The Howler
Volume 19, No. 8 Issue No. 214
August 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
Another new restaurant in Tamarindo is Terraza, serving fine seafood and a ceviche boca with your first beer.
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 September: August 15 Howler advertising
The Howler offers a wide range of advertising sizes and formats to suit all needs. Contact David Mills • dmills@racsa.co.cr
1/8 1/4 Banner 1/2 Full
Dimensions (cms) Width Height 9.4 9.4 19.2 9.4 19.2 19.2
x x x x x
6.15 12.70 6.15 25.80 12.70 25.80
Price $
400
Ads must be submitted on CD or e-mail attachment, JPG or PDF format at 266 dpi, at the appropriate size (above). All comments, articles and advertising in this publication are the opinion of their authors, and do not reflect the opinion of Howler Management.
www.tamarindohomepage.com
Carlos Muñoz reaches higher than any other Costa Rican surfer, at #47; Anthony Segura wins Copa Olympus Tough.
18
The Nicaraguan Canal
The “biggest project in the world” is being proposed for our neighbour, but it has loads of enemies and a load of problems.
30 Surviving Costa Rica A trip to Prague - second part - tells of our columnist’s unsuccessful tram journey - but the taxi wasn’t as bad as expected.
Return of the Duke
The climate is again undergoing change, due to “el Nino”, but Canadians are planting and growing.
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 August 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: Robert and Christine August, Tamarindo Beach. Cover Photo: Kristen Brown (www.sambatothesea.com) Cover Design: David Mills
Shape Up!
What’s Your Fitness Goal?
Lynda Espada
W
e are all motivated by different factors in life. While I think everyone would agree that having big aspirations is admirable not to mention inspiring, you should have a more calculated approach when setting fitness goals. In life, we are told to dream big…reach for the stars…go for the gold medal. It may seem contradictory to start small, but remember you want to set yourself up for success not burnout or injury. As a personal trainer, I have seen many people set huge goals on their first visit to the gym. They want to lose 20 or more pounds in an unrealistic short time for a big life event – wedding, high school reunion, or exercise seven days a week for one hour or more, only to regress a few weeks or sometimes days later. The truth is that even when people have the best of intentions and the willpower to set out and do something grand, without a plan and a smart goal, they stumble—and are more likely to fail. When you first set your personal goal, you are full of energy, and completely motivated, and your enthusiasm can push you to do too much too soon. The fix is to define progressive set of fitness goals that build on one another to help propel you toward that big dream or aspiration. Breaking a big goal into small, realistic goals can help you both mentally and physically. This method can also help you to improve your fitness level gradually and safely, which helps to build confidence. But it’s not always so black and white -- there’s a lot of overlap when it comes to intentions. Some people want to build muscle, but also improve their endurance or flexibility. Either way, it’s important to narrow down your intentions as much as possible. Are you interested in weight loss, building muscle, or an overall improved sense of wellbeing? The first step to setting realistic goals is to really think about your goal(s) and write it down. Ask yourself the following questions about your goals: 1. How big is the goal? Take your long term goal, and break it down in to smaller more attainable goals. Ideally, you should be able to reach the smaller goal in two to six weeks. You want to be successful and see results in the first few weeks to keep yourself motivated. 2. What does it take to achieve the goal? Be realistic about what time you have to devote to the goal and be honest about your fitness level. If you travel a lot for our job or have small children, you may need to think about alternate ways you can continue your fitness program. Depending on your current fitness level, building your fitness base takes time, and being smart about increasing it will help you stay injury-free. 3. Can you see yourself reaching the goal? You want a program that you can stick with for the long haul—not just this week. Be completely honest with yourself and ask if you can realistically see yourself doing what it takes to achieve the goal at hand. If you can and it meets the above criteria, then you probably have a goal! Next month, I will continue with fitness goals, staying motivated and discuss common situations people see as goal roadblocks I’ve encountered as a personal trainer.
Have you noticed that we are in drought conditions, that there’s been no rain for ages. See all the cisternas on our streets carrying water to places that can’t be supplied? The Ministry of the Environment tells us that El Niño is active in the Pacific and we can expect 50 percent of last year’s rainfall.
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So why do people still insist on washing their driveways every day, and watering the street outside their houses to keep down the dust.
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Measures to save water include: Water the garden late afternoon when the sun is going down and the winds have stopped. Mulch your plants to retain moisture. If you wash your car, use a pistol-type device so the water only runs when you want it. •
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Mother’s Day in Costa Rica is August 15. Be sure to celebrate it with her. •
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Another idea from Nicaragua is the Canal, which will be the biggest project in the world. President Ortega has a tough job to get it done, if he can get it approved. •
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We say fond farewells to a favourite resident of Tamarindo, as Robert August returns to California for a time. “Endless Summer Continues…” gives a brief history of his association with our town.
No Co
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More Football! And just in case you haven’t had enough football, here comes another FIFA World Cup, this time for the under20s women.
Lot for Sale
This is a lot for sale by Cepia. The beautiful lot, with extended reen farm area and forest, is in Cartagena adjacent to the clinic, with public water and utilities.
The entire proceeds of this sale will benefit CEPIA.
8 acres of land for $25,000 www.cepiacostarica.org Tel: 2653-8533 E-mail cepiacostarica@gmail.com
Starting August 5 this tournament has teams from 16 countries in four groups, playing in four cities – Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal and Moncton. The tournament consists of four groups: A – Canada, Finland, Ghana and Korea, B – China, Germany, Brazil and USA, C – England, Mexico, Korean Rep, Nigeria, and D - New Zealand, France, Paraguay, and Costa Rica. Quarter-finals will be played Aug 16 & 17; semis 20th; final 24th. Costa Rica plays: 8th at 3 p.m. - Montreal - France 16th at 6 - Montreal - France 23rd at 3 - Toronto - New Zealand
Number 10 Playing in the Under-20 World Cup again is Costa Rica, with high hopes due to its superstar Gloriana Villalobos at the age of 15. She was star for Costa Rica in the Under-17 World Cup in Costa Rica last May. Her speed and agility earned her the title “the feminine Brian Ruiz.” Gloriana is a player with Saprissa team. She was invited to play at Paris St. Germain in friendly games in the sub-19 from the 10th to 16th June for observation.
on-profit organization CEPIA has moved its offices to the new ommunity Center in Huacas, visit us anytime!
ake the road in front of restaurant Punto Tranquilo, at the end take ft, then again left at the main field of Huacas.
you know of any teenager or child that is in trouble, needs asstance or is not going to school, contact us: Tel: 2653-8533 or cepiacostarica@gmail.com
She will play for Costa Rica in the Under-20 taking place in Canada this August. Good luck, Gloriana!
Terraza is the newest place in town and already has its own clientele, an important asset for any new restaurant. It is operated by Rolly Calvo, who is also the chef, and is dedicated to offering a menu of good food, with several international dishes combined with Costa Rican items. A boca is served with your first beer, a civilized custom which is common outside Tamarindo. Appetizers are carpaccio; tostone relleùo; mussels marinara; raw oysters; Puerto Viejo soup; and La Terraza salad. We had the tropical salad, quite enough for two, with fresh vegetables and fruits and delicious sauces. Pastas are smoked salmon; chef’s ravioli; pesto shrimp; surf & turf; risotto Puntarenas; and risotto Guanacaste. We chose pasta Azteca, with avocado and Portobello mushrooms. For platas fuertes there was stuffed snapper; orange mahi-mahi; salmon Arenal; lobster; shrimp del rey; shrimp grilled or in garlic; and seafood platter. We had tuna La Terraza, bluefish with mango and lemon; and octopus, with tzatziki sauce. All of our choices were excellent, the service good and the atmosphere very comfortable. There is also a fish market at Terraza, for the freshest fish at the best prices. There is a Happy Hour 4-7 with 2-for-1 Margarita or Mai-Tai. La Terraza is situated on the second floor above ABC Real Estate. Tel: 2653-2048; all credit cards accepted. Closed Sundays.
Wanted - Shoes
H
ow many pairs of shoes do you own? Most people own more than one pair. However, the impoverished children of Costa Rica do not have this luxury of even one pair, needless to say, shoes for school or sports. Last year, Lisa Garrett, a native of the United States now living in Costa Rica, had 80 pairs of shoes for children in her possession and wanted to distribute them to make a difference. She teamed up with a local organization that works with the schools in the Guanacaste area. She delivered 80 pairs of shoes to children in need and changed their lives. The experience also changed her life as well and Souls Helping Soles became a thriving non-profit organization helping children with shoes for school and sports. The organization has received an outpouring of help from tourists bringing shoes in the country to local donations. Souls Helping Soles just received a free storage location at the Do It Center in Guanacaste and has a new drop off center at Coldwell Banker in Playa Brasilito. “We are excited to move over in this area and help the schools in that area. Our goal is to move across Costa Rica and give every child some hope for a better future with a pair of shoes.” says Lisa Garrett, founder. Our volunteers are Costa Rican and foreigners living here as well as in the US, Canada and other countries. “We have a process now which is exciting. We have forms that the schools fill out. We pull the shoes, pack them up and deliver the shoes with the help of volunteers to the schools and actually put the shoes on the children’s feet. We see them happily walk away with their new shoes. It touches your life.” Roseanna Boyer, board member and volunteer. Souls Helping Soles accepts gently new and used shoes. Black shoes are needed for school for children. Tennis shoes for children are needed for sports. We need shoes for for ages 6-16. We accept other shoes as well because we also support orphanages and a pair of shoes is a gift! Souls Helping Soles has their first big delivery of 1,000 shoes from the United States from a volunteer and her company paid the shipping fees. If you can spare a pair of shoes for children, please visit our website for drop off locations and on behalf of the children in Costa Rica, big hugs to you!
Lisa Garrett: lgarrett227@ gmail.com www.soulshelpingsoles.org FB: https://www.facebook. com/soulshelpingsoles
CD Review
Tony Orez
Why is Guillermo Anderson Smiling? Guillermo Anderson has put Honduran music and culture on the global map. This has not been an overnight event. The singer, guitarist and songwriter has been recording and performing for more than two decades now, operating out of his home town of La Ceiba, on the Caribbean side of his country. He has recorded a dozen albums on the homespun Costa Norte label, owned and operated for the past fifteen years by Max Urso in Tegucigalpa, the capitol of Honduras. It should be noted that each of Anderson’s recordings has its own, unique sound, a key in demonstrating that like Costa Rica, Honduras also has a versatile, panoramic spectrum of musical styles and genres. Papaya Music, a major recording company in Costa Rica agrees; they produced a greatest hits CD, “Llevarte al Mar”, for distribution here on their label. Max actually took Guillermo to Italy to record his debut album, “Desde el Fondo del Mar”. This initial connection to Europe would help open the doors to his touring there later. His second recording, “Costa y Calor” has a definite “Caribe” feel to it. Many of Guillermo’s albums do (he is from the Caribbean coast, after all), but I think it is essential to understand that there is not just one style of Caribbean music. Anderson sings calypso songs but, as in his “El Tesoro Que Tenes”, he concentrates on music of the Honduran Mesquitia area which is built on the indigenous peoples of that area. The same is true of his work with the Honduran Garifuna, a subset of indigenous Arawak who began cohabitating with Afrikaners more than four centuries ago. He has recorded another concept album, “Mujer Canciones, Cancion Mujer” in which each song is written about a different woman, concentrating on her strengths. And “Para los Chiquitos” is a collection of Guillermo Anderson songs directed at children. This album became so popular in Honduras that a section of people there thought that kid’s songs was Anderson’s only forte. My two favorite Guillermo Anderson albums are “Pobre Marinero” and “Del Tiempo y del Tropico”. His most recent album, “Lluvia Con Sol” (“Sunshowers”) was released last year. Anderson’s guitar playing is amazingly clean and bright. He has a very clear, distinct voice, a perfect compliment to his guitar work. And he writes almost all the songs he records. He and Urso have been working extensively on getting the Anderson global exposure he deserves. He toured Japan in 2009 with rave reviews and has returned to Europe twice to perform in Italy, Spain, Portugal & Switzerland. He has toured the U.S. & Canada as well as South America, all with warm responses. Last April, he appeared again in San José and last month he played in Managua, Nicaragua. I think a testament to his stature in his home country is that his song “En Mi Pais” (In My Country) is used by all three Honduran television stations as their nightly sign-off.
Book Review
Tony Orez
Accidental Death
P
eter Ellis is an American investigative reporter living in Paris. He in his late 30s or early 40s and has garnered an excellent reputation for his literary work, writing under then pseudonym Jean LeBlanc, mainly to protect himself from the victims of his pen. That’s how good he is at not only writing, but investigating as well, turning up dirt on high-profile names who would prefer said dirt to remain under a rock. Ellis is also a surfer, so when he reads about Kevin Duffy, a young American surfer, dying when he inexplicably falls to his death from an overlook high above the beach in Biarritz, he is puzzled. He had lived and surfed in Biarritz prior to moving to Paris. He knows that bluff and can’t understand why anyone would step over the stone wall and eventually fall from the point. The local police chief, Jacque LeClerc quickly proclaims it an accidental death. But something doesn’t seem right to Ellis, so he contacts his old buddy from the area, the recently retired police investigator, Maurice Clavrie-Laporte. I’ve just finished reading “Accidental Death in Biarritz” by David Robert. The story takes place in the late Eighties and I enjoyed the references to timepieces of that era, such as cassette tapes. I also appreciated David’s knowledge of that specific area and, like the inspector Maurice, his vast knowledge both gastronomical and viticultural of Southwest France. David also spices the novel with interesting historical facts about the region. And the author has been surfing in and around Biarritz since 1966 which also lends to his credibility. I particularly liked the descriptions and character progressions of the Bad Guys (yes, there is more than one) in this novel. As a reader, they are truly people you love to hate. And there is a love interest for the protagonist as well; we are in France, after all. The supporting cast of minor characters also lend to the ride in this novel, a memorable troupe of personalities. If I have a knock on the novel, it would be the author’s use of underlining words to strengthen their significance. This is something, I believe, the French do in their written language. But the novel is written in English and I found the practice of underlining disruptive and would have preferred italics. But the story builds to a nice crescendo and a nice, tidy aftermath that leaves the door open for a sequel. David Robert is a graduate of the University of North Carolina. He has written another book, “Armando and La Baula”, a cautionary tale about the relationship between a Costa Rican boy and an aging female Leatherback turtle. David divides his time between North Carolina and the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica. I have known David for several years and I am happy to see him pursuing his writing career. The fact that he is writing about surfing and that David lives in Costa Rica, I believe, justifies my review of his new novel.
August Odysseys On the Road Again
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hen this article is published in The Howler, I already will be traveling across the United States and South Africa on a month long tour celebrating the 50th Anniversary of The Endless Summer. First stop is a screening event for surf ship Cinnamon Rainbows in New Hampshire, then on to Liquid Dreams in Maine and the Surf Lodge in Montauk, Long Island. Who says there are no waves and surf shops on the East Coast! After a quick week in the North East of the US, I head to California for my 50th High School reunion for Huntington Beach High. The next stop on my tour is South Africa! Not only will I be going back to visit Cape St. Francis, the break of the “perfect wave” in The Endless Summer, but I will also be traveling with my son Sam and a couple of kids from the Huntington Beach High School surf team. Talk about an amazing trip and experience for these young men! I can not believe that it has been fifty years since I surfed Cape St. Francis…and hopefully we will get some waves when we are there. We will also be visiting Jeffrey’s Bay (JBay) during the trip, the current stop (as I write) on the Men’s World Tour. After almost a month of traveling, I return back to California in time for the Longboard Luau cancer research fundraiser in San Diego. I have been going to this event for over twenty years and the whole event is just bitchin. Surf legends, big corporations, surf companies and the general public all donate and show up for a great time! I will see you all when I get back!
dmills@racsa.co.cr
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a Sele came home July 9 to a hero’s welcome – a nine-hour parade in San Jose – after enduring three rounds of World Cup play which took them to the quarter-finals. Costa Rica took on some major countries – coming out unscathed of the group stage – the group of death, against three World Cup winners - Uruguay, Italy and England – to put them in the Group of 16, where they played and beat Greece. Only in the quarter-finals did they lose – on penalty kicks – to Netherlands. It may be of interest to see the population of some of their opponents – Italy 60.7 millions, U.K. 64, Greece 11, Netherlands 16.8 – compared with Costa Rica’s 4.6 millions. Finally the tournament came to an end, with Germany the winner. Congratulations! It seems strange to me that U.S. American friends say “I don’t understand soccer”. It’s a very understandable game, very simple strategy, with one objective, with a handful of rules. Yet they understand American Football with its myriad rules, tactics and strategies. I figure one day in the near future FIFA will adjust the height and width of goalposts to allow more goals. The game is boring with its frequent score of 0-0, and, in tournaments such as World Cup the constant double overtimes and penalty shots. Over the past decades athletes have become more able to jump and access wider balls. Over to you, Mr. Blatter.
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AROUND TOWN CRGAR´s Annual Charity Golf Event takes place at Reserva Conchal this year. On Friday, August 1st, Welcome Cocktail Party at Pangas in Tamarindo at 5 p.m. open for everyone. Saturday, August 2nd, Scramble four players Golf Tournament at 7:30 a.m. at Reserva Conchal Golf Course. CRGAR is inviting your participation as an event attendee, sponsor, raffle prize donor, golfer, and most importantly as a supporter of our beneficiaries. Need a massage? On the beach or at your home or hotel, Liliana offers a good range of treatments and prices. See ad page 9. The Carpenter’s Way Fellowship Community Group meets to learn about God and his works, on the second floor of Tiki’s Restaurant, Sundays at 10 a.m. See ad on page 12. New restaurant in town is La Terraza, above ABC Real Estate, from 2 to 10, serving delicious seafood. See review on page 8. Higher Ground Hostel has dormitory rooms from $13, and private rooms from $40. It is on 3rd floor of Supercompro in Tamarindo, tel: 8826-3175. Coldwell Banker is now in new offices at Tiki restaurant in Brasilito, for houses, lots, land. Contact Randy Toltz at 8705-2436, or see ad page 19. Need good, reliable Wifi connection. CRWIFI has fine networks guaranteed at 95.5 percent uptime. See ad page 17. Tamarindo Shoes! Good prices, tennis from ¢10,000, 25 meters from SuperCompro, Monday - Saturday 9-6. Tel 8485-4371. The St. Paul’s by the Sea Episcopal Church welcomes you to its service Sundays 10 a.m., with the Rev. Mike Bradshaw. See ad on page 25. Hot Properties Real Estate is selling a 14-acre wooded lot, ideal for organic cultivation or ecological tourism. See ad page 5. You are invited to a meeting for the voting of the board for the Asociación de Desarrollo Integral de Tamarindo, Aug 9 at 2 p.m. @ the Soccer Field.
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Surf Report Ellen Zoe Golden ellenzoe@aol.com Carlos Muñoz is making history. At #47 on the World Qualifying Series (WQS) rankings for the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) circuit, the surfer from Esterillos has achieved the best-ever position for a Costa Rican on that international tour, even better than Tamarindo’s Federico Pilurzu who valiantly did the WQS for years placing within 100. Muñoz’s results have been tallied from his work in the 3 most recent WQS dates, and he comes in among 505 surfers vying for the top spots and a chance to compete on the main stage of surfing, World Championship Tour or WCT. Back in May, Muñoz traveled to Ituana Beach, Brazil to participate in the Quiksilver Saquarema Prime, the 9th date of the circuit. He was able to place 25th and add $1900 to his annual purse. Next came Los Cabos of Surf, which took place mid-June at San Jose del Cabo, Baja Sur, Mexico. Carlos was in it neck and neck with Brazil’s Peterson Crisanto in the round of 16 best surfers, and did lose, but ended up in 9th place for the date. Just finished at the time of deadline in July was the Surf Open Acapulco, a 4-star contest at Playa Revolgardero, Mexico. In this particular WQS he was joined the competition by Pavones’ Noe Mar McGonagle. Both surfers were seeded so they entered the later rounds. Although Muñoz finished his participation in Round 5, and only placed 33, but he jumped up 2 spots from #49 to #47. Noe, however, powered through all his heats, beating surfers from the United States including Hawaii, Argentina, Australia among others.. According to the ASP, “Noe Mar McGonagle (CRI) was the surfer to beat the entire event,” and only California’s Luke Davis was able to accomplish that with his win of the contest. To make his first WQS final, McGonagle had a strategy of surfing backside lefts, yet it wasn’t enough to overcome Davis. This 2nd place finish bests the 9th place spot he accomplished at the same event last year. Said McGonagle: “Thank you all for the support! One of the best days of my life! 2 place in 4 star WQS! Thank God for the waves he presented me! Pura Vida!” With only 1 WQS contest this year, he ranks #141. The Asociacion Latinamericana de Surfistas Profesionales (ALAS) is only 4 dates in this year and its difficult to see a pattern emerging that would determine who could eventually end up the champion for the year. Expect 5 or 6 more contests before the winners are determined. I read a very interesting analysis about the ALAS circuito so far written by the association’s Technical Director Nino Lauro. And, Costa Rican surfers do indeed figure prominently in the story so far.
Each of the first 4 dates had a different winner: Engaboa, Ecuador was local surfer Jonathan Chila; San Lorenzo, Ecuador was the Venezuelan Rafael Pereira; Montañita, Ecuador was Carlos Muñoz; and Hermosa, Costa Rica was Noe Mar McGonagle. At this moment, despite the lead of Pereira in the Open rankings, and the next guys up including Tico Anthony Fillingim, Chila and Argentine Lucas Madrid, with so many contests still to do, there are at least 5 other candidates who may still get the title. According to Lauro, Muñoz and another Costa Rican, Jason Torres, are 2 others who may come in and win it all by the finish. As a matter of fact, even though Muñoz has a win in his pocket, he’s not ranked higher because he hasn’t, so far, participated in all the dates. Lauro thinks Torres is really the one to watch, because he is likely to win a date at any time and rise up from his current spot at #6. Muñoz is now #7. However, McGonagle cannot be ruled out. He’s at #5 and could rise very fast if he keeps on the same track in the Open. Noe Mar is also racking up points in the Junior category and is currently ranked #4. And finally, another Costa Rican to watch in the ALAS is Longboarder Anthony Flores in Longboard who enjoys the #3 spot right now. Open 1- Rafael Pereira (VEN) – 14.100 points 2- Anthony Fillingim (CRI) 3- Jonathan Chila (ECU) 4- Lucas Madrid (URU) 5- Jason Torres (CRI) 6- Martín Passeri (ARG) 7- Diego Salgado (PAN) 8- Noe Mar McGonagle (CRI) 9- Alan Saulo (BRA) 10- Felipe Ximenes (BRA) Pro Junior 1- Joaquín del Castillo (PER) – 5.002 puntos 2- Luan Wood (BRA) 3- Caina Barletta (BRA) 4- Noe Mar McGonagle (CRI) 5- Leonardo Calvo (CRI) Longboard 1- Ronald Reyes (VEN) – 3.000 puntos 2- Jonathan Chila (ECU) 3- Anthony Flores (CRI) 4- Isidro Villao (ECU) 5- Carlos Rivas (VEN)
Life’s Little Lessons
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ure, you have heard about the wonderful things about Guanacaste, that’s why we are here. You also have heard about the down side - long bank lines, taxes, government red tape, driving with the traficos. However, there are other sometimes simple, sometimes complex things learned after living a while in Paradise, so if you are here for any length of time here are a few bits of advice concerning some of Life’s little Lessons learned living in Guanacaste... sometimes the hard way! Worms – Most of us know enough to worm our cats, dogs and horses, but what about worming ourselves. We live in the tropics and there a lot of parasites that also share our paradise. It is important to worm ourselves once a year. Several years ago, I thought I was having an appendicitis attack, and in fact, those critters were having a party in my digestive tract. Long term residents joked with me, remarking, of course, we take our pills annually. Check with your pharmacist.
pdx childhood my brother & i ran around all hot summer long dragging cardboard boxes behind on no snow hillsides toboggan down dead man’s hill green grass runs some architect’s turned wrong burning out under sun our good luck that slip of pen! my brother & i remember with grins those summers still
written by geretta geretta/
Leaks in the roof In Michigan, a leak in the roof during a storm is a major problem, soggy carpeting, wet wood floors, and falling plaster. In Guanacaste, although a concern, with cement block walls, tile floors, just sweep out the water, mop up and a quick trip to clean the clogged gutters solves most leaks during the annual aguaceros, or downpours. The black sticky roof filler or metallic tape also comes in handy. Farm Gates - It is always important to ask owners permission to enter or cross their property. You never know when there is a bull in the field or worse. But when you do enter a farm, always remember if the gate is open, leave it open, if it is closed, close it after you enter. Front Gates - When approaching a Guanacaste house it is important to announce yourself. It is important to allow occupants to collar their dogs and come out to receive you. Although it is foreign to we foreigners, Guanacastecos shout out “whoopee, whoooopee” to announce their arrival and, of course, smile. Breakdowns – On a return trip from San José, on the road between Puntarenas and the turn to the new bridge, the left front wheel of our car began to make the most awful squeal. Stopping to check it, the metal part of the wheel was hot. Driving slowly toward a small town we stopped several times to ask about a mechanic in the area. “Down the road about a half a kilometer,” was the answer. We found a man and his family sitting on a porch, mechanic’s tools scattered around the porch. Being “precious lunchtime” I wasn’t encouraged. Esteban talked to him, and his wife invited me to sit in one of the rockers on the porch. I pulled out my book, preparing for a long
Dharma Corner
Sue Smith
Walking the Talk This morning I sat and read the words attributed to the Buddha in one of the sutras called The Diamond Sutra. The words were so profound. Paraphrasing (of course). The Buddha tells his inquiring disciple that the vow of any enlightened being should be two fold: to guide others out of their suffering and, to do so without discrimination. The author of the commentary suggested that we look at these words as they relate to ourselves, our own lives and that of our community, asking ourselves the following questions: Do I practice (meditation, Yoga, Prayer) for myself to relieve my own afflictions? Or, do I practice and study with determination to be able to bring happiness to others? These words seemed especially profound to me in light of many “news” items I had heard this week. Everything from the children seeking a better, safer life in trying to cross the border into the US and being treated in heinous ways, to reports of local folks poisoning the wildlife so that the animals “would not inconvenience their guests”. So, the words of the Sutra and of the author of the commentary almost shouted out “are you really walking your talk”? Seems like a question we should all ask ourselves. The Dalai Lama is quoted as saying “My religion is simply Kindness”. I would venture to say that most of us read that and smile as we think of ourselves as kind. But, what do our actions say?? Are we kind to others...animals, as well as people??? And about that “without discrimination” part......are we kind and helpful to others who are unlike ourselves??? I hope these words have jarred the minds of the readers, just as the words of the Diamond Sutra and the accompanying commentary jarred mine. It is not enough to practice (whatever your practice is) just for ourselves, to relieve our own suffering. To continue as a society, we must practice in order to help others suffer less also. And, to do so without discrimination.
New Ambassador to the United States The White House announced the nomination of S. Fitzgerald Haney as the next U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica. Under U.S. law, the next steps in the process are a confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a vote by that committee, and then a vote before the entire U.S. Senate. If approved by the Senate, Mr. Haney will assume his role as U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica.
The first step is to walk our talk. People rarely remember our words, but they do remember what we did and how it made them feel (Maya Angelou). Namaste Pura Vida Sangha, a Sangha in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh meets for meditation on Mondays at 4:00 PM. Contact meditationcostarica@gmail.com
The U.S. Embassy will share additional information about the timing of his arrival in Costa Rica as soon as the Senate confirmation process is complete.
Nicaragua Canal to be world’s largest project
N
icaragua’s plan to build a rival to the Panama Canal is the world’s biggest ever project at $40 billion. It will cover 278 km (173 miles) of distance - this will make it three times the length of the Panama Canal - including 65 in Lake Nicaragua, with a breadth 239 to 529 meters and depth of 26 meters. The plan is to start building in December and finish in 2019 with the opening in 2020. A 50-year concession was granted in June to the HKND Group, of Hong Kong. The project will be the biggest in history, including also a railroad, an international airport, two ports and an oil pipeline. It will employ 50,000 people, but will have big benefits for another 20,000. The canal will start at the mouth of the river Brito and across to Rivas, to cross the Lake Nicaragua and go via the Punta Gorda rivers to Bluefields on the Caribbean. A major reason for this project is that the modifications being made to the Panama Canal are not sufficient in the long term. Projections show that future demand will outstrip the canal’s ability within 15 years.
the country. At present, Nicaragua is the poorest country in Central America; following the implementation of the canal it will be the richest. Maersk Shipping Lines, the largest in the world, claims that when the Panama Canal is upgraded, it still won’t handle their largest ships, and a canal in Nicaragua would save them 800 kilometers on a trip from L.A. to New York. As far as drawbacks go, the connection of Lake Nicaragua to the ocean will inevitably cause some progressive salination problems in the lake, currently the largest body of fresh water in Central America, and source of water to Managua and other towns. As far as is known, HKND has little or no experience in large projects, let alone the “largest project in the world”. The Nicaraguan Academy of Sciences published an article in nature magazine pointing out that the canal would bisect two nature reserves, destroy nearly one million acres of rainforest, obliterate coral reef and mangrove systems on both coasts. Environmental Groups say that it will cause havoc by splitting ecosystems, damming rivers and moving untold volumes of earth. Seven protected ecological zones will be affected by the construction of the canal. There is a distinct difference between maps presented by HKND and those of the British consultancy Environment Resources Management. Townspeople who attended a meeting in San Miguelito about compensation for their lands came away totally confused. Surfer magazine claims that the Pacific entrance to the canal would be in the heart of the surf zone, and that surfing around the mouth of the canal would be impacted dramatically.
There are many benefits – and some drawbacks – to this project. One obvious benefit is revenue to Nicaragua; both the short-term in the building, the long-term in the revenue to
However, given than President Ortega has been charged with various crimes such as fraud, influncing peddling, abuse of authority and threatening the integrity of the Republic, in connection with the canal project, it is doubtful whether it will get started.
Endless Summer Continues...
I
don’t think there is anyone around Tamarindo who doesn’t at least know of our cover boy Robert August; he is one of the builders of Tamarindo. That is not to say he was instrumental in building houses, condos or apartments; but he did have a major influence on the population that has settled here over the past twenty years. Robert was the original star in Bruce Brown’s iconic movie “Endless Summer” in 1966. His antics and adventures as he travelled the world, surfing in places which had never seen a surfboard, let alone a white man, soon became known to surfers world-wide. Next on Bruce Brown’s string of successes was “Endless Summer II” in 1994, a sequel made an amazing twenty-eight years after the original, but this time part of the movie was set in Tamarindo – and the stage was set for some major development. People flocked from all over to sample the town and its environments, and many stayed and settled here.
Robert also spends a lot of his time involved in funraising. With the Robert August Surf ‘n’ Turf he donates vast amounts of cash to meaningful projects in Ta m a r i n d o , a n d there are many other fundraisers to keep him busy in other parts of the world. Now Robert has lived in Tamarindo for the past six years, and even found gainful employment at an age when most seniors have given up, shaping surboards at Witch’s Rock Surf Camp, count to date - over 35,000 boards. But again he has to leave, for his daughter Christine’s education, but he vows he’ll be back at every opportunity. And when he leaves it’s to another destination of laid-back people with surfboards, this time on Huntington Beach. . We will miss you, Robert.
Ar
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nd the Wo u o
Surf Report (from page 15) Back at the Circuito Nacional Olympus 2014 presented by Adrenaline Rush, Anthony Segura surfed an upset by winning the Copa Olympus TOUGH contest at his homebreak of Esterillos Oeste. Although the real surprise occurred on Saturday when the rankings leader Maykol Torres, also of the area, lost in an early round. And with Gilbert Brown (Puerto Viejo) placing 2nd in this date, it’s really sure to have been an exciting Gran Final in Playa Hermosa last month.
Sixty-seven snails were destroyed as being agricultural pests at LAX airport. The snails, up to eight inches long, also can carry parasites. A man who took a selfie of himself during the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain, faces a $2,050 fine for reckless behavior. Bolivia has lowered the legal age for children to work to ten, as long as they attend school. Chidren of twelve can be contracted out, provided they have parental supervision. A U.S. widow has won a 23 billion dollar suit against Philip Morris after her husband died of lung cancer. A butterfly count is being performed in Britain. For two weeks people are asked to find a sunny spot and count how many butterflies they see in 15 minutes. Bill Hillman, author of “Fiesta: How to survive the bulls of Pamplona” was badly injured in this years running. He was gored in the thigh by 600-lb bull. A supermarket has opened in Germany which offers no product in containers, i.e. bottles, boxes, jars, bags or jugs. People bring their own containers.
Segura, himself a contender for the national championship, didn’t come by his victory easily. His competition not only included Brown, but two veteran superstars from Jaco, Jair Perez and Jason Torres. Finding himself in need of an excellent wave to pass on, he selected 2 lefts and rode them powerfully, thereby achieving the 1st place trophy. “I have no words to express how it feels to win for the first time at home,” Segura said. “It’s like giving back to your people and your wave gets all that I learned in my surfing life. First of all, I want to thank God for giving me strength. Long live Esterillos!” It was only 12 months ago, that 13-year-old Emily Gussoni won her first date of the Circuito Nacional Olympus 2014, and for her part racked up 2 Women’s trophies including that one. In Esterillos, she rode waves that found her once again at the top against Jaco’s Nataly Bernold and Ana Herrera and Pavones’ Leilani McGonagle. “The final was hard-fought, with waves everywhere, so I knew that I needed to occupy two good waves to win,” Gussoni recalled. “To tell the truth, I’m very happy to win because I wanted to dedicate the win to my dad who came to see me today.” It should also be noted that Leilani’s brother Noe Mar, earned his first perfect 10 in the championship, while competing in his Junior category. The Gran Finals took place July 25, 26, and 27, after deadline. For full results now go to www.surfingcr.net.
A Washington street has been declared cell-phone free, and Apple will market a telephone that will not allow texting while driving. Perry Martin of Delray Beach, FL, was accused of burgling cars shortly after the event. He was caught on a security camera, wearing a t-shirt from the place he worked.
(continued page 33)
Life’s Little Lessons
(from page 16)
haul. Then I watched in amazement as he effortlessly disassembled the wheel laying everything on a rag in the dirt. Wheel bearings…. sounded bad! We needed parts. The mechanic said he would take Esteban to the main road and he could catch a bus to Puntarenes about 25 miles back to get the parts. They left, I settled into my book. Soon the mechanic’s wife brought me ice for my coke and a piece of cake. About an hour later, the two returned. Esteban had paid him to taxi him to get the parts. As the mechanic settled into repacking the wheel bearings, it amazed me how efficient those grease-stained hands were. He had us back on the road in less than 3 hours total. Our Guanacaste mechanic charged us $14 for the work and $15 for the taxi ride, we paid for the parts. Most mud does not stain, but bananas do! During the rainy season, mud is a given. However, the Guanacaste mud does come out with the phosphate laden detergents, particularly if my house keeper tackles the job. But watch out! When picking bananas, platanos, or our favorites, quadrados, don’t get any of the juice from the stalk on your clothes. The ugly dark brown stains never come out, even with the expert stain killers. Monkeys don’t make good or any other kind of pets – After raising an orphaned howler monkey and getting her back to the wild over two years later, I learned many monkey lessons. They absolutely do not make PETS. They are years of commitment and become dangerous when adults. I know they are cute…but don’t even think of it. Cutting and Planting – Very quickly I learned that what I thought was an old wives tale, is not. In Guanacaste, it is important to cut and plant in the right moon. Laugh as you will, but check out the difference in the posts cut in the right moon with those insect-eaten ones cut in the wrong moon. Check with your local farmer or gardener for expert advice. Tipping & Bargaining - Every country has its own system of tipping and bargaining. I learned early, Costa Ricans don’t tip taxi drivers and 10% is added to food bills in most restaurants. If you want the waiter or waitress to get anything you better leave a little something. Don’t get caught when you charge and the tip doesn’t show up on the receipt and there is line for it…you already paid 10%. Although bargaining is not common, as in other Latin American countries, you can always ask for a discount, especially using cash…Try it. Toilet paper – Although the plumbing is improving in Costa Rica. It is courtesy to put the “paper” where it belongs when using bathrooms. Do not flush it without permission, and use the basket when told. With a history of small gauge pipes and clogged drains it is important to learn bathroom etiquette. Planting a Garden – Traveling with clippers in the car during the rainy season saves trips to the nurseries to buy plants. Most folks in Guanacaste will be happy to share clippings of their abundant house and garden plants. Just clip them and stick them in the ground. Speaking the language – If you make the decision to live here, at least try learning the language, it is very important.
Free RUM Punch
Tamarindo Topics by Jeffrey Whitlow
Tamarindo is a beautiful paradise. The few problems that we do have here have two root causes in my opinion, those being personal jealousies and the inability to effectively communicate with each other. Everyone who knows me personally and/or through my writings knows me to be a direct person. I understand that way doesn’t work for everyone, but I have to say that a lot of people go to great lengths to avoid confronting a situation that is troubling them. For instance, a friend of mine is participating in a group activity. Every time I see her after a session, she complains that two of the people in the group do something that she considers distracting and rude. After several weeks of this, I finally asked her, “If you don’t like what is going on, why don’t you say something?” The look on her face let me know that she had never even considered that course of action. Why would one member of the group deliberately do something that would make other people in the group uncomfortable? Clearly they had no idea that their actions were causing a problem. I think it is up to the offended person to make their feelings known. And so it goes in this community. Several people in this community hold grudges against others for matters that I know have been misjudged or have been totally blown out of proportion because I know both sides of the story. A little direct communication could go a long way towards resolving those issues and bringing our community closer together. So I am asking the readers of this column to reach out to the person or people that they have issues with and give a good faith effort to resolve those matters. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) slogan is best for these matters, “If you see (or feel) something, say something.” Then there is the jealousy issue. Again, those who know me know that I am not a “hater”, I am a “congratulator”, to quote the vernacular. In other words, I take pride in the success of others. Particularly, I have great admiration for all of the people who built this town that I love so much. The founders and owners of Hotel Diria, Capitan Suizo, La Colina, and Witches Rock, and the couple who had the idea to take ownership of a large bloc of land in this area to begin with, are to be congratulated for their vision and their leadership. How can someone be upset about the “traffic” around midtown, for instance? First of all, the most I have ever had to wait is a few minutes. Second of all, very few people in this town have any real reason to be in a hurry. And finally, those trucks unloading and those cars parking represent the lifeblood of our community. When you have a town of 500 permanent residents, the 90 or so restaurants and the myriad other businesses here need all of the tourism we can reasonably sustain in order to succeed. And whoever can bring those people in and give them a good experience deserves our thanks, rather than our condemnation. The bad news for me is that I am new to this town as a permanent resident, so I have a lot to learn. The good news is that I bear no ill will toward anyone here. If anyone bears any ill will towards me, please let me know how I have offended you and I will give you a humble apology and the beverage of your choice. I think it behooves the community for all of us to shore up our interpersonal relationships so that we can come together as one when the need arises.
Revival of the Kir Late afternoon, sunny, quiet, not much going on? Take a trip down memory lane back to ‘80s style – Miami Vice, glamorous disco nights, and that very chic cocktail, the Kir! The Kir originated in the region of Burgundy, France, named after a local French Catholic priest and Resistance fighter, Canon Félix Kir. During the nineteenth century, the aperitif was simply known as a blanc-cassis. Bottles of crème de cassis (blackcurrant liquer) would be placed on tables in bistros throughout the French countryside. Artists, writers, musicians, and those inconveniently constrained by a limited budget softened the austerity of dry local white wines with a measure of cassis, free of charge. Canon Kir is remembered for helping 5,000 prisoners of war escape from the Nazis during World War II. He was eventually captured by the Nazis, seriously wounded, and condemned to death; but despite it all, managed to survive. In 1945, Canon Kir was made a knight of the Légion d’honneur. Soon after, he was elected Mayor of the Town of Dijon, remaining for four consecutive terms, well into his 90s, until his death in 1968. Mayor Kir was famous – or infamous – for entertaining dignitaries, strengthening political alliances, and promoting local businesses with the liberal service of Kir cocktails. In honor and recognition of Canon Kir’s service to both his country and the wine growing region of Burgundy, the blanccassis became widely known as a Kir. Popular throughout France, legend has it that once the concept of the Kir reached Paris, members of the aristocracy and café society mixed cassis with Champagne, and the Kir Royale was born.
Barbara’s Pet Stories
A Slice of Life Wind Music David Mills
I have no words for this month’s...just a picture, what tells a thousand words... This is my “rescue-kindergarden” right now. All of them were found in bad conditions. Now they are recovering at my place, when they will be healthy and bigger they will be released back into the wild. Any visitor is welcome with a small donation as a support for this cuties. But: only to look at, no touching allowed.
I
n the days of the distant past, a group of ardent musicians stood together in a bandstand (know what that is?). These eighteen kids, all members of the local Royal Air Force detachment, were supplementing their very modest stipends by working Sunday, although how could it be work when we enjoyed it so much. After our two-hour stint we would repair to some local bar. So there we stood, picking our way through a selection of Gilbert & Sullivan numbers, some My Fair Lady excerpts, and a mixed variety of the classics. Bags of Swank – we were dressed in our best blues. It was a hot summer’s day in Chester, perfect weather for the audience, some of whom were asleep. Eventually we arrived at Light Cavalry by von Suppe, a lively piece in which we could blow our teeth out. As we started into the piece, a frivolous wind blew up, just one gust. It caught the leftmost music stand and blew it over then, as though it were choreographed, the domino effect took over, and the whole front line went down, one by one, until ten stands lay scattered on the ground.
barbara.s.animalrescuecenter@gmail.com
Trying to play a classical piece of music while trying not to laugh – even though the audience was in stitches – is not the easiest thing, but we’d played the piece a thousand times. We blew the best presentation ever, Franz von S would be proud – and ended the program as if the wind had been part of the show – to a standing ovation. And so to the local pub, to spend every penny on booze.
The drama of aging doesn’t consist of being old, but of having been young
Oscar Wilde.
Selected Poems from “Tell me about the telaraña” by Diana Renee
me acurruco en el nido sedoso de tu pelo dorado if i were a squirrel i would make my nest here. si supiera te embrujería amor. que le diré a mi madre? Tomo un paseo en el parque pero me enojo con los árboles por bloquear el sol and the air’s not good for breathing, here. i take my clothes back to the department store because I could work pero yo no quiero i could be a poet, a pilot a millionaire in this God-blessed America pero yo no quiero ser nada i just want to go home.
fly away, then far and don’t come back go disappear in the clouds like a loose balloon explode if you want or land in the backyard of another girl you like more
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 August
Aries: 21 March - 20 April
Libra: 23 September - 23 October
Taurus: 21 April - 21 May
Scorpio: 24 October - 22 November
This month holds some challenges for you as two malefic planets, Mars and Saturn, are in your solar eighth house, indicating some financial difficulties regarding your partner/spouse, end of life issues, insurances, legacies or a need to delve more deeply into some underlying psychological issues. Jupiter enters your fifth house providing some comfort and advancement with creative ventures, children and fun…remember to have some of that too! The moon supports you on the 13th and 14th.
With Mars and Saturn in your solar second house, you need take a very active role in managing your finances as this is the month of reckoning on the now and the big picture ahead. With Jupiter in your solar eleventh house there’s help on the horizon as great connections and gains can be made through your network of clients…money comes in through business ventures. Keep your name visible and show up for all possible social engagements. Best days for you are the 1st, 2nd, 28th and 29th.
Gemini: 22 May - 21 June
The month’s energy has plenty to energize you, with Mars now in your sign where it can gain some traction and Jupiter at the midheaven, enhancing your exposure. Be careful not to come on too harshly between the 14th and 25th as Mars approaches Saturn. This is a military-like duo and that approach doesn’t always work for a lot of people; you come off like an insufferable demanding ahole….who wants that? Good lunar aspects support you on the 3rd, 4th, 30th and 31st.
Cancer: 22 June - 22 July
Your ruling planet, Jupiter, enters your solar ninth house bringing a desire for travel right in your face…what are you waiting for? Time to leave the familiar for the unfamiliar and get a good healthy dose of how the rest of the world lives. Ideally, taking a year to wander the globe would be the best for you. With Mars and Saturn in your solar twelfth house, you will need to pay attention to how you self-sabotage and undo your best interests. The 5th, 6th are beneficial days for you.
Leo: 23 July - 23 August
This month finds you changing things up a bit in where you get business and new clients. Some associations come to an end as they haven’t born the fruit you desired. It’s OK to face reality and make a change. The benefits some through Jupiter’s entry into your solar eighth house, signifying an increase of money through your spouse or other business partners efforts or investment gains. You have some protection with this energy so do your best to shift your strategy. Best days are the 7th and 8th.
Virgo: 24 August - 22 September
Jupiter enters your solar seventh house of partnerships, clients, and dealings with the public. Gains and abundance come in throughout the year as you make favorable impressions with those in this sphere of influence. Mars and Saturn are at the top of your chart, creating some interesting turbulence but overall gains in respect and manner if you don’t act too superior and slash and burn your way through negotiations, particularly between the 14th and 25th. Best days for gain are the 9th and new moon on the 10th.
Jupiter enters your solar fourth house indicating some deeper connections to your family, ancestors and home base. Mars and Saturn are in your solar seventh house, indicating some conflicts that need to be worked out with business partners, clients and personal partners. Boundaries are necessary but try to avoid big confrontations, particularly 20th-27th when volatility is high. The 15th, 16th and 17th bring a sense of clarity to your situation. The month finds the expansive energy of Jupiter in your solar third house of communication, writing, talking, teaching and siblings. Great time to set up that blog or visit your family to catch up. Mars and Saturn are in your solar sixth house of health, routine, small animals and people you work with so there’s some house cleaning to be done. Use the militarylike energy of that duo to improve diet and get more exercise. The 18th and 19th are your best days.
Sagittarius: 23 November - 21 December
Jupiter enters your solar second house of money, values, possessions and security. This will bring increases in that area, making you feel a lot better over the next year. Mars and Saturn do their dance of tension in your solar fifth, bringing some issues to the front regarding your children and creative projects. You will have to surrender your need to control something with that part of life. So be it. Do things that increase and express your creativity instead. The 20th and 21st bring you some peace and tranquility.
Capricorn: 22 December - 21 January
With Jupiter in your sign, the sky’s the limit as to what you can accomplish. With that said, don’t go overboard in taking on more than a human can possibly do. Be generous and expansive, though you may have to watch out for weight gain as Jupiter tends to bring that excess too. Mars and Saturn in your solar fourth brings some conflict into the family and home dynamic but it is also a good time to get some necessary repair work done. The 22nd, 23rd and 24th are great days for you.
Aquarius: 22 January - 19 February
The month’s energy has you focused on the powers behind the scenes, large institutions, hospitals, karma, hidden enemies; your solar twelfth house. Jupiter moving through this house brings a guardian angel kind of protection, providing you give some selfless service to others. With Mars and Saturn in your third house, there could be problems with neighbors, siblings or short distance travel so keep calm and know this, too, shall pass after the 25th. Your best days are the 26th and 27th. by Jeanne Callahan jeannecallahan007@gmail.com
Pisces: 20 February - 20 March
Your ruling planet, Jupiter, is in your solar sixth house of work, routines, diet, health and small animals this year. Mars and Saturn create some interesting drama in your solar ninth, bringing some conflict in regards to belief systems, travel, in-laws, foreign ventures and the law. Stay focused and get advice from experts when you need to. Neptune is in your sign so the tendency to be scattered or overly idealistic is all too present. Good days for you are the 11th and 12th.
Namasté Visit Jeanne’s site at CelestialAdvisor.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. almohada blanquear bleach buscar cepillo desnudar disparage divest felicidad fuerza hairbrush happiness herramienta instrument jubilacion
kidnapping kingdom monarquia montana mountain newspaper periodico pillow priest repollo retirement sacerdote search secuestro strength
Now Begins the Study of Yoga Forward Bends So many who have tight hamstrings or low backs find even the thought of forward bends distressing. Yet without ever stretching muscles that are tight, they will continue to be tight. Because hamstrings are some of the toughest muscles in our body to lengthen, let us take this opportunity to discuss how to do this safely in forward bends. \ Forward bends require us to tilt the pelvis forward, moving the sitting bones away from the heels, and to keep elongating the spine as it comes forward. These two actions are the critical components to a safe forward bend. This in turn requires our hamstrings to have enough flexibility to do these actions. For those with tight hamstrings, the pelvis has a difficult time tilting forward. If this student tries to fold forward, you often see a lot of strain and rounding in the back. This is where the danger lies, for that person does not have the flexibility in their hamstrings to tilt the pelvis, so as they fold forward, their lower or lumber vertebrae are straining to flex forward and the discs are at risk of herniation. Many students will then bend their knees to protect their back and hamstrings, particularly if they do not have any supports handy. While bending the knees will protect the back, the hamstrings will then not be lengthening, so the forward bend is not truly providing much benefit. The solution is for these students is to keep extension in the spine (only going as far as they can keep a “flat” back or the natural slight inward curve of the low back), lift up through the pit of the abdomen to support the spine, and work to gradually lengthen the hamstrings. Using the supports of a strap while doing seated forward bends (using this to pull on so that the spine stays elongated) and using blocks or a chair to push the hands on in standing forward bends is imperative. The amount of height needed to do a standing forward bend safely will be different for each person. Start off with a higher height, such as a chair, and allow the body the chance to lengthen the hamstrings slowly. Consistent, dedicated effort is necessary for this! For those with tight hamstrings, stretching the hamstrings twice a day is typically the minimum recommended if change is to occur. Looking closely at the pictures you can see the differences in the lowest part of the back. In the photo of these students using the chair, notice the flat back and that their pelvises are tilted forward. In the next photos of the students using just a block, only one of them has enough flexibility to be going down this far safely – can you see who it is? Be observant, be mindful, and have safe forward bends!
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) Copa Olympus TOUGH Playa Esterillos Oeste June 14, 15, 2014 Open 1. Anthony Segura (Esterillos O.) 2. Gilbert Brown (Puerto Viejo) 3. Jair Pérez (Jacó) 4. Jason Torres (Jacó) Women’s 1. Emily Gussoni (Jacó) 2. Nataly Bernold (Limón) 3. Leilani McGonagle (Pav) 4. Ana Herrera (Quepos) Junior 1. Noe Mar McGonagle (Pav) 2. León Glatzer (Pavones) 3. Manuel Mesén (Jacó) 4. Leonardo Calvo (Barranca) Junior Women’s 1. Leilani McGonagle (Pavones) 2. Paula Duarte (Jacó) 3. Emily Gussoni (Jacó) 4. Coral Wiggins (Tamarindo) Boys 1. Joseph Méndez (Jacó) 2. Malakai Martínez (Tam.) 3. Aldo Chirinos (Playa Negra) 4. Sean Forester (Sámara) Minigrommet 1. Darshan Antequera (Jacó) 2. Jacob Kelly (Nosara) 3. Neo Escaler (Jacó) 4. Cedric McCrakin (P. Viejo) Minigrommet Girls 1. Valentina Ressano (Nic.) 2. Candelaria Ressano (Nic.) 3. Surya Folger (Avellanas) 4. Paulina Summers (P. Viejo)
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 CXXXVIII
A
COSTA RICA
s threatened in last month’s article, I return to a travelogue of our trip to the Czech Republic’s capital city of Prague, considered, at least by the local Chamber of Commerce, to be the world’s fifth most popular tourist destination. One goes to Prague to see the really cool 14th century Gothic buildings and we spent more time in churches there than I have in a very long time. I was in good company as somewhere or other we read that the Czechs, who have one of the highest concentrations of churches in Europe, have the largest number of the “non-religious”.
An Innocent and a A Broad Part Two
was the “26” - ride it to the end of the line and then catch the returning one back while maybe stopping somewhere in a less touristy part of town for dinner. It seemed like a good idea and Susan went along with it with a minimal amount of hesitation. We went into the less touristy part of Prague still dominated by Soviet era apartment buildings and got off at the end of the line, crossed the tracks to the other side and waited for returning “26”. It was early evening by then but still pretty light outside thanks
Things not to do in Prague: We started using the local tram lines to get to certain areas; they seemed to be everywhere and were very inexpensive to use. On or about our second full day in the city we, or at least I, decided that we would hop one of the many trams that went by our hotel - this particular one
Up to this point everything seemed to be going to plan, and perhaps if I were fluent in the Czech Language and able to read the tram landing timetables things might have gone smoother. We stepped outside the restaurant to find that not only was it very cold but had also started raining. We hugged the covered building till the “26” came by. It took us about three blocks and then informed us in English that it was the end of the line and we needed to disembark. We didn’t know where we were, but it was certainly nowhere near our hotel. We found ourselves on the deserted streets of Prague, in the dark and in the rain, not exactly freaking out…… yet!
A particular highlight for Susan and me was visiting the Church of Saint Nicholas, considered Prague’s most famous Baroque church. It was first consecrated in 1283 with continuous add-ons and renovations, and to describe everything that we encountered would take several “Surviving Costa Ricas” I’ll just leave it to you to go yourself, but I got a big kick out of the carvings certain persons had done on the wooden railings in the upstairs gallery. Numerous initials had been carved along with corresponding dates between 1812 and maybe 1820, probably left by troops of whatever country had currently invaded the area. To our further delight and unknown to us, just as we were starting to leave a group of about fourteen acapella singers along with their director set up shop in the middle of the church and proceeded to give an impromptu choral presentation of some very beautiful Slavic Church music amplified by the incredible acoustics inside the nine hundred year church. They did about a thirty minute gig and then left, as did we to further roam around the Old City Center.
Story by Jesse Bishop owlhumm@hotmail.com
Up until that point everything we had heard about taxi cabs in Prague had been bad, they were rip offs or worse and all the politically correct guide books said avoid them at all cost. However when we were able to flag one down we felt somewhat rescued. The driver really didn’t look all that sinister but he spoke no English and had apparently been in Prague about as long as we had. The good news is we finally found our hotel and thereafter took the public transit system with a new degree of respect.
to local Daylight Savings and although we were the only people waiting at the stop sure enough another tram came by and we caught it heading the direction from which we came. After a short ride we got off in a nice looking part of town with a number of restaurants and soon found ourselves having another great meal featuring some sort of pork with a thick gravy and dumplings along with ample quantities of Pilsner Urquell and a couple of shots of Hruskovice, a potent local plum brandy. We had a spirited conversation with a couple of patrons who spoke as much English as we did Czech and eventually made it back outside to catch the tram back to our hotel.
Things that are fun to do in Prague: The bartender in the hotel lounge told us about the Czech Beer Festival that was just kicking off the next day. We could take the “11” tram to the Sparta Stadium, which we did, and found ourselves in a park area dominated by about a seven ring circus tent. Now if you read last month’s article and have recently read this one up to this point you’ll notice a repeating theme involving the consumption of mass quantities of very good beer. And now we were at a festival celebrating just that fact! One huge tent featured the local microbrewers from all over the Czech Republic, some thirty two fabulous beers of all shapes and sizes. We didn’t try them all but gave it our best shot.
Back to the Land Tom Peifer peifer@racsa.co.cr “In times of change learners inherit the earth; while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.” - Eric Hoffer
O
K, as things have turned out, Bob Dylan might have been ahead of the curve a bit back in 1963 when he wrote the song “The Times They are a’ Changing.” Nowadays however it seems blatantly obvious that, as Heraclitus said a couple thousand years before Bob hit the studio, “Change is the only constant in life.” Reality has the unfortunate habit of staying the same even if you don’t pay attention to it. Costa Rica got a big reprieve during the historic accomplishments of the national team during the World Cup Soccer Championships. Even the local foreign transplants got caught up in the frenzy that just wrapped up a couple days ago. Now, the players are headed back to heroic welcomes in their home towns and as the stupor wears off, the potholes are still there, the national debt is still a big issue, and the bloated bureaucracy is still engaged in infighting to see who gets the blame for the mess. As I write, Costa Rica is also caught in a bit of a climate conundrum. Guanacaste is suffering from a drought, while any number of neighborhoods on the Caribbean Coast have become ‘swim only’ access. What appears to be the onset of the periodic ‘El Niño’ phenomenon, this one just may have a bit of extra punch due to the fact that 90% plus of all the extra heat from global warming has gone into the deeper strata of the oceans. The Ministry of Agriculture just issued an official alert, so at least someone at the upper echelons is taking the issue seriously. During a recent interview in La Nación, the head of the United Nations Climate Program’s “adaptation division,” really laid out the challenges for small countries in black and white. Nothing that Costa Rica does will influence the ‘big picture’ that is steamrolling towards us. The much ballyhooed national ‘carbon neutrality’ policy might serve for PR purposes, but does nothing to protect us down the rough road of the predicted ‘hell and high water’ of global warming. In the words of Monsieur Van Ypersele, the “science of adaptation” needs to become a national priority. You don’t need to have a Ph. D. in atmospheric sciences to figure out one thing however. Global warming is going to hit hard in the whole area of food production. And that’s going to affect prices, and ultimately availability. From a wide range of sectors pondering scenarios for the future is emerging a simple but obvious consensus. “Food security”
as it is referred to, is easier to guarantee when the growing is closer to home, closer to markets, using local inputs and wherever possible, generating employment for local people who might also be facing ‘job insecurity.” On a personal note, I’ve been planting and growing food for 20 years now here in Guanacaste. Some successes, plenty of failures, but between formal education and experience on the ground, there’s plenty to share with folks who choose to sink their hands into the soil. Along the way I had the good fortune to help start a small organic farm at a nearby development which found itself with some promising land that was unsuitable for home sites. Given the specifics of the site, it was hard to have a ready flush of marketable vegetables in time for the tremendous demand of our short high season. In strictly financial terms, it was hard for the farm to survive. At the same time, prospective clients were enthused about the efforts and homeowners always happy to receive their baskets of produce fresh from the farm on their own ‘common land.’ Given the downturn in demand in the wake of the global economic slump, it is not that surprising that many developers have cast aside all pretense to ‘sustainability’. Like mushrooms after the first rain, signs are sprouting all over pushing minimum size lots, low down and monthly payments and even less commitment to ensuring a viable future for their residents or the neighboring communities. Given that rather somber panorama, a ray of hope came in the form of a surprise phone call. As it turns out, a group of Canadians had gotten their hands on two big tracts of land, with both spectacular view sites and prime land for farming. Once we got over the language difficulties—it took me a while to realize that a ‘gairage’ was for the cars and ‘aboot’ was not always footwear—things got moving in a positive direction, right where they needed to, on the land. You don’t have to be a genius to surmise that a drought year would complicate farming just a wee bit. If fact, the dry weather has worked to our benefit. These blokes didn’t just want a patch of veggies to impress clients fresh off the plane. We’re talking “whole hog,” here, starting with a big patch of reforested Gmelina trees that had to be thinned, harvested,
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Alcoholics Anonymous Schedule of Meetings
Back to the Land
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
turned into lumber and are now being crafted into small buildings for a local farmer’s family, animal pens, storage shed and fences. The whole thing is being designed using permaculture concepts to optimize production by setting up the different elements—annual crops, livestock, and tree crops—in a design that maximizes nutrient cycling and other functions among the different components of the whole system. As permaculture founder and guru Bill Mollison once confessed, “ I find it much more intellectually stimulating than, say, chess.” But I can tell you, when the order comes down to figure out a way to incorporate fish fillets and fresh produce for restaurants in nearby Tamarindo, for this designer, it is back to the drawing board, and most importantly, back to the land to get a firm visual orientation of how the ever changing pieces can fit together in a way that flows together and enhances the natural beauty of the site.
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
August ( a l l
t i m e s
2014 l o c a l )
Sun
1st - rise 5:33; set 6:07 15th - rise 5:34; set 6:02 31st - rise 5:34; set 5:53
1st quarter: Full: Last quarter: New:
Moon
3 10th 17th 25th
RAIN GAUGE
1.8
RAINFALL - June/July 2014
1.4
c
6:50 p.m. 12:09 p.m. 6:26 p.m. 2:13 p.m.
rd
Howler Meteorological Observatory Tamarindo
1.0
Total rainfall: 1.08 cm (2.7 inches)
m .06 s .02 .00 16
25
20
June
Year-to-date 2014: 13.1 cm 2013: 55.5
30 1
10
5
(from page 31)
15
All and all it’s a hopeful sign for an ever changing future that some folks are more than willing to put their money where their mouth is and try to tackle global issues in the best way we can—at the local level. And farming, like life, never fails to turn over heaps of fruitful irony. As luck would have it, buyers from San José, many of whom are now getting their retirements and looking more and more at resettling in Guanacaste for their golden years, are even more excited that the gringo buyers about discovering a bit of agricultural paradise within walking distance from their new homes. For Ticos, there is a huge nostalgia for the olden days of family farming in the Central Valley. When they come to Guanacaste and see gringos dedicated to restoring a facet of their collective history that they have seen paved over and swept away by the wave of ‘progress’ that has laid waste to the Grand Metropolitan Area, the first response is “Pura Vida.” Depending on the developer and the sales people, the next response may well be, “Where do I sign?”
July
Rainfall June/July 2014: 2.7 cm 2013: 15.5
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. http://www.elcentroverde.org/