Howler July 2016

Volume 21, No. 7

July 2016

Issue No. 231

Founded 1996

THE HOWLER Ced. Juridica: 3-101-331333

Publisher, editor and production John Quam thehowlercr@gmail.com Tel: English - 8995-5497 Español - 4702-5771 CONTRIBUTORS HERBERT WEINMANN ELLEN ZOE GOLDEN JESSE BISHOP SUSAN SMITH TOM PEIFER KAY DODGE

DAVID MILLS MARY BYERLY SYLVIA MONGE ROBERT AUGUST JEANNE CALLAHAN

FEATURES 8

Dining Out

Two new restaurants are featured here - Bauinia at Monkey Park in Portegolpe, and Russell’s Steak House in Tamarindo.

14 Around Town

Openings, closings, parties, music. The gold coast has it all, and we are in the groove.

16

Surf Report

Noe Mar McGonagle surfs in Japan; his sister Leilani at Los Cabos Surf in Mexico. Tomas King wins Guanacaste title.

34

Surviving Costa Rica

35

Fritterin’ away a Crisis

Jesse and Susan visit the land of waltzes, a few museums, a beer hall or two, and play in an Austrian band.

Tom takes a look at the way the water crisis is being handled in Guanacaste, and is not happy with the findings.

DEPARTMENTS 12 August Odysseys

31 Word Puzzle

17 Dharma Corner

32 Yoga

23 The Doctor is In

36 Sun & Moon

28 Español

38 Tide Tables

30 July Forecasts

Cover Caption: Howler Monkey Cover Photo: Paul German Cover Design: David Mills

The Super Facial

Pacific MediSpa Tamarindo and Pacific Plaza - Carrillo

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Pacific MediSpa in Playa Tamarindo and Pacific Plaza - Carrillo- now offers Pollogen OxyGeneo 3-in-1 Super Facial treatment, the most advanced facial technology in the market.

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For women and men • Special packets for weddings.

Dra. Paula Ávila Leiva Médico Cirujano Estético - Cod 11619 medicallasercr@gmail.com Playa Tamarindo above Super Las Olas 3 floor Tel: 7286-9440 Pacific Plaza Carrillo - Tel: 2667-0767

OxiGeneO es distribuido en Costa Rica por www.provellcr.com • Tel 8937-0397 • Heredia

The Howler will continue on Welcome back to The Howler; we look forward to serving the community with interesting and fun information. You are invited to participation informing us of things in our area that need to be covered and public interest items.

My name is John Quam, a native of Colorado, living in this beautiful area for the past 2 1/2 year with my wife Laurie and our two rescued Welsh Cardigan Corgis, Mazzy and Dylan. We are both active and enjoy playing on the beach with our dogs. Playing in the water with our paddle boards, boogie boarding the big waves at Grande is always on our agenda.

Laurie and I support our area rescue community and are so impressed with their dedication and positive effect in our community.

Thank you to all those that work so hard for the ones that are helpless and can’t speak.

David Mills said he was ending the publication.

My business partner Sam Matta and I felt that it was such an iconic brand in the area that it needed to continue on. We couldn’t let a 20-year-old publication just go away.

While out and about in the past I heard many people say “oh, the new Howler is here!” My friends used it as a reference and always read the Ellen Zoe Golden’s Surf Report, and Jesse Bishop’s article, also watching the tide report religiously. I found when talking with area people that they keep past issues; some even have all the issues from its inception.

Over the next few months we will be making some changes to freshen the publication and reflect our personality, while also keeping the items that David worked so hard to cultivate over the years. I now am fully aware now how hard David really did work over the years to provide a quality publication.

Things to look forward to in future editions are, Comprehensive Dining Guide, Things to Do in the area by Season, Photo contests, Bartenders Contests, About Town featuring fun events, charities and much more.

Please feel free to contact me at my email below. The Howler is for our community and all that it has to offer.

I am at your service.

John B. Quam The “Quamsterican” TheHowlerCR@gmail.com

Russell’s Steak House This new restaurant is serving breakfast, with eggs and bacon; pancakes with butter and syrup; biscuits with sausage gravy. Plus extras of hash browns, sausages, cereal, gallo pinto. The breakfasts are plentiful and good.

Lunch is served – hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, salads, spaghetti, ceviche and more. And Doña Lee’s homemade fruit pies are to die for!

For the freshest steak - rib eye, prime rib, T-bone - of Iowa beef, visit Russell’s Steak House, a few meters south of Super 2001 in Tamarindo.

Bauinia Restaurant A wonderful surprise just over the hill from Huacas heading toward Belén. Bauinia is located next to the Monkey Park Foundation and features International Costa Rican Cuisine.

“Hay mucha gente que no cree en nada, pero que tiene miedo de todo” Friedrich Hebbel

This place is beautiful; our experience was orchestrated by Chef Juan Carlos. His first priority was us, and our experience at Bauinia. Chef Juan personally took responsibility of our time at his restaurant and made it an enjoyable experience. His entrees are artfully created, his care and selection for fresh ingredients is evident in every bite.

I found his prices quite reasonable ranging from 5,000 colones to 15,000 colones. This place is exceptional and is a destination that you must take the time and experience. Chef Juan Carlos is enjoyable and a perfectionist and will create your dining experience like no other. Ours was exceptional.

Beans, rice and corn...and gold!

In the mid-1950s we bought a 500-acre titled property near the small pueblo of Potrero Grande, a settlement of not more than 100 souls. This pueblo is at the south end of the Valle de El General, lightly populated at that time, mostly by Chriqui, an indigenous people whose main center of population is the Chriqui Province in Panama, and by the Boruca, also indigenous but rooted in the area. The few remaining Boruca were scattered; however, their chief lived with his family near Potrero Grande. A few Spanish Costa Ricans and one Afro-Caribbean made up the community.

Those living in the area were subsistence farmers, raising produce and existing from it: rice, beans and corn, with meat on occasion, either locally slaughtered beef but more likely pork or wild meat, usually cara blanca, a wild pig common in the rain forest at that time. Rice was produced in sufficient quantity to be sold in the Meseta Central market. An airstrip suitable for C-47s or smaller aircraft was maintained and necessary because the Pan-American Highway terminated at San Isidro, 70 miles distant. This small annual cash income provided the only money - except for gold - for outside purchases, salt being the most vital.

In the ‘50s Valle de El General was mostly covered with uninhabited rain forest, but there were several small areas of grassland around Buenos Aires and Potrero Grande. These open, non-forested areas were set afire most years, so were kept clear of forest regeneration.

Indigenous residents claimed that these lands were cleared and occupied by their forefathers in pre-Columbian time. However, they were so badly eroded that they produced a skimpy annual

crop of grass, and were suitable, at most, for low-grade pasture.

About September/October farmers, in need of fertile land, would clear several manzanas of virgin rain forest using machetes and axes. By April/May the debris would be dry enough to burn, which removed most of it, but the larger logs, being too green, would remain. When the ground cooled rice was planted, and harvested in August/September. As the crop grew so did a crop of herbaceous weeds which would be left until the harvest was complete. Beans were then sown, and the weeds cut down to cover them. A small part of the plot would be planted in corn, both crops being ready to harvest at the beginning of the dry season, late November.

In terms of supply of food the low point in this annual cycle was July/August before the new crop was mature, and the less successful or less diligent would be required to seek sustenance by other means. Grave digging was the only solution, digging in the expectation of finding gold artifacts in the pre-Columbian grave plots in the area, several large plots - 2 to 3 manzanas - others smaller. The burial practice of the pre-Columbians was to use the same grave for multiple burials, which increased the chance of profitable recovery. A few small grave plots were in the grassland areas around Potrero Grande; however, the several large ones were located in primary forest, regenerated, obviously, because large trees did not avoid establishment on individual graves. Plots (continued page 11)

Beans...

Futbol

From page 10

and individual graves were easily located as graves were marked with river stone. The most important members of the tribe were located in the center, and digging began in that sector. Only gold artifacts were kept, stone objects being left on top of the mounds of removed soil, usually broken. One large plot was littered with clay pot shards and pieces of stone metates and muñecas. Objects of unusual interest might be saved and traded at the local pulperia and could be had for all but nothing.

Spoiling graves was an accepted activity in the Costa Rican campo and practiced without moral question. In at least some cases, the graves plundered would be those of the ancestors of the plunderers.

Grave goods were commonly found in Guanacaste and, in particular, the Guacimo area in the Atlantic coast, where jade and obsidian artifacts were seen. Some of these clay and stone artifacts drifed into homes and businesses in the Meseta Central.

The chief of the Baruca had two sons about 20 years old who worked for us on the farm, fencing and clearing pasture. Several times they went into detail about a large grave plot located in a valley about 20 miles west and covered with rain forest. At that time the area from the Río Coto Brus to the banana plantations at Palmar Norte was undisturbed rain forest. The valley the two Barucas talked about could be seen when flying from San Isidro to Palmar Norte. The men explained that the grave spot was guarded by a large stone muñeca, a monument that was unique, as other known spots were marked with river rock only. This was thought to indicate a particularly rich location. Their interest was to induce me to accompany them to the gravesite and provide the means for such an expedition. A path would have to be cut through the rain forest, tools and supplies provided and a camp established - all beyond their means. Also a gun or two. Plans for the expedition were discussed in detail, but I backed out for several reasons.

Grave digging was at least distasteful; further, if gold were found, the trip might be one-way. Even the poorly educated understand that one-half is greater than one-third!

There was a trade in mined gold from several small hard rock mines in the Cañas (Guanacaste) area and alluvial gold from the Peninsula de Osa. There was also an undercover trade in pre-Columbian artifacts in San José. This trade was not illegal at the time or, if so, the laws were ignored and not enforced. New laws, or revised old laws, were put into effect in the ‘50s that, as far as was understood in the campo, gave the government ownership of all pre-Columbian artifacts. As a result, gold artifacts were melted into ingots and legally passed as new-mined gold. Trading in pre-Columbian artifacts - gold, jade, obsidian, pottery, stone - was illegal in most countries, including Costa Rica. However, some slipped through a very porous net and commanded unbelievable prices. The gold value of the melted-down artifacts was trifling in comparison.

A decade later a rumor circulated in the Valle de El General area and in San José, and among those in the gold trade, that a large quantity of gold bullion was coming on the market. Investigation determined that this was from the Potrero Grande area, and almost certainly from the grave plot guarded by a large stone muñeca…

A Handy Guide

L

ike it or not, football is the sport of Costa Rica. I mean, of course, the soccer kind, where twenty-two men rush around a field in the rain for two hours, kicking at a ball and each other, to end with a score of zero-zero. Then they have shoot-outs, where five players from each side shoot at the goal to break the tie. If this fails, the game is decided on a coin toss, which they could have done in the first place, thus saving themselves, and the spectators, more than two hours of boredom.

The game is a combination of expenditure of energy in short bursts, interspersed with acting skills worthy of an Oscarwinning performance, as much of the game will see a player rolling around on the floor feigning a life-threatening injury until the camera returns to the game, upon which the crippled player will return to the fray, trotting around like a six-year old.

Anyway, the season is upon us, so here are a few terms in common soccer usage, which may help you enjoy the game a little – or at least expand your knowledge of Spanish.

Partido - the game; two halves of 45 minutes each.

Equipo - Team; eleven fit young people, plus substitutes.

Saque, kick-off – starts the game; or restarts the game in the unlikely event that a goal is scored.

Pelota – the football.

Arbitro – referee, the most hated man on the field. Has a whistle stuck in his mouth and a pocket full of red and yellow cards.

Primero tiempo – first half, 45 minutes long plus injury time.

Segundo tiempo – second half.

(Tiro de) esquina – corner kick, taken by the attacking side when a defender puts the ball over his own goal line.

Saque de puerta – goal kick, after the ball is sent ineffectively across the goal line by an attacker.

Saque de banda – throw-in by a player of one team after the ball is put across the sideline by the opposing team.

Rechazo – rebound, when a shot at goal bounces back from the goal post or the goalkeeper.

Portero – Goalkeeper.

Delantero – Forward; attacking player.

Falta – foul play against opposing player, or violation of rules, occurring about every seven seconds.

Mano - infraction by touching the ball with the hand or arm (not applicable to portero).

Cabezosa - propelling the ball with the head.

Tarjeta Amarilla – yellow ticket, awarded against a player who commits a deliberate foul. Two amarillas in a game result in the player’s expulsion.

(continued page 17)

Robert Darmsted

I

August Odysseys

Robert August

have been visiting the Outer Banks for quite some time. I met a man named Trip Forman; his story reminded me a lot of the story of Joe Walsh here in Tamarindo with his business Witch’s Rock Surf Camp.

They both grew up surfing, have great educational backgrounds.

Joe Walsh watched the Endless Summer II with Witch’s Rock and Ollie’s Point. Joe realized that Tamarindo was becoming a great tourist destination, in comparison to where he was originally working as a boat captain in Playa del Coco, taking customers to Witch’s Rock and Ollie’s Point. His small idea of a surf camp has become one of the most successful surf camps and beach restaurants around.

In contrast, Trip began in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, among the best surf breaks on the whole east coast of the U.S. It is one of my favorite places in the States, being chock-a-block history, with the Wright Brothers’ First Flight Museum; Blackbeard’s death in Ocracoke Inlet; the remnants of the Lost Colony, the first British settlement in the New World, mysteriously lost for ever; hundreds of shipwrecks; and much more.

The incredible surf here is due to the long sloping seabed – the Continental Shelf – which forces the waves up, slowly, building strength and height as they approach the shore. When the surf combines with the hurricanes which hit - about five a year - they take with them many of the beach houses.

Trip initiated renting and selling surfboards in a shack on the highway. And people loved it and wanted to keep visiting. So, with a loan from the bank, they built a fabulous resort where kiteboarding, wakeboarding, kayak fishing, and surf trips along the coast are available.

Every year on Memorial Day weekend, Trip’s resort Real Water Sports hosts an Endless Summer Robert August weekend that includes a movie night, signed posters, and other fun activities. Trip is aware of the charity assistance needed in our area and makes an event poster.

100% of the proceeds are donated to our local nonprofit organization CEPIA. Thanks a million Joe Walsh and Trip Forman for creating great surf destinations for people visiting from around the globe!

Yo-del-odel-odel-ay!

Swiss airline Edelweiss announces direct flights between Switzerland and Costa Rica starting 9 May, 2017.

AROUND TOWN For your real estate purchase, deal with one of the longest-established real estate agents - ReMax, in the Sunrise Commercial Center in Tamarindo. See ad page 3.

Perlas, now under new management, in Potrero, with lots of screens for sports fans. Also live music, and the new Chase the Ace. See ad page 7.

Condo for rent or sale at Tinajas, in Huacas. There is also land for sale for a condo project. See ad, page 18.

Luxury 1, 2 and 3-bedroom condominiums for sale, spectacular views over Flamingo and Potrero at Splendor del Pacifico. See our ad on page 20.

For all types of pool construction and maintenance, see Aquapool Blue at the Do-it Center, in Comunidad.

See our ad page 9.

Overseas Pacific Realty are property specialists based in Flamingo. See ad page 9.

Bauinia has moved from El Llano to the Monkey Park in Portegolpe; serving fine food under supervision of Chef John Carlos. See ad page 9.

For special Italian cuisine, or pizza from the woodburning oven, try Marco Polo, in Potrero. Thursday special pizza + beer or drink, ¢5,000. See ad this page.

Keller Williams Real Estate celebrates its first anniversary, with branches in Flamingo, Tamarindo, Jacó, Santa Teresa and San José. See ad page 39.

Wonderful Tico food served right on the ocean at Pleamar. See ad this page.

Bingo starts in July at Doña Lee’s, beneficiaries as follows; Schools, Rescue Pets, Fire Department and Police. Check in with Lee at 2965-0383. Dates will be listed on Facebook under Tamarindo garage sale.

Hacienda El Roble is a zip-lining experience in Coyolito de Belén, with horse tours, nature trails. See ad page 11.

Paul German is a photographer with a wide range of subjects, from weddings, wildlife, real estate architecture, and more. See ad page 37.

David Howler Kay Dodge I would like to introduce you to my friend and colleague, David Howler. It says something when your friends don’t introduce you by your name, but by your creation, The Howler. Twenty plus years ago, we foreign residents knew each other, the community was small, and we met often at Nogui’s for a beer at sunset to catch up, or at the local fiesta to watch the bulls.

Changes have been dramatic for both the town and its people.

Oh, how the Howler has changed. I have seen David’s creation evolve from a black and white publication that resembled a community newsletter, to a full-fledged, full-color magazine, as well as internet publication, and over the years David’s creation became the source of so many aspects of life and living in Tamarindo and Guanacaste.

As a contributor to the magazine for over 20 years, I have been privileged to know and work with David, and I thank him for giving writers a free forum to present our many different perspectives and creative rantings over so many years. It was not always easy to sit down and write every month when there are so many distractions in Paradise, and even more difficult to come up with new materials readers would find interesting after 10 or 20 plus years.

So many times, we were late and had to be cajoled to meet our monthly deadlines. And, how patient he has been us and with some advertisers that gave him more than a few of his grey hairs. (I urge anyone

who is delinquent to fess up and pay.) Writers need deadlines, and after the story is written, photos posted and the magazine goes to press, there is a real satisfaction seeing your words and worlds in print. The Howler was David’s way of encouraging local talent and showing his knowledge and awareness of good news management.

And, oh, how David has changed! Roots in England and Canada, David is after so many years a Tico, showing his love for the Guanacaste culture and people, while helping promote the ever changing and growing business community in Tamarindo and the Gold Coast.

Over the years, we have shared fiestas, topes, grand openings and funerals, as well as more than our share of Imperials and fried chicken at Chilito’s.

David spent many hours on his favorite horse, Rommel (the desert fox), always dapper in his traditional Tico sombrero. He led many a parade as Invidado Especial, until a few years ago when they both retired a little grayer, but always handsome, David is still a recognized fixture of Tico life.

It goes without saying that we will miss the Howler and its balanced editorial content, but I think David deserves a break to enjoy the end of the month. We all thank him for his talent and consistent love of the word. Both will be missed, but not forgotten….how about re-releasing the last Howlers on line, so they can be shared again. We love you David.

Surf Report

T

Ellen Zoe Golden ellenzoe@aol.com

hough a few months have passed since my last Howler surf column, to say there’s been a lot going on in Costa Rica is an understatement. First, there are still quite a few Ticos competing in the World Surf League (WSL) international events. However, to a fault, everyone agrees that the Qualifying Series (QS) contests are requiring them to perform at another level, as there’s no room for error when surfing on the QS. Summarily, our guys and gals still have a lot of work to do, but the experience of the bigger leagues can only payoff if they remain persistent.

Just recently, Noe Mar McGonagle (Pavones) was seeded in Round 3 at the Ichinomiya Chiba Open at Shida Point, Japan, but fell short of passing his heat. Perhaps he hasn’t quite regained his momentum, as Japan was his first QS since injuring himself at the Martinique Surf Pro at Basse Point before his seeded Round 4 heat there. “It was a super fun trip even though I hurt my foot the morning before my heat,” McGonagle reported about Martinique. “Stretched ligaments in the middle of my two toes. Tried my hardest to surf my heat, but it was super painful.”

After some medical attention here at home, he participated in a local Jacó contest, then head to Japan. During this time, the International Surfing League (ISA) announced that this year’s World Surf Championships will take place in Jacó, August 6 - 14. Noe Mar, last year’s gold medalist, will undoubtedly be on the 2016 team, as a group, will try to regain their gold medal.

He said: “One year ago from today was one of the most important days of my life. When I became the new gold medalist at the ISA world games and Costa Rica became the new world champions. In less than two months we will be giving all we got to defend our title at home! Let’s do this again!”

Another surfer sure to return to the Costa Rica national surf team is Carlos Muñoz (Esterillos). Since he is WSL ranked, he can only participate in QS events that reward the higher points; therefore, he has found himself with a lot of time home recently. Taking advantage of the spectacular waves at the Circuito Guanacasteco de Surf (CGS) finals in Playa Negra last month, he admitted, that these Costa Rica contests are nothing like a QS, but indeed helpful and necessary practice especially with good conditions like those that were double overhead barrels.

Emily Gussoni (Jacó) and Leilani McGonagle (Pavones) just both made it to the quarterfinals in Zippers Beach at Los Cabos Open of Surf in Mexico. This year, on the Circuito Nacional de Surf kolbi presented by Adrenalin Rush (CNS), which has finished up five out of seven of its national contests, Gussoni has come out ahead of the pack, besting really good female surfers like the 12-time Women’s champ Lisbeth Vindas, 2016 breakout from Tamarindo Zulay Martinez, another former national titleholder, Puerto Viejo’s Nataly Bernold,

and even Leilani McGonagle. With just Nosara and the Gran Finals in Hermosa ahead of her, she is currently ranked #1 for Women’s and is poised to become this year’s national champion in that category.

And she’s only sixteen!!

“I’m surfing every day, twice a day,” explained Gussoni. “I’m going to the gym, I have a good diet, I don’t drink, don’t smoke, no parties.

I think I’m a good athlete. I deserve to be on the podium. I think I’m doing it the right way, not only for the nationals, but also the championships, Junior Pro, and others. I love surfing!”

Tomas King of Tamarindo got his QS legs at Martinique Surf Pro at Basse Point, pumping out two rounds. This stop encouraged him, and after five incredible dates of the CGS, where he visited a podium in every contest, he capped off in Negra with another 1st place win that gave him the Guanacasteco championship for 2016.

Even Muñoz had praise for his competitor. “After Tomas went to the U.S., he came back real strong, progressing a lot. I knew he was one of the guys to beat today. I’m happy for him.”

“I have more confidence in myself,” added King. “I had to find myself.

It was something special to win in front of my friends, and family.”

Federico Pilurzu (Tamarindo) did a stint Praia do Forte Pro in Brazil a few months ago, where he passed two rounds before faltering. He explained: “I’m not sure what’s up. The level is really high. I definitely need to get back on a roll. They are a big jump (from the national contests at home) with very little margin of error. But I’m enjoying them, and prepping for my next one around August.”

There are also quite a few new upstarts who have made themselves known this past year here in Costa Rica. Let’s start with José Joaquin Lopez, known as JJ, who is currently the Junior CNS leader. Out of the five contests so far, he has won 1st place in four of them.

At 17, he has been surfing already since he was nine years old back in Venezuela. Competition began when he was twelve, about the time he realized this was “my passion, my lifestyle and what I like to do is a sport that gets into your heart. From an early age I said I wanted to be the best.” He’s been in Costa Rica for 1 ½ years.

JJ handles pressure well, and said he takes from each surfer something he admires a tactic to incorporate into his arsenal, but has his own style regardless. “I always try to win until the last second.”

Performing miracles this year is yet another member of that gold medal Costa Rica national surf team. Anthony Fillingim of Malpais has made history on the CNS by winning three out of five dates in the Open category and obtaining a 2nd and 4th place on the other two contests.

It’s been phenomenal surfing from him everywhere. There is very little doubt at this point that Fillingim will win the 2016 national championship, especially since the next date in June took him to his home break.

“I’m happy with my level and as a result am at the top from winning,” he said. “I want to be national champion and this is what I’ve been training for and am focused on doing.”

(continued page 24)

Dharma Corner

W life works.

Sue Smith

A New Manifestation

ell, when we last met we were bidding farewell to The Howler. And now, here we are welcoming the “new” Howler. Once again, another analogy about just how

When circumstances are sufficient something or someone will manifest, and when circumstances are no longer sufficient, they will no longer manifest. This was the teaching of the Buddha.

Similarly, when circumstances were no longer sufficient, The Howler ceased publication. Now, circumstances have changed and are sufficient that The Howler will again be published. But will it be the same?? Will it look the same?? Sound the same??

Bring us the same information?? There is no way for the readers to know this until the first copy is released. It is the same when energy passes from this realm or ceases to manifest in the familiar form…it still exists. Remember...energy cannot be created nor destroyed. But, where does it go? Where did The Howler go?

Obviously it’s energy still existed as an idea.

The Buddha did not try to answer the question of what happens when we (or something else) ceases to manifest. But he did imply that the energy continues and when conditions are right, that energy will manifest again. However, not necessarily in the same way it did before. So you can see why, in some ways the story of The Howler is a somewhat reasonable analogy. The energy was there and new owners and/or editors have come along to provide new circumstances for its manifestation.

I look forward to this new manifestation and what it will bring.

But, just like the manifestations talked about by the Buddha, we shouldn’t expect it to be the same as the old one. There are sufficient circumstances, not same circumstances. It is exciting.

As I am sure many of you can see this is just another part of the law of impermanence that pervades or existence. People, animals, ideas all (literally) come and go. A leaving isn’t necessarily an ending.....it may just be a new beginning!!!!

Welcome (Back??) to The Howler!!!

Pura Vida Sangha, a Buddhist sangha in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, meets on Mondays at 4:00 PM. For information contact meditationcostarica@gmail.com

“Words which do not follow deeds are worth nothing” Aesop

Futbol...

Tarjeta Roja – red ticket, against a more serious infraction. The player is ejected immediately from the game.

Tiro Libre – free kick awarded after a falta.

Posición – offside; an attacking player is passed the ball when he precedes any defending player (except the goalie) upfield.

Marcador – score, usually 0-0.

Penal – penalty shot, when a falta is committed within the penalty area in front of the goal.

Cambio – substitution of a player by another.

Amonestado – warned by receiving a tarjeta amarilla.

Expulsado – ejected, after receiving a tarjeta roja.

G-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l – melodious chant, often lasting four or five minutes, after a goal is scored.

Safety hint: Never shout “La Liga” in a bar full of men in purple shirts. They are Saprissistas (from San José) and therefore deadly enemies of Liga Deportiva de Alajuela (LDA, or Liga).

What is Happening to Tamarindo’s Beach?

Condo for Rent & Sale Huacas

Luxury - 2 beds, 2 baths, Air conditioning, Balcony Furnished or unfurnished Land for Sale Ready for Building House or Office for sale or rent 50 square meters Pierre Auclair - cel: 8388-6565 E-mail: condominiotinajas@hotmail.com www.condominiotinajas.com Cedula: 801080975

As a resident and surfer living on the shore here for the past 15 years, perhaps I’m a little sensitive to each and every little change that occurs along our local stretch of coast. But, as many of you have also probably noticed, Tamarindo’s beach has transformed greatly in recent months.

How so? Well, the entrance to the estuary has shifted about 300 meters south from where it used to be. Instead of the rivermouth draining out directly in front of the estuary it now meanders parallel to the shore, flowing from Pangas Beach Club all the way to the El Vaquero Bar/ public parking lot area. This shift has caused the rivermouth surf break to change dramatically. What used to be a hollow peeling right-hander in front of the estuary has now become mainly a left-hander that begins in front of the lifeguard tower, with some very decent lefts that break along the south side of the rivermouth. A lot of sand has been displaced, with sets of rocks now appearing in front of Witch’s Rock Surf Camp. The beach has become steeper.

Nearest the estuary, extreme high tides have taken out a considerable amount of vegetation in front of the Laguna del Cocodrilo area, and at the south end of the beach the Hotel Capitan Suizo has had to build wooden retaining walls along the high tide line to protect the 40-year-old pochote trees from being swept away by the ocean. What exactly is going on here??

There are probably multiple factors that are causing these changes along our beach. Global warming, once debated as to whether or not it even existed, has generally been accepted with the argument now shifting as to whether or not it has been caused by man or is simply a natural cycle on planet earth. Regardless, as the planet’s ice continues to melt, this will cause the ocean levels to rise. I think we might be seeing some of the effects of this phenomenon here in Tamarindo. The recent extreme high tides with the full moon only accentuate this issue, occasionally bringing the ocean into the green zones and public parking areas.

As to the deviation of the river mouth, I believe this to be a more natural occurrence. This isn’t the first time the river mouth has shifted in this way. Perhaps the last five years of drought has kept the usual passing of rainwater and sediment from flowing directly out into the ocean, and perhaps this year’s super-rainy season will cause the river mouth to return to its normal state. It’s hard to say. I do recall a conversation I had a few years ago with my next door neighbors, a wonderful elderly couple from Alajuela who have owned their beachfront house in Tamarindo since the late 1960s. They told me that many years ago they used to tie up their boat to a tree in the backyard of their house! In other words, the estuary and river mouth used to be a lot closer to the town than it is now.

So what is going to happen to Playa Tamarindo in the future? Who knows?

The estuary may or may not continue to move closer to the houses and businesses on the beach while the ocean level will probably gradually rise. And what exactly can we do about all of this? This is a question my kids ask me, when I tell them the ocean will probably sweep away the surf camp in their lifetime. My answer is this: We can’t do much. But what we can do is protect and enjoy our beach for as long as we have it.

When you’re walking along Playa Tamarindo, take the time to pick up a few pieces of trash (especially straws and cigarette butts!). Don’t support horse tours that go on the beach because the horses defecate on the sand and this eventually pollutes the water. Clean up after your dog for the same reason. Protect the vegetation along the shoreline, as these plants and grasses help keep the sand in place and help prevent erosion. Educate your friends and family to do the same. I think the most important thing we can do is be grateful for our amazing beach. While we can’t predict how Mother Nature is going to change Playa Tamarindo, we can all do our part to help protect and love what we have, while we have it. Enjoy and love your beach.

Joe Walsh - Witch’s Rock Surf Camp

Visite la Feria de Tamarindo Tamarindo´s Farmers Market & FERIA, es un espacio dedicado a la venta y exposición de productos originarios de muchas culturas en un solo lugar, ofreciendo un sitio divertido y como lo más importante un mejor precio con una excelente calidad de productos y servicios llenos de buena vibra que harán de la mañana de su sábado, especial y diferente.

Aquí, podrás encontrar diferentes alimentos vegetarianos, orgánicos, diferentes tipos de frutas, batidos naturales, vegetales, especias, pollo, pescado, todo acompañado con un menú creativo-multicultural de deliciosa repostería y comida para llevar a casa o para un rico desayuno que podrás disfrutar caminando a través de linda artesanía, ropa, joyería y artículos provenientes de diferentes partes del mundo.

Asistiendo con nosotros incentivarás, apoyarás y promoverás al consumo de productos sanos y de producción local, que en su mayoría es hecho a mano, importados o distribuidos por personas de zonas aledañas a Tamarindo, Guanacaste.

Búscanos por el Facebook y tendrás mayor información de nuestros productos servicios y horarios!

A Visit to Tamarindo´s Farmers Market & FERIA Tamarindo´s Farmers Market & FERIA, this place is reserved for different artists to expose their work and original products, creating an exciting mix of cultures in a fun place, but most importantly a powerful combination of fair price, excellent quality products and services, full of a great vibes that will make your Saturday morning a new and special adventure.

Here, you will find all sorts of different delicious food, from Organic, Vegetarian, Vegan, fruits and vegetables, to spices, chicken and fish, all with a creative multicultural menu with great pastry and wonderful breakfasts. Everything at a walking distance from down town, you can find food, art, carfts, clothing and jewelry from all over the world.

By visiting this wonderful place, you will support, and promote healthy products from local producers, mostly all hand-made or original imported products, distributed by local Guanacaste people. Look for us on Facebook for more information on our schedules, products and services.

A Slice of Life Dr. Herbert Weinman, MD, MBA thedoctorisinsharkfm@gmail.com

Medicinal Uses of Wine

Wine, in use longer than almost any therapeutic agent, won its role in medicine based on its value found from the experiences of those physicians who used it for a variety of illnesses.

Blood alcohol concentrations are lower when wine is consumed with meals. The alcohol in wine is passed through the body faster than other beverages.

Wine is a food, a source of energy for body work. In moderate quantities it has no harmful effect on growth and development. Its content of B vitamins and minerals, and iron (especially in port and red and white table wines) makes wine a desirable supplementary source of these substances in the daily diet. Most wines may also be incorporated into low-salt diets.

In moderate amounts, it stimulates stomach secretions, increases bile flow, and in some people helps the natural process of elimination waste products from the intestines. Wine resembles gastric juice more closely than any of the natural beverages.

M

David Mills

any of us have done it - left one life behind to start another. When I left Canada to move to Costa Rica, I had four categories of belongings: sell it; give it away; dump it; take with me. Of the last group one item was very valuable, both personally and intrinsically – a mint condition record album of Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Mikado”, passed down to me by my grandmother.

In the early days of recording, the stage just after Edison’s cylinders was the flat 12-inch disc. Heavy and fragile, these discs could hold a recording of two-and-a-half minutes, which is why most of the early pop or jazz songs lasted just that long. To accommodate a longer work, such as a symphony or opera, a number of discs were made into an album, like a thick book, but each page was double and held a disc inside it, with a hole in the centre where the label could be read.

The Gilbert & Sullivan Savoy comic operas were performed at the D’Oyly Carte theatre in London. “The Mikado” ran for 672 performances in 1885, the longest-ever theatre production at that time.

The use of wine to ease emotional tension is well-known. In moderation, it’s probably one of the best natural tranquilizers known.

In geriatric medicine (medicine dealing with the elderly) wine is widely recommended. For the elderly it can serve as a useful and safe sedative. In convalescent nutrition, it stimulates the appetite, aids the process of digestion, and can often be used to improve the taste of unpalatable diets.

Wine may be found effective in controlling the pain of angina pectoris (chest pain). Because of its action to reduce tension and worry, it can help in the management of high blood pressure. Evidence also suggests that the regular daily consumption of small amounts of wine can help retard the development of hardening of the arteries.

As with many drugs wine does have certain limitations to its uses.

The most important contraindication is the suspected inability of the patient to use alcohol in any form without becoming dependent on it.

It should not be used in any patient who has any infection or irritation of the mouth and stomach. All alcoholic beverages are forbidden in diseases of the pancreas, and in cases of proven or suspected liver disease. It should also be avoided in acute kidney and bladder infections, as well as in prostate disorders and in persons with seizures.

Is very important to realize that any form of alcohol can react in a harmful matter when taken at the same time as sleeping medication, tranquilizers, and narcotics, and similar agents. When these drugs are prescribed the use of wine must be carefully supervised. New findings suggest that pregnant women should avoid alcohol completely.

Effects on the newborn may not be evident for many years after birth.

My “Mikado” album comprised a heavy cardboard cover, a few pages of liner notes and a dozen “pages” of discs. The album was inscribed, in gold lettering “Electrically Recorded under the Personal Supervision of Rupert D’Oyly Carte”, dated to 1918, and had never been played. I valued it greatly.

While my house was under construction in Tamarindo, many personal possessions were stored in a wooden bodega in my yard, well-secured and safe from marauders.

Except for termites! One day, entering the bodega to get some item I saw a disaster had occurred. These nasty little insects, no fans of the Savoy operas, had eaten away the entire book, its cover and all inside pages, leaving the dozen or so discs unsupported. Heat had completed the damage, and all the discs had melted down into weird shapes; the whole collection was useless.

Surf Report

(from page 16)

You may notice the name of Serena Nava (photo below) in the list of winners for the last CNS. She’s 13 years old and with the CGS Women’s title accomplished in Negra that makes the third year in a row she’s the Guanacaste champion in that division. This bubbly girl overcame a harrowing childhood back in Texas before settling with her father in Playa Grande. You will notice, that for the year, she also won the CGS Girls category in Negra, giving her the 2nd place position for the year.

Nationally, she’s still fighting to get up the rankings for the older categories, but holds the #3 place in Girls.

“This year, I’ve worked hard to maintain a positive attitude and to go big in contests,” Dean Vandewalle of Tamarindo explained in Negra after his second win in as many years as Guanacaste Boys champion.

“It’s important for me to be really consistent. These waves help, and this is a good spot and surely to be good in big waves I’m stoked and happy.”

This little guy, all of fourteen with shocking white hair and surfing glasses, has a lot of confidence, and its well-earned: He holds down three impressive spots on the CNS rankings as well including #1 Grommets, #3 Boys and #3 Juniors. This year he has not lost a CNS date in the Grommets.

(continued page 33)

Chase the Ace at Perla’s Perlas Chase the Ace Charity initiative kicked off on June 7th. The fundraising event was modeled after the highly successful program operating in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. Throughout the course of one raffle series, the charity there raised over $6,000,000 Canadian dollars with the Jackpot winner netting almost three million.

Perlas is currently working with three local charities to help them raise funds for community projects, and also providing funds for local schools to help their ongoing needs.

La Paz Community Scholarship program, Abriendo Mentes, CEPIA and the local school in Potrero are all benefitting from this effort.

Perlas (Bar la Perla) in Potrero/Surfside and the Charities are selling weekly raffle tickets for 1,000 colones. A ticket is drawn at Perlas at 7:30PM every Friday. The winning ticket will be immediately posted on perlas.potrero Facebook page. If the winner is not present they will have until 8:30 to arrive at Perlas to receive 30% of the weekly ticket sales amount and pull a card from the Playing Card deck.

If the ACE of Spades is drawn, they will also win the accumulating Jackpot. In the event that the winning ticket holder does not appear in time, a new ticket will be drawn every five minutes until a winner is found Until won, the Ace of Spades Jackpot grows by 30% of the weekly sales.

The charities receive 40% of the funds every week.

Rules and progress of the event can be found on www. perlaschasetheace.com website. Follow perlas.potrero facebook page for live draw updates.

Perry Carlile (photo) was the first winner of Chase the Ace. L-R: Melanie Gertz, Perry, Sarah Starkey and Ray Gertz.

On the deck outside Aqua Disco

Portraits of Tamarindo Local artists Susan Adams and Barbara Ornaf will be showcasing a new series of paintings, “Portraits of Ta m a r i n d o ” featuring their adopted hometown of Tamarindo, each in her own unique styles and formats.

The idea came to them while enjoying a few glasses of wine at a local bistro while discussing different ideas involving the art scene in Tamarindo, and both set out to portray the various beach, surf and street scenes over the following two months, as well as the many interesting characters that abound in Tamarindo, both of the people and animal variety.

The eclectic results will be displayed Thursday, July 21st, at Hotel Pa-

s a t i e m p o f ro m 6-9pm and include paintings of all sizes and styles including oil, acrylic and watercolors on both paper and canvas.

Susan Adams has been a longtime resident and painter here and has had her own Galeria Pelicano in Tamarindo since 1999 as well as being a featured artist at The Hidden Garden Art Gallery, Guanacaste’s premier art gallery located near the Liberia Airport, and Barbara Ornaf lived and painted in the Montmart district of Paris, France, at the Galerie Chisseaux Rive Gauche before moving to Costa Rica in 2011.

So come by Hotel Pasatiempo and enjoy ”Portraits of Tamarindo” seen through the eyes of two very accomplished artists who have made it their home, portraying the scenes that will be shared with the beach town community they have come to embrace.

Don’t Be a Statistic

Learn to Identify Rip Currents

Scott

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

Brain Tease Procrastination Evasion with Tomatoes

S

ometimes learning another language can be daunting. It can feel like an impossible precipice that seems too big to bother.

We like to blame our age, our schooling or any number of outside factors in why it’s just not worth trying. Once we realize the immense benefits second language learning offers our brain and therefore our mental and physical stability, learning Spanish is more than just being able to communicate with your environment. Learning anything grows brain cells and keeps your thinking sharp. No matter if there is a neurological ailment or not, using your brain is the only path to a healthy growing mind and a fruitful life.

You may, at this point, wonder if I have a quick and easy solution to overcoming the frustration of learning Spanish. There is no miracle solution but there are many things to keep in mind that allows you to keep climbing up the precipice to see what is on the other side. Interestingly, if you keep that in mind, the intention to keep going, this is literally the first step. You have to decide you want to accomplish the task and make a decision to move forward until mastery is reached.

The next real barrier in learning is procrastination. We have all experienced it and some of us are masters of the art. It is time to take away its powers over you. Neurologically speaking the frustration that leads to procrastination lasts 30 minutes. The reason we procrastinate is because there is something in the process of what we are doing that causes us stress, so we naturally want to avoid discomfort and pain, so all of a sudden that sock drawer needs reorganizing and you are just too busy to study today. Here’s the thing, if you sit through the task for 25 minutes the feeling of stress with dissipate. If you can get through 25 minutes of a task you have essentially overcome procrastination. There is a great technique called the Pomodoro Technique; it’s a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo. It is named after the tomato shaped timer that Italian mothers used in cooking. It hopes to overcome your instinct to procrastinate.

There are six basic stages in the technique: First decide what task you want to accomplish, write it down. Create a bunker of learning, find a comfortable space, with a drink handy and far from phones, social media or the TV. Set a timer for 25 minutes. Work on the task until the timer rings. If a distraction pops into your head, jot it down and get back to your task. After the timer rings give yourself a small reward, remind yourself you just overcame an invisible barrier in your brain and that is not something to scoff at. You can use this method for anything you procrastinate about.

To learn Spanish those 25 minutes can be filled with so many different activities, try not to do the same activity every day, change it up. You can translate a news article, watch Spanish programing with Spanish subtitles, do a session of Duolingo or Rosetta Stone, listen and translate a song, etc. You get the drift; take 25 minutes a day and Pomodoro Spanish into your life.

Sylvia Monge owns Spanish for Expats, a tutoring and translation service (spanishforexpatscr.com ), and thinks the brain is ridiculously cool. She uses her knowledge and study of the brain to make learning Spanish and English easier, more entertaining and engaging. Join one of her classes and learn Spanish while realizing your potential.

Playa Flamingo to Solidify its Status as World Leader in Sport Fishing Development Group tackles difficult challenge of building 212-slip marina off Costa Rica’s famed Gold Coast Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica, May 12, 2016 – Known for its gleaming white sand, pristine blue waters, luxurious villas, and 5-star hotels and restaurants, Playa Flamingo has distinguished itself as a premier destination in Costa Rica. Growth in both commercial and residential real estate has expanded rapidly over the last decade, fueled by a substantial increase in tourism, retirees and second-home buyers. Additionally, the area is known as the sport fishing capital of the Gold Coast, holding world records in marlin, wahoo, sailfish and roosterfish.

As it stands today, Playa Flamingo is missing an important element that would provide full-service hospitality to the international boating community. From 1990-2004, the boating community was serviced by a small marina in adjacent Potrero Bay, which helped spur the growth and awareness of the area as a sport fishing capital. However, the marina’s owners failed to address easily correctible concerns and the Marina was closed in 2004 due to inadequate conditions. Many boat owners continue to moor their vessels in Potrero Bay because of the area’s strong reputation for sport fishing.

Pent-up-demand for a new marina has steadily grown as Playa Flamingo’s growth and development, particularly in high-end condominiums and housing, has continued at an impressive pace. As a result, Marina Flamingo Development Group was formed to develop a full-service, mixed-use marina project on Potrero Bay. “Our three main project goals are to fulfill Playa Flamingo’s promise as a world leader in sport fishing, to attract visitors and boating traffic to the area, and to promote investment and economic growth,” stated Sam Shaheen, Principal of Marina Flamingo Development Group. “The demand base of boat owners, tourists and residents is expected to grow substantially over the next several years. We anticipate that this development will increase Playa Flamingo and Costa Rica’s reputation internationally and draw more people to this region.”

The project details are as follows: • There will be a total of 212 slips ranging from 21’ up to 109’ with access to basic services such as water, electricity and internet service.

• At the marina’s entrance, there will be a fuel dock which will serve up to four boats at a time.

• There will be a boat ramp as well as a dry marina for storage or basic maintenance of the boat.

• The Land Area will also feature a 5-star hotel with up to 100 rooms, a convention center with capacity for 800 people, an outdoor amphitheater and modern conveniences for boat owners including locker rooms, a yacht supply store and laundry facilities.

Project Manager Joaquin Gamboa believes Potrero Bay is the

ideal site for a marina. “Potrero Bay’s unique horseshoe shape will provide calm waters and protection from tropical storms,” said Gamboa. “The bay itself provides yachts with great navigational visibility and excellent minimum approach depth.”

The development is represented by Max Arata of Plantacion Properties, an affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate.

According to Arata, mega-yacht owners will find the marina especially appealing. “The supply of full-service marinas along the entire Pacific Coast is extremely limited, so we expect these boat owners to utilize the new marina and frequent the world-class restaurants and retail shops that surround Playa Flamingo,” said Arata. “Mega-yacht owners will certainly be impressed by the area’s vibrancy and exponential growth.”

Boat owners who are interested in reserving a slip can contact Max Arata at (877) 661-2060.

About Shaheen Development Shaheen Development is a family-owned, community-based real estate development company that owns and manages more than one million square-feet of residential, mixed-use, and commercial real estate. For more than four decades, our focus has been to enrich our communities by creating places for living, working, leisure and healthcare. Please visit ShaheenDevelopment.com to read more on our success story.

About Marina Flamingo Development Group Marina Flamingo Development Group (MFDG) was formed by a group of entrepreneurs led by Sam Shaheen, President of Shaheen Development and Frank Arata, President of Ganadera La Cebolla S.A., which envisioned the rebirth of a world-class Marina for the well-distinguished Playa Flamingo.

Considering the magnitude of the project MFDG selected some of the best professionals in the industry: • Project manager Joaquin Gamboa has been involved with several Marina projects in Mexico and U.S. • Ernesto Castro has been involved with over 60 Marina Projects and has marina design responsibilities as Chief Engineer.

• Architect Maggi Cercone from Cercone Arquitectos y Asociados has designed current land use schematics.

• Javier Espinach from Ambientecnia is the environmental consultant. This is the area of planning which MFDG has taken the most seriously. Our group is committed to sustainability and the protection of our greatest asset, the ocean.

About Plantation Properties/ Christie’s International Real Estate Plantation Properties is the local affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, the luxury real estate arm of Christie’s, the fine art auction house. Home based in New York, U.S. the industry has made its way to Playa Flamingo and has been successfully serving clients throughout Costa Rica.

Your Stars in July

Aries: 21 March - 20 April

Libra: 23 September - 23 October

Taurus: 21 April - 21 May

Scorpio: 24 October - 22 November

Your ruling planet, Mars, is now in direct motion and covering the 23-29 degrees of Scorpio that it just passed through in June.

You have a chance to correct errors made in the month of June and also look back to what happened in the late summer of 2014 when Saturn also passed over these degrees. Mars is all about energy and action so you can get things rolling again. Good days to make headway are the 24th and 25th.

There’s a significant creative vibe going on for you with Jupiter and the north node in your solar fifth house for the next couple of months boosting your natural beautification abilities. It might even spell some new romantic interest as well. With Saturn Rx in your eighth house of taxes, insurance, wills and legacies you might be wise to seek professional help with long-term life plans.

Best days to enjoy yourself are the 26th and 27th.

Gemini: 22 May - 21 June

With three planets transiting your solar second house you are likely to spend a bit more money this month either through necessity or just desire. There’s some tension between your home, family, partnerships and your career which makes you more than a little frustrated at all the demands being made for your time and attention. Just keep plugging away and keep everyone in the loop.

Days where things go your way are the 1st and 2nd.

Cancer: 22 June - 22 July

The Sun, Mercury and Venus are all in your sign for the first two weeks of the month so you can expect to enjoy yourself and your family at that time. Make a point of entertaining everyone you can to reform connections and settle any long standing differences.

Mars in your solar fifth house has you pursuing romance as well so now is the time to put yourself out there. Good days for that are the 3rd and new Moon on the 4th.

Leo: 23 July - 23 August

You will get a boost in energy by the middle of the month when both Mercury and Venus enter your sign on the 13th and 14th.

The beginning of the month is time to pay attention to money and finances, both for you and your spouse. One of your children may also be needing your help at this time. Do your best not to be too judgmental about what is going on in their life. Best days to accomplish your goals are the 5th, 6th and 7th.

Virgo: 24 August - 22 September

With Jupiter and the north node now separating from the Grand Cross square energy and in your first house you get some well deserved respect and attention. You break free from some kind of stalemate and your energy and positivity get a boost. Relax, it will now begin to work out without so much need for anxiety or control. Things go your way on the 8th and 9th.

by Jeanne Callahan jeannecallahan007@gmail.com

With four planets at the top of your chart you can definitely get some attention and action professionally. Maybe a public appearance is in order? Do something to get into the public eye this month and next as this energy continues through August. Money demands ease up by month’s end though I am sure it’s been pretty much of a hemorrhage over the past couple of months. Best days to rejuvenate are the 10th, 11th and the morning of the 12th.

Mars completes its foray through your sign this month, entering Sag on August 2nd. Whew, that retrograde period was quite intense since it started in mid-April. I hope you did some review and redos over this period so you can reap the results of the introspection.

You will need to budget your resources, however, particularly if you are launching something new. Pay close attention to where the money goes. Best days to get your way are the 12th,13th and 14th.

Sagittarius: 23 November - 21 December

Saturn is still Rx in your first house making things seem harder and less fun than they used to be. That is just the reality of the times right now for Sags. Jupiter will be able to help you gain some favor and assistance more at the end of the month than the beginning. If you can just take the month off to just rejuvenate, I would do so as August spins a different and more positive energy pattern for you.

Best days to get away are the 15th, 16th and the morning of the 17th.

Capricorn: 22 December - 21 January

This month has lots of energy in your seventh house of partnerships, both business and personal, so you would be wise to get professional help if setting up a new business. Jupiter moving through your ninth house wants you to commit to aligning with your value system with whoever you are working with. This is a time to make sure you are getting what you want out of the partnership. Days to get your way are the 17th, 18th and full moon of the 19th.

Aquarius: 22 January - 19 February

With Mars moving through your tenth house, you can look forward to ample business exposure and opportunities if you have been looking for expansion. You can gain momentum now that Mars is direct, particularly if you took some time to reflect over the last month about how you want to proceed in your public life. If you did receive any unexpected income or an inheritance, look for someone to help you invest it. The 20th and 21st are your best days.

Pisces: 20 February - 20 March

Things are still a little fuzzy for you and your partner but by midmonth the fog should clear. Jupiter is in a position to give gains after the 17th and you also start to have more positive interactions with your children. Take some time off as more responsibility will find you in August, whether you want it or not. Enjoy life fully on the 22nd and 23rd.

Namasté Visit Jeanne’s site at CelestialAdvisor.com

Word puzzle Mountains

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. aconcagua annapurna ararat bennevis blanc chimborazo chirripo cotopaxi erebus etna everest fuji godwinausten gransasso kanchenjunga

kilimanjaro kosciusko logan matterhorn maunakea mckinley olympos popocatapetl rainier robson shasta snowdon table washington whitney

Now Begins the Study of Yoga Why I Love Restaurative Yoga While most of the classes on the schedule of any yoga studio involve actively putting your body into different positions (the number, speed, and intensity of the postures varying depending on the class), there is one style of yoga in which the aim is to do nothing with as little effort as possible.

This is restorative yoga. While many people do yoga as part of their fitness regimen, there are times when it is important to balance out the stress of life with some restoration.

In restorative yoga, props are used to support the body. The idea is to place the student in a variety of positions to move the spine gently into forward bending, back bending, twists, and even inversions. The amount of props may differ per person as their use is aimed at eliminating as much muscular effort as possible. So if, for example, my hamstrings and low back are tight, and I am doing a restorative forward bend, I may use fairly high props to support my upper body so that I can relax into the pose. Someone who has more flexibility in those areas will not use the same height.

Where a regular yoga class can be stimulating and take you to your edge, a restorative class is relaxing and soothing. It is an excellent choice for when you are feeling exhausted, weak, ill, stressed, anxious, overwhelmed, and injured. Because of the long times you are in the postures (2-5 minutes, typically), you have the time to explore the depth of body sensations (releasing tension) as well as to explore the subtle energy (prana) of the body.

The greater awareness of your prana and breath gained in a restorative class can be something you bring back to your regular practice to create a more profound experience of other styles of yoga.

As we engage in our stressful and often competitive world, our nervous system spends much of the time in the “fight or flight” mode, as it does not differentiate between work and relationship pressures and physical threats (think shark attack). If we spend too much time in this state, it can start to affect our sleep, our digestion, our elimination, and certainly our mood!

A restorative practice will stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, our “rest and digest” mode. Given that most of us could use a better night’s sleep, better absorption of nutrients and more efficient elimination systems, consider adding some restorative poses to your existing yoga practices, or even dedicate one practice a week to a restorative postures.

We regularly hold a restorative yoga session followed by yoga nidra on Sundays. It’s a great way to get yourself ready for another week of living a healthy and balanced life!

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

Have a yoga question? Contact me at: maryebyerly@gmail.com

Surf Report

(from page 24)

Circuito Guanacaste de Surf 2016 champions

Open 1 - Tomas King 2 - Anthony Fillingim 3 - Angelo Bonomelli 4 - Isaac Vega Open Women 1 - Serena Nava 2 - Emily Gussoni 3 - Zulay Martinez 4 - Valentina Resano Masters 1 - Ian Bean 2 - Christian Boos 3 - Alex Gomez 4 - Jeff Allen Juniors 1 - Malakai Martinez 2 - Jose Lopez 3 - Sean Foerster 4 - Dean Vandewalle Boys 1 - Dean Vandewalle 2 - Malakai Martinez 3 - Aldo Chirinos 4 - Francisco Coronado

Girls 1 - Valentina Resano 2 - Serena Nava 3 - Zulay Martinez 4 - Coral Wiggins Groms 1 - Axel Castro 2 - Kalani Abrahao 3 - Isaiah Dawson 4 - Ruby Brownell Longboard 1 - Alex Gomez 2 - Noldan Zuniga 3 - Keiner Lopez 4 - Adolfo Gomez Dolphins 1 - Pietro Garroux 2 - Max Babyak 3 - Julian Micheadeau 4 - Sol Diaz

Results for Copa Beach Club Nosara - May 21, 22, 2016 Open 1. Anthony Fillingim (S Teresa) 2. Carlos Muñoz (Esterillos O) 3. Tomás King (Tamarindo) 4. Jair Pérez (Jacó)

Boys 1. Malakai Martínez (Tam) 2. Gabriel Córdoba (P. Viejo) 3. Francisco Coronado (Tam) 4. Samuel Reydi (Dominical)

Women’s 1. Leilani McGonagle (Pav) 2. Serena Nava (Playa Grande) 3. Lisbeth Vindas (Jacó) 4. Emily Gussoni (Jacó)

Grommets 1. Dean Vandewalle (Tam) 2. Samuel Reidy (Tam) 3. Aaron Ramirez (Jacó) 4. Tiago Leao (Tamarindo)

Junior 1. José Joaquín López (Jacó) 2. Malakai Martínez (Tam) 3. Oscar Urbina (Puerto Viejo) 4. Joseph Méndez (Jacó)

Minigrommets 1. Axel Castro (Limón) 2. Kalani Abrahao (Tam) 3. Leo Apreda (Jacó) 4. Ethan Hollander (Dom)

Junior Women’s 1. Leilani McGonagle (Pav) 2. Emily Gussoni (Jacó) 3. Zulay Martínez (Jacó) 4. Coral Wiggins (Avellanas)

Minigrommets Girls 1. Lia Díaz (Tamarindo) 2. Auxiela Ryan (P Viejo) 3. Danielle Guzman (Limón)

Gran Finals Circuito Guanacasteco de Surf Playa Negra May 14, 15, 2016 Open 1 - Tomas King 2 - Anthony Fillingim 3 - Carlos Munos 4 - Jose Lopez Women’s 1 - Leilani McGonagle 2 - Emily Gussoni 3 - Serena Nava 4 - Zulay Martinez Masters 1 - Ian Bean 2 - Rodrigo Miranda 3 - Wade Sharp 4 - Christian Boos Juniors 1 - Joseph Mendez 2 - Aldo Chirinos 3 - Jose Lopez 4 - Sean Foerster Boys 1 - Dean Vandewalle 2 - Malakai Martinez 3 - Aldo Chirinos 4 - Josh Dawson

Girls 1 - Serena Nava 2 - Zulay Martinez 3 - Valentina Resano 4 - Coral Wiggins Groms 1 - Rodrigo Saldanha 2 - Axel Castro 3 - Kalani Abrahao 4 - Lia Diaz Longboard 1 - Julian Schweizer 2 - Dorian Torres 3 - Andres Rojas 4 - Alex Gomez 5 - Keiner Lopez Dolphins 1 - Pietro Garroux 2 - Max Babyak 3 - Julian Micheadeau 4 - Sol Diaz

Anthony Fillingim

Photo: Alfredo Barquero

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

Another Chapter

S

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

COSTA RICA

usan and I recently returned from a two-week surprise vacation in Europe.

After a unexpectedly shorter flight than anticipated we bounded down the ramp looking for kangaroos and shrimps on barbees. It became very obvious that something was amiss. My limited skills on the computer had once again failed us as we had just landed in Vienna, Austria, thus negating all the hours spent practicing the Australian dialect by speaking with mouths full of rocks.

Nonetheless we decided to make the best of the situation and immediately looked up “Things to Do in Vienna” on our trusty Kindle, which basically amounted to seeing impressive old buildings and art galleries and speaking German. The first two we could deal with and we quickly learned a few quick necessary phrases like “we are two dumbass tourists who are clueless” and more importantly “can we have another beer?”

After finding a hotel situated in the “Old Quarter” we set out for first Austrian meal which for the most part are varying versions of a “schnitzel”, thickly breaded beef, chicken, pork and probably horse. If you ordered one in an Argentinean restaurant in Tamarindo it’d be called an “empanizada” and would most likely be served by a much more attractive waitperson.

Not that the Austrian wait types were particularly unattractive, there just weren’t that many of them, typically one per every ten or twelve tables. We soon learned to order very large glasses of beer, something I probably would have done anyway, while my wife became adept at standing on the table to flag down a waiter for another white wine or possibly a check.

Our first days in Vienna were pretty much cold and rainy, and fortunately we had packed the few cold-weather items we owned in anticipation of tracking Koala bears in the high mountains of Tasmania. We headed to the Stephansdom Quarter on our

first full day, one of six historic quarters to choose from. My math skills are as sketchy as my computer ones and I’m still wondering how do you get six “quarters”?

We joined a healthy crowd of likewise oriented tourists from around the world to marvel at the Stephansdom, an 800-yearold cathedral whose dome dominates the skyline in that part of the city. It was one of the few really old buildings that remain in Vienna even though people have been living there, starting with the Celts, about 800 BC. As with most major metropolises, urban renewal has remained a constant condition, with older sections of the city being torn down for new castles, palaces and dungeons over the centuries.

It was Franz Joseph, the last great Habsburg Austrio-Hungarian emperor who really built the Vienna that appears in all the guide books. He did a pretty good job putting up the incredible architecture that reflected the grandeur that he would have liked to think his then-tottering empire represented.

Ol’ Franz was emperor from 1848 to 1916 and in addition to tearing down and then rebuilding Vienna was probably the most painted leader of any empire up to that time.

Franz’s portraits are displayed in every hotel lobby, restaurant, subway station, airports, sausage shops….. you get the picture. Some of them are as a young dashing dude while just as many have him as a famously sideburned geezer. There was only one emperor after him and he didn’t last very long at all.

After all we had heard about Viennese coffee we were disappointed with the real thing when it finally arrived, usually served by an overextended waiter who might have been able to bring us another in a half hour or so if we were lucky.

But I digress: We knew we had a successful museum day when we would return to our hotel with aching feet and a strong desire for a power nap.

Story by Jesse Bishop owlhumm@hotmail.com

We’d then venture out in the night for dinner and whatever. On one such occasion we found The Louisiana Club, a tiny room that maybe held thirty people if you were lucky, which claimed to be a blues bar.

Sure enough a band was setting up for that night, a German-Swiss duo that had made the three-hour drive from Munich called The Red Hot Serenaders. I asked a Serenader if there were any jam sessions nearby and was invited to join the band later that night. Which I did.

We showed up later and took in the gig, a guy and gal playing a lot of American blues and jazz tunes from the Thirties, Forties and Fifties, he playing guitar, mandolin, dobro and ukulele, though not at the same time, while she did most of the singing chores while playing guitar and clarinet. The singing was in English and the stage patter was German. At the end of

the night yours truly joined them on a really interesting resonator-mandolin and a good time was had by all.

The next day I dragged Susan to the Herresgeschichtliches Military History Museum where she ended up marveling at the incredible painted murals on its ceiling depicting all the famous figures from Austria’s past battles of which they would occasionally win one. I got to see an old Soviet T-34 tank so you know I had a good time.

We actually ended up seeing some kangaroos at the Vienna Zoo, the oldest in Europe, so when we made it back to Tamarindo to the news that The Howler Magazine was back with us our summer fun was completed.

Fritterin’ Away a Crisis Tom Peifer

‘Never let a good crisis go to waste’— Winston Churchill

Y

ou can bet your boots that Ticos don’t have a habit of reading Winston Churchill. The handling of and the proposals to address the recent drought and ongoing water crisis in Guanacaste is the case I propose to put under the microscope and offer a bit of contrarian perspective.

Let’s take a look at some of the facts.

Residents of Tamarindo, Avellanes, Los Pargos and any number of other coastal communities by now have probably lost track of the number of water trucks they’ve seen lumbering down the roads over the past few years. My friends Marcela and Garrett Hurley, proprietors of Amigos Bar and Grill, have been hauling water on their motorcycle as part of their daily routine for more than a year. Other amigos realized that something was a bit weird with their wells when the more they watered, the more their plants wilted, withered and went the way of the crops in Carthage after the Romans plowed salt into the soil.

Official reports state that underground water supplies of Tamarindo and two communities further north are already experiencing ‘salt water intrusion’. The ocean is moving in because too much fresh water is being sucked out by coastal developments and, due to the drought, not enough is flowing in underground from the landward side, from the watersheds that feed the aquifers. The official prescription is that the aquifers need a bit of R & R--no more wells, no more connections—and then, si Dios quiere, we’ll be back to business as usual. Unfortunately, “usual” seems to have split town and headed for greener pastures. I can’t say as I blame the guy.

Everyone who sweltered through the record-breaking heat in March and April knows it was worse than ever. Old timers told me that this drought was far worse than the historic one back in the early ‘50s. Forest fires raged at random, fanned by furious winds through tinder-dry hills, dooming heroic efforts at control to nothing more than exercises in futility. These hills constitute both the high ground and the headwaters of these same coastal aquifers that we dearly need to make it through the long hot summers to come.

And remember, the flip side of the climate change coin is increased risk of flooding when the droughts finally break.

Just in the last few months the long predicted pattern of “Come Hell and High Water,” has been borne out in Texas, Chile, Ethiopia and Sri Lanka. Parts of San José are flooding as I write. (A recent, massive number-crunching study of thousands of records from weather stations spanning the globe found a 26% increase in extreme rainfall events since 1980.)

This year, the fires in our province reduced both the density of the multi-story vegetation and the carpet of leaf litter protecting the forest soil. Given our current water crisis, and the longer-term trend towards desertification, there is definitely something wrong with this picture. First, when it does rain you get more runoff, flooding and, as anyone from California can tell you, sometimes disastrous mudslides. And, second, the water that didn’t infiltrate, but made a mad dash for the ocean, is not recharging our aquifers and not ‘pushing back’ underground against the incalculable pressure and patience of the steady rise of the mighty Pacific. It is also not doing the important work of slowly seeping down through the soil, maintaining the vegetation greener and the streams running for longer.

These negative impacts all reinforce the overall drying and heating trends that we have to deal with in the dog days of ‘verano’.

Without going into the confusing plethora of overlapping agencies dealing with water in Costa Rica, or delving into the as-yet unsuccessful efforts to reform the “Ley de Aguas”, the overarching regulatory framework that dates back to 1942, all I can say is that the powers that be completely failed to take advantage of the ‘crisis/opportunity’ that this drought served up on a silver platter.

I’ll leave it to none other than Albert Einstein: “The crisis is the best blessing that can happen to people and countries, because the crisis brings progress. Creativity is born from the distress, as the day is born from the dark night. It is in crisis that invention, discovery and large strategies are born. The real crisis is a crisis of incompetence.”

I’m inclined to be a bit gentler than Albert and replace “incompetence” with a stunning lack of vision and the guts to take a longer-term approach. In Costa Rica, amongst the powers that be, this holds true from the Casa Presidencial to the Palacio Municipal, and the official responses to the drought bring to mind another gem from Einstein: “Do not pretend that things will change if we always do the same.”

Local responses range from more water trucked in to affected communities, new pipelines, (one of which I’m

(continued page 36)

J u l y ( a l l

Fritterin’ Away a Crisis

2 0 1 6

t i m e s

l o c a l )

Sun

happy to say, will help out my friends Marcela and Garrett), calls for more efficient water use in agriculture, waste water for irrigation and the like. As in my native California, strategies such as drilling more and deeper wells—while serving short-term goals, and making the politicians look good--actually make the long-term outlook even worse.

1st - rise 5:26; set 6:09 15th - rise 5:29; set 6:09* 31st - rise 5:33; set 6:07

* latest sunset of year - 12th at 6:09 New 1st quarter: Full: Last quarter:

9.0 8.0 7.0 c 6.0 5.0 m 4.0 3.0 s 2.0 1.0 0.0

Moon

4th 11th 19th 26th

5:00 p.m.

6:51 p.m.

4:56 p.m.

4:59 p.m.

Running the risk of repetition, the answer to dealing with recurrent droughts is not to suck more water out from ever deeper in the ground, it is to get more water in, and to reverse the processes that caused, or at the very least exacerbated, the problem in the first place. And that, esteemed readers, obliges us to look beyond the easy to identify problems of pools, fountains, golf courses and the rather lavish landscape preferences of many foreign transplants and focus on the historical transformation of the broad-scale landscape of Guanacaste. In short, we’re bearing witness to just another chapter in the global saga perhaps most succinctly described by French writer Chateaubriand:

RAIN GAUGE RAINFALL - May/June 2016

Howler Meteorological Observatory Huacas

Total rainfall: 34.5 cm (13.4 inches)

16

20

25

31 1

May

5

“Forests to precede civilization, deserts to follow.”

10

June

Year-to-date 2016: 34.5 cm 2015: 20.8

(from page 35)

Rainfall May/June 2016: 34.5 cm 2015: 14.6

15

The bottom line: we don’t have a plumbing problem, we have a land use problem within the context of a changing climate, a conjuncture that calls for the kind of creativity, invention and large strategies that Einstein referred to above.

Next time we’ll look at some successful efforts, both globally and locally, that hold out some hope to prevent Samara from turning into the Sahara, and Tamarindo from resembling Timbuktu.

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/

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

A Dog’s Life A corgirican chillin’ on Tamarindo Beach