Volume 20, No. 9
Sept/Oct 2015
Issue No. 226
Founded 1996
THE HOWLER Ced. Juridica: 3-101-331333
FEATURES
Publisher, editor and production David Mills
dmills@racsa.co.cr Tel: Office - 4702-5771 Celular - 8323-2795 Howler • Mono Congo
8 Dining Out
Another Italian meal, from Cabana Blanca, down-to-earth traditional food from the antipasto to the dolci.
14 Around Town
CONTRIBUTORS KAY DODGE JESSE BISHOP MARY BYERLY LYNDA ESPADA ROBERT AUGUST JEANNE CALLAHAN
HERBERT WEINMANN ELLEN ZOE GOLDEN BARBARA DEPPE SUSAN SMITH TOM PEIFER TONY OREZ
Deadline for November: October 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
Finals of the longboard and SUP at Manuel Antonio; Jason Torres is National Champion; Lisbeth Vindas wins Women’s.
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Surviving Costa Rica
Residency! Jesse and his wife overcome the Tico Obstacle Course after 12 years and several lawyers. No more vacations in Nicaragua.
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No Speaka’ da Spanish!
Learning Spanish is easy, and should be practised by every foreigner who intends to make Costa Rica home.
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. Ads must be submitted on CD or e-mail attachment, JPG or PDF format at 266 dpi, at the appropriate size (above).
DEPARTMENTS 8 Dharma Corner
32 Yoga
10 Book Review
36 Sun & Moon
11 Music Review
36 Rain Gauge
20 The Doctor is in
37 Shape Up
30 September Forecasts
38 Tide Tables
31 Word Puzzle
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 Facebook: the howler magazine
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Cover Caption: orchid Maxillaria angustisegmenta Cover Photo: Reserve Biologico Bosque de Paz, info@bosquedepaz.com, Tel: 2234-6676 Cover Design: David Mills
Día de la Independencía - Sept. 15
When you see that Google Earth knows the names of all the streets in Tamarindo, wouldn’t it be nice if we did too? Come on, ADI and CCTT, let’s have some professional street signs, and get rid of the clutter of crappy signage around town. •
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As mentioned in The Howler last month, the Ministry of Transport is doing a vehicle count on the road to Langosta. What an idiot idea, as this is the slowest month of the year. If the road is built to specifications based on July figures it will be a poor example of what the real road should be. •
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Who is cutting down, or burning with herbicide, the sea oats and beach morning glories on Tamarindo Beach near Witch’s Rock? A huge swathe has been recently destroyed. These plants are not just beautiful; they help stabilize the beach. •
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Surf’s up! An extreme tide is expected on September 29, the result of several factors which affect the moon and tides: spring tides, linked to new and full moon when solar and lunar tides are aligned; the sun’s tidal influence, perigean spring tides; the plane of the moon’s orbit. These are closely synchronized on September 28, resulting in an extreme tide the following day. •
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British Airways announces new flights from London Heathrow to San José, Wednesdays and Saturdays, starting May 4, 2016. •
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Isn’t it time the police enforced the “no horses on the beach” rule. Recently horses were galloping along Tamarindo Beach at sunset – a severe risk to others enjoying the beach. To say nothing of the vast amounts of crap they leave. •
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The longest airline flight in the world, at 13,800km and 17.5 hours, will link Panama City and Dubai.
El camino hacia la riqueza depende fundamentalmente de dos palabras: trabajo y ahorro” Benjamín Franklin
pLEGO Kids club is a Play and Go Center for kids to enjoy playing with over 10,000 LEGO DUPLO bricks and characters.
pLEGO Kids Club
Drop your kids off for up to 2 hours while you enjoy some adult time. Déjà los niños hasta 2 horas mientras tu disfrutas algo de tiempo para ti
OPEN Mon - Fri 9am - 4pm / Sat 9am - 2pm
Mention you saw us in the Howler and get an extra 30 minutes FREE when you buy an hour. Localizanos a la par de la Farmacia El Cruce in Huacas Find us next door to the Farmacia El Cruce in Huacas
Fb:plegokidsclub
Dharma Corner
Sue Smith
Right Diligence aka Good Intentions
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id you ever reply to your parents with the phrase “but, I meant to ...” only to be told “Yes, well the road to hell is paved with good intentions”? Well, maybe not.
According to the Noble Eightfold Path taught by the Buddha as the philosophy for eliminating life’s suffering Right Diligence (aka good intention) is right up there with Right Thinking, Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood. It’s not just what you do or say but what your intention is when you say something or do something...even if it looks good on the outside. An example of a mixed intention might be volunteering for a charity event. Looks good on the outside but what was the intention behind the action...self-recognition, a chance to socialize with friends? Or, was the intention simply an act of kindness toward others? In practicing Right Diligence we become mindful of the underlying intention of all our words and deeds. This isn’t always easy to do. It truly takes being in the present moment and being aware of our thoughts. It means that we must always be diligent, monitoring our motivations. This sounds easier than it is. We might tell ourselves that we meant well by something we said or did, but if we take a moment to look deeply at our thoughts and feelings we might find that our deepest intention is less noble than what we initially led ourselves to believe. It is the taking of time to look deeply and know ourselves that leads to the rooting out of long-held suffering. The more we become aware of all our thoughts and actions and their underlying intention the more we get to know our true self. Only then can we release old beliefs, feelings and pain that might be driving our lives. It is when we can release intentions driven by selfishness, greed, anger and jealousy that we can truly enjoy words and deeds driven by love, compassion and kindness. So, Right Diligence is the precursor of Good Intentions. And, therefore I would submit to you that good intentions are actually the road to joyfulness rather the road to hell as the old saying suggested. Pura Vida Sangha is a Sangha in the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Meditation meetings are held on each Monday at 4:00. Call 8829-1196 or e-mail meditationcostarica@ gmail.com for directions.
Another Italian restaurant this month – there are so many new ones opening. This time it is Cabana Blanca, and they are serving good authentic Italian food. The owners are Michele Antonucci and Marika Anzalone, from Torino. With their four children they run the restaurant, a real family affair. They serve food in the style of Sicily and Piedmont, two regions far apart, so a good variety. And a touch of Costa Rican. They have been in Costa Rica a couple of months, so that is new to them too. Chefs are Marco and Marika. From the antipasti menu – tempura di verdure; suppli; shrimp cocktail; stuffed eggplant; meat and cheese. We chose the coccoli, a plate of meats and cheeses, and a calamari fritti. Salads: there are mixed; tuna; Caesar; salmon; caprese; shrimp. Bruschettas: tomato; tomato & cheese; tuna and onion; Toscana. Pastas: all’ Alfredo; alla Bolognese; alla carbonara; lasagna. I had the penne all’ Amatriciana, delicious with lots of bacon. And risotti: alla Milanese; with seafood; shrimps and mushrooms. Fish: fried calamari with shrimp; grilled fish; baked fish. Meats: grilled chicken breast; grilled tenderloin; chicken or beef a la Milanese; escalopes in vino. There is limited fast food, consisting of hot dogs and burgers; and for the Tico palate there is casado; and a huge pizza menu. Postres: tiramisú; crepes with nutella; fruit salad; ice cream. We shared a coccoli, crunchy pastry with cream and chocolate. Great dining in a nice atmosphere. They have all kinds of specials here: Tuesday-Friday – all you can eat pizza for $10; Wednesday pasta special; Saturday–kids under 12 eat free; Sunday–girls’ night out – 50% off; Happy Hour every night 5 to 7–free bocas with beer; beer with bruschetta $1,500. Cabana Blanca – around corner from Alfaro Bus office. Tel: 7208-7310; e-mail: miki.antonucci64@gmail.com. Visa and Mastercard accepted.
On the deck outside Aqua Disco
Review
Tony Orez
Café Tico thrives in Tamarindo
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henever I travel I look for places that are frequented by the local gentry. I think a lot of people do this; it is a public stamp of approval and most travelers want to dance where the locals dance, dine where the locals dine. And when in Costa Rica, to enjoy a local coffee with the townies. In Tamarindo, a traveler need look no further than Cafe Tico in Edificio Las Olas at the beginning of the road to Langosta and just across the street from Pacific Park. The cafe was opened three years ago but changed hands in July of 2014 when the Lavadini moved here from Milano, Italy, to take over the cafe and bring their family touch to the business. Barbara arrived last year with her eldest son, Ricardo to launch their new enterprise. They were joined shortly thereafter by Ricardo’s siblings, Martina and Eduardo. Barbara is definitely the matron, always pleasant and always busy managing the outside tables under their sprawling awning and the inside counter. Ricardo manages the kitchen but makes frequent appearances as he is definitely a social being. The cafe opens for breakfast at 7:00 a.m. every day of the week except for Sunday, when it opens at 8:00 a.m. I suggest getting there early as the place fills up quickly. Whether you are traveling or living here, this is the place to catch up on local news as the cafe literally bustles all morning. One look at the breakfast menu explains why this is so. It varies from a variety of breakfast sandwiches, burritos and croissants, yogurts, toasts with marmalade, eggs any style, granola, mixed fruits as well as the typical gallo pinto breakfast. The lunch menu includes sandwiches and wraps of smoked tuna, chicken, beef or ham and cheese, along with empanadas and an incredible house salad. The pastries deserve an article unto themselves, with a wide variety of gluten-free items. And the coffees are incredible. Besides classico, Cafe Tico offers esspresso, capuchino, lattes and mochas along with iced coffees and teas. Inside the shop there is a nice array of locally grown coffees to take home, packaged in a variety of sizes. I asked Ricardo what his impressions were of Tamarindo after a year of living and doing business here. He told me that it has been a “great experience” so far and that he enjoys the “friendly community of the business people around the cafe”. He loves the international community here, the multi-cultural scheme of things. Ricardo said he is delighted that his family has become tri-lingual, speaking Spanish and English now along with their native Italian. He also told me that he has appreciated the typical meals here as well as the proximity to the beach and the sea. He also noted that “the sun is just as hot as a year ago...”. In my estimation, it is the ambiance and the Lavadini family that make Cafe Tico the special place that it has become. Just ask any local.
Book Review
Tony Orez
The Paris Wife Ernest Hemingway’s fiction speaks volumes about the author. There is no mistaking the Hemingway persona and bravado in the main characters (usually named Nick Adams) of every one of his novels. And countless biographies have been penned about Papa in an attempt to analyze the man, the myth, the machismo. I’ve just finished “The Paris Wife”, an historical fiction by American author Paula McClain. The title refers to Hadley Richardson, Ernest’s first wife. The story is told from Hadley’s point of view, in her voice, which is a unique approach. Hadley Richardson, nine years older than Hemingway, meets the young writer in Chicago in 1920. Within a year, they were wed and departed for Paris and points beyond, including Switzerland, Spain and Italy. McClain does a splendid job painting the landscape of the Lost Generation, including luminaries such as Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound and even Alice B. Toklas. The authoress uses dialogue between these Jazz Age giants to display their personalities and the dynamics of the relationships between each. I learned a lot in reading this novel, too. I did not know that Gertrude Stein had such an influence, was such a major mentor to Hemingway or that he wrote his memoir “A Moveable Feast” for Hadley. It was actually the last book he wrote. I did know that Hemingway had dedicated “The Sun Also Rises” to her. McClain’s descriptions of the bullfight culture and Hemingway’s fascination with it is quite vivid. McClain also wrote two chapters from Ernest’s point of view and I think this unique glitch helped served as a kind of counterbalance for the predominant female voice throughout the rest of the novel. Equally perplexing is Hemingway’s desire to be acknowledged while at the same time refusing any kind of literary help. I think it is also healthy to be reminded that our heroes are human beings, too; that much of Hemingway’s bravado was based on his insecurities and that, as McClain has Hadley state toward the end of the novel, “He was such an enigma - fine and strong and weak and cruel. An incomparable friend and a son of a bitch. In the end, there wasn’t one thing about him that was truer than the rest. It was all true”. It is interesting to note that both Ernest’s and Hadley’s fathers both took their own lives and that Hemingway eventually would, too. But this novel does not deal with the older Hemingway, just the young buck reporter and aspiring novelist trying to make a name for himself in the midst of the impetus of his legendary drinking. I thoroughly enjoyed the “The Paris Wife”, which is Paula McClain’s second novel. She has also written a memoir titled “Like Family”, which I look forward to reading, along with her first novel, “Ticket to Ride”.
August Odysseys
Robert August
Dirty Dick’s Many years ago I was traveling the East Coast with boards and shirts to sell to surf shops. It was March and I figured springtime was good for the shops as they would be preparing to get their Summer stock. But, spring had not yet sprung in the Outer Banks in North Carolina. It was still cold there, no tourists and even most of the surf shops had not opened yet. But I was there with my van and here happened to be one restaurant open. It was called Dirty Dick’s Seafood, and I thought, “Whatever, I am hungry.” I was the only one at the restaurant. I sit down and my waiter was a surfer and he recognized me. He said, “Wow, what are you doing here?” I told him the story that I was selling my boards and since it was spring time that it would be a good time for stores to start stocking up. The kid then asked me if I minded if he he called the owner of the restaurant as he was a surfer and he wanted him to meet me. I said, “Sure, why not!” So this guy shows up, really nice and we started chatting. I asked him, “How can you be open? You have a full staff and nobody is here.” He then asked me, “Tell me what you first did when you walked in?” I replied, “Well, I went into the shop and bought a couple of t-shirts.” He said, “Of course you bought a t-shirt!” Well, this t-shirt just happened to say “I got the crabs at Dirty Dick’s!” The owner said, “I sell enough t shirts to stay open all year round. You have to buy one! I sell t shirts all day long.” I ended up buying two! My last trip there this past Memorial Day weekend I had to stop by and see if Dirty Dick’s was still open, and sure enough it was still there. I bought another couple of shirts and gave one to Lee at Dona Lee’s! She just cracked up laughing.
Together again: Mike Hynson, Robert August, Bruce Brown, Paul Strauch, Pat McGee at Endless Summer’s 50th Anniversary Party in Port Aransas, TX.
A new official ball, the Turdus de Voit, will be used in all games this season. Voit is a company long associated with football. The Sele has a new manager, Oscar Ramírez. The Sele plays the following friendlies: Sept 5 – New Jersey - Costa Rica v Brasil Sept 8 – Estadio Nacional – Costa Rica v Uruguay. The elimination games for Russia 2018 start in November, 2015. November 13 - Costa Rica plays Haiti or Granada. November 17 - Costa Rica plays Panama March 25, 2016 - Costa Rica plays Jamaica or Nicaragua. More information coming soon.
Prize Winner
wins trip to Costa Rica
A photo by Anuar Patjane Floriuk of Mexico, Called the “Whale Whisperer”, has won the 2015 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest grand prize after beating over 17,000 entries. He wins an eight-day trip to Costa Rica.
AROUND TOWN Opening hours for MegaSuper are: Monday - Saturday 7am to 9pm; Sunday 7am to 8pm. See page 27. Tired of the same old Pilsen and Imperial beers. Add some excitement to your life with Lost Coast Beers - Brown, or Amber, or IPA, or Winterbraun. See article on page 27. Great Italian food at Cabana Blanca, and bocas, too. With each beer you get french fries and bruschetta. See review page 8. For assistence in all matters of mental health and psychotherapy, contact Dra Sonia Solis, psychologist. English spoken. See ad page 13. Your paint job made easy. Rafa will do murals and all painting. Call Rafa at 8361-3912 or 8872-9072, page 28. In Playa Potrero visit Extreme Change Beauty Salon with full salon service, on the second floor of Commercial Centre Pacifico. See page 29. Dr. Diego Herrera, the doctor’s office, has his clinic in front of Plaza Conchal, in Farmacia Conchal. See ad page 37. Casa Brasilito is an organization offering education and social programming to the community. They need your clothes, toys and housewares to raise money for their social efforts. See ad page 16. Big Screen will publicize your business on their screen in the centre of Tamarindo, 24 hours per day. See ad page 18. In Huacas next to Farmacia el Cruce is Floristería Ocasiones, for your event and decorations. Natural flower arrangement for every occasion. See ad page 7.
El éxito no es la clave de la felicidad. La felicidad es la clave del éxito. Si te gusta lo que estás haciendo, tendrás éxito” Albert Schweitzer
Surf Report
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Ellen Zoe Golden ellenzoe@aol.com
his is the time of year when Costa Rica’s two national surf circuits wrap up their contests and determine this country’s national champions.
In August, the Finals of the Circuito Nacional Masters, SUP and Longboard of surfing took place at Manuel Antonio’s Playitas. The one-day event cemented the championship titles for the Masters (over 35 years), Masters Women (over 35 years), Grand Masters (over 40 years), Kahuna (over 45 years), Grand Kahuna (over 50 years), Longboard, SUP (Standup Paddle) Surfing, SUP Men’s 9K Race and SUP Women’s 9K Race. Winners were calculated with the best four dates out of the five this year. However it was the bravery of 14-year-old Valeria Salustri who fought severe weather elements and treacherous wave conditions to complete the SUP 9K race and earn a spot on the podium for the event and the one that caused the most attention. As the afternoon came to a close, the seven men and women participating in the SUP 9K Race entered the water, already swollen with waves from the tail end of a swell. They were to paddle out to the island, pass around the back, return to the beach, run a short distance, then grab their boards and repeat it all again. Yet, with the first go-around the island, the wind came up, churning up the water and blowing hard against the competitors merely trying to paddle and stay aloft on their boards. “The first time I went around the rock I noticed the wind picking up and the cross currents because the tide was going in,” said Herrera, who won the event even though Geovanni Espinosa’s 2nd place finish was enough to boost him to win the national championship in this category. “The next time around, it was so choppy I kept falling off my board.” After all the men had finished, it was the end by the women that caused the most apprehension on the beach. Visibility dropped to virtually zero when torrential rain fell just after Edith Garcia made it to the finish line on the beach. She won the national title. Yet, after a half hour in the storm, there was no sign of Daniela Wooster or Valeria Salustri so a Coast Guard boat was dispatched to search for them. It picked up Wooster and she arrived on the beach shortly after, wearing a life jacket and barely able to walk unaided. But with still no sight of Salustri, panic set in on the beach as the crowd—including her mother, sponsor, trainer, media and contest officials—grew concerned. When the rain subsided a bit, a tiny figure finally appeared on the horizon next to the boat, but she ignored rescue. “At one point, I couldn’t see anything in the rain but the lights on the boat, so I just paddled toward that,” Salustri recalled. “But, when they asked me to get in the boat, I told them not to touch me because I didn’t want to be disqualified. I just kept singing to myself and trying not to think about how much my neck and arms hurt.” With her Coast Guard escort, Salustri was applauded when she finally did reach the beach (and still did the little dash to the now washed away finish line). Wooster was disqualified, and Salustri came in 2nd place as well as Costa Rica’s subchampion of SUP Women’s 9k Race in her first year of competition.
Earlier in the day, there was much less drama in the other heats of the Circuito Nacional Masters, SUP and Longboard. Randall Chavas, President of the Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica (FSC) explained that the heats here were leisurely 20-minutes long, whereby the CNS heats were a more breakneck 15-minutes each. And the atmosphere at this event is more convivial. Still in its infancy with only a spattering of spectators and the allimportant sponsors, Chaves takes on multiple tasks— announcer, calculator of scores, beach marshal and even put up the sponsor flags, tents and equipment. According to Chaves, it’s a natural evolution for a surfer to grow up in the CNS, with the option to move from MiniGrommets to Grommets to Boys to Juniors to Open and then switch over to Masters to keep the fire going. “The formula is a cycle of life,” he said. “These are all competitors and it’s very positive. The Federación looks for ways to equal the road of the ISA (International Surf Association); right now the ISA has World Championships for Masters, Longboard and SUP. And SUP is really picking up in Costa Rica, and I think as we get more creative with the races, we will get more competitors.” “It takes time; we need to be patient,” added Chaves. The Costa Ricans have not yet competed in the International Surf Association (ISA) SUP World Championships, but next year they will if Chaves has his way. Alvaro Solano of Jacó, who did not compete in Manuel Antonio, already had enough points to win the national Masters championship. “Alvaro has an agenda to surf and represent Costa Rica as a Master. He is a leader,” Chaves explained. Andrea Díaz from Tamarindo also opted out of this date with her previous wins also locking in a national Women’s Masters championship. “Being a national champ at my age is pretty cool,” Díaz explained. “It has made me stay focused and work hard for a goal. You need to change your mind set, and believe it is possible to win, because it is true. After a certain age your body does not recuperate as easily as when you were younger, so I’m super stoked the Master division is a reality because dreams still happen at 40.” Both Solano and Diaz already hold Costa Rica titles, as the former won the national championship in Open two times, and the latter claimed a national Women’s crown even before the Federación de Surf de Costa Rica (FSC) was formed. Giving lifelong competitors such as these two an arena to further challenge themselves is one of the reasons the Federación instituted the Masters category in 2008 as part of the main Circuito Nacional de Surf (CNS). Frequent Costa Rican international medalist Craig “Tequila” Schieber, a 54-year-old from Puerto Viejo, was in Manuel Antonio to pick up another national trophy, this year for Kahuna. He had mixed feelings
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Water - “Guanacaste is Hopeless” “There is no hope of salvation for Guanacaste” Minister of Agriculture - July 29.
Water Desalination I wonder when the entrepreneurs are going to look into desalination as a solution to decreasing water supply. When you realize that such plants are big enough to supply water to large cities, or units small enough to supply a submarine, they must be available for small towns, or even hotels. The technology is not new, and it needs two components to make it work – salt water and electric power (or solar power) – both of which we have in large quantities. Come on, you geniuses, let’s get it done.
Howler - February 2015. For the Chinese company Tecc, the solution to Guanacaste’s water problem is that we should be able to drink sea water. The company proposes the installation of desalination plants, which can convert more than 95% of liquid. The manager of the company, Hugo Berrocal, insists that the whole of Guanacaste’s potable water requirements can be met with 20-25 plants. The cost of each of the plants would be between one and 2.5 million dollars, depending on the size of the equipment. Units to desalinate 50 cubic meters up to 1,000m3 work with electricity, and operate in harmony with the environment. “The total cost for Guanacaste would be around $30 millions, of which the Republic of China would donate $24 millions. The project would completely solve the problem of drinking water for all of Guanacaste”, said Berrocal. The plants described by Berrocal are ready for shipment, and the time from being imported to the commencement of operation of the first units would be about three months, so the results could be felt in a short time. China has much experience in the desalinization of water, such that a large part of the population relies on it. Each plant would be designed for its environment. Where the area is contaminated by development special filters and other technologies would be used to make the water drinkable. Along with the assistance of Chinese experts in the installation of the plants would be the availability of training of Costa Ricans in the operation and maintenance.
“Los hombres construimos demasiados muros y no suficientes puentes” Isaac Newton
Pet Care
Reducing Street Dogs and Cats Dr. Herbert Weinman, MD, MBA thedoctorisinsharkfm@gmail.com
Managing Stress
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ot all stressful events are negative. Some, such as holidays, vacation, and retirement can be desirable, and life would be dull without them. When stress becomes “distress” intervention is necessary. The actual situation itself is far less important than how one copes with it. What might rate as a major life tragedy for one individual would scarcely create a blip in the continuum of another person’s daily activities. Who are these emotionally hearty? They are described as those with a sense of purpose about their work and lives, who exercise their sense of humor, who see challenges when others see threats, and to feel in control. Another way of characterizing individual differences is by using the type A and type B personality comparisons. Type A individuals are those who try to accomplish too many things in a short time and become agitated by everyday hassles. Conversely, type B individuals are characterized by a “roll with the flow” personality. Management of stress is a basic life skill which can be learned and honed to perfection. Still, many stressful situations can simply be avoided or the circumstances which bring them about changed. It is astonishing how many people are bothered almost daily by situations but do nothing to change them. Once one establishes priorities, decide what is important and spend time and energies accordingly. Leave some personal time to pursue pleasurable activities. For some people this may mean a long walk alone, for others it may mean uninterrupted talking with family or friends. Vacations are also a must. Exercise helps to reduce anxiety as well as serving as an outlet for stress. Take care of your sexual self as well. Friendships are important prescription again stress - value them. Try self-relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and muscle relaxing exercises and meditation. Biofeedback can also be used to teach people to relax. In this technique, sensors are attached to the body so that skin temperature, electrical conductance and muscle contraction can be monitored. If the subject is uptight, the feedback will show increased physical tension. Tranquilizers should be avoided or used only as a shortterm solution. It is a change in lifestyle that is needed to avoid the harmful effects of stress. Remember, is not so much the nature of the stressful situation itself, as it is a reaction to that situation. Most things cannot really bother us unless we allow them to. Realize that upsets which creates stress and anxiety are brought about by yourself - you and you alone are responsible for what you allowed to annoy you. Nobody can do anything to upset you if you don’t allow it!
All countries around the world have a problem in common, unwanted stray cats and dogs. Many countries have learned to deal with this in a humane and caring way, many offering low-cost spay/neuter hence curbing the number of births of puppies and kittens. Unfortunately this is a problem that does not go away easily or quickly. It takes effort, people participation, money and the support of local caring vets Costa Rica is arriving at a time in its history where it is being considered by the rest of the world as a progressive and educated country. It now considers itself an example to the rest of the Americas. It is now time for Costa Rica to address and deal with the overpopulation of its voiceless citizens. As in many developing countries it is often the tourists’ outrage of seeing too many sad sights that triggers action. This was very true of Spain, Italy and Portugal during their early years of mass tourism. Often it takes a foreigner living in a new country to raise the banner in defense of animals - it rarely begins from within the host country. There are of course many people trying to help but without government or local support often it makes little difference. The goal of Pet Care has always been the 70% solution. This means aggressive ongoing regular spay/neuter clinics. Not two a year but every 3-4 weeks. PCP has organized over 12.700 clinics which has made a huge difference. Eleven villages in our area are near ‘clean’ - rare to see a street dog scavenging for food. Pet Care’s passion has always been the poor and the very poor. The people have no money and no transportation, which makes it necessary for us to go to them as they cannot come to us. Our clinics are somewhat ‘primitive’ but they work. All the critters are returned with post-op medicines for their needs, plus my cell number in case there is a post-op complication. With some effort, dedication and sponsors plus people willing to work hands on with our local villages our area is ‘do-able’. There are now seven local vets - none willing to do pro-bono work, none willing to organize a spay, neuter clinic. This is a sad situation. How to change it ... Dawn Scott
¿Qué es un envidioso? Un ingrato que detesta la luz que le alumbra y le calienta” Víctor Hugo
Your Rainy Season Footprint
D
uring the rainy season in Costa Rica, you might suppose that a water footprint has something to do stepping in rain puddles. But a water footprint is a measure of the amount of water you use directly or indirectly. Direct water use is obvious—it’s what you use to wash, cook, drink, and flush. The trouble is that there is hidden water in everything you do, buy, or eat. This hidden, or virtual, water is the water embedded in a product or commodity or service. It is not present when you use it, but without the hidden water, you wouldn’t have that product. Examples make this easy to realize and understand. To produce a kilogram of grain (2.2 lbs.) takes about 1,500 kilos of water—approximately 1.5 cubic meters. Other eye-opening numbers of the hidden water costs of everyday things: A tomato 13 liters, slice of bread 40 liters; an egg 135 liters; cup of coffee 140 liters; a glass of apple juice 190 liters; glass of milk 200 liters; A hamburger 2,400 liters. The virtual water idea was introduced in 1993 to help people understand how much water is required to produce goods and services. Most of our embedded water is in food, but other everyday items also have invisible impacts on fresh water. For example a pair of blue jeans requires 10,850 liters of water to make. A passenger car has 400,000 liters of water embedded in it, and your house may have six million liters of water used in its construction. This is knowledge that will drive you crazy if you think about it obsessively. Its more immediate use is in planning and international trade. The water footprint of agricultural products differs according to the climate and environment of a particular country. A country’s water footprint is computed by a complex formula that is of no direct practical use to the average person. What can you and I do about these hidden water costs? In direct action, you can conserve the real water from the tap that you use. You can eat wisely and maybe pause and think before buying those juicy cuts of beef in the butcher’s cold case. You certainly won’t be able to look with a gentle bucolic gaze at a cow again. The best thing to do is the simple task of planting trees. But get serious about it. I am not talking about planting a couple of pencil-thin seedlings every rainy season. Do it right. Set a goal of a tree a day. It’s not hard, especially now. Get a sharp machete and take a walk. Lop off 10 branches of some healthy trees on your land. That’s ten days’ worth of planting in 20 minutes. Trim off the leaves and stick the branches deep into the soil around your house and property. You don’t need a grassy lawn. You don’t live in a suburb in Dallas, you live in the tropics! If you were to plant 365 trees a year, after losses you’ll end up with maybe 35 trees. Suppose the four million people in Costa Rica did that. That’s a lot of trees available to restore watersheds, prevent erosion and run off, and clean and recycle water. Stephen Duplantier
Selected Poems from “Tell me about the Telaraña” by Diana Renee
• Security Committee: The CST continues raising money for hiring a private security company for Tamarindo. If you are interest please, send us an email to aditamarindo@gmail.com • Lifeguards Committee: From March to July the lifeguards rescued and attended 75 people. That means 15 people per month, 1 every 2 days. Thanks to Witch’s Rock Surf Camp, Patagonia, Hotel Tamarindo Diria, Sharky’s and all the companies and people that help this program. Anyone interested in helping can visit tamarindolifeguards.com and contribute with this useful Program. • Sports Committee: Oneida Park: On August 6, Iglesia Casa Vida Tamarindo organized a wonderful skate contest where kids and teenagers showed their best skate skills at Oneida Park. The event finished with a movie projection. • Maintenance and Cleaning Committee: The last week of July 3 trash cans for three types of waste. They are placed in front of Vaquero. ADI’s usual recycling program will take place the first Tuesday of the month, Tuesday September 1 from 9 am to 12 noon, in front of the National Bank of Costa Rica. We receive all types of recyclable material (cardboard, paper, aluminum, glass, etc.) clean, dry and separated. • Events: We thank all the community for supporting the community at our party at Pangas on July 31. We appreciate your participation. Thanks Bernard Agosta from Tamarindolife for his pictures and good vibes. Thanks also to all the volunteers who joined us in the organization: Laura Sibley and Anahí Contreras. Also those who were with us in ticket sales and raffles: Lidia Pirronello, Andrea Castro, Simona Daniele and her daughters. Thanks to the DJs and musicians that donated their time and beautiful music: DJ Steven, DJ Orias, Avelino, Tony and Glass Eye. Thanks to all the staff of Pangas Beach Club: Elizabeth Cole, Luz Ramirez, Fanny Hurtado and their waiters. Thanks to Shannon Russell for the delicious cake with our logo. And thanks again to all the companies and professionals that donated raffle prizes. • Tamarindo Farmers Market & Feria and Lifeguard Market. Hope to see you every Saturday from 8am to 1pm at the Alfaro, next to El Pescador. We also thank Witch’s Rock Surf Camp for organizing the Lifeguard Market at Vaquero every Sunday. To continue working on these and other projects for our community, ADI needs your contribution and / or donation. Please contact us at email: aditamarindo@gmail.com or call tel. 8319-4015. Follow our progress: www.facebook.com/AsociacionDeDesarrolloIntegralPlayaTamarindo Instagram: @aditamarindo www.playatamarindo.org
everything is quiet at the birth of night. the buzzing things in trees have hushed, and in the houses, women are collecting kindling. day birds are folding up for sleep and night birds are awakening. the sun is most silent of all sunken behind the trees leaving only a luminescence in the bellies of clouds. the night is medicinal, born of the heat of the sun and the laughter of stars. it is honey and aloe and milk on our skin, in our eyes, for our blood. despedida traigo la navaja para que me sangren no lucharé dejaré la mitad de mi sangre aquí en la puerta me iré tropezándome, mariada inconsciente como el día en que llegué i wake again from the bad dream outside the window are the bare black winter bones of maple trees the bed is warm and full in the cold room you are safe here and a little fat the dream fades like a long summer nightmare i slip back into sleep holding you tight in this beautiful black winter “Tell Me About the Telaraña” is available at Jaime Peligro’s Bookstore in Tamarindo.
Surf Report (from page 15) about being separated from the young kids on the primary Circuit, but is grateful for the competitive opportunities that being in the Masters tournament has afforded him. “I got to go to the World Championships as an older surfer because of these Masters categories. I know lots of great surfers not with us anymore, but at the Mundial I see people I know and have heard about. Good fellows, whom I give tons of respect. I am on my best behavior. Hope I compete with integrity. “ “When we were together at the other Circuito, the whole gang was in one place,” he continued. “Now the whole thing is super mature.” Another graduate of the CNS is Anthony Flores, who likened the Manuel Antonio waves to those on his home break in Jacó. Originally a shortboarder, he moved to longboard at an independent contest where organizers asked the shortboarders to longboard and vice-versa. Flores found he loved the log, and from there went on to win five Central American Longboard championships. The win in Manuel Antonio makes five Costa Rica Longboard titles. “I enjoy doing a lot of different things on a longboard rather than a shortboard,” Flores said. “I can go classic, noseride, go slow, do big turns and when I need to be I can be radical. I do crazy airs on my longboard. I mix it.” Now he sets his sights on ALAS. His goal, of course, is to be the Latin American champion, and from there he’ll take on the world. “My big goal is to be on the professional longboard circuit and be champion of the world.” Other winners claiming national titles this year at the Circuito Nacional Masters, SUP and Longboard include Erly Farrier, Grand Master; Roberto Miranda, Grand Kahuna; and Erick Antoson, SUP Surfing. By now you have certainly heard that Jason Torres (Jacó, photo below) became the national surf champion in the Open of the Circuito Nacional de Surf kolbi after a nail biter in Hermosa last July. At the Reef Gran Finals, Torres surfed extremely well until he fell out at the semifinals. What remained was to wait and see what happened with the Open finals which included Carlos and brother Alberto Muñoz of Esterillos, Jair Perez of Jacó and Isaac Vega. In the end, Carlos placed 1st, Jair came in 2nd, Alberto 3rd and Isaac 4th.
(continued page 33)
Henry, 15-year-old, a model Once a week, Henry and his friends organise a soccer training for the children of their community. Beyond the sport, it is a way to bring the most fragiles back on the right way. An encounter with Casa Brasilito By Christophe Dubois “I want to offer an alternative to the children of my community, an alternative to wandering and bad choices.” This commitment is not part of a politician’s nor a social worker’s speech. These are the words of Henry Ríos, a 15-year-old teenager. Sitting on the sideline of the soccer field in Brasilito, he tells us about the problems of his dreams and his neighbourhood, a popular area in the Costa Rican province of Guanacaste. When you have been born here like Henry, the way seems to have been drawn already. Just as this unpaved earth road that goes through town. Bumpy. The local children belong for the most part to one or two Costa Ricans who will never occupy superior school benches, or to the 41% of the 15- to 24-year-old victims of social-economic exclusion. Henry, for his part, will probably disprove those statistics. He is a rather good 8th grade student at private La Paz highschool in Flamingo, and, being so, he already surpasses his parents’ scholar level, a housewife and a father who is employee at a hotel, for whom “the possibility for children to go to school is very important.” Never would Henry’s parents have been able to pay him the inscription at La Paz; US $7,000 per year, that is unthinkable. But junior got a scholarship. “At La Paz it is more difficult, but also more interesting and there are many projects”, Henry explains. “Before, I was at public school. But I only had classes for five half-days, and there were a great deal of distractions.” Indeed, due to an earthquake in 2012, the public school in Brasilito has moved to the village hall, a unique big hall in which all the classes take place. A world (and some social classes) away from the nice infrastructure of La Paz, its expatriates’ kids and project-based pedagogy. As anywhere else, social inequalities are generated as of school. Beyond his school merits, Henry is a high-performance surfer. And he actually fits in the typical image that we have from him, with his 1.80 m height, his pretty face and his large shoulders. “I would like to become a professional surfer”, he says. Obviously, when you live just a stone’s throw away from the world’s most beautiful spots and you are daily swayed by the sound of the waves. But he has a plan B: “If it does not work, I could imagine myself being an engineer or an architect.”
(continued page 28)
A Slice of Life Flying Fish David Mills
T
he village of Colington lies just over the bridge on Albemarle Sound, beyond First Flight Airport and a lifetime from the busy beaches of North Carolina’s Outer Banks just a mile away. Although some upscale development is taking place there, it is way behind the frantic pace of the oceanside towns, with their four-lane highway, traffic lights, movie theaters and malls. Mostly, it is a fishing village, where the boats still come into the docks and unload their catch from the ocean, as there are no docking facilities on the ocean side. The Blue Crab Lounge is a small shack, a typical roadside bar selling Budweiser and Coors. No glitzy chrome bar here, no microbrew, and no tourists either. Its clientele is strictly blue-collar, and the bar, empty all afternoon, fills up with the regulars around five when work finishes. The back door of the bar leads out to a rough wooden deck in the marshland at the edge of the Sound. From the deck you can watch the crabs scuttling in the shallow muddy water, the mallards with, always, a brood of ducklings in tow, jumping mullet breaking the surface of the still water, egrets and herons standing motionless, waiting for the next meal to swim past their stilt-like legs. And, overhead, hunt the ospreys.
Farmer’s Markets Wednesday - La Paz school, Flamingo, 3 to 5pm Thursday - Playa Potrero, salon comunal from 10am to 3pm Saturdays - Tamarindo at Parqueo Alfaro, 8am to 1pm Sundays - Witch’s Rock, Lifeguard Tamarindo, 9am to 2pm Sundays - 1st and 3rd Sunday each month - Playa Brasilito, Skate park, 9:30 - 2:00
Once an endangered species hereabouts, the osprey population has grown well in recent years, thanks to an aggressive protection program and the many nesting platforms which have been erected in the Sound. At any moment, you can see four or five cruising over the water within a quarter of a mile or so. Suddenly, a bird will stop its meandering, hover for a few seconds to make sure of its prey, then start its long, swooping dive, talons extended. Most times, the osprey hits the water with what must be a painful, splashy jerk, and flaps away with empty claws. Sometimes, though, he will get lucky, and struggle to climb with a fat mullet clutched lengthways in his talons. I’ve always thought ospreys to be over-ambitious, or to suffer from bad design engineering, because so many times they will take a fish far heavier than they can handle. Flapping their large black-and-white wings desperately, they struggle for altitude, making wide circles in which they gain just a few feet each time around. I wonder why they don’t select a smaller fish, one which they can be sure to carry home to the waiting wife and family. Surely, the energy they burn carrying a large fish negates the calorific value of the fish? But, as I said before, the population is on the rise, so the design must work. One sunny evening, arriving at the Blue Crab, we climbed out of the car in time to see an overloaded osprey climbing sluggishly from the lagoon. It just cleared the roof of the lounge, but the loblolly pines across the road were much higher, and it hadn’t the room to circle. Reluctantly, but inevitably, it dropped its cargo and soared upwards over the pines. The hapless mullet, now a flying fish, dropped in an arc to land heavily on the wooden porch of a house across the street, then skittered across the porch to clatter against the aluminum screen door. We watched, fascinated, as a woman came out of the door. She looked right; she looked left, bewilderment on her face. Then she looked down and stood motionless, staring at the large fish flapping on the floor. My friend suggested “We should go over and explain what happened.” “Let’s not,” I said. We turned and entered the bar.
Beer Whole New Set of Flavours F
or many years the favourite beers in Costa Rica have been Imperial and Pilsen, and lately a couple of watered-down light variants. The standard lagers have been sufficient to satisfy the common demand and are excellent thirst-quenchers on a hot day, but have no taste worth talking of. Of recent years a few microbrews have started to make inroads into the industry – Craft beers in both draught and bottle, Volcano Brewing here in Tamarindo – and now a new line of bottled and draught beers is being imported from the United States. This line is called Lost Coast Brewery, and it is selling well across the whole of Costa Rica, due to the fact that the beer is tasty. It tastes of malt, hops and yeast, in the style of European beers, and there are a couple of exotic flavours, too, such as a wheat beer with tangerine. They pour a good head, and it persists throughout.
Odd names, too. There are Great White, a wheat beer; Alleycat Ambar, full-flavoured amber ale; Indica India Pale Ale, full-bodied and very hoppy, with a 6.5% alcohol; Downtown Brown, a full-bodied brown ale in the British style; Winterbraun, a seasonal full-bodied brown ale with chocolate, which will melt your teeth at 8%; Eight-ball Stout, heavily hopped and roasted malt, at 5.9%; and even a range of apple ciders called Woodchuck. These are brewed in a variety of locations Florida, California, Yakima, WA (home of the world’s best hops). To the lager drinker, these are an acquired taste – in fact, they do have taste, all different. The price in local bars may be a little higher than the normal, but when you have had one, you know it. You don’t just drink it – you chew it. Try the Lost Coast, available at many local bars. If your local doesn’t have it, ask them to get it. It is also available on draught. Contact McCullers Distribuidores, tel: 8305-1919; 7012-1655; 47001059.
Every Thursday at 4pm, however, the teenager swaps his surf board and books for a ball. With a few friends, he organises a soccer training for the children of his community, all this in the context of an initiative started by Casa Brasilito. “I got my opportunity and I want to give something back to my community with the help of Casa Brasilito. Here the kids and youth often do things they should not do and take the wrong way”, he tells. “Soccer is a positive distraction. One also tries to teach values like team spirit, respect, solidarity.” The leather ball – a truly national institution – is first of all a marvellous doorway to allure the local children to other educative activities of Casa Brasilito: English, mathematics and Spanish classes, art and informatic workshops, scholar and psychological assistance…Enough to compensate, at least partially (17 hours per week), the educative deficiency that is accumulated at school and in the families with less scholar education. “In total, some 110 children participate in our activities”, explains Abigail Julian, director of Casa Brasilito. “But those who come to our classes are often sent by their families. We also want to approach the children who are less sensitised by their environment. It is the goal of this soccer programme. It is a bait, a bridge that leads to us, to an educative and secure place, so that they do not wander around without being taken care of.” Casa Brasilito resorts to a volunteer network, many foreigners, but also Ticos. “The main idea is to base ourselves on the inhabitants to make community leaders of them. Like Henry. He certainly needs an adult instructor to help and support him, for the equipment or to structure the soccer programme, but he he remains the one managing. This is empowerment: not to do things in lieu of the people, but do things by, for, and with them. “For the children of his community, Henry is a model to follow, a good example”, evaluates Abel McClennen, director of La Paz. The psychologist at Casa Brasilito, Karol Guevarra confirms: “It is important for them to have a person who inspires them, who is close, like them. It is to tell them: “It is not easy, but you too can do it.” Here, many children have the stuff to be leaders, as long as we accompany them. We identify them by following them over several years.” But the association needs more human and financial resources to multiply his action, incorporarte more local leaders and leave no one on the side of the road in Brasilito. A message to all good souls… Casa Brasilito is a conjunct project of non profits CEPIA, Abriendo Mentes, La Paz school. If you wish to support or inquire about Casa Brasilito: abigail@ casabrasilito.org
Cuando usted es madre nunca está sola, ni siquiera en sus pensamientos. Una madre siempre tiene que pensar dos veces, una por ella y otra por sus hijos” Sofía Loren
Cámara de Comercio y Turismo de Playa Tamarindo In regard to the problems of drinking water, the Tamarindo Chamber of Commerce met with authorities such as the Municipality of Santa Cruz and A y A (the national water company) to agree on criteria and reach viable solutions for our region. In recent months, we have met with politicians of the zone who have expressed their preocupation with the levels of water, not only for the tourist industry but also farming and agriculture in general. Institutions such as the national government, SENARA, AyA, ICT and the Municipality are well aware of the emergency situation and are dedicated to finding solutions; however, no one has seen a solution to the alarming condition of the coastal region. From September 2014 there has been consideration of water from other aquifers, a process which is under way. As far as the situation goes, it is important to realize the seriousness of the threat on the economics and productivity due to the desperate lack of water. It is not only the scarcity of water, but the effect on the tourists who visit us, according to the president of CCTT. The president of AyA has asked Diputado Juan Rafael Marín for rapid movement on the law of water which is in progress. At the same time Mrs. Astorga has promised to send two water trucks daily, at 6am and 6pm, to contribute to the storage tank at Playa Tamarindo. Also, a group of hotels in Tamarindo, which has an unused well, has started discussion with AyA to collaborate in solving, temporarily, the shortage of water. “The strength of the effort being expended by all the institutions of the State, the businesses and representatives of the community, needs a promise of each one of them. It is indispensable, on our part, that we as chamber of businesses promise to save water and develop a responsible plan for this resourse”.
The Tamarindo Chamber of Commerce is an initiative of a group of businessmen with the view of developing our beach town in a sustainable manner to bring acceptable conditions to the thousands of visitors – national and foreign – who form the economy of the zone. CCCT has offered solutions to the challenges that confront the community, such as security, road infrastructure and water supply, among other things. Contact them at 7108-5868.
Your Stars in September
Aries: 21 March - 20 April
Libra: 23 September - 23 October
Taurus: 21 April - 21 May
With your ruling planet, Venus, going into direct motion in your solar eleventh house, you will be in line to receive an increase in income from your profession. You will have the added boost of Mars energy in this house too. There is an aspect to this next year of you being somewhat reclusive socially and that is a necessary part of your path at this time. Restoring your vital force is a way to look at it that is both positive and true. Best days to start that process are the 14th and 15th.
Gemini: 22 May - 21 June
With both Mars and Venus in Leo in your solar tenth house, you are on fire professionally and have lots of magnetism, drive and enthusiasm to achieve your goals. Venus goes direct on the 6th, giving you the ability to use charm instead of force to have things go your way. Take advantage of this vibrational gift as it doesn’t come around that often in one’s life. Things also go well with money and friends so you should take care to save and invest. The 16th, 17th and 18th are your best days this month.
This month’s energy has you focused on relationship dynamics as your ruling planet, Mars in fiery Leo, cozies up to Venus in Leo. That aspect, coupled with Mercury going retrograde Libra on the 17th gives extra emphasis on the balance of power and communication clarity. You need to work things out this month to maintain harmony in your partnership. Best days to negotiate are the 1st, 28th and 29th. Venus goes into direct motion on Sept 6th, giving you a push to begin clearing up the fog of the last six weeks about your direction in life, love and the pursuit of happiness. The momentum should accelerate rapidly as Mars is also in Leo fairly close to Venus. Relationship issues are culminating now and for the next three months as Mars and Venus dance together through November. Be clear and focused on what you want. Good days to contemplate this are the 2nd, 3rd and 30th.
Scorpio: 24 October - 22 November
There’s a lot of focus for you this month on home, security, family and siblings with planetary emphasis on your solar third and fourth houses. Any changes you make are for the better though you will not feel that stable until about the middle of October when your ruling planet, Mercury, goes direct on October 9th. Saturn enters Sagittarius on the 19th, giving you the feeling that life is serious and you need to stop wandering so much. Focus on what you want and make a plan to go for it. The 4th, 5th and 6th are days where things can generally go your way.
Sagittarius: 23 November - 21 December
With Pluto in Capricorn going into direct motion in your solar seventh house, some major choices are at play in your contractual partnerships. Money plays a big part of your decision making processes as Venus and Mars team up in your second house of assets, values, and income stream. Security and family are your basic drives so you will have to slow down and take some time to evaluate all the ramifications of your next moves. The 7th and 8th are the most favorable days for such decisions.
With Saturn, your ruling planet, now entering the sign of Sagittarius in your solar twelfth house, there is a bit of the hermit vibe around you. You will be learning to pace yourself. If you are interested in writing anything substantial, this vibration is one to take advantage of. Pluto in your sign goes direct on the 25th, giving you some additional transformational energy to process. You can use this to gain power and respect in your whole being. The 21st and 22nd are days you can realize such power.
Cancer: 22 June - 22 July
Leo: 23 July - 23 August
Venus goes direct on the 6th in your sign so you get another boost from the planet of love and beauty. With Mars also transiting your sign, there’s a magnetic quality to your vibe that has the power of attraction in full force. If looking to promote yourself or business, this is a great time to do so. You are practically irresistible and have lots of drive and energy for action! The 9th and 10th are your days of power.
Virgo: 24 August - 22 September
With Jupiter and the Sun now transiting your sign, you carry the vibration of the guru, teacher and wise elder now. People sense your practical wisdom and general good counsel and will want to confer with you about all matters. The Virgo archetype seeks perfection in health and hygiene and likes to have a plan to achieve goals. You also need to spend time alone, slowing it down will be good for you. Great days to take a break and enjoy life are the 11th, 12th and 13th.
by Jeanne Callahan jeannecallahan007@gmail.com
Your ruling planet, Jupiter, has entered Virgo now and will be transiting that sign and your solar tenth house until September of 2016. That being said, with Saturn entering your solar first house, you will be reluctant to put yourself out there as you are feeling a bit battered, sad or depressed in spirit. This is just at time to allow yourself to acknowledge the aging process and take things a bit slower than your normal way of doing things. The 19th and 20th are days to move ahead.
Capricorn: 22 December - 21 January
Aquarius: 22 January - 19 February
Venus goes direct in your opposite sign of Leo on the 6th with Mars also traveling with her in your solar seventh house. Relationships have glitches at this time as there is some jockeying for power going on. Your ruling planet, Saturn, has now entered Sagittarius. This is in your solar eleventh house of wishes, dreams, friends and income from profession. This is the legacy you will be creating! Jupiter in your eighth gives a boost to your investments and spouse’s income. Your best days are the 23rd, 24th and 25th
Pisces: 20 February - 20 March
Jupiter has firmly entered Virgo in your solar seventh house so this bodes well for the achievements of your spouse and/or business partner. You could also use this energy to travel or expand your business internationally. All very positive vibes! With Venus and Mars in your solar sixth house there’s work to be done with health and also employee concerns. Saturn enters your solar tenth house asking you to take on more responsibility or be the boss. Great days for you are the 26th and 27th.
Namasté Visit Jeanne’s site at CelestialAdvisor.com
Word puzzle Birds and Flowers
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. azalea baldeagle begonia bluebell bougainvillea caracara cassowary falcon flamingo flycatcher foxglove frangipani fuchsia hibiscus hummingbird
hyacinth juniper kestrel lobelia macaw marigold ostrich parrot partridge peacock pheasant rose sandpiper seagull violet
Now Begins the Study of Yoga Tapas Svadhyaya Ishvarapranidhana
Sutra in depth.
Tapas Svadhyaya Ishvarapranhidhana kriyayoga is the first verse in the second chapter of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. It is considered by many to be the essential recipe for moving into the state of being that is yoga. As we are in the midst of our yoga teacher training here at Panacea, we have been studying this important
While the first chapter of the Sutras is all about the stilling of fluctuations of the mind, the second chapter gives those, who find stilling their minds a little difficult, another way to find yoga. The word “tapas” means the heat leading to purification of the body, or the burning desire required to help remove physical and mental impurities. Tapas is also sometimes interpreted as discipline or asceticism, yet without going so far as to cause harm. Often asana, pranayama, and meditation practices, along with carefully choosing what we bring into our bodies (in the way of food, the company we keep, and the thoughts we think), will all be done within the spirit of Tapas. Svadhyaya is self-study. Patanjali did not just mean studying any part of ourselves, though. He specifically implied that this self-study was to be of our higher mind or nature. As Svadhyaya in Vedic times was considered the study and memorization of sacred texts, this meaning is also brought forth into the Sutras. Therefore, Svadhyaya is interpreted to mean that we study our higher Self within our practices and also through
the study of relevant writings with a knowledgeable teacher. As we all have our “blind spots”, the teacher can better guide us to see ourselves with clarity and truth, and is considered a very important part of the yogic tradition. Ishvara pranidhana is the offering up of all of our actions to a higher being. It means putting attention and care into our actions so that they become meaningful, and at the same time, letting go of attachment to the results of our actions themselves. In our training, we have looked at this Sutra as one which we can embody both on and off our mat daily. During our early morning asana, pranayama, and meditation practice, we develop heat and purify our body; we focus our mind to find a connection to our higher self, letting go of attachments to any particular results; and we remain observant of how our mind and body act within these practices. During our classroom time, we study the Sutras, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and other works to help us connect with the ancient wisdom and philosophy of yoga. We look at these in relation to our lives, as well as how they will apply to sharing yoga with others, often gaining insight about ourselves through these teachings. Within our daily schedule, we also take the time to reflect and meditate on how our actions can be an offering to and a merging with a higher consciousness.
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
Whether or not you want to become a teacher of yoga, Sutra 2.1 is one path to developing a more meaningful life.
Surf Report (from page 24)
“Being the Grommet champion makes me super happy,” the 14-yearold said. “I was MiniGrommet champion before and now I hope to win Boys next year. This title was well fought, because Oscar Urbina was surfing really well.”
After the math was calculated, and factoring in nearest ranked Alberto’s placement, Torres’ best five dates earned him that elusive national title after many years of trying.
This year’s MiniGrommet national crowns went to Samuel Reidy of Pavones/Dominical for Boys, and Valentina Resano of Nicaragua for Girls.
“This all started last year when I asked my sponsor if I could do the QS (World Surf League Qualifying Series),” Torres explained after receiving his trophy. “They said to stay in Costa Rica and try and win the national title, then they’d see what the future would be. That was the extra motivation to have this title fight.”
Out in international waters, Leilani McGonagle just wrapped up the WSL Copa El Salvador Impresionate at Punta Roca. Although she jumped 13 places on the QS Women’s ranking to 93, she had a hard time in El Salvador, coming in 3rd place in the first round. However, keep in mind, this the 15-year-old’s first time on the QS and 93 out of 246 is a very decent start.
“This win is so important to me, I worked so hard for this,” he added. “Thank God for giving me this title, and thanks to my family for supporting me while I did this. I now know I belong on the QS and I want to be there.” Torres has a trip planned to the United States to sit down with his O’Neill reps and plan his future. It will, no doubt, include his participation in the QS. Meanwhile, Lisbeth Vindas continued to dominate as the premier female Tica surfer. Her win in Hermosa was her 12th title. With international superstar (and Perfil magazine cover girl) Leilani McGonagle of Pavones giving her a run for her money, the veteran’s run this year was not easy.
Brother Noe Mar McGonagle had an off day at the Vans US Open of Surfing. Struggling in Round 1, he did not make it out of there. Muñoz, on the other hand, got all the way to Round 3 before dropping out. Carlos is now at 22 with Noe Mar falling to 28 out of 754 surfers on the QS ranking. Noe Mar is still competing in the Juniors on the QS. In the Junior Men’s Van’s Open of Surfing which ran about the same time as the Open, McGonagle made it all the way to the Quarterfinals in impressive company before losing. Unfortunately, he is not yet ranked on the Junior Tour.
“I’m really happy, but super tired. I did a lot of paddling in this strong current,” Vindas said. “Leilani had such a good left, and I was a little worried. I pulled it out. It was good today and it’s been good for all these years. Today was very important to me because it was the 20th anniversary of my surfing. So it was a very special fight today.” Next year, Vindas will turn 35, making her eligible for the Women’s Masters competition on a the Circuito discussed above. But fans shouldn’t worry; she still plans to make a go at #13 in the Circuito Nacional de Surf kolbi when it starts up again in 2016. Leo Calvo became the Juniors national champion, the latest win in his climb through the divisions since he was a Mini-Grommet. And Costa Rica’s other frequent international winner, Leilani McGonagle beat out some other up-and-coming names including Emily Gussoni, Paula Duarte and Lady Meek for Junior Women’s. “It’s my 4th Junior title and that makes me very happy,” she said. “I worked very hard and this year it has gone really well in the dates I did. All the girls have improved a lot and it’s really nice to see some of the MiniGrommets coming up. It was a beautiful road and I hope to win more titles.” For Aldo Chirinos of Playa Negra, his year was “interesting” with lots of ups and downs, wins and losses. He is the Boys national champion. Malakai Martinez of Tamarindo made quick work of the Grommets category (and participated in Boys and Juniors as well) and won the date and the national title. The FSC called Grom national champion’s “the most intense” one of the first day.
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 CXXXIV
COSTA RICA
M
Residency
y wife and are now legal residents of the Republic of Costa Rica… Hurrah! This after two tries over the course of some twelve years or so, and what a long strange trip it’s been.
After waiting about three years and hearing not much else from the lawyer we contacted an actual immigration lawyer who informed us that our residency had been denied about two and a half years earlier.
You may wonder why someone would actively seek out something of this nature when common knowledge dictates you can just go to the Nicaragua border every three months and renew your visa while also picking up great deals on Flor de Cana rum.
What was learned from all this? First get a real immigration specialist who, chances are, talks better English than you do, and then be prepared to deal with the Republic’s monolithic Immigration department whose motto in Latin is “Nos Reddere Facile Durum” (We Make Easy Hard), and is staffed by some of the meanest women in Costa Rica.
Our first attempt at residency was back in the early years of this millennium. We had recently purchased our house in the wild and undeveloped Playa Langosta zone just south of Tamarindo and after reading in The Tico Times that the government was going to start cracking down on “the eternal tourist” types, and recommended becoming residents instead. As we found out later every incoming administration pretty much makes the same proclamations and then forgets about it. What they also leave out is that although they want you to be a resident they make it very hard to accomplish. Consider our first try at residency - an example of how not to go about getting it done. Our mechanic buddy in Liberia put us in touch with his family’s lawyer, who was very good at car titles and cattle sales, who told us he would get it for us at what seemed a reasonable price. He didn’t speak English, of course not a big surprise as this is a Spanish speaking country, and as he would rattle on my limited Spanish capabilities were stretched to their limits and I would usually just nod my head at appropriate times. His approach to residency seemed to be based on Susan’s artwork and its Guanacaste themes and my CDs “A Gringo in Costa Rica” and “The Road to Tamarindo”, as well as recommendations from Costa Rican citizens. We even went as far as getting our “tramite” documents stating that we were being considered for residency and didn’t have to leave every three months.
So we found ourselves back at the beginning, the latest new Costa Rican government still wanted us to be residents, just nobody seemed to be in any hurry about it. We resumed our quarterly trips to the border whose stay-over requirements had become very relaxed and could be done in a day although I preferred going on to Granada or San Juan del Sur for the night and returning the next day. Over the next few years the CR side of the border made it a little harder to cross, implementing a new border departure tax and also requiring anybody entering the country to show a departure ticket. Of course you’re always at the mercy of whoever is sitting at the immigration counters as you present your passport and some kind of ticket showing you’re leaving the country, and his or her mood could decide whether you get ninety days or just twenty if he or she feels like it. I’m happy to report I have always been able to re-enter Costa Rica with a minimum of fuss and always looked forward to a mini-vacation in a definite chuck of the third world. Susan didn’t particularly share my enthusiasm for the mini-vacation thing so after a few more years of this we decided to try the residency thing again, this time getting the name of an immigration specialist in San José who had recently succeeded in guiding two friends through the maze.
Story by Jesse Bishop owlhumm@hotmail.com
We first met Don Roberto in the office of the law firm where he worked about two and a half years ago. Immigration was his specialty and in English, much better than my Spanish, explained exactly what would be needed to accomplish residency. Much of the beginning requirements involved gathering birth and marriage certificates and police (or lack of) records and having them certified by the proper Costa Rican consulate, requiring a whole lot of effort back in the States. His firm however had specialists back in the US that could gather all these records for you so we told him to go ahead and get things going. The deal was we would pay half the fees upon receiving our tramites and the balance when we got our cedulas (National ID). Every now and then we’d meet with Don Roberto to do stuff like fingerprinting and eventually got our tramite documents. Sometimes we’d go several months without hearing anything and whenever we’d call Roberto he’d tell us everything was cool. We even left Costa Rica a couple of times without any problems although we still had to get our passport visa every three months as required if you want to keep using your CR driver’s license. And then just like that he called us up out of the blue and congratulated us on being accepted as residents which would involve some further deposits to the government as well as signing up for the mandatory national health system (Caja). Within a few more weeks we were at Central Immigration getting the pictures for our new cedulas - they look like driver’s licenses - and I asked our lawyer what were the advantages of finally being residents since it was still so easy to just do the border run every three months and he assured me that the government would soon start making it a lot tougher for “the eternal tourist” to keep living in Costa Rica… as long as it didn’t make extra work for anybody.
Lif da Spanish No Speaka’ Tom Tom Peifer Peifer tompeiferecv@gmail.com tompeifercv@gmail.com “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.” Nelson Mandela “Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going.” Rita Mae Brown
T
here’s something that has perplexed me for a long time around these parts. I just can’t figure out why so many foreign residents, you know, people who actually live here for a substantial part of the year, somehow don’t manage to learn the language of the country they call their home. One thing of which I’m reasonably certain, the reason is not the sheer difficulty of the language. Spanish is easy, compared to, say, different Chinese languages that have different vowel tones, use pictograms and provide no clue how a word is actually pronounced. English gives a clue to pronunciation, of course, but try to figure out its logic if you’re a ‘second language’ learner. Even the great playwright George Bernard Shaw took the time to ridicule the inconsistency inherent in English pronunciation. “Ghoti” could well be pronounced “fish”, he argued, given the different options for “gh”, “o” and “ti” in English, the language that has come to be spoken far and wide notwithstanding its complications. Spanish, as far as pronunciation goes, is a piece of cake. The vowels are consistent across the board, ‘a’ is always “ah”, ‘e’ is a long “a” as in “ate, state, or rate,” ‘i’ is consistently pronounced as “ee”, like in “feed, pee, and see,” ‘o’ is perhaps the most like our pronunciation, “so, blow, know,” and ‘u’ like “oo” as in when you sneeze, “kachooo,” or “boot”, but not ‘foot’ by the way, which might look the same as the other double “o’s”, but pronounces differently, again illustrating why Spanish learners have a much harder time than we do when turning the written word into attempts at conversation. I’m constantly telling Spanish-speaking friends that immersion is the way to go in terms of getting over these hurdles in pronunciation. And immersion can take different forms, as far as exposing oneself to the sounds, patterns, stressed syllables within words and the overall tempo of speech. Hey, I was at a Mother’s Day dance just two nights ago, surrounded by Spanish-speakers, dancing and singing a series of Bob Marley songs, word by melodious word. (Literate readers will recall that both meter and rhyme are memory aid techniques which allowed the bards of yore to recount epic tales such as the Iliad, the Odyssey, and possibly Beowulf, for hours on end, from memory alone, long before Homer or another scribe, patiently put pen to papyrus and left us a bit of oral history in written format.)
Immersion can be as simple as leaving the radio on in Spanish. Personally, I find going to the cantina more lively, but in either case, you have to practice “active listening.” That means you “tune in” rather than “tuning out.” You try to follow the flow of speech. Even if you don’t understand 95% of what you’re listening to, I’m convinced that you are helping to train both your ear and whatever part of the brain is involved, to get a grasp of the overall patterns and to be
able to detect the individual syllables and words. At home, having a dictionary handy doesn’t hurt for the times when you actually tease a word out of the torrent, but don’t know what it means. I mean honestly, sometimes I wonder how someone can spend 1-5-10 or more years in a different country and not learn more than “ otra cerveza,” “reparar mi llanta,” and “cuanto cuesta” for whatever product or service may be sought. Let’s take a quick look at vocabulary. Spain and England were both conquered by the Romans. In addition to all kinds of cool archaeological stuff that got left lying around in and under the countryside of these nations, the languages of both have a rich Roman—or Latin if you prefer--legacy in the form of “cognates.” In linguistics, cognates are words that have a common etymological origin. In layman’s terms, that means they come from the same root. While English may share very few cognates with a language like Chinese, 30-40% of all words in English have a related word in Spanish. It’s tempting to shout out, “helllooooo, wake up folks, you have a dormant vocabulary of more than a thousand cognates.” Basically all the big, multi-syllable words are the same. History, imperialism, sophistication, rudimentary, existentialism, evidence, nepotism, inefficiency, all you have to do is tweak the pronunciation a bit, and you’re ready to go. However, before you head out, ready to put your latent Spanish vocabulary into active use, let me add one word of caution. There are a few instances where you can go embarrassingly awry with cognates. Many folks are aware that the very word “embarrassed” is not “embarazada.” That Spanish word in fact means “pregnant.” My personal ‘foot in mouth’ highpoint was asking the supermarket lady if there were any “preservativos” in the food I was purchasing, only to find out later that I had mistakenly used the word for condoms. In this case, the correct cognate would be “preservantes.” Whatever the case, making mistakes is going to be part of the process. Overcoming inhibition and loosening up the “lengua” a bit, is one of the reasons that alcohol can be a big help. My own applied research into this technique started at the tender— pre-drinking—age of 19 when I spent a couple of months with a French family at their beachfront vacation home overlooking the waves at the Cotes des Basques in Biarritz, the surfing capital of Europe. While my focus was surfing, theirs, as it turned out, was eating. I mean, full on 3-4-5 course meals, twice a day and all accompanied by bottle after bottle, crate after crate of the hearty red, Bordeaux-type (continued page 36)
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wines of the region. I was literally looped twice a day for two months, but there was no doubt in my mind that it lubricated the lengua when it came to making conversation over the crumbs and leftovers from our daily indulgence. Years later, I had much the same experience in Spanish. During nightly outings to a bar in the Canary Islands, I could literally feel the sentences coming together more smoothly with successive shots of tequila over the course of a couple weeks. Heck, a linguist friend, teaching English as a second language in the US, confirmed my observations as well. But before you make a beeline for the nearest cantina, expecting to come out like a silver-tongued devil in Español, consider Hemingway’s advice about writing:
3:54 a.m. 12:41 a.m. 2:59 a.m. 8:51 p.m.
RAIN GAUGE
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“Write drunk, but edit sober.”
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RAINFALL - July/August 2015 Howler Meteorological Observatory
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Year-to-date 2015: 27.9 cm 2014: 18.7
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Rainfall July/August 2015: 3.6 cm 2014: 5.6
I’ll interpret that to mean that the creativity and the ‘flow’ are deinhibited by the effects of alcohol, but the structure and finer details may reside in a more purely rational part of the brain. When I finally got around to looking for some research on the effects of alcohol, I came across a study that made more or less the same point. Grammar you have to learn, the less fun way, i.e. using your memory just like we all had to do with the multiplication tables. For English native speakers, this would hold especially true with Spanish verbs, since the conjugations are more work than their equivalents in English. Unwittingly, I had had grammar pounded into me throughout 12 years of Catholic schooling and a double-dose during four years of Latin that probably ended up encoded somewhere in my DNA. There’s no mistaking it, at some point you’ll probably have to hit the books. But, hey, back to the simplicity of Spanish, at least the nouns don’t have declensions—ending changes depending on their use in sentences—as do Latin, Russian, German and many other languages. So if it’s not the sheer complexity of the language, the explanation for non-learning of the national language must lie elsewhere. A friend in Tamarindo recently told me, “Everyone here speaks English.” Well, so much for immersion. If you live in a bubble, you’re not likely to be mixing much with the surroundings. The result, you’re eliminating precisely the kind of personal contact that facilitates both language acquisition and foments a growing sense of belonging, of being a part of the cultural landscape that you have chosen to call home.
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
“One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.” - Frank Smith “Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.” Chinese Proverb
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/
Shape Up!
Use it or Lose it Lynda Espada
W
e’ve all had those times when it seems impossible to exercise. Whether you have travel plans, a nagging injury, or you have a job change or move to a new city, state or even as for a lot of us, a new country, even the most perfect workout routine can be suddenly interrupted. Though skipping a few gym or workout sessions won’t totally derail your exercise efforts, breaking exercising can. In addition to taking a toll on your physique, physical fitness and strength, exercise studies have shown it will take you time to regain your muscle mass and strength and cardio fitness after only a two-week fitness hiatus (are you running to the gym yet?) The loss of aerobic conditioning occurs as your lungs slowly lose elasticity, your mitochondria (oxygen-utilizing cell components), begin to decrease, blood vessels shrink in size, the heart pumping volume decreases, and you even experience increased sensitivity to exercise discomfort. If you stop exercise completely for several months it’s difficult to predict exactly how long it will take you to return to your former fitness level. After a three-month break it’s unlikely that any athlete will return to peak condition in a week. In some athletes it may even take as long as three months to regain all their conditioning. The time it takes to regain fitness appears to depend on your original level of fitness and how long you’ve stopped exercising. Surprisingly, in as little as 72 hours, muscle atrophy or loss of muscle mass occurs. That is why you have heard from fitness experts it is best to exercise each muscle group every 48 hours. Just doing simple planks and pushups, along with some squats and abdominal work are better than doing nothing at all. And this workout you can do right in your own home. Even if you can’t do a six day a week, perfect cardio and strength exercise routine, you should still stay physically active, and you can try to exercise at least once per week. If these findings don’t inspire you to squeeze in a few weekly workouts, I’m not sure what will. Remember, even if you can only make time to for a half hour a few times a week, that’s better than nothing at all. If you need to take time off from training the following tips can help you maintain your fitness. • Don’t quit completely. Try to exercise at least once per week. • Cross train through injuries. • Use body weight workout (no equipment needed). • Go for a walk, go for a swim or try doing aerobic dance moves in the pool. Grab some plastic water bottles, fill them with water and you have an inexpensive pair of dumbbells.
Sistemas de Riego
Irrigation Systems