it is looked upon locally as something of an Independence Day. Plans have been in the making to celebrate this momentous occasion in our neighboring area of Playa Flamingo. The result is “Taste of Guanacaste/El Sabor de Guanacaste”, a festival that celebrates the annexation as well as the present culture of Guanacaste, organized by The Flamingo Cultural Association. The celebration begins at 9:00 a.m. at the bridge (near the Flamingo bus stop and Costa Guard Station) with a parade to La Plaza that will include students from schools at Brasilito, Potrero, Portegolpe and Rio Canas. There will be a demonstration of local traditional folk dancing by Colpachi. The twenty-member dance troupe from Santa Cruz, led by Alicia Madrigal, will be in complete folk dress and regalia. In addition, there will be works of art on display by local artists; landscape artist Jessica Codero, surrealist artist Francisco Cartin, abstract paintings by Victor Manuel Alvardo, Costa Rican photography by Royden Alvardo, and Jose Jackson who has a degree from University of Costa Rica and is currently a lecturer there. He has won several awards including The Costa Rica Institute of Science and Culture, and for his murals at the “Guanacastequidad and Environment” at Reserva Conchal. These are just some of the many artists that will participate in the festival. Be sure to take advantage of the free artist workshops too! What is a festival without food? Marie’s in Flamingo will be offering a full buffet, showcasing the many flavors of Guanacaste. The buffet starts at 11:00am and will include ceviche, three kinds of rice: con leche, con pollo & de maiz; tamales, Russian salad, picadillo, vigarones, guiso de elote and pudin de pan. Buen provecho! The music agenda demonstrates the versatility of the region’s culture, too. The will be plenty of marimba music by Solticios, along with poet/guitarist Natalina Esquivel, Nicoa 37, Santa Esperanza, who have done an incredible job fusing traditional sounds with modern ones. The line up doesn’t end there – we have SuperNova, Glasseye, Soul Linage Local Legend and the night ends with Guanacaste’s own Rock & Roll band, The Leatherbacks! It’s a lot to digest in one day. We will all just have to find a way to do that. For complete lineup and information, make sure to check out the festival website at www.tasteofguanacaste.com See you there!
Book Review Tony Orez jaimepeligro.tamarindohomepage.com
(from page 10)
Pattie Boyd has led a charmed life. I think she just doesn’t want to admit it. I’ve just finished reading “Wonderful Tonight”, the autobiography of Pattie Boyd, aka, Mrs. George Harrison and then Mrs. Eric Clapton. I had hoped to read her version of her memories that included the London inner-circle music scene from the 60’s and yes, it is present in this memoir. But I certainly had to wade through a labyrinth of Ms. Boyd’s whining, name-dropping, and inconsequential detail about a sofa or hotel room décor to get to a few nuggets if insight. Pattie was born the eldest of four siblings, three of them sisters. She spent her younger years in South Africa, while her parents were still together. Truth be told, this was the most interesting part of her “tell-all”. I knew she had been a model. I knew she met George on the set of “A Hard Day’s Night”. You can see her in the movie, trying to grab his hair. The book presents her version of their history after this. Unfortunately (or fortunately, for Pattie) George cannot dispute her viewpoint. I think the tell-tale passage in this book is when Pattie observes that she wasn’t so close to Cynthia Lennon or Maureen Starkey because they were from Liverpool and she could hardly understand them when they spoke; she felt closer to Jane Asher, a fellow Londonite, properly educated and a former model as well. Of course she did. Did she brandish it? Of course she did. Does that make her seem pretentious? Of course it does. Pattie obviously doesn’t get Rock & Roll. But she wants the proceeds. Her failure to admit any wrong-doings on her part in her marriages with two of Rock’s greatest stars is enough for me to discount her. But she is ready to nail both of them, time and again. Kudos to Clapton for keeping his mouth shut on this one, because she tears into him as much as she does George for the problems in both relationships being only their faults. Meanwhile, they both continually paid for her pampered, provocative life. And she bitches: bitches that she’ll have to sell some of her investments because she’s too poor – the poor little thing. And that’s what I walked away with, reading poor Pattie’s expose. She must have needed more money. Granted, no one is a saint in this scenario. I was simply amazed, however, that Pattie could not “’fess up” to her own mistakes, her own distended madness in this mix. I do know that “Layla” was written about her because Clapton has stated this. You’ll have to ask him yourself about “Bell Bottom Blues”. No one can ask George about “Something”. Being a certified music nerd, I think I’m entitled to review a Rock & Roll biography once in a while in this column; it’s good for my system, somehow. And truthfully, I was looking for insight in Pattie’s book, not furniture design or a new definition of the word mauve
August Odysseys
Robert August kristenmattoxbrown@gmail.com
My First Car You always remember your first car. It is such a big event in your life. You have the keys in your pocket, the car is out front of your house, and you are ready to go. Wherever you want to go, whenever; you are ready. My first car was a 1957 MGA convertible sports car, two-seater. When I got my drivers license, I went straight over to my girlfriend’s house and picked her up in my car. In total exuberance and happiness, we drove up to Palos Verdes. It is 10-15 min from Seal Beach, with beautiful rolling hills and windy curvy roads. A lot of the drive is along the ocean I was in heaven riding with my girlfriend. It was so euphoric that I forgot all about the speed limit. Surprisingly, I looked in my rear view mirror and there were flashing lights! I had my driver’s license and was driving in my car for a mere twenty minutes when I was pulled over. I wasn’t a little over the speed limit, but a lot. I wasn’t even paying attention! I got a speeding ticket, went to court, and my license ended up being taken away for three months. Boy was that a lesson to be learned! Never in my life since that ticket have I had a moving violating in a car. When I got my license back and freedom to drive my MGA, after a short period I went, “How dumb is this?! I can only take one person or my surfboard in the car.” I ended up selling the car and getting a full size car soon after. Along with all remembering your first car, my third car was a memorable one as well. It was a 1958 Chevy Impala. But, when Bruce Brown decided to make “The Endless Summer” he did not have a bunch of money. He had already borrowed money on his house for the trip to fund our travel around the world for seven months for all the food, hotel and ground transportation expenses. However, he was short money for plane tickets. Bruce promised that if Mike and I gave him $1,800 for plane tickets, as soon as he was making money showing the film in high school auditoriums he would pay us back. Mike was shaping boards for Hobie at the time and Hobie loaned him the money for the ticket, with the terms being that Mike would work off the loan shaping when he got back. Well, I had no job and no money, just my car. So I sold my car, my 1958 Chevy Impala! Boy do I wish I had that car now; it was a fabulous car! But the movie was successful and Bruce paid me back the $1,800. I think I bought a station wagon when I got back!
dmills@racsa.co.cr
Ticos!
Ticos!
Ticos!
was the shout all over Costa Rica with their win over Italia on June 20, solidifying their claim to the prized Group of 16, exactly twentyfour years to the day after the national team qualified for the same position in Italy. La Sele’s win over Italy had the world’s press in an uproar, terming the team an “unbelievable” team for such small country. At press time the final score in Group D is Costa Rica 6; Uruguay 6; Italy 3; England 1. Costa Rica as top of Group D will play Sunday, June 29, against Colombia or Costa Marfil. No matter what Costa Rica scores in the future games, it has been a fine enjoyable tournament so far. Let’s hope for a continued run of great playing for La Sele.
AROUND TOWN El Coconut Beach Club in Surfside Playa Potrero is proud to be hosting Buena Vistas, the new administration of the restaurant! Your new host is Nicolas Petry that many of us know from Taboo in Langosta and Voodoo & La Palapa in Tamarindo. Nicolas and Yann Bellec with their new team will be delighted to receive you. Many great events are already planned and of course they start off with the World Cup Soccer on a 110-inch screen!!! New menu and beers at 1,000c. For reservations and information the number stays 2654-4300. Deli Snacks at the entrance to Super Compro in Tamarindo offers delicious meals at great prices - we have combos, hamburgers from ¢2,000, Plato del Día (different each day) ¢2,500 with refresco. Facebook deli snacks. See ad on page 23. In Tamarindo is Brasilian food with a Brazilian chef. Rosie Bouali and Denis invite you to Macumba, for feijoada and other delights. See Dining Out on page 8. Need a Private Nurse? Nixy Dinarte offers attention with care, medication, rehabilitation, bed-baths and more. Tel: 8970-1594. Watch the World Cup in Villarreal. Bar Villacosta has all the excitement. See ad on page 20. Higher Ground, above Super Compro in Tamarindo, has Poker on Monday and Thursdays. See ad on page 18. On July 25 Guanacaste celebrates its Anexion. Come and help us celebrate in Flamingo (see ad page 17). Mermaids & Sailors, the new YOGA STUDIO and Specialty Boutique in town is now open! Yoga classes every day in different styles for all levels and taught by experienced instructors! Special package deals for locals, kids and pregnant students. This amazing space of healing is located in Tamarindo’s main road, a block before the circle on the beach side at Galerias del Mar… search for the Ooooommmmmm….. visit their web or Facebook page or call 2653-2280, info@mermaids-and-sailors.com, www.mermaids-and-sailors.com. See ad page 3.
Tenemos combos - hamburguesas desde ¢2,000
Surf Report
E
Ellen Zoe Golden ellenzoe@aol.com
ven though the first Circuito Guanacaste de Surf finished a few months ago, people of the area are still talking about how amazing the surfing was for this premier event. Of course, we always pay close attention to the big winner of the Open division, which in this case was Isaac Vega, a former Costa Rica national surf champion. And quite a few young stars also emerged including Dean Vandewalle, Zulay Martinez, Malakai Martinez, Serena Nava, Aldo Chirinos, Katie Herman, and more. . However, we do need to pay respect to the older athletes, the ones who paved the way for the youngsters to carve the waves today. In the case of the Circuito Guanacaste de Surf, this year’s winner of the Master category was Christian Boos, a 36-year-old surfer who started surfing seriously when he was fourteen years old. Boos was born and raised in Venezuela, then when he was older moved to Barbados before settling here in Costa rica in 2005. In Tamarindo, he has a popular surf and fish boat charter company called Boos Adventures Costa Rica, which he founded here in Tamarindo 6 years ago..
It’s so refreshing to acknowledge the achievements of a young man who is just beginning to make noise this year with spectacular surfing that’s resulted in his winning date after date of the Circuito
As a surfer, he has the freedom to paddle out and catch waves every day. It also doesn’t hurt that his business centers around the sport as well.
Nacional Olympus presented by Adrenaline Rush. After grabbing the top spot again at the COPA FOX in Jaco Beach, Maykol Torres, of Esterillos, (photo) now claims three Open wins in this year’s national tour, and in doing maintains a hold on the #1 ranking and has the best shot at becoming this year’s Costa Rica national surf champion.
Boos is no stranger to competition; he completed the Junior and Open series in such places as Barbados, Venezuela and even in Costa Rica, where he’s participated in the various dates of the Circuito Nacional. However, due to his hectic work schedule for the boat, he is not able to get to all the Circuito dates, but when he does, the results are good.
Torres was #1 in Bejuco, Santa Teresa, and now Jaco, and is nearly 800 points ahead of the next closest competitor, Gilbert Brown of Puerto Viejo. Meanwhile, Brown is looking for his fourth national title, and is not out of contention. The final rankings—and the winner—will be determined by the best six dates of the year as well as the results from the Gran Finals this month. The win in Jaco was hard-fought for Torres, as he suffered a high fever as he competed in the finals with Jair Perez (Jaco), Noe Mar McGonagle (Pavones) and Isaac Vega (Tamarindo). “I cannot believe I have won because I’m really weak,” Torres said afterwards. “Something tells me that I want very much to be national champion and that’s why I’m getting these results. Now I do not want to stop, I want to keep doing the right things.” He added before the Gran Finals: “I am calm and ready for whatever comes. I’ll do what I like and is fun, which is to surf and there’s no pressure to get a good result. If God wants the title to be for me then it will be and if not, I’ll just take what comes
Boos attributes his “consistency” to his big win in Guanacaste. By riding the entire Circuito which were essentially dates close to his home in Tamarindo, and giving it his all, he pulled out the Masters trophy for the year. His final word on surfing. “Surfing is a very selfish sport. And be careful, it is very addicting!!”
Things were equally exciting over in the Women’s division of the COPA Fox. Current rankings leader is ten times national women’s champion Lisbeth Vindas, who has already secured four 1st place and one 3rd place wins this year. But this weekend, she lost out on clinching another top spot to Nataly Bernold of Jaco and Leilani McGonagle of Pavones. Bernold, who already has one
(continued page 22)
Costa Rica’s Stone Spheres now a World Heritage Site.
A committee of UNESCO has ruled that Costa Rica’s spheres, a mystery to archaeologists for decades, are a world heritage site. The decision was finalized June 24 during a meeting of the World Heritage Committee in Qatar.
time of day my sense of time is so different from yours my morning is long cold drawn out awakening awaiting you shivering feet hit floor running to bathroom am already looking at the clock too early for you to call nice though if you did my hands so cold drink iced espresso in big glass glass flip the mac switch sit long when i look up again i think you said “i’ll call today” foolish women hang on statements like that hang themselves you don’t know cant know in my world / silent words screaming in my head / i await your relief your call im back in bed boring but true too late now for you to call nice though if you did
written by geretta geretta/
Four sites – el silencio, Batambal, Grijalba and Finca 6 – contain the largest of pre-Colombian spheres. They are “unique examples of the complex social, economic and poltical systems of the period between 500 and 1500 A.D.” The spheres, between .7m and 2.57m in diameter, are distinctive for their size, number and density, and their placement in their original locations.
Dharma Corner
Turtle Time in Ostional Sue Smith
Gratitude The Buddha taught us “You have no cause for anything but gratitude and joy”. And, most days it is easy to find more to be grateful for than not. But what about those off days when nothing seems right...days when it is gloomy out, ill feelings prevail, the bills are piling up and just every thing seems wrong? Well, those are the days that it is most important to seek within an attitude of gratitude. Just the fact of waking to another day is something to be grateful for. Why? Because it is another opportunity to live life and live it full out. And, if it doesn’t immediately seem that way, then be grateful for another opportunity change your thinking, change your circumstances and make things different. Every moment is another opportunity. It is so easy to fall into the habit of negativity. So, recognize those negative thoughts and change them. Catch yourself and see how you can change that thought to a positive one. Before long it will become a habit to think more positive, or at least catch yourself when you don’t. Or, if you find yourself surrounded by negativity, smile and start looking around for all the things you can, in that moment, be grateful for...the air to breathe, the sun, the cloud, Mother Earth, your ability to see, to hear, to smell, to taste... The more you focus on your gratitude, the faster the anger, jealousy, greed or fear will disappear. It is impossible to hold those negative feelings in the same space with gratitude. Don’t believe it? Try it!! An attitude of gratitude also changes the energy in your body. As a result of this energy change, the fight or flight hormones subside and the physiology in the entire body changes. This makes calm, rational thinking easier. Creativity is enhanced and perceptions are more likely to be positive ones. Try this experiment... For the next week, each morning either before you rise or with that first cup of Joe, list 10 things that you are grateful for. You don’t have to write it down but certainly can if you want. See how this changes your thinking pattern for the rest of the morning (maybe even, the day). Gratitude begets things to be grateful for. And when all else fails, remember this quote from the Buddha... “Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we did get sick, at least we didn’t die, so let us be thankful” In gratitude... Namaste
According to authorities, green lora turtles will arrive at Ostional a few days earlier than usual. The first turtles started to arrive at 12;00 on Sunday, alerting authorities to increase watch on the turtles. It is expected that 600,000 turtles will visit our beaches to complete their development. Each turtle will lay approximately 100 each, hatching occurring in 45 to 65 days.
GAME 49 • Jun 28 • 10
1st A 2nd B GAME 51 - Jun 29 • 10
1st B 2nd A GAME 50 - Jun 28 • 2 1st C 2nd D GAME 52 - Jun 29 • 2 1st D 2nd C GAME 53 - Jun 30 • 10
QUARTER FINALS
GAME 59 - July 5 • 2 W 51 W 52 GAME 60 - July 5 • 10 W 55 W 56
BRAZIL
1st E 2nd F GAME 55 - July 1 • 10
1st F 2nd E GAME 54 - Jun 30 • 2 1st G 2nd H GAME 56 - July 1 • 2 1st H 2nd G
W
QUARTER FINALS
GAME 57 - July 4 • 2 W 49 W 50 GAME 58 - July 4 • 10 W 53 W 54
G W5 W5 G W5 W6
WORLD CUP 2014 SEMI FINALS
GAME 61 - July 8 • 2 57 58 GAME 62 - July 9 • 2 59 60
WORLD CUP FINAL July 13 • 1 pm W 61 W62
THIRD PLACE July 12 • 2 pm L61 L62
Ar
rld
nd the Wo u o
Surf Report (from page 15)
May 17, 18, 2014 Playa Jaco
New laws passed in China call for 10-year jail sentences for people who eat rare animals, such as bears and pandas. Some people believe that the practice helps the body to resist illness. In the “most expensive divorce in history”, A Russian billionaire has been ordered to pay more than $4.5 billion to his ex-wife in settlement of a six-year divorce. Dmitry Rybolovlev, the owner of French football team AS Monaco, will lose around half of his estimated fortune to ex-wife Elena. The Geneva court’s verdict means Rybolovlev, the owner of French football team AS Monaco, will lose around half of his estimated fortune. Dmitry’s ex Elena Rybolovleva has been fighting over the divorce terms since 2008. I guess she won. There must be big money in football. The wine collection of Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United football club until 2013, has sold for 2,269,065 pounds ($3,823,000). One Methuselah (8-bottles) of Romanee-Conti 1997 sold for 94,815 pounds ($159,752). The French railway system SNCF ordered 2,000 new trains at a cost of $20 billion, only to find that they are too wide for many railway stations. Construction to reconfigure the stations will cost a further $68 million. Brazilian officals refused to allow the entry of 39kg of a preparation called dulce de leche into the country from Uruguay, as its preparation is called “insanitary”. The Uruguay football team claims that its performance was reduced as a result of the deprivation of this product. A new highway has been rerouted in Iceland because its route will encroach on the traditional home of elves. A plan to develop the road has been shelved until a protected are can be avoided, and a 12-foot spur of rock moved.
Open 1. Maykol Torres (Esterillos) 2. Jair Pérez (Jacó) 3. Noe M. McGonagle (Pavones) 4. Isaac Vega (Tamarindo)
Boys 1. Aldo Chirinos (Playa Negra) 2. Malakai Martínez (Tamarindo) 3. Dennis Picado (Jacó) 4. Sean Forester (Sámara)
Women’s 1. Nataly Bernold (Limón) 2. Leilani McGonagle (Pavones) 3. Lisbeth Vindas (Jacó) 4. Emily Gussoni (Jacó)
Longboard 1. Adolfo Gómez (Sámara) 2. Anthony Flores (Jacó) 3. Alex Gómez (Sámara) 4. Rafael Rodríguez (Jacó)
Junior 1. Noe M. McGonagle (Pavones) 2. León Glatzer (Pavones) 3. Juan Carlos Hernández (Jacó) 4. Michael Zaugg (Mal País)
Minigrommet 1. Dean Vandewalle (Tamarindo) 2. Samuel Reidy (Pavones) 3. Neo Escaler (Jacó) 4. Cedric McCrakin (Puerto Viejo)
Junior Women’s 1. Paula Duarte (Jacó) 2. Emily Gussoni (Jacó) 3. Leilani McGonagle (Pavones) 4. Coral Wiggins (Tamarindo)
Minigrommet Girls 1. Valentina Ressano (Nicaragua) 2. Candelaria Ressano (Nicaragua) 3. Surgya Folger (Avellanas) 4. Olivia Barger (Herradura)
national women’s championship under her belt, performed two laybacks, rare maneuvers for a female competitor in this country. With these she was able to win the trophy. Although Nataly has only participated in four contests this year, she has won two of them including the date in her childhood home of Puerto Viejo. Don’t rule her out for the Gran Finals podium.
With only two more dates left in the Circuito Nacional Olympus, the races are coming down to the wire. Last month, the COPA Olympus TOUGH went off in Esterillos Oeste, with the Gran Finals taking place in Playa Hermosa this month. If you want an up-to-the-minute accounting of what’s going on, you can check out www.surfingcr.net. COPA Fox. The next to last date of the Circuito Nacional de Stand Up Paddle SURFTECH came to a close in Parque Nacional Bahía Ballena in Uvita, Puntarenas in May. Winners included favorite Geovanny Vega, Rolando Herrera, Tomas Lobo, Diego Chevez, Edith Garcia and Jennifer Brummer.
(continued page 33)
Brasilito
The up-and-coming pueblo by Randy Stolz
N
estled alongside of one of the country’s busiest resorts, Brasilito has remained a quiet little fishing village. Though there has always been a handful of boutique hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, the bulk of tourist-related activities were on the beach at Playa Conchal outside the Westin Playa Conchal resort. Over the last year, the town has started to stir and wake up to develop a character of its own. There are now rental car agencies, tour operators, restaurants, bars, and even a smoothie stand. The once-infamous Happy Snapper is now Tiki’s Seaside Grill and has everything from casados with a decidedly local flair, to a good ol’ American cheeseburger and a football game. The old favorites like Papaya, Cameron Dorado, and Don Brasilito’s remain alongside the newer additions on the plaza. The housing market has come to life, with Catalina Cove boasting lots starting from $49,000 and new homes breaking ground even as you read this; projects big and small starting to find life again. This resurgence of construction is building not only housing, but a sense of community, a liveliness in the area that has been noticeably absent for quite some time. Coldwell Banker, whose office now sits right in the heart of the resurgence, reports sales and activity levels that have been absent for many years and a new sense of excitement that you can feel in the air. The area is ready for new growth and forecasts are for even more growth in the coming months and years, as the economy finally steps out of a five-year downturn. The recent addition of a skate park, playground and renovations to the salon communal have added a breath of life and excitement to the community as a whole. The local community has an economy that is starting to thrive with an increase in not only tourism, but also construction, and fishing and support services continue to grow. For Brasilito is not just a town for the tourists, but is home to a thriving local community as well. The convergence of the two communities gives it a feel unique as compared to most of the beach towns in Guanacaste. Brasilito is and has been a unique and special place where many people and cultures converge.
Free RUM Punch
Tamarindo Civic Matters My least favorite human expression is the too-frequently used phrase “Life’s not fair”. Usually this phrase is uttered to me as a response when I point out one of the many injustices that man inflicts upon his fellow man, as if that utterance settles the matter. The belief that humans are more intelligent and closer to “God”, for lack of a better term, than the other creatures that inhabit this planet is the central tenet of the human mindset. It would seem to me that creatures who possess such special qualities would easily be able to uplift the least of us and restrain those whose greed and rapaciousness threatens the central order of things. But instead, “Life’s not fair”. The individual and the collective don’t have to do the hard mental and physical work it takes to protect the weak, restrain the strong, and by doing so bring peace and tranquility to the human condition. Instead they can be lazy and selfish, satisfied and smug in the knowledge that there is nothing they can do to change things. “Life’s not fair”. This column started out to be a pointless diatribe on the weakness of man. But in reflection, I had to admit that I was suffering from the same malaise. I, like most everyone else who is more fortunate in Tamarindo, have ignored and/or avoided the homeless people who are in our streets every day. I have decided to quit being so lazy. I am going to catalog the homeless and the less fortunate who live here, and I am going to try to match them up with the basic services they need to improve their lives, as a starting point. I have spoken to several people here who run businesses, and to a person they have agreed to help. I think that fact speaks volumes as to the type of people who choose to live in Guanacaste as ex-pats. But there is a bigger picture. I think it is up to us as the people of Guanacaste to provide an example to this nation. Countries like America, Russia, and China will always be corrupt, because so many people live in those countries. If you have hundreds of millions of people, all with different points of view based upon their beliefs and life experiences, it is impossible for such a place to achieve a common vision. In Guanacaste though, my research so far has led me to believe that it is possible for us to form a distinct vision, and by doing so, devise and implement a comprehensive plan of action to increase the happiness and security of all. One of my friends said, “We shouldn’t increase the standard of living for these people, that is not our responsibility.” My reply, “What has austerity achieved in any country that has tried it?” Everyone knows the answer to that question is “Nothing positive”. In subsequent columns, I will lay out my vision for this region. To make a long story short, it is time for us to recognize that the money supply belongs to the people, not to the banks or the richest of us, as money is not a true object of value, but rather a reflection of the total sum of the goods and services that is produced by the collective that is the people of Costa Rica. The easiest and least risky way to achieve prosperity as a collective is to award low or no interest loans to people willing to farm, raise livestock, dwell in and/or develop idle properties, and start small businesses that have sound business plans, low initial investments, and low overhead. In my new incarnation here in The Howler, I will flesh out these points and theories. I will also be detailing my work with the less fortunate of the region here, as it progresses.
Keith Needs Your Help to reclaim his life
Keith was driving home from work, with a girl friend on his scooter. Close to the Police Station in Tamarindo he was hit by a car driven by a drunken man. The two men in the car tried to drive away but the scooter was tangled with the car so they tried to run away. Both men were caught later but they sat they were so drunk that they could not remember who was driving. Keith lost his leg in the accident, and the other leg was damaged. He desperately needs your help. First, for his needs at present. As an example he needs transportation to Nicoya for surgery on his femur, or a taxi to go there. Secondly, a prosthesis for his missing leg is required. This will allow him to lead an independent and productive life. His damage to his right leg are fixed with steel rods, but after three months inactivity he has to build up the muscles. Long-term Keith needs help to reorganize his life. Keith has worked all his life. As a child in Limon he left school at 13 to work in the harbor, as his family was so poor and could not keep him at school. Later he worked on cruise ships where he learnt English, then moved to Tamarindo, at the Agua Discoteque at night as security guard, by day for maintenance and repair. He feels ambitious enough to start a new career, and has never had problems to learn something new. He could learn bookkeeping or other office work, just so long as he can earn an income for his son. He cannot pay his son’s living expenses and feels the most ashamed of this, as he feels he will let the boy down, as the boy would have to leave school soon, as he did. Keith will receive not a penny for the insurance, as the car owner was not driving the car. At the present time he is on crutches but the prosthesis will cost him $8,000. Deposits can be made to BCR account no: 325-000725-0 dolares corriente David Mills
Plato del Día / ¢2,500 con refresco Perros Calientes - desde ¢1,500 Hamburguesas - desde ¢2,000 Mariscos Platos Mediterraneos Platos Costarricences / ceviche Comidas Mexicanas Comida Oriental y mucho más... Venga y vea nuestros precios! Entrada Super Compro Tamarindo Tel: 6094-7625
Barbara’s Pet Stories
A Slice of Life
Snake
L
ast Saturday morning, 6 am, the dogs were barking. I looked to see what could be the reason: a white bag, those big ones for 60 pounds of rice, was laying in front of the door of my shop. Hhhmm, I opened the gate and carefully I pulled the bag in. The dogs kept barking at the bag, so I had to bring the dogs into the house. Well, I thought, more kitties, maybe another puppy....I cut the bag open, and I quickly stepped back,...oh my goodness! I peeked again into the bag, then the “thing” started to move out. Slowly an inch by an inch it moved out...I waited respectfully in about three foot distance....then I could see it in its whole beauty - a Boa Constrictor Imperator. I went closer as I could see blood dropping out of its mouth. The mandibular showed an unusual shape: the left side looked broken. Because of this injury I was able to touch the snake without getting bitten. The mouth looked really bad...so I took the snake and I drove to a vet, to get medical help for it. Now the snake is still with me, it gets the necessary treatment. The snake is 6 ft long and it weights 10 pounds. And because of the length it is a female. A beautiful exemplar of its kind: a Boa C. Imperator,.... and maybe she is pregnant.
Brazil David Mills
T
he World Series of Football in Brazil takes me back many years to a terrific vacation I spent in that country, a perfect package vacation on which everything went as promised.
I knew the flight would be interesting when the aircraft turned left off the taxiway. Instead of turning into the two-mile long runway, the pilot turned onto the short length, about 100 meters. He then taxied to the end and did a 180-degree turn that left the tail of the 707 hanging over the grass to give himself the longest possible take-off run. This would certainly be interesting. We were leaving Toronto for an 11.5-hour non-stop flight to Rio de Janeiro, and the aircraft was full. Well, of course we cleared the fence at the south end of the runway and slowly gained height until, over Niagara Falls, we must have been at about 500 feet AGL. We settled back to enjoy the flight and the excellent Varig service in those far-off days when all the airline extras were free and copious. About halfway into the flight the driver announced that we were over Brazil then, moments later, that we were crossing the Equator. I saw below us the mighty Amazon, which took us ten minutes to cross, giving a width of about 150km. Big river! In the fullness of time we arrived at Rio, and gaped in awe at the topographical beauty of the city and its surroundings, before we were deposited at the four-star Leme Palace Hotel, right on Copacabana Beach, our home for the next two weeks.
barbara.s.animalrescuecenter@gmail.com
In those days tourism in Brasil was in its infancy, so our inclusive price was incredibly low, a promotion. Dining was magnificent, the service superb, and we enjoyed salmon and duckling dinners washed down by fine wines. Our days were filled with bus tours, cable car to Sugar Loaf Mountain, drive to the Christ statue on Corcovado, visit to a coffee plantation and trips to idyllic deserted beaches. The beauties of Ipanema Beach were as advertised in bossa nova music. The tour bus staff opened the bar the moment the doors closed and we were introduced to cashaca, the Brazilian equivalent of guaro, mixed with maracuya juice. One highlight was a soccer game at Maracaña Stadium, at that time the largest in the world, with a capacity of 230,000 spectators. In the lobby a statue of the great hero Edson Arantes do Nacimiento Pele. I would like to believe that that country is still unspoiled, as then. But then again, who knows?
Selected Poems from “Tell me about the telaraña” by Diana Renee
i will heal my aching ears with night sounds, now where the ranas and gallinas sing to the stars
we wajk from Santa Barbara into the stars, zig-zagging like our dizzy laughter, arms slung around each other in front of God and everybody. the night is soft around me and gentle as water; stars are floating in haze. Love is not all that matters, but it is all that matters sometimes. i spread out thinner and thinner until I am with the mist where stars bob.
How High Are We When you fly from Costa Rica to Miami or other destinations, you may hear the pilot announce that “we have just reached our cruising altitude of 29,000 feet...” Take a moment to reflect on this and examine the world outside the pressurised cylinder in which you travel. Of course there can be no life at this level. The air temperature is way below zero – Fahrenheit, Celsius or Centigrade, it doesn’t matter – and oxygen is almost non-existent. Look at the ground so far below; you can barely make out small towns. On the ocean a huge container ship is a tiny dot. Between you and the ground stretch many layers of cloud: cumulus, nimbus, stratus. Empty. Even eagles can soar to only a fraction of your altitude. Nothing unusual about these observations, until you realize that you are in the hostile realms of Everest climbers! Yes, this is the height that those intrepid explorers must attain in order to reach the summit of the world’s highest mountain. But just how big is Everest? To put it into perspective, if you made a scale model globe of the earth large enough to just fit into the average room, floor to ceiling, the entire Himalayan mountain range – up to six miles high – would be a tiny line almost too small to see, one sixteenth of an inch thick (about the size of a pencil lead) and one foot long laid on the surface. Expect for space traveling, all man’s endeavours and explorations throughout history have taken place within a minute shell around this large globe to a height of one-quarter of an inch. It’s a big world out there.
sus huesos se mueven, se levantan se conectan en codos rodillas la mujer muerta se levantará a caminar de Nuevo el río le dará la sangre el aguilar la dará sus propios ojos
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.
“Tell Me About the Telaraña” is available at Jaime Peligro’s Bookstore in Tamarindo.
Phone us at: 2-653-8041 • kaydodge@racsa.co.cr www.paintedponyguestranch.com The best horses on Guanacaste’s Gold Coast!
Your Stars in July
Aries: 21 March - 20 April
Libra: 23 September - 23 October
Taurus: 21 April - 21 May
Scorpio: 24 October - 22 November
With your ruling planet, Mars, transiting the last twelve degrees of Libra through the 26th, you are cleaning up some loose ends involving your partnerships, finances and your home while experiencing the karma involved with all of that. This goes on through August so keep your focus in the present moment and deal with things as they come up. Take the high road. You get revived when Mars goes into Scorpio on the 26th and will have more energy at your disposal. Your best days are the 17th and 18th. This month your ruling planet, Venus, is transiting your solar second house of money, assets, values and security. You will experience both greed and generosity at this time. Jupiter moving through your fourth house of home will incline you towards improving your personal space, but don’t go overboard with spending. Saturn going direct on the 19th in your seventh house of partnership is a turning point, showing you a realistic picture of what can be accomplished at this time. Days for definite progress are the 19th and 20th.
Gemini: 22 May - 21 June
With Mars making its way through the last twelve degrees of your sign this month, you can expect to have to take action on matters that have been germinating over the last few months. The 13th and 14th could be difficult but the decisions made then insure a better future for yourself. You have the ability to make good decisions now and also have support of planets transiting your ninth and tenth houses giving you insights into the bigger picture. The 4th, 5th, 6th and 31st are your better days This month will take some inner resolve to make good choices without being mean or angry about how certain things haven’t gone your way. No revenge should be taken and if you have those thoughts, get rid of them as soon as possible. Jupiter will be going over your midheaven very soon, bring you lots of opportunities and you want to be clear and open to receive them. Best days are the 7th and 8th, though the 8th may have a hard lesson.
Sagittarius: 23 November - 21 December
With your ruler, Jupiter, about to enter your solar ninth house, you will be once again interesting in international affairs, travel, higher consciousness, philosophy and publishing. Maybe it’s time to rent a room on the French Riviera and write your memoirs! You are still a little reclusive but there’s a glimmer of interest again in having a relationship. Just stay away from anyone who is too eccentric or high maintenance. Your best days are the 9th and 10th.
Your ruling planet, Mercury, goes direct on the 2nd at 24 Gemini, giving you an extra boost to clean up the details missed during the retrograde phase. Venus in your sign enhances your charm and beauty,. If you are looking for some love, Mars in Libra moving through your solar fifth house should give you some opportunity. Keep busy this month as you can make some financial headway provided you pay attention to details and stick to your Capricorn: 22 December - 21 January budget. The 21st, 22nd, and 23rd are days to get your way. With your ruling planet, Saturn, going into direct motion on the 19th, you can gain ground with your long-term plans. Work is definitely on your plate Cancer: 22 June - 22 July With the Sun and Jupiter in your sign, you have a buoyant optimism that is this month but so is creating positive vibes in your workplace. Relationappealing to others. This is a great month to entertain or promote yourself. ships both personal and professional should go well with two planets in The 24th and 25th would be a great time to make any enhancements to your your seventh house as long as you carve out some time with the family. appearance or wardrobe. Your family life offers a sense of contentment and The 13th and 14th could signal a new professional addition. The 11th and you have fewer insecurities about the future. Enjoy this period and your full moon on the 12th are your best days. days in the sun! Days to revel in and indulge yourself are the 24th and 25th. Aquarius: 22 January - 19 February
Leo: 23 July - 23 August
The first three weeks of the month have you cleaning up some details with family and the past. When Jupiter on the 16th and the Sun on the 22nd go into your sign, you have a stronger sense of yourself and the obligations you need to fulfill. There may be difficulties with siblings or in the neighborhood around the 13th and 14th so be aware of your surroundings. Stay positive, you’ll have what you need to do the projects that present themselves. Best days are the 26th, the new moon on the 27th and the 28th.
Virgo: 24 August - 22 September
With Saturn, your ruling planet, going into direction motion on the 19th, and in your solar tenth house you are being granted an opportunity to be the authority figure in some way. This is the chance to take charge and make the changes you want to make. Use a slow and steady approach and explain yourself clearly to others to get full cooperation. Remember to include some fun in the equation or you will burn people out next month. Positive days are the 13th and 14th.
Pisces: 20 February - 20 March
This is an excellent month to pursue professional connections and to promote yourself with positive results as four planets are transiting your tenth and eleventh houses. Good time to look for a new position or ask for a raise! Mars in your solar second house serves up some expenses in that search but sometimes it takes money to make money. With your ruling planet, Mercury, now in direct motion, you can command people’s full attention. Best days are the 2nd, 3rd, 29th and 30th.
With Jupiter in Cancer, a fellow water sign until the 15th, you have some special graces coming in through your relationships with children, drama, or creativity. Let yourself get really engaged in some creative project and feel how that brings a positive life force into your being. Saturn in your ninth house has you feeling a pull back to your early religious roots or returning to someplace familiar in a foreign country. With Venus and Mercury in your solar fourth house this is a good month for some kind of party or social event in your home. The 15th and 16th are your special days.
by Jeanne Callahan jeannecallahan007@gmail.com
Namasté Visit Jeanne’s site at CelestialAdvisor.com
Word puzzle Rivers
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. abitibi amazon athabasca bravo colorado columbia danube darling dnieper ganges grande irrawaddy limpopo loire
mackenzie mekong mississippi moldau murray platte rhine severn shannon stlawrence tagus tempisque thames tombigbee
Now Begins the Study of Yoga The Wall You go to yoga classes for a number of reasons, one being that the teacher will give you feedback and support in how to do the various postures in the best way for your body. A wall can also be another way to gain some feedback, support, and alignment in various poses. In a lot of poses the wall is helpful for letting you know what the back of your body is doing. The wall can also be a help in poses to get more opening or be more supported. Here are some photos of poses from one of our recent classes where we used the wall: 1. Sitting at the wall. I will use this about once a month during meditation practice to help identify how best to support your body in keeping the spine lengthened when sitting cross-legged. You should be able to feel the base of your body, shoulders, and back of the head lightly touching the wall. If that is not the case for you, use height under the pelvis to elevate your hips. You may also then want a blanket or block under each knee to aid your hip opening in this position. 2. Down Dog at the wall. There are a number of ways to use the wall to help your body go into this position. In previous columns, you have seen photos of students with hands at or above hip height to help get a better elongation of the low back. Here you see students with their heels on the bricks at the wall. This can help anyone with tight hamstrings move the tops of the thighs back more into the hip socket and reach weight down into the heels. 3. Triangle, Warrior II, and Extended Side Angle at the wall. Although you can do these poses in sequence with the back of your body at the wall (particularly useful if you tend to over arch your low back in these poses), here you see a photo of students planting the back heel against the wall. This helps keep the anchoring of these three poses in the outer edge of your back foot, and aids that leg in maintaining its muscular engagement and hip opening. Tree pose at the wall. Here you see the students placing the 4. lifted leg knee into the wall. Working this way can aid your balance and the hip opening on the lifted leg side. Legs up the wall. A wonderful pose for restoring yourself at 5. the end of a long day, relaxing the legs at the end of your practice, and supporting your back and legs. Consider this pose the “reset” button for your nervous system. Have fun using the wall as your teacher!
Namaste, Mary Mary Byerly is one of the owners and the yoga teacher at Panacea. An oasis of tranquility and health 10 minutes from Tamarindo. Discover Paradise and Bring a Peace Home www.panaceacr.com • 2653-8515
Surf Report (from page 24)
The 9k race was won by Vega with a time of 1:07 minutes, making this his fourth consecutive 1st place trophy, and a shoein for the national title in this division. Meanwhile, in the 9k recreation paddle, Tomas Lobo won his second consecutive 1st place, putting him in good contention for a national title if he does well in San Jose’s June competition. Photo: Alfredo Barquero
Rolando Herrera (photo) also won a 2nd date in the 4.5 k race. His placement in the national competition will be settled in San Jose, where he’s neck in neck with Vega. The ladies had a good showing with Edith Garcia, whose 1:19 minutes time was enough to win the 9k race, beating her rival Jennifer Brummer, who did get the 4.5k later on. And finally, in the 4.5k recreational paddle, Chevez Diego won his fourth race in a row, positioning him for the national championship in this category. The next and last date of the second edition of the Circuito Nacional de Stand Up Paddle SURFTECH went off in Lake Sabana in San Jose on June 21. Winners can be found at www. surfingcr.net.
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.
Surviving
C hapter CXXXVII
COSTA RICA
It was time for my wife Susan and me to get away from Tamarindo and sample someone else’s vacation destination. We hadn’t gone anywhere since the semi-almost collapse of the world economy, (trips to San Jose don’t count) so we were definitely overdue to do some traveling. As in our last ventures abroad we chose Europe, although this time a little farther east, as in The Czech Republic’s capital of Prague. “Why Prague?” friends kept asking us. Susan’s first choices had been North Korea or maybe Somalia but there were no flights to either out of Costa Rica. Not to mention stuff like Cathedrals or art galleries. We’d already covered the standard Western Civilization destinations, Buckingham Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Leonardo Da Vinci etc. So why not the former Czechoslovakia? Prague is not exactly half way round the world. It’s more like one third, eight time zones away from Tamarindo. That’s a long plane ride when you add in the two or three hour stopovers at each airport. We left San Jose for Chicago on a well-known US carrier that cheerfully charged us for any item we may possibly need while the O’Hare International Airport TSA staff showed us that people too stupid to work at Walmarts can still get a job. We were thrilled to find that we were still welcome in The United States although we needed assistance with the new-fangled digital self serve passport devices that no one else could figure out either. Here is something that very soon became evident. On the American flights (not necessarily that particular airline) you have to pay for everything and are treated as just more cargo. However if you fly Lufthansa you are wined, dined and entertained to your heart’s content. Our flight left Chicago at 10:30 pm and within an hour we had a very stiff drink and full meal that eased us into the long night flight and
An Innocent and a A Broad
before you could say Wundervolle Nacht Flug we were landing in Frankfort, our first time in Germany, although airports shouldn’t count as a destination as they’re all pretty generic. A short flight to the Czech Republic and our odyssey was over. We were met at the airport by a driver in a big black SKODA, the Czech version of General Motors though I suspect they’re built a lot better. When we got to our hotel it was about 6pm and still in full daylight thanks to daylight savings. We then proceeded to be tourists. I know I’ve been accused of sometimes using tourists as the butt of many of my literary endeavors and now I are one. Let’s start with a few general
observations on visiting Prague. 1: Prague is really cool, let’s get this out of the way first. 2: Drinking vast amounts of very good beer is a national pastime and something visitors such as ourselves were able to grasp immediately. Although there were others to choose from PILSNER URQUELL was by far the main brand. Of course anybody who dabbles in the fine art of beer consumption knows the aforementioned beer can be readily purchased at any super market’s serious beer section all over the world but Prague is the source of the Nile. 3: Cigarette smoking runs a close second to beer consumption and any self-respecting nun, doctor, lawyer or baker is never seen
Story by Jesse Bishop owlhumm@hotmail.com
without being surrounded by a heavy cloud of tobacco smoke, whether in a restaurant, bar or operating room. A manufacturer of “No Smoking” signs would die of starvation in Prague. 4: Starvation is no longer a factor in this former Soviet Socialist Republic as our waistlines revealed on our return home. We did our best to avoid some of the obviously tourist joints and were usually the only nonCzechs in the restaurant we chose. Goulash in all its many forms along with dumplings and various and sundry schnitzels and copious amounts of beer seemed to do the job although we never got around to the obligatory smoking part. 5: The Czechs are a pretty happy bunch, to the untrained ear their language sounds very Russian, and indeed it is a Slavic language although they use the western alphabet and not the Cyrillic. Susan thought the women were very attractive. My requirements for attractiveness rarely go beyond the presence of a pulse. I guess the men were okay….. who looks at the men? 6: A short history lesson. We went to Prague because it has in incredible amount of buildings from the Thirteenth and Fourteenth centuries on up and was only slightly devastated by an accidental bombing by the US army Air Corps in 1945. A guy named King Charles IV is responsible for most of Prague’s early greatness. At that time (1346) the country was called Bohemia and ol’KC was busy building an empire through marrying various Princesses as opposed to the old tried and true method of warfare and murder. It worked pretty good and not only did he eventually become Holy Roman Empire but also excelled at building churches, castles, bridges and breweries. He continues to be very well regarded although after his mostly peaceful reign ended in 1378 the country went back to the standard European practice of killing your neighbor, usually for religious reasons.
Return of the Duke Tom Peifer peifer@racsa.co.cr “Some men are born into times that they cannot change” Arab Proverb (Note: regular readers of this august journal may perhaps remember my account of a chance encounter with an intrepid surfing/investor type who was scouting out land to buy. Convinced of the inevitability of sea level rise due to global warming, he was negotiating purchase options on land with access to the waves of the future.) You ever get that feeling of déjà vu, but somehow, something is definitely wrong with that picture? Emerging from an early morning body surfing session at Playa Junquillal, that is exactly what happened. Needless to say, if you wear glasses and open your eyes under water a lot, as I do, it takes a while for your sight to adjust back to reality. All the same, as I headed to my truck for my lenses and a cigarette, I was dead certain that my eyes hadn’t been playing tricks on me. As it turned out, sure enough, the dude was back in town. It all came back in a flash. A few years ago, the guy had appeared on the beach and up into our valley, armed with an impressive array of mysto-techno-gimmicks and stressed me out no end. Waving his hands and talking a mile a minute he basically explained how my precious bananas would be in the impact zone of a right point wrapping around my neighbor’s hill. Another friend’s home would be an offshore reef break and that my best bet was to build a new home further up on the hill. It was him all right, a few pounds heavier, seemingly surrounded by even more gadgetry than last time and, was it possible, a shiny new Humvee with 3 antennas in the parking lot. Resolving to get an update, I meandered a bit closer to see what was shaking. “Dude”, he said in a flash of recognition, “you got some nice barrels this morning. Just getting some baseline data here before heading up into your valley a bit. ‘Sup, my brother?” I must have mumbled enough in the exhaled cloud of mentholated smoke to allow him to feel justified in carrying on. “Sure enough, your coastline appears to have jumped up a bit in that last quake. Notice any difference in the sandbars out there at low tide?” As I recalled from our previous encounters, a question from the dude was not necessarily predicated on eliciting a response. The guy seemed even more hyper than the last time. “Dude, things are happening fast, I’m on a whole new mission. Ever since NASA went public with that guaranteed 10-foot sea level rise from Antarctica, big time money is looking for more secure investments in the future. And I’m talking big time. Just take a look at my new wheels, you get the picture?”
I told him flat out that my main experience with the world of investment had been losing other people’s money. After a few sips out of a steaming thermos, he was ready to resume the rapid-fire delivery. “Dude, the last time, I had the right idea, but the wrong time frame and was totally off in terms of the market niche to go after. Man, the way money is moving around worldwide, and concentrating in fewer and fewer hands, you can write off the remnants of the middle class. I’ve moved waaaay beyond the primitive surf camp concept, I’m going for the uber rich, and thinking that the best approach is going to be offering ‘a safe port in a storm.’ If I do say so myself, that is a catchy marketing hook.” I told him, my marketing savvy was a notch or two below my expertise in investing, but asked what was the connection between ‘ports in a storm’ and, you know, like getting barreled. “Dude, do you have any idea what is going on? I have friends who work in shipyards. Not your every day oil tankers, shrimp boats, that kind of thing. These guys are working on the ultimate trend in the kind of huge luxury cruisers you see on CNN, FOX News, etc. But, you never see what’s going into these monsters. Dude, I’ve got the inside scoop, and not just from one dry dock, I’ve got guys all over. Man, it’s like the super rich dudes are getting ready for “Water World.” You gotta’ understand, most of these guys are heavy weight investors. Some of them have entire departments of nerds plugged into climate models. When NASA says 10 feet, unlike some of your lame friends, these guys sit up, take note and plan accordingly. And every time something happens before it was predicted to, you know, like the ice-free Arctic 84 years ahead of schedule, they factor it all in and place their bets accordingly.” I held up a hand, signaling him to pause for an instant or two while I gulped a Xanax without bothering to cut it in half, lit up a cigarette, and managed to pull a couple of thoughts out of the whirling maelstrom that the Dude had once again set off in the calm of my normal transcendental state. “But why here,” I asked. “What’s going to keep all these megafloating bunkers running if the world is going to hell in a hand basket?” And finally, “Why don’t they just stay out in the ocean, what’s the big deal about our valley?” “Dude, sometimes I wonder what you do on the computer all day? Facebook? Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed that the Pacific, you know, like, right on your doorstep, is like, acting up a bit? First you had that weird storm a few years back that went raging right up (continued page 36)
Alcoholics Anonymous Schedule of Meetings
Return of the Duke
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
the coast almost like a hurricane? Now, just this year, two different category 4 hurricanes, the earliest ever in the Eastern Pacific. With most of the global warming going in to the ocean, when it all starts turning over and up to the surface, the storms are going to go bonkers, just like they’ve been saying all along. This valley, obviously once it’s flooded, is going to be like a long fjord, with lots of nice side valleys to offer even more shelter. And that’s where the coconuts will go.”
Tamarindo
Saturday: 10:30-11:30 - Open General Meeting Monday: 5:30 - Open Meeting Wednesday: 10:30 - Open Meeting Thursday: 5:30-6:30 - Open Meeting Location: Behind Pedro’s Surf Shop Contact: Ellen - 2-653-0897 / Steve - 8377-1529
J u l y ( a l l
t i m e s
“Coconuts.” I replied quizzically, “say what?”
2 0 1 4
“Dude, you asked specifically about fuel. These vessels are going to be beyond state of the art. Wind, solar, built in redundancy galore, but there is only so much space. Most of the solar arrays will be dedicated to keeping on board electrical stuff going, and, of course, plenty of solar distillation for water when they need it. But, if we can fuel up occasionally in an area that can produce bio-diesel, ‘mo bettah brah’ as they say in Hawaii. So we’ll figure on coconuts and oil palm plantations retreating up the hillsides as sea level rises over time. Remember, even the recent report from the White House says 2 feet in 30 years, and they’re probably way too optimistic. And I haven’t even mentioned the nukes.”
l o c a l )
Sun
1st - rise 5:26; set 6:09 15th - rise 5:29; set 6:09* 31st - rise 5:33; set 6:07
* latest sunset of year - 12th at 6:09 1st quarter: Full: Last quarter: New:
Moon
5th 12th 18th 26th
m s
Any uncertainty about opting for more meds evaporated. This latest bombshell had me grappling for the Xanax and ripping open a new pack of Marlboros in spite of a full set of the shakes. “Nukes? I stuttered. “As in Fukushima you mean?” I had seen the reports of relatively high levels of radiation in West Coast tuna, a top carnivore in the ocean food pyramid.
RAINFALL - May/June 2014
4.0
c
5:59 a.m. 5:25 a.m. 8:08 p.m. 4:42 p.m.
RAIN GAUGE
5.0
Howler Meteorological Observatory Tamarindo
3.0
Total rainfall: 5.81 cm (14.8 inches)
2.0 1.0 0.0 16
25
20
may
Year-to-date 2014: 10.4 cm 2013: 44.0
31 1
10
5
june
Rainfall April/May 2014: 19.8 cm 2013: 40.6
(from page 31)
15
“No way dude! Remember, we’re thinking medium to long term here. Remember, most power stations are located near water sources, the oceans, lakes or rivers to help them cool down. The ones near the ocean are going to get flooded, sooner or later, and anything that’s hot, and not moved out to higher ground, is going into the ocean. You’re lucky to be right here. The only ones along the Pacific coast, like San Onofre, are pretty far north of here. Our global circulation models show that stuff getting swept out to sea quite a ways north of here. OK, sure, you can always argue that some of the bad stuff has a half-life of 50,000 years, but, hey, I don’t like to focus on the negative. Man, even a mushroom cloud has a silver lining. Dude, the way I see it, if there’s anything I learned from a lifetime of surfing, it’s usually easier to, you know, go with the flow.” Tom Peifer is an ecological land use consultant with 19 years experience in Guanacaste. 2658-8018.tompeiferecv@gmail.com El Centro Verde is dedicated to researching and promoting sustainable land use, permaculture and environmentally sound development www.elcentroverde.org/
Tom Peifer peifer@racsa.co.cr