Volume 20, No. 4
April 2015
Issue No. 221
Founded 1996
THE HOWLER Ced. Juridica: 3-101-331333
FEATURES
Publisher, editor and production David Mills
dmills@racsa.co.cr Tel: 4702-5771 8323-2795 Howler • Mono Congo
8 Dining Out
La Terrasse is the new French restaurant at Agua Disco, serving a varied menu with an accent on seafood.
14 Around Town
CONTRIBUTORS 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 May: April 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
Advertising rates & sizes Size 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
Openings, closings, parties, music. The Gold Coast has it all, and bar-hoppin’ David is in the groove.
15 Surf Report
Crocodiles are affecting the surfers at the rivermouth; Lia Reyes Diaz, daughter of ex-champion Andrea, is making waves.
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Surviving Costa Rica
Truth and lies...peanut butter availability; crocodiles in the surf; the eternal battle for Jesse’s residency and a trip to Nicaragua.
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Life-long Learning
Our columnist tries his hand at selling his products at the Tamarindo feria, but has a lot to learn about merchandising.
Price $ 100 140 140 230 400
Discounts For 6 months, paid in advance, one month is deducted. For 12 months, paid in advance, two months are deducted.
DEPARTMENTS 10 Theatre Review
30 Word Puzzle
11 Book Review
34 April Forecasts
12 August Odysseys
36 Yoga
17 Dharma Corner
40 Sun & Moon
29 Shape Up
42 Tide Table
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.tamarindobeach.net
www.tamarindohomepage.com
Cover Caption: Buena Vista Restaurant Cover Photo: David Mills Cover Design: David Mills
Semana Santa - the Easter Week - is upon us, so be ready for the influx of people. This is the second-biggest fiesta of the year, and brings lots of business to our tourist town. Enjoy it, and make the most of it. •
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You may read this month about the feria, or Tamarindo’s Farmer’s Market. Not once, but two of my columnists decided to feature it, from different viewpoints, and it well deserves it. •
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Tamarindo’s Garden Plaza has been given a facelift, new walkways through the garden area, and some new stores. Check it out. •
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Buena Vista Restaurant in Potrero is available for your enjoyment all day, with its excellent dining, outdoor spaces, swimming pool and beach. Bocce, also known as Petanque, is available, too. •
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Altos de Eros is again the top Spa in Central America for Small Hotels, Hotels for Romance, Luxury Hotels, etc..., according to Trip Advisor. It certainly earned all these accolades when I last visited. And they offer packages for weddings. •
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A real traffic problem lately has been caused by garbage trucks from Santa Cruz, who have chosen peak traffic times to collect garbage. At 9 am. one day, 5 pm. another, they stop-start all along the main streets, double-parking, blocking traffic in both directions as the muchachos walk across the street picking up the trash, to and from the truck. Surely trash pickup can be scheduled at a more convenient time, say 6 to 8 in the morning, when things are relatively quiet.
On the deck outside Aqua Disco
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he new restaurant La Terrasse is situated on the deck ouside Agua Disco and is operated by Frenchmen Yohan Vanrumbeke & Gregory Leroy. The chef is Carlos, seven years at Lazy Wave Restaurant. Johan’s idea is an intimate restaurant serving a small menu of mainly French dishes, with a heavy accent on seafood. Appetizers Filet de mahi-mahi in aioli; dorado Mediterranean, tomato, basil and capers; ceviche; jumbo shrimps with avocado; Cesar salad with chicken. We had the Greek salad and a caprese, nicely presented in layers of tomato and cheese. Fish Corvina with caper sauce; seafood soup; lobster on the grill; mussels in Gorgonzole or mariniere sauce, or “a la terrasse” with bacon, mushrooms and chipotle; curried fish; shrimp in Puntarenas sauce. My companion chose the whole snapper, which she pronounced delicious.
a barbecue sauce.
Meat Beef tartare with pesto; beef skewer with parsley and garlic; tenderloin with mushroom sauce; chicken gratinado “a le Provençale” with tagliatelle; baby pork ribs; chicken filet with shrimp sauce. I had the ribs, rich and juicy in
Pasta There are five pasta dishes, all Tagliatelle. Dessert Brownie with chocolate y almendras; banana explosion; ensalada de frutas de temporada; cheesecake de maracuya; crepes – chocolate, cocoa or banana. We shared a brownie with ice cream. La Terrasse restaurant; Phone: 8934-2488; facebook - la terrasse tamarindo. Happy Hour from 2 to 6, cocktails 2-for-1, beers $2. There are plans to put tables on the beach in front of the restaurant.
Market Review
Tony Orez
Tamarindo Farmer’s Market
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ime plays funny tricks on us, especially in retrospect. Great example: I can’t believe the Farmer’s Market in Tamarindo started just a year ago. When I look back, it seems as though the feria has been with us a lot longer than that: it has become a tradition in a very short amount of time.
I remember the first few Saturdays, maybe a dozen tables set up behind the Alfaro bus station office. These were the people who, for the most part, would transform the Market in just one short year into the festive occasion it now is. But let’s go back to a year ago, to those dozen vendors. Because they had the vision and perseverance to see that Tamarindo was a community that could offer local producers an opportunity to sell and grow locally, to become an integral part of the community. They braved that first rainy season, stuck it out and when November rolled around, they had transformed the area. Thanks to the hard work of people like Bill Nevins who commandeered the transition literally from the ground up. Bill cleared the area and put down the white rock surface. His wife Margaret not only produces nut butters and operates a booth every Saturday but also sits in on the executive board for the Farmer’s Market. Longtime resident Val Townley has operated Sage Art, with her distinctive driftwood paintings for decades. Val is the artist behind all the decorative Farmer’s Market signs strategically placed around town. She also manages a booth every Saturday and is a member of the executive board as well. And yes, the Market has gotten as big and successful as it is because of the foresight of these people to set up an infrastructure. There is a committee of directors who write and enforce the bylaws. For example, there is always the problem of conflicting vendors who sell similar product. And as a necessity, vendors now must pay for a full month in advance and can begin their tenure only on the first weekend of the month. This is to assure stability and guarantee a commitment by the vendors. It should be noted that all the monies collected as rent from each vendor goes back into enhancing the locale, paying the hourly workers who perform clean-up and distribution of flyers, and for the rent of the overall space. The property owner, Russell Wenrich deserves a nod of approval as well for having faith in this endeavor as well. I think it is important to mention the fact that the executive board already anticipates a profit margin soon and plans to donate to a local non-profit agency. My favorite vendor? That’s a tough one but I’d have to say Margaritha Bouhuys & her Sageflower Gourmet booth. Her almond cakes are legendary, her other culinary products merely extraordinary. She has a lot of cool sarapes & stitchery, too, all one of a kind & very reasonably priced. Has this really all happened in just a year? The Tamarindo Farmer’s Market has quickly grown but seems like it has been here forever. Drop by for a visit any Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Be sure to pick up one (or two) of their reusable Feria Bags, too. Happy First Anniversary to all!
Book Review
Tony Orez
The Year of the Frog
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’ve just finished reading Juls Amor’s recent memoir “The Year of the Frog”, recounting her decision to relocate to Costa Rica. Many people have decided to do the same thing, for a variety of reasons. I have to say that Juls and I have a lot of similarities in our decision to live here. We both gave up lucrative jobs, sold everything and bought a one-way ticket. We also both write under a pseudonym. And we both have family members who think we have gone full-blown crazy to arrive at such a decision. So while reading her new book, I sensed a series of parallel experiences. Juls’ book opens with a history of her life events that led to her move. She explains during this sequence that the writing is a bit disjointed because that is the way she felt at the time. I appreciated her explanation which helped me make sense of the writing and kind of plowed through it, having faith that it would all become clear. And it does: once Ms Amor arrives in Paradise, the name she uses consistently for the country she has moved to. But it is obvious that her Paradise is Costa Rica. Wink, wink. I thought it was clever for Juls to name her titles after chapters of the Bible since institutionalized Western religious ethics (which she coins “controligion”) is one of the battles she chooses in the beginning of her book. Likewise, the word “frog” in her title is in reference to the many fairytale frogs that princesses kiss to turn them into handsome princes who will save the damsels in distress; hence her subtitle, “A Tattletale Fairytale”. And I truly enjoyed her list of “The Commandments” at the end of each chapter and watching the transformation of that list as the story develops. But Juls walks away from her job as a therapist to examine her own life. She continues to kiss frogs once she lands in Paradise but a transformation takes place within the princess and the reader is allowed to go along for the trip. Amor’s description of the lifestyle here and the many colorful characters it attracts is a delight, humorous and poigniant. Being a vacation destination, there is a party atmosphere that is easy to get caught up in and I could relate to the author’s reaction to this when she first arrived. She is also spot-on about the local men’s attitude toward relationships. I have to say that I have experienced it with local women, too.
The book is at least in part the story of a spiritual journey, self-examination and growth and I applaud Amor for her direct honesty on these subjects. Truly, her reflections at the end of the book mark the growth she has experienced while living in Paradise. Could there be a sequel in the making? Juls Amor’s new memoir, “The Year of the Frog” is available at the Jaime Peligro book stores in Quepos and Playa Tamarindo.
August Odysseys
Robert August kristenmattoxbrown@gmail.com
Fundraisers are Fun! Over the many, many, MANY years that I have lived, I have been involved in a lot of great charity events. From a very early age I learned the importance of community and the value of helping other people. On family trips to Mexico, my parents used to bring down bikes for the local kids. My dad also was a trained mechanic and welder, so when he showed up in the local towns he happily helped with whatever work that needed to be done. I feel fortunate to be able to lend a helping hand to organizations and charity events such as the annual Luau and Longboard Invitational for cancer research in San Diego, Free Wheelchair Mission trip in San José, Surfrider fundraisers in New York City and Tamarindo, as well as numerous past fundraising events in California, Texas, Florida and around the globe. Another one of my favorite events is the annual “Have a Heart” golf tournament at Hacienda Pinilla. The tournament is in its 16th year and it helps to raise money for Amigos de la Educación, a non-profit organization supporting quality education and scholarship for students and teachers in Costa Rica. “Have a Heart” falls on Valentine’s Day every year, so last month I rounded up my golf team and we set out on a great day of golf at Pinilla. It was warm, but there was a nice breeze the whole day. Thankfully there were no howling offshore Papagayo winds! Like the golf tournament in Surf ‘n’ Turf, Have a Heart is best ball. Overall my team played played pretty nicely. Cedric and Cairo can sure hit the ball, and Kristen sank a beautiful, 20-foot downhill putt to birdie the hole for us! I am happy that my drives were going straight! And now that I have warmed up my golf skills, I am ready for Surf ‘n’ Turf! The countdown has begun...I can’t believe that Surf ‘n’ Turf is this month, March 17th-19th! This year’s event certainly is shaping up to be another bitchin’ time. The event kicks off on a Friday evening with a welcome BBQ at Nogui’s Restaurant. Saturday is the golf outing at Hacienda Pinilla in the morning. Sunday is an early start at Avellanas for the surf competition with lunch at Lola’s, concluded by a salsa contest during the awards ceremony that night back at Witch’s Rock. In addition to the site sponsors of Surf ‘n’ Turf, I can’t begin to thank all of our sponsors and people who have donated to help raise money for CEPIA. So, if you still are on the fence, what are you waiting for?!?! Hope to see you all on March 17th!
dmills@racsa.co.cr
The groups for the Concacaf Gold Cup are: Group A United States Panama Haiti Honduras or French Guyana* Group B Costa Rica El Salvador Jamaica Canada Group C Mexico Guatemala Trinidad Cuba
The Annual Robert August “Surf n’ Turf” Charity Challenge 2015 April 17, 18, & 19. The Surf & Turf charity event is a golf and surf contest, with winners for the golf and surf contests. The contest consists of a four-man team golf scramble and surf contest. Registration Prices Overall contest Golf and Surf $210; Golf only $160; Surf only $50. Registration prices for the overall contest, Golf and Surf is $210. This includes golf fee, golf cart, golf lunch, and surf inscription with breakfast at Lola’s. Schedule of Events Friday 17 April 5pm: Registration Night and Silent Auction @ Nogui’s Restaurant, Tamarindo Saturday 18 April 8am: Golf Tournament, 4 man scramble, 18 holes @ Hacienda Pinilla Saturday 18 April 6pm: Cala Luna, Tamarindo Cuban Night with DJ Dave, Dinner, Show, Silent Auction, and much more... Sunday 19 April 8:30am: Surf Contest at Lola’s, Playa Avellanas. Sunday 19 April 5:00pm: Awards Ceremony and Silent Auction at Witch’s Rock Surf Camp, Tamarindo with performance of The BBoys from Shaka Crew. Our goal this year is $50,000, of which 100% are donated to www. CEPIAcostarica.org
Games to be played July 7 – July 26. Group games to be played in Dallas, Boston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Houston, Toronto, Chicago, Phoenix, Charlotte. Quarter-finals at Baltimore and New York Semi-finals at Atlanta Final at Philadelphia * To be decided in matches March 25 and 29. Costa Rica’s Under-17 beat Canada 3-0 to qualify for a trip to Chile for the World Cup, to be played October 17 - November 8, 2015.
“Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.” Ernest Hemingway
AROUND TOWN Garden Plaza has undergone a complete remodellation, a whole new design. There are some new stores, and more to come. Next time you are in Super Automercado have a walk around and check.
Visit Us and Check our Great Variety of National & International Products
The Super Facial with geneO platform at Provell Soluciones Medicas will give you training. GeneO is the best for your clinic or spa service. See Provell ad page 21. New shopping centre in Huacas, Edificio Juan Pablo, has the Floristeria Ocasiones and Panaderia Duran. Next door to Farmacia El Cruce. See page 27.
Monday - Saturday 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sundays 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Playa Flamingo 200 mts N of Banco Costa Rica Tels: 2654-4258 / 2654-9050
Zipline fun at the new Monkey Jungle, situated in Santa Rosa. See ad page 33. With 260 different kinds of wine, Le Botti is open/Wine Bar - Tasting - Gourmet Shop - bodega and café. Monday to Saturday 11am to 8 pm. At Garden Plaza, local 27. See ad Page 9. Farmacia El Cruce in Huacas has almost completed thirteen years serving the community. Congratulations to Dr. José Maria Garita Monge. Save up to 80% off your electricity bill, with IMCs Solar Air Conditioning. Works off both the sun and the grid and uses no batteries. See ad page 5. Tamarindo Church will be hosting an Easter Sunday celebration on Sunday, April 5th, 10am. We hope to see you there. For more information or directions see our website. Tamarindochurch.com Stuff Your Face at Breakfast Grinds! Now at the deck outside Aqua Disco, and serving the famous burritos and other good breakfast dishes, and home to the bottomless cup of coffee. See ad page 7. Your laundry washed and dried for ¢1,500 per kilo at the Washing Post. Free delivery, too. Situated below Tamarindo Gym. See ad page 7. Summertime is here, so look your best, with full waxing and massage at Odry’s Spa and Massage. See ad page 41.
Surf Report Ellen Zoe Golden ellenzoe@aol.com
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he talk of the town, and certainly among the surfing community, is the crocodile attack which took place March 6 on the Canadian tourist Val Muscalu, who was sitting on his board in La Casita waiting for a wave. First reported by Hotel Pasatiempo on Facebook and then for some reason I can’t fathom, Muscalu called the media. The story was picked up nationally, and then internationally on SurfersVillage.com Of course, the concern among the locals is our well-being, as well as that of our tourists in the water near the Tamarindo rivermouth where these dangerous animals reside. In addition, the public is very concerned about the protection of these animals. Over the last year, there have been many reports of crocs eating dogs, but this is the first time that we have had a human attacked. Lots of discussion about what to do verbally and on social media. Surprisingly even some animal activists were advocating killing the crocodiles. First of all, in Costa Rica, it is illegal to kill a crocodile, and, if discovered, you will go to jail. But, how do you solve such a dangerous situation in a town that depends on the ocean and rivermouth for its livelihood. First of all, the boat drivers over in the estuary need to stop feeding the crocs on their tours. This only brings more of them to the rivermouth. You may remember years ago when the restaurant that used be located in La Laguna de Cocodrilo Hotel would do a 5 p.m. crocodile feeding for the tourists. MINAE intervened because the feedings were not only bringing a huge number of these unsafe animals close to the population, but these actions were increasing their population. The feedings were halted.
Immediately following the attack on Muscalu, the Asociacion de Desarrollo Integral de Playa Tamarindo—our de facto community organization—met with MINAE and dashed off a formal request letter. They asked for signs to be posted in the area near the rivermouth, and more importantly, for the crocodiles be identified and relocated to a less populated area. It is also within the MINAE prevue to euthanize crocodiles. Both of these options have been used in the past in various areas around the country. The general feeling is that it would be much more environmentally sound and respectful to simply relocate the crocodiles. Whichever way this problem is solved, someone is going to be upset. There are those already who have come out against relocation, saying that we are the invited guests in the water, and that the crocs are only doing what they do naturally in their own homes. Certainly, but couldn’t they have a different home, say Tarcoles River, already known as the populated home of the crocodile? Stay tuned for more updates. Meanwhile, in straight up surfing news let’s talk about a couple of young ladies who are carving out their own place in the surfing world. First, meet 10-year-old Lia Reyes Diaz, the eldest daughter of former national women’s champion Andrea Diaz. It was a natural progression for Lia to surf, since the sport is the family lifestyle; Mom is a surf instructor and has put her children in the water along with students since they were born.
“She’s my total inspiration and influence,” says Lia (photo, above) of her mom. “I train every Monday at 4 p.m. and Wednesday and Friday at 5:30 in the morning. I kinda have to show up to train ‘cause my mom is the coach to a bunch of kids in town.” Blissfully unaware of the impact mama Andrea had on Costa Rica surfing, especially the early days when she competed with the men in lieu of any Women’s categories, little Lia rides her Che Board everywhere from Jacó and Hermosa to local spots like Tamarindo, Avellanas and Marbella. She admits to a competitive nature, but loves both contest and free surfing, as well as traveling around discovering new waves that push her level. She describes her own style as “powerful and innovative,” and it would surprise the locals who see her rip on her shortboard, that Lia really loves longboarding as well. “I am very athletic, love being outdoors and playing under the sun,” she continues. “But surfing makes me feel powerful. My goal is to be the best surfer that I can be, and one day represent my country in an international surf competition.” Lia is off to a good start, having won 1st place in the Mini-Grommet Girls division in both the Tamarindo COPA Creatures date of the Circuito Nacional de Surf Kolbi 2015 (CNS) and the Squids division at Volcom’s Totally Crustaceous Tour date in Playa Hermosa. She is sponsored by Che Boards, Camelo Bikinis, Creatures, Shaper Fin and Waves Costa Rica. Fourteen-year-old Valeria Salustri is also from a surfing family. Her dad, Carlos Salustri moved to Costa Rica from Italy. Here he spent many years shaping boards and surfing in the area waters near his Tamarindo home. When she was 5, Valeria would go surfing with her dad, and a couple of years ago got a little more serious when all her friends were doing it. As one of Andrea Diaz’ students, she spent a lot of time on her shortboard. One day Diaz brought Salustri to a lifeguard training course near Pangas restaurant. Also participating was the SUP national champion, Geovanny Espanoza. When the training was finished for the day, someone shouted: “Let’s go to the island” and Espanoza, and his friend Eric Zamora lent Salustri a SUP board. “I didn’t want to go, because I thought it would be a long exercise,” recalls Valeria. “But my mom pushed me and I like it so much. You could see fish, stringrays, and turtles. Plus it worked out my whole body.” (continued page 28)
By Nancy Cobb and Susan Adams
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very “individual” is important, each “individual” has a role to play, every “individual” can make a difference - Jane Goodall Catarine Milinaire, author, photographer, and longtime Howler magazine enthusiast shares a recent Howler monkey encounter. “For the past 25 years I have returned to the south ridge of Playa Flamingo with fingers crossed. Will the wild, funny, furry creatures be coming back this time? As the new leaves on the mango trees appear and the fruits ripen around March the howler monkeys from generation to generation have visited this garden. Monkey memory is amazing. They follow the same path to the same feeding trees year after year. In our area they arrive from their hideout, cross the road, like high-wire acrobats on coated wires, they hop on the neighbor’s giant mango trees, which bear no fruit and run the length of this old tiled roof, to get to the site with the best mango trees. First comes the alpha male, well-endowed. He leads the way, followed by youngsters leap-playing from branch to branch in equilibriumdefying games, then the mamas jump about, some carrying little ones on their back. This morning a fast moving troupe of ten Howlers and I ate the same breakfast: juicy golden-orange fleshy delicious mangos. On the outdoor porch I sat at a table eating the cut-up fruit looking at a young howler ten feet away. He was hanging upside down, his tail wrapped around a bough. With his long fingers he grabbed a mango, smelled it for ripeness then chewed all around the pit, leaving it hanging on the stem. More often howlers litter the ground with half-eaten mangoes. The raccoons come in the night to feed on the leftovers.
(continued page 19)
Dharma Corner
Sue Smith
Mindful Emotions
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t’s easy and fun to be mindful of our emotions when we are feeling good, joyful and happy. But what about those times when things aren’t going just the way we might want them to and we are experiencing stress, frustration and maybe even anger? It’s not so pleasant to be mindful of those emotions but certainly it is important to be. Without being mindful of negative emotions we cannot change them into positive ones. We can’t change our perception of things. And, after all, isn’t that what our lives are made up of...our perceptions and our emotions.
When we take a breath and look at our emotions we can trace those feelings back to their cause...usually some situation. That’s being conscious, being mindful. Recognize the irritation, frustration or anger when it arises. There’s something about recognizing it and mindfully acknowledging the emotion to begin with that changes how we deal with it. Without this recognition, negative emotions can quickly lead to negative actions or words. However, with mindful recognition it is possible to choose our perception and response which will change the resulting emotion. If someone yells ugly words at you, you have a choice (there’s always a choice)... you can mindlessly yell ugly words back or you can take a deep breath, recognize your upcoming anger and choose to realize that this isn’t really about you, it’s the other person’s problem and respond in a softer tone “I’m sorry you feel that way”. This doesn’t happen without practice. And, the first step is always to breathe. Taking that big breath gives you the moment you need to engage your mindfulness. Breathing brings you back home to yourself. By being mindful of our emotions we can change a lot of situations from negative into positive ones. We can respond rather than react. So the next time you feel irritated or angry recognize it in your mind and mentally say “Oh, there you are, my anger. Don’t worry; I’ll take care of you.” It’s O.K. to have these emotions but not to act on them in negative ways which cause others to suffer. So have them (negative emotions), look at them and let them go. Taking time in meditation is one way of looking at anger and frustration, examining it… how it feels and where does it come from. By doing this, it becomes easier to take care of it when it arises and then let it go. Breathe, be mindful and take time to choose how you respond in all situations. Pura Vida Sangha, a sangha in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, meets on Mondays at 4:00 PM. For information contact meditationcostarica@gmail.com
Economic Shift in Guanacaste spurs need for English Language Skills
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amed after the national tree of Costa Rica, the region of Guanacaste has seen a major tourism boom in the past two decades. Home to seven national parks and year-round tropical temperatures that provide an escape from harsher winter climates, the region has transformed into one of the most attractive spots in a country that has consistently been hailed as a top vacation destination. As one of the top tourist destinations in all of Central America, Guanacaste would seem like an unlikely place for a nonprofit to put down roots due to the economic health of the region; however, there is a hidden side of this growth that has given Guanacaste a new name: “the province of contrasts.” Before the tourism boom of the 1980s, Guanacaste’s main industry was fishing and beef cattle ranching, with other important exports from the region including sugar cane, cotton, and rice. While the tourist economy has grown exponentially in recent years, the cattle industry has declined due to an international decrease in demand for beef, causing local economic diversity to dwindle. Tourism is now the new lay of the land; however, without the requisite skillset of English language and computer basics, many local Costa Rican adults are unable to compete for jobs in this industry. Many adults in Guanacaste have not progressed past elementary school, and few have been able to work towards and achieve English fluency. As a result, despite the explosion of its new tourist economy, Guanacaste has the highest rate of unemployment in the country (11.4 percent). In Potrero and Brasilito, where the nonprofit Abriendo Mentes operates, the rate is much higher, sitting at around 30-40 percent. The need for jobs requiring English language skills is growing faster than the ability to learn the language, compounded by a shortage of accessible and affordable educational resources. As major development continues in the region, there will be more and more employment opportunities in the tourism sector. However, potential employees in this field must first acquire the language and technology skills to take advantage of those opportunities. For this reason and more, the English and computer classes that Abriendo Mentes provides are important not only for the development of language and technical skills, but because of what those skills represent in our students’ abilities to compete in the region’s changing economy. We remain committed to providing free afterschool programming for local children as a pathway to higher education and a brighter economic future. We also are constantly seeking new ways to provide additional training and educational opportunities for our adult learners that will have a significant impact on their employability and job readiness. We believe in the power of education and the potential it has to impact the futures of every resident of Guanacaste. To learn more about Abriendo Mentes’ work, please visit www.abriendomentes.org or email info@abriendomentes.org.
(from page 16
There used to be several of these Howler families loosening up the roof tiles. Waiting for their turn to raid the mango trees. We had time to look at each other, making little muted acknowledging throat sounds back & forth. Lately the visiting howlers are less in numbers, look thinner, and in a hurry to survive. Around here, as many places along the Pacific coast the humans are proliferating and cementing the ground. “The howler monkeys have a hard time with the new treeless structures.” http://www.globalfiestas.com/Global_Fiestas/ main_gallery.html The Howler monkey is the Tamarindo area’s only natural primate. It is the New World’s loudest animal and is the largest of Latin America’s monkeys. The Mayan people considered the Howler to be sacred. They were seen as Gods in some tribes, their long, sleek tail worshipped for its beauty. They were given a prominent role in their cultural myths and depicted on pottery. What a tragedy it would be if this “individual’s” presence disappeared from our community. A wonderful opportunity to significantly increase the Howlers’ chance of survival is the upcoming SalveMonos 10th Anniversary Benefit. SalveMonos’ work with environmental specialists at Universities, government institutions, and local biologists has led to measures such as: monkey bridges, electrical transformer covers and insulation of “hot” wires which can reduce mortality rates by 90% or more, and reforesting in corridors where they travel, feed, and rest. The Howler Monkey’s thunderous voice is loud…but are we hearing their desperate message? If you would like to wear your support you can purchase a SalveMonos T-shirt. Contact me: Facebook …Tamarindo’s Original Residents. If you need to report an injured monkey: Simona at Luna Llena Hotel (2653-0082; 8718-0632); Larry Graziano (8835-2977).
Sistemas de Riego
Irrigation Systems
The Super Facial March 2, 2015
For the Clinic or Spa
The Spa at Four Seasons, Toronto, now offers Pollogen OxyGeneo 5-in-1 Super Facial treatment, the most advanced facial technology in the market. The Pollogen OxyGeneo technology is a cutting-edge anti-aging solution that redefines cosmetic treatments. So gentle and so effective, OxyGeneo Super Facials simultaneously provide three essential skincare treatments: exfoliation, natural skin oxygenation, and infusion of revitalizing nutrients. “we immediately recognized that OxyGeneo is an advanced anti-aging facial technology in the market that offers a gentle treatment with immediate visible results� - Todd Hewitt, Senior Spa Director. Introducing geneO in Costa Rica. ProVell Soluciones Medicas offers you the Training, Clinical Advice and Technical Service. www.provellcr.com. Tel: 8937-0397 - Heredia, Costa Rica.
Amnesty Expanded for U.S. Taxpayers Overseas Expats Favored
U.S. taxpayers who failed to file all those forms required by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service now have a second chance. The IRS has expanded its amnesty program for overseas taxpayers, according to Randall J. Lindner, principal of U.S. Tax International in Rohrmoser. Lindner said that the U.S. tax collector just changed the rules and those overseas who have failed to file such documents as reports of foreign bank accounts or even tax returns, can do so without penalty for an undetermined time.
Many expats have fallen behind on their obligations to the Internal Revenue Service, and many have been fearful of being forced to pay large penalties. These include expats who might own a foreign corporation or a foreign bank account. The IRS has had other programs to encourage compliance, but participation usually generated stiff penalties. And in the past some avenues were only open to taxpayers who owed $1,500 or less.
The IRS itself says that the so-called streamlined filing compliance procedures are available to taxpayers certifying that their failure to report foreign financial assets and pay all tax due in respect of those assets did not result from willful conduct on their part.
That limit has been waived.
Lindner said that this qualification probably is true of many U.S. taxpayers here who have been confused by the various IRS demands. He called this a great opportunity for those who must comply with IRS rules to come clean.
Randy Lindner is an agent and tax consultant with US Tax International, and can be reached at 2288-2201 or www. ustaxinternational.com
The new emphasis also applied to those who may have U.S. tax obligations but have lived much of their life overseas.
Evento 10 años SalveMonos
SalveMonos 10th Anniversary Party
Una noche en la que se mezclará concientización ambiental, entretenimiento, arte, música y gastronomía.
Come and celebrate a night of environmental awareness, entertainment, art, music and delicious food.
¿Cuál será el destino del monto recaudado? Lo recaudado nos permitirá seguir rescatando monos y protegiendo la fauna silvestre; Apoyo a refugios, Concientización de la comunidad y el Proyecto piloto de aislación de cables en Tamarindo.
All proceeds go towards rescuing monkeys and protecting wildlife; wounded animal projects, support to wildlife shelters, community awareness projects, and a pilot project to insulate power lines in Tamarindo via SalveMonos.
¿Cuándo? Domingo12 de abril a las 18 hs. Dónde? Beach Club de Reserva Conchal, Guanacaste. ¿Cómo hago para participar? Las entradas se deben adquirir previamente. Tamarindo: tienda Azul Profundo, Hotel Luna Llena y departamento de Rentas de Reserva Conchal. En San José: Green Center Santa Ana y Green Center Curridabat. Online? Escribinos a asociacionsalvemonos@gmail.com Entrada: 50 U$D, para menores de 12 años 25 U$D. ¿Qué incluye la entrada? Unas exquisitas bocas y bebidas sin alcohol. No incluye bebidas alcohólicas, pero habrá una exclusiva barra con una amplia variedad de cockteles. Se contará con la presencia de los músicos Manuel Obregón y Santos y Zurdo, y los artistas Sergio Pucci y Guido Daniele. Organiza Asociación SalveMonos, con la coproducción de Green Center y el apoyo de Reserva Conchal y Florida Ice & Farm. www.salvemonos.org
Guanacaste
When? – Sunday April 12th at 6:00 p.m. at Reserva Conchal Beach Club, Brasilito,
Tickets must be purchased in advance. Tamarindo: Azul Profundo Boutique, Luna Llena Hotel Brasilito: Reserva Conchal, rental department San Jose: Green Center Santa Ana or Green Center Curridabat Online: Please write to asociacionsalvemonos@gmail.com Entrance fee: $50.00, for children under 12 years old $25. What is included? – Exquisite appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks. There will be bar service as well. The nights events will include a concert by Manuel Obregon, a concert by Santos y Zurdo, music all night by DJ, artwork by Sergio Pucci and Guido Daniele. There will be other surprises as well. Event organized by the SalveMonos Association, coproduced by Green Center, Reserva Conchal & Florida Ice & Farm. www.salvemonos.org
CCTT Updates Cámara de Comercio y Turismo de Tamarindo CCTT
Don’t Be a Statistic
Learn to Identify Rip Currents
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he Tamarindo Chamber of Commerce has restarted at the initiative of the tourist industry by Hernán Imhoff, who has pulled together local businesses to form this important association. The Chamber is an non-profit community association created with the principal objectives of improving the commercial and tourist activities of the zone, founded September 1, 2014, with the cooperation of business people in general who participate democratically in the election of the first Board of Directors. The Chamber conforms to the rulings of the Board of Directors.
Their mission is to be an organization which represents the interest of tourism companies in bringing the information, training and technical assistance to the businesses. - To contribute to the promotion of our destiny, innovate and diversify tourist products, and improve the standard of quality and services. - To satisfy the needs of its affiliates and requirements of the Tamarindo area In this short period since starting, in conjunction with the Association Integral de Desarrollo, they have assumed some successes of good benefit, also creating special committees: - Security - Beach and parks - Infrastructure - Sport - Events - Emergencies - Communication and publicity - Maintenance and cleaning Work in Progress A working relationship with police; proposals to improve service of drinking water; road to Langosta is in progress; working relationship with Diputado Juan Marin and the mayor of Santa Cruz, Jorge Chavarria; training in gastronomy and bartending; hospitality fair of Hotelera, by the national network of small hotels; two lifeguards from Cruz Roja for Easter Week. The Board of Directors President Hernán Imhoff Vice-president Alonso Jiménez Fernández Secretary Helen Soto Montoya Treasurer Federico Pilurzu Primer Vocal Argerie Cordero Morera Segundo Vocal Luz Ramirez Montealegre Fiscal Trevor Bernard To join the Chamber, or for further information, contact info@ ccttamarindo.org
R
ip currents are the leading surf hazard for all beachgoers. They are particularly dangerous for weak or non-swimmers. Rip current speeds are typically 1-2 feet per second. However, speeds as high as 8 feet per second have been measured--this is faster than an Olympic swimmer can sprint! Thus, rip currents can sweep even the strongest swimmer out to sea. Over 100 drownings due to rip currents occur every year in the United States. More than 80% of water rescues on surf beaches are due to rip currents. How to Identify Rip Currents Look for any of these clues: a channel of churning, choppy water an area having a notable difference in water color a line of foam, seaweed, or debris moving steadily seaward a break in the incoming wave pattern None, one, or more of the above clues may indicate the presence of rip currents. Rip currents are often not readily or easily identifiable to the average beachgoer. For your safety, be aware of this major surf zone hazard. Polarized sunglasses make it easier to see the rip current clues provided above. Never swim alone. Be cautious at all times, especially when swimming at unguarded beaches. If in doubt, don’t go out! Whenever possible, swim at a lifeguard protected beach. Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards. If caught in a rip current, remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly. Don’t fight the current. Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim towards shore. If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim towards shore. If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself: face the shore, wave your arms, and yell for help. If you see someone in trouble, get help from a lifeguard. If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 9-1-1 . Throw the rip current victim something that floats and yell instructions on how to escape. Remember, many people drown while trying to save someone else from a rip current.
NOAA
A Slice of Life Bees David Mills
I
had my daughter staying with me for a couple of weeks at my house in Costa Rica. One day she went for a walk on the beach while I worked around the house. After an hour or so I heard her shouting: “Dad, Dad. Help!” I looked over the edge of the hill to see her down below, and she was struggling with a couple of young men, beating at them fiercely. I dropped what I was doing and took off running for the gate. It was a long incline downwards about two hundred meters to where she was, so I was doing a good rate of knots as I ran down the hill. In my mind I had already decided what to do - take out the largest first, and then work the other over. As I approached I wondered why her attackers didn’t leave, as I has serious treatment planned for them. But she started yelling louder “No, Dad, it’s not what you think. It’s the bees.” Getting closer, I could see a cloud of bees around her head, and around the heads of the two men. She was being attacked by the bees, and the men were trying to beat them off her. We fought them off for a moment, and then the two men took off running downhill to escape the bees, with me yelling thanks at them. As she walked up the hill a back-hoe had accidentally dislodged a whole swarm, which were ready for vengeance on the first human. We set off for the house still surrounded by the little pests, which slowly dissipated as we arrived there. A very large drink of rum calmed her – and me – down, and I spent some time picking live, and dead, bees out of her long blonde hair. She had about fifteen stings, not life-threatening, but enough to cause discomfort for a day or so.
You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.” Albert Camus
Surf Report (from page 15) Two days later, when the lifeguard training was completed, Valeria began what is now her daily ritual: a 5:30 a.m. paddling session as well as what she calls “fundamental training” at Koa Training Center in Huacas. Immediately, her efforts caught the attention of Roberto Castillo from Creatures Leisure, and at the Puntarenas Sportfishing Festival within the month, Salustri competed with five guys and came in 4th place. “When they put me on the podium, the guys were all in their late 20s. Creatures noticed and told me if I keep doing what I just did, they will sponsor me.” It was a done deal. (Along the way Valeria also picked up sponsorship from Freestyle Watches, Otis Eyewear, Desi Swimware, Costa Rica Exclusive Travel and Rivira Paddleboards. Both Koa Training Center and her school, Cec San Francisco de Asis, also supports her.) She certainly kept up the momentum. At the Herradura Eco-Soup, she claimed 1st place in Women’s Long Distance, 1st place Women’s Short Distance and 1st place in the Tag Team Relay. In Quepos Marina SUP Games, the wins were 1st place Women’s Long Distance, 1st place Women’s Springs 200 meters, 1st place Women’s Obstacle Course, and was the champion of the Women Overall, collecting $500 for her efforts.
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“My goal is going to World SUP Championship and the Central American Championships,” Salustri exclaims. “Surf is a beautiful sport, but with SUP you don’t have to fight for waves. It you get first in a race it’s because you crossed the finish line first and not because someone judged your wave riding. I like doing this because I’m really relaxed in nature. I love competing and I like winning.” And what does mom Zoilhy Soto think? “Her discipline and commitment impress me,” she answered. “I am so proud.” Jason Torres, who could very easily eschew national contests, has participated in two in the last month, and won both of them. First, he took home a trophy at the COPA Creatures of the Circuito Nacional de Surf Kolbi 2015 and then followed that accomplishment by snagging 1st place at the 3rd date of the Circuito Guanacaste de Surf (CGS), Copa Kina in Santa Teresa. Pushed by his main sponsor O’Neill to stay in Costa Rica and pursue a national title, he agreed to be “humble” and do it. Anyone who remembers Torres as the wild child of Costa Rican surfing, can only smile to hear the husband and father use this kind of terminology.
(continued page 37)
Shape Up! Smoothies
Lynda Espada
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hile on Facebook the other day, one of my friends posted on his timeline - “Looking for smoothie. What is your favorite smoothie recipe?� Before I moved here about a year ago, I made a fruit and/or veggie smoothie everyday for breakfast. But you were limited especially in the colder months to less choices of fresh and organic produce. But living here in Costa Rica, there is a year-round supply of fresh fruits and vegetables. Smoothies are thick shake-type drinks filled mainly with fruit or vegetables and other nutrient dense ingredients. They make wonderful options for a meal or a snack when made with natural items. Plus there are many benefits to drinking a smoothie everyday. Unlike juices, smoothies retain all the fiber of whole raw fruits and vegetables. Eating fiber is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to prevent disease because it helps improve digestion and rid the body of waste materials and deadly toxins. They aid with weight loss when used as part of a low-fat, low-sugar diet. And vegetable smoothies provide pure nutrients to your cells and bulk from the fiber, which make you feel full. And adding other slow digesting ingredients (like nuts, seeds, or yogurt) allow them to stay with you longer and satisfy you more than coffee, soda, or other drinks. The best smoothies are made with natural, all-real, nutrient-dense ingredients that provide vitamins and oils necessary for good more complete nutrition. A truly healthy smoothie should have some dietary fat for the body to use in assimilating the vitamins. Fat is required for biological functions and is burned by your body for energy. Simply blending a banana with ice and skim milk does provide a great deal of benefits or nutrients. When you have a good blender or Vitamix and quality ingredients, making delicious, healthy smoothies is a snap. A basic recipe is to start with 8 to 16 oz. of liquid (coconut, almond, rice or dairy milk), yogurt, and fresh fruit. Other excellent ingredient choices are raw Omega-3 egg yolks, extra virgin coconut oil, shredded coconut & pure vanilla extract. Try yogurt or kefir, as these cultured milk products are good sources of probiotics and live cultures, and eight ounces provide almost a third of your daily requirement of calcium. Here are a two of my favorite smoothie recipes. For a higher protein smoothie, combine walnuts, raw egg, banana, pineapple, mango, and coconut water or milk. For a green smoothie, try spinach, romaine lettuce, beets, berries, cinnamon, and almond milk. And once you start making smoothies, you will find the combinations are endless.
Word puzzle Miscelรกneo
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. abridged almendra amigdalas annapolis batalia ciruela concha condensed condimentar conocedora cortesia diccionario embarrassment espuela explanation
faithful fortunately friendliness luxurious mesomorph monorail puente sospechar stentorian tariff temporada tonsils tortuguero tutorial verguenza
Sign Languages Cocktail lounge, Norway: ladies are requested not to have children in the bar. On Mt. Kilimanjaro: Please do not urinate in the rain gauge. Gardens at Richmond Hill, England: These gates will close one half-hour after advertised time. Poster, Kenya: Are you an adult that cannot read? If so we can help. Doctor’s office, Rome: Specialist in women and other diseases. Northern England: When this notice is obscured by snow, the road is impassable. Dry cleaners, Bangkok: Drop your trousers here for the best results. Glasgow infirmary: Basement downstairs. Hong Kong beach: Beware of holes in the shark net. Restaurant, NY city: Open seven days a week and weekends. Hotel, Japan: You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid. A sign posted in Germany’s Black Forest: It is strictly forbidden on our black forest camping site that people of different sex, for instance, men and women, live together in one tent unless they are married with each other for this purpose. In an elevator at Canary Wharf Tower: Please exit when doors open. Mevagissey Harbour, Cornwall: Landing charges for craft: Up to 10 feet, ten pounds; 10-20 feet, ten pounds; 20-30 feet, ten pounds; over 30 feet, ten pounds. Wroxham, Norfolk: Please do not throw stones at this sign. Advertisement for donkey rides, Thailand: Would you like to ride on your own ass? A laundry in Rome: Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the afternoon having a good time. Restaurant, Nairobi: Customers who find our waitresses rude ought to see the manager.
“The most important thing is to enjoy your life—to be happy—it’s all that matters.” Audrey Hepburn
Barbara’s Pet Stories “Binchen”
A
nimal Protection .... the whole family should be involved. Parents can teach it so easily to their kids.
Unfortunately I had to witness a father who gave a tiny puppy about five weeks young to his son. (This man told me later, that he had found this puppy at a beach). The son, nine years old, looked at it as a toy. A toy you can pull and push around...it is squeaking, yes, but not of joy, no, because of pain. Father sees this, says nothing, the son keeps pushing, and grabs the little pup at its back legs and shakes it like a banner. Puppy is squeaking, son thinks this is funny. Then the son noticed that the puppy can not walk anymore. Now the son thinks his toy is a broken toy, and puts it into the garbage. Father finally had the heart to bring this little soul to me, telling me the story. Outcome of this mistreatment from the young boy, of watching it in silence from the father: hips and both back legs were destroyed. The puppy was crying in pain. This little soul had two rough weeks, with getting massages, with having the legs bent and stretched, with painkillers and antiinflammatory pills. Yesterday this puppy stood up for the first time and walked some steps. WOW!! We made it, this little girl and I...some more weeks of training and this will be a healthy puppy. Please think about it, what can we all do to avoid animal abuse, animal mistreatments....Do not look away. We have to respect the animals, than our kids will do, too. Anyone who wants to visit the puppy - her name is Binchen- is very welcome to come to my place.
tierefuerbarbaraforanimals@gmail.com
The Streets of Tamarindo by Jeffrey Whitlow
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his month I would like to start a discussion about the social and economic benefits of collective action. This concept holds a special place in my heart because my father, the man I most admire(d) in the world, God rest his soul, was an organizer. What made this so special was the time in which that occurred, that being the late 1960s-early ‘70s. I was raised in a small town in the northeast Appalachian region of Kentucky. My father worked as a technician at one of the largest steel mills in the country at that time, the Ashland Works of Armco Steel. I was just a child and early adolescent at the time, so naturally I was totally absorbed in my little affairs. I do remember he would “double-over”, that is, work a sixteen-hour shift, anytime the opportunity arose. When he would come home, our mother wouldn’t let us talk above a whisper, so we wouldn’t disturb his brief periods of sleep. I didn’t know it at the time, but as time went by at the mill, more and more of the workers came to know and admire my father. The workers were part of a union. They had what is known as a local chapter of the International Union of Steelworkers. The international headquarters were located in Pittsburgh, PA. All of the local chapters reported to, and followed the lead of, the headquarters. It came to pass that enough of the workers persuaded my father to run for President of the local, and to a lot of people’s surprise, he won. There were very few black people in our region, so naturally there was a lot of racism and ignorance. Yet a majority of the men supported my father, and he went on to the International and earned a retirement there to add to his pension from the mill. He taught me the power of organizing, and he taught me the fundamentals of how it is done. The key to organizing people is to get to know them. He knew everyone’s name, their birthday, when their kids were graduating, everything. He also taught me that it is as easy to be nice as it is to be mean. He was genuine with his love, and it was a fitting testament to that to see the small church packed with people on the saddest day of my life. A lot of people have bad things to say about unions, and I agree that they might have either outlived their usefulness or, more likely, grew to be so big that they took on the same qualities as the corporations they were created to fight. However, there can be no disputing that everyone’s wages have benefited from the actions of unions, as a whole. A look at the local wage structure speaks volumes on that matter. So how does this relate to our community and its economic health? I talked to a wise lady a few months ago who saw this community’s potential back in the 90’s. She gave me an education about this place, and she presented me with a list of grievances that gave me a veritable buffet of food for thought. For the next few months, I am going to present my ideas to address each of her grievances, along with a couple of pet peeves of my own. If we are able to even address one of these issues effectively, I believe the community will achieve a great benefit. But we can only address these issues as an organized force.
Selected Poems from “Tell me about the Telaraña” by Diana Renee
miguel without a chainsaw i watched the man fight with the tree and slowly win it was a mango older than he and stronger he won little by little fought until night fell with his arms, brown back and own sweat release my fish, he swims away and i scream for him tear up my lungs with a wail for my catch i have just let him go todo lo no esencial se seca en este sol me quedan solo arboles fuertes en mis paisajes “Tell Me About the Telaraña” is available at Jaime Peligro’s Bookstore in Tamarindo.
Your Stars in April
Aries: 21 March - 20 April
Libra: 23 September - 23 October
The month begins with lots of action and energy flowing for you, though it might be a bit erratic as Uranus still throws some curve balls between the 6th and 11th. Your ruling planets, Mars, will be in Taurus all this month so you would be wise to slow down a bit. Money will come in and go out quite rapidly this month so watch that you don’t overindulge yourself. There’s a full moon lunar eclipse on the 4th, so another direction change might be on the menu. Your best days are the 16th and 17th.
Still some upheaval around your intimate and legal relationships as the Sun and Mercury collide with Uranus in your seventh house, until the 20th when they move into Taurus and Uranus. With Mars entering your solar eighth house, there’s much discussion and planning about money, wills, insurance, etc. So it’s not smooth sailing until the middle of May. The eclipse on the 4th indicates you need to re-evaluate your relationship patterns….and mean it this time! The 3rd, 4th and 30th are days to move forward.
Your ruling planet, Venus, will be in your sign until the 12th, so you are sure to be enjoying life these spring days. Mars is also in Taurus, a bit frustrated and feisty there, but still much can be accomplished. Watch out for your tendency to overindulge yourself and others now as money can be a bit fluid with those aspects. Take a little time out for solitude this month as you need to process the recent changes in your life. Good days to enjoy life are the new moon on the 18th, the 19th and 20th.
With your ruling planet, Mars, now in the sign of Taurus, its detriment you might have to slow down the pace. Not your style but that’s the vibe for the month. Your partnerships may all need attention but there’s a balance of sweetness there with Venus in your solar seventh house, too. Work conditions improve after the 7th. There’s an erratic energy to it all between the 6th and 11th so do your best to stay centered and calm. Angry words will not help the situation, but time will. Your best days are the 5th, 6th and 7th.
With a stellium of planets in your solar eleventh house of friends, income from profession and business groups, you can expect some gains in that area of life if you remember to be social and inclusive. With Venus and Mars passing through your twelfth house, you might be a little reticent until after the 12th when Venus enters your first house. Saturn, Rx in Sag opposite you means you need to be aware of how others perceive you and pay attention to details. Days for positive favor are the 21st and 22nd.
You are in luck this month as Jupiter, your ruling planet, goes into forward motion on the 6th. As this optimistic energy is expressing through fiery and generous Leo, you might want to align your ambitions with some selfpromotion and take action for your own cause. Yes, I am saying be a little selfish and open about what you want. Creativity is highlighted as well this month so take advantage of the vibe and get out of your rut. Days to be noticed are 8th and 9th.
There are three planets in your solar tenth house of career and public image so there’s a great potential for some gain for you if you adjust or change something about your business. Look for inspiration between the 6th -11th and don’t be afraid to take a leap. Gains are possible over the next two months. Finances improve after the 7th when Jupiter goes into direct motion in your second house of money. Lots of green lights in your life right now; take advantage of them on the 23rd and 24th!
There’s some rumbling energy in your solar fourth house so where and how you live will be affected particularly between the 6th and 11th. Be careful of your surroundings and take care to guard against loss. With Pluto going Rx in your sign and first house on the 16th, you might feel destabilized again by the changes you made in March (or needed to make but didn’t?). There is no going back to how it was prior to June of 2012 now so one must simply forge a new path. Best days for progress are the 10th and 11th.
Taurus: 21 April - 21 May
Gemini: 22 May - 21 June
Cancer: 22 June - 22 July
Leo: 23 July - 23 August
This month has a vibe of the higher mind, education, spiritual journeys and your public image. Expanding your horizons in all those areas is quite possible, particularly after the 7th when Jupiter in your sign goes into direct motion. There’s also an emphasis on your children so your playful nature will be appreciated at this time. The month will be fairly stable for all your endeavors but watch that you don’t overpromise on the 5th and 6th as it will work against you. Your best days are the 25th and 26th.
Virgo: 24 August - 22 September
Money, investments, taxes, insurance and those kinds of details are focused in your life through the 20th, when your thoughts then turn to travel. Maybe just some armchair journeys as Saturn Rx at the bottom of your chart makes leaving home a bit challenging, just from fatigue! This is just a temporary condition as when Jupiter gets into your sign in mid-August you get more enthusiasm to get out and about and engage with the world. Good vibes are on the 1st, the 27th, 28th and 29th. by Jeanne Callahan jeannecallahan007@gmail.com
Scorpio: 24 October - 22 November
Sagittarius: 23 November - 21 December
Capricorn: 22 December - 21 January
Aquarius: 22 January - 19 February
With several planets moving through your solar third house of the mind, short trips, communication, siblings and your neighborhood you will be busy, busy this month. Watch your surroundings and words between the 6th and 11th as there’s an erratic energy that could work against you if your act too judgmental or haughty with others. Project for home improvement should go well this month as Mars enters your fourth house with Venus already there. Days to make headway are the 13th and 14th.
Pisces: 20 February - 20 March
This month has a signature to pay attention to your assets and where your money is going. Between the 6th and 11th you may have some unexpected expenses or change of plans regarding what you invest in. Just part of the cycle of growth, actually and since your ruling planet, Jupiter, goes into direct motion on the 7th, you can find your way through this. Take good care of your health, too, though that area of your life looks to be on track and robust. Great days to enjoy life are the 15th and 16th.
Namasté Visit Jeanne’s site at CelestialAdvisor.com
Now Begins the Study of Yoga There’s No Place Like OM “Ommmmmmmm.” You hear it at the beginning and end of every yoga class, but what does it mean? This little word has a large significance, yet, as is the case with many Sanskrit words, it is tough to translate directly into English. The Mandukya Upanishad, which was written somewhere in the first or second century of the Common Era, is all about OM. This Upanishad conveys that the state of perfection as well as all that leads up to the state of perfection is OM. OM represents all things and is the seed to all creation. This one sound contains all the power of the universe. The three sounds of OM (or AUM, an alternate spelling) as well as the silence that follows it are very significant. A (ah), the first sound, represents the creation aspect of the universe. It is said to be the beginning of all sounds. This sound connects us to our ego, our sense of self, our physical body, and the truth of our existence. U (oooo), the second sound, represents the maintaining energy of the universe. This sound connects us to our sense of something greater than that which we can feel, sense, and experience; our subtle body. M (mmmm), the third sound, represents the transformative energy of the universe. This sound connects us to the awareness of oneness and our causal body. The silence that follows AUM is also important, as it is the vibration which is beyond verbal pronunciation. This silence connects us with pure consciousness, and is where we experience unity. OM was first heard supposedly by ancient Rishis (Hindu sages or saints) during meditation. The Rishis revealed the sound as something that was to be chanted to gain the same “experience” as they had. Every chant of Hindu origin thus begins with OM. One of the first times I read about this sacred syllable was in the book Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse. Towards the end of the book he writes: “When Siddhartha listened attentively to this river, to this song of a thousand voices; when he did not listen to the sorrow or laughter, when he did not bind his soul to any one particular voice and absorb it in his Self, but heard them all, the whole, the unity; then the great song of a thousand voices consisted of one word: Om – perfection.” Feel the experience for yourself in your next yoga class or when you OM at home. As you create the beginning of the syllable from the back of your throat, feel it arising from the base of your body. As you create the middle sound of “ooooo” by beginning to close your mouth and bring the sound over your tongue, feel it climbing through each of your chakras. As you create the ending sound of “mmmm” at the closure of your lips, feel it lift through the crown of your head reaching into the universe. In the silence that follows, feel the unity, the perfection contained within this vibration.
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
Copa Kina March 7 and 8 Santa Teresa
(from page 24) With the result in Tamarindo, as well as the 17th place finish at the debut of the CNS in Puerto Viejo the month before, Torres is already poised at #2 of the Open rankings on the road to national champion. “I’m focusing on winning the title,” Jason asserts. “which includes training hard. But, now I’m doing it differently than before. All those years I put pressure on myself to win. Now I’m just having fun and trying to come out a winner.” Torres (photo below) noted that in both of these contests, there were a lot of children competing. “I see those little kids, a lot of kids—and I remember I was like them.”
Photo: Alfredo Barquero
COPA Creatures Results February 21, 22, 2015 Playa Tamarindo, Guanacaste Open 1. Jason Torres (Jacó) 2. Angello Bonomelli (Tamarindo) 3. Jean Carlos Méndez (Jacó) 4. Ramón Talini (Mal País)
Boys 1. Malakai Martínez (Tamarindo) 2. Dean Vandewalle (Tamarindo) 3. Leilani McGonagle (Pavones) 4. Evan Brownell
Women’s Open 1. Cassidi McLain (Tamarindo) 2. Emily Gussoni (Jacó) 3. Serena Nava (Tamarindo) 4. Leilani McGonagle (Pavones)
Grommet 1. Malakai Martínez (Tamarindo) 2. Oscar Urbina (Puerto Viejo) 3. Dean Vandewalle (Tamarindo) 4. Tiago Carrique (Playa Negra)
Junior 1. Leonardo Calvo (Boca Barranca) 2. Dean Vandewalle (Tamarindo) 3. Joseph Méndez (Jacó) 4. Malakai Martínez (Tamarindo)
MiniGrommet 1. Samuel Reidy (Tamarindo) 2. Axel Castro (Tamarindo) 3. Darshan Antequera (Tamarindo) 4. Joshua Dawson (Tamarindo)
Junior Women’s 1. Leilani McGonagle (Pavones) 2. Zulay Martínez (Tamarindo) 3. Paula Duarte (Jacó) 4. Valentina Resano (Nicaragua)
MiniGrommet Girls 1. Lía Díaz (Tamarindo) 2. Paulina Summers (Puerto Viejo) 3. Valentina Ressano (Nicaragua) 4. Olivia Barger (Herradura)
Boys 1. 2. 3. 4.
Aldo Chirinos Sean Foerster Matan Assado Dean Vandewalle
Women’s Open 1. Serena Nava 2. Zulay Martinez 3. Veronica Meza 4. Jill Kepich
Girls 1. 2. 3. 4.
Serena Nava Coral Wiggins Zulay Martinez Kirra Williams
Masters 1. Red 2. Ian Bean 3. Christian Boos 4. Marcel Guinaldo
Mixed Groms 1. Tiago Leao 2. Orion Eschel 3. Ziggy Germaine 4. Luke Guinaldo
Juniors 1. 2. 3. 4.
Dolphins 1. Isaiah Dawson 2. Kalani Abrahao 3. Kai Williams 4. Noldan Zuniga
Open 1. 2. 3. 4.
Jason Torres Anthony Filligan Olman Morales Leo Calvo
Malakai Martinez Aldo Chirinos Joseph Mendez Alejandro Delgado
Junior Women’s 1. Coral Wiggins 2. Serena Nava 3. Zulay Martinez 4. Lia Diaz
Longboard 1. Alex Gomez 2. Carlos Rojas 3. Andres Codero Arrita 4. Noldan Zuniga
This month be on the lookout for all the activities that go along with the annual Robert August Surf n’ Turf Charity Challenge 2015. A reminder: 100% of the tournament profits are donated to CEPIA to help area underprividlged kids through education, activities and counseling. As always, surf legend Robert August will be participating in the surf and golf contests, along with some special friends. Here is the schedule: April 17, 5pm: Registration Night at Nogui’s Restaurant, Tamarindo April 18, 8:30am: Shotgun, four-man scramble at Hacienda Pinilla Golf Course April 18, 6pm: Dinner, Show, Silent Auction and more! April 19, 8am: Surf Contest at Lola’s, Playa Avellana April 19, 5pm: Awards Night at Witch’s Rock Surf Camp, Tamarindo
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 XVII
I
COSTA RICA
n Costa Rica not everything you encounter turns out to be what you think it is. In order to protect valued readers of the Howler Magazine this month’s column will be devoted to unmasking and exposing some of these deceitful activities. In dealing with inappropriate corporate shenanigans we must first deal with the “trickle down” economic effect that begins in China and eventually comes to us here in Guanacaste. I’ll try not to be too technical. The “good stuff” that gets made in China, as well as the more common “bad stuff” is carefully sorted so the aforementioned “good stuff” is sent to the USA, Canada and the nicer parts of Europe. Anyone who lives here in Costa Rica knows where the other stuff is sent. Here, in San José, a similar triage is made on incoming goods with the “stuff” no one wants then sent to Guanacaste. I’m trying to prepare you for the following Howler Magazine Consumer Alert!!! First a legal disclaimer: Due to the fact that certain large corporations in Costa Rica retain a much larger legal representation than The Howler, and are notoriously thin-skinned about criticism, no real names will be used. It has come to our attention that a certain local gigantic supermarket has been selling a certain big-time American brand of “extra crunchy” peanut butter without any peanuts!!!!! I mean really, life here in paradise can be tough enough without this kind of torture. At first I thought it was just the one jar so when it came time for a new one I went back to the appropriate aisle and while no one was looking I opened a new container, stuck my finger in, and once again discovered... no nuts, just creamy. I can just imagine the peanut butter bigwigs up there just south of Canada trying to figure out what to do with this container of falsely-marked
Truth & Lies...a Little of This and a Little of That
peanut butter jars, picking up a stick pin and plunging it into a map of Central America. I now will only buy my peanut butter at Pequeno Mundo, Costa Rica’s answer to a “real” Walmart whose Chinese brand “ABC” is not only very crunchy but also gluten-free. Of course we add our own gluten when we get home. Here’s some truth for you, and I ain’t kidding. We got some real good culture now in Tamarindo in the form of its own radio station, “SHARK FM 96.9. I don’t want to say anything bad about the radio we’ve been getting here in town for the past two millennia (please see legal disclaimer) but we are now able to listen to songs that are not “Hotel California”. SHARK FM has been playing a very cool and eclectic music mix that really compliments the music scene in Playa Tamarindo so mucho kudos to Steve and Roxie for making this endeavor a really good thing in the making. Enough about sharks, let’s talk crocodiles. There’s been much ado in the local press about the mysterious disappearance of several well-fed North American types and a corresponding increase of well-fed crocodiles, causing the formation of vigilante groups who seem to think this is bad for tourism.
Story by Jesse Bishop owlhumm@hotmail.com
A little background. It used to be that you had to stay out of Costa Rica for seventy-two hours in order to receive a new visa to stay another ninety days. If you tried to come back early you could be subject to some pretty severe consequences as those old-timers here in Tamarindo who remember the public floggings can attest to. And then it got easier and people started going and coming back the same day. Don’t ask me how or why the rule changed. Everybody seems to have a different reason for the change, none of which make any sense. My conundrum is this: I have documents saying I am in “trámite”, waiting for residency which should mean I don’t need to leave every ninety days. However a recent revision made by MOPT (the Ministry of Transportation) requires anybody with a CR driver’s license - me - who is not a resident needs to have an-up-to-date visa stamp in their passport. So I’m still doing the run. When I recently tried the one-day border visit with a like-minded group of locals we were informed by a scowling Nicaraguan border guard that on our next visit we’d be required to at least spend the night. To make his point he shot one of our group in the foot.
My wife and several of her artsy-fartsy type friends, always on the side of the underdog, have formed “Salve Cocodrilos” in an effort to present things from the reptile’s point of view. You can find the SC girls set up at the Saturday Market raising money for their organization by selling shoes, purses and “Croc Jerky” to raise money so they can eventually relocate Tamarindo’s crocodile population further north to the Papagayo Peninsula.
We were then met by a couple of young fellas who offered to get us through immigration and customs quickly for ten dollars apiece. He took our passports and disappeared for about an hour and a half. My stomach started to hurt. However the guys did return, with a couple more friends and informed us he had made a slight mistake and his fee to return the newly-stamped passports was now sixty dollars apiece. His uncle owned the local jail in case we had any problems with the new arrangements.
It’s getting to be a little tougher to make the one day “visa runs” to the Nicaragua-Costa Rican border, more so on the Nica side where authorities seem to prefer a longer stay, mostly likely due to diminishing dollar deposits.
We returned to the border crossing only to be directed to the “penalty box”, a concrete structure on the roadside, where we were required to wait another three hours till we were allowed back in Costa Rica.
Life-long Learning Tom Peifer tompeifercv@gmail.com
A
t some point in life, it seems only natural that you really begin to believe in the hereafter. In my case, I’m constantly walking into a room and asking myself, “What did I come in here after?” At any rate, in addition to being able to laugh at one’s own foulups in life, countless studies have argued for the positive effects of life-long learning on the aging brain. I got a heavy dose of just that natural remedy last Saturday, courtesy of the Tamarindo Farmer’s Market and Feria. This weekly gathering features local farmers, producers of healthy snacks, baked goods and other gourmet delights, artisans and probably a bunch of other interesting, different and nutritious stuff I didn’t get to peruse, busy as I was hawking my own wares. Or trying to, as it turned out, because my relatively flat learning curve was about to be faced with the steep slope of reality.
I was perhaps all the more impressed with this side of the weekly gathering. Hey, I got to meet Dr. Whitlow, whose columns I’ve been reading for years. And Jeff Hutton, another former denizen of San Diego North County, who I’d heard about for years, but sure enough, there he was, a face, not just a name. Apart from the purely personal, social side of these types of gatherings, there exists a practical function that falls within both the educational and business realms. As I have repeatedly told newcomers, the fiestas tipicas, in addition to affording a platform for getting drunk and having a blast, put people in touch for working out deals on land, lumber, sources of seeds and a long list of other exchangeable items vital to the ongoing needs of a decentralized rural economy. Equally important, farmers share experiences about what worked - or
Economics lesson 1A: It is not enough to just grow produce, which I’ve been doing with varying degrees of success for 20 years here, at some point, to get real as they say, you have to sell it. Supply and demand, market niches, and the subtler concepts of branding, presentation, promotional materials, etc. all came tumbling out of the cerebral cobwebs while I was suddenly flailing to set up shop last Saturday. Looking around at the more experienced vendors, it was easy to see I had a lot to learn about efficiency in time and motion on the new job. Spiffy lightweight shade structures were going up in a snap or two as I hauled out a homemade folding table that was “supposed to be” lightweight and user-friendly. To my right, crisp greens came out for display from modular Styrofoam chilling containers even as my own modest offering of Brazilian spinach floated rather unappetizingly in a laundry tub. Off to the left, elegant displays of nut butters, marinades and sauces seemed to be whisked off the displays as fast as the vendors could restock. My own chileros and garlic/chile Tabasco sauce just didn’t seem to keep up with the competition. It was not so much a case of the razor sharpness of cutthroat competition, more like being the new kid on the block. Coincidentally, it was also a bit of a walk down memory lane. After jogging the old neurons a bit, I realized that I had set up shop about 50 yards from the very spot where I first tumbled out of a car in Tamarindo, some 25 years ago. My last time I hung out for a while with none other than the late, great Mike Diffenderfer, a neighbor from back home in Del Mar. People tend to forget that the traditional ferias, like the fiestas tipicas, function somewhat like social media in the technological age. Given my normal isolation, and usually fleeting visits to Tamarindo,
didn’t - in their farms and fields. I’ve been involved as both listener and participant in dozens, probably hundreds, of these conversations over the years. For me they are vital to my ongoing learning here, as well as a chance to share some basic concepts of agro-ecological theory and push my personal agenda of steps toward sustainability. Fortunately at the Tamarindo Feria I got to swap garden tales and tricks with any number of folks who also take seriously that Chinese maxim, “He who wishes to live a long life, should grow a garden.” In retrospect, I probably would have hawked more of my wares had I not been so enthusiastically caught up in discussions about soil quality, local sources for organic amendments, and just sharing the sheer enthusiasm with fellow growers—at whatever scale—of planting a seed, growing a plant and sitting down to enjoy the fruits of your labors. Nobody should be more satisfied with the outcome of their vision and their labor of love than the women who started the Farmer’s (continued page 40)
A p r i l ( a l l
t i m e s
2 0 1 5 l o c a l )
Sun
1st - rise 5:40; set 5:54 15th - rise 5:33; set 5:54 30th - rise 5:26; set 5:55
Full: Last quarter: New: First quarter:
Moon
3rd 11th 18th 25th
6:06 p.m. 9:44 p.m. 12:57 p.m. 5:55 p.m.
....
Life-long Learning
(from page 39)
Market and Feria: Valerie Townley, Margaret Nevins and Lynda Espada. While this article is in the process of being transformed from a digital document into the April issue of the Howler, their brainchild will be celebrating its first birthday, testimony to their own persistence and, no doubt, to a fairly steep learning curve along the way. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’ll be back. Buying local is the wave of the future. The produce is top-notch, the vibe is a welcome respite from the cantinas and I’m sure I’ll find some other passionate gardeners and growers to swap tips with. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll finally sell some of those tasty chileros.
Tom Peifer is an ecological land use consultant with 20 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/
Never See-Saw
Alcoholics Anonymous Schedule of Meetings
Flamingo
Tuesdays: 5:30 - 6:30 pm (open) Fridays: 5:30 - 6:30 pm (open)
Location: Hitching Post Plaza Unit 2, Brasilito Contact: Don H. at 2-654-4902
Tamarindo
Saturday: 10:30-11:30 - Open General Meeting Monday: 5:30 - Open Meeting 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
had a boyfriend i never see had a boyfriend i never saw cried an ocean of tears when he said he loved me had boyfriend i never saw have a boyfriend I never see wrote a book underwater sailed a mountain top waged war on world peace while i waited had a boyfriend i never see had a boyfriend i never saw got heaps done but it got all wet under my tears by GerettaGeretta
psst! Geretta Geretta Gift Shop