tUESDAY tUNES: AN INSTRUMENTAL TODAY AH, SWEET THING

Decided to switch it up today a bit with tUESDAY tUNES and instead of concentrating on the lyrics just hear THE instrumentall rendition of Chaka Khan's Sweet Thing played by Demola... Enjoy. I think this instrumental can bring up the images for you.. Just ry to sit still...

SWEET THING

MONDAY MUSINGS: A LONG, LONG DAY

MONDAY MUSINGS: Saturday was a day of travel. I enjoyed my last panqueque breakfast prepared by my Costa Rican daughter, Marcela. Gallo Pinto, rice dish, is more common for Tico's breakfast.  I have been so spoiled as I haven't cooked a meal in a month.  Will I even remember how to go grocery shopping, much less cook? Wink, wink.

My participation in the program included a home stay, 2 meals per day, $18 round trip bus transportation from San Jose to Quepos,  during my volunteer stint, along with an art class, weekly cooking and salsa dance classes, along with a beautiful pool to do short laps, cool off, and shower at Máximo Nivel...  

In addition the tuition for participating I also paid out of pocket for lunches, laundry, field trips, and my daily $1 roundtrip bus fare to my teaching assignment. Didn't do much shopping, yet my suitcase is expanded as far as it will go. It's what I get for travelling light.

The bus trip was going to be a long one as my supposed 3-hour bus arrived late due to construc-tion, and we would be facing the same construction heading the opposite direction with a bit less traffic. 

I enjoyed the scenery on the return to San Jose as my last trip on this route had been in the dark. 

Beautiful beaches at Jacó have a great surfing reputation, and many a home had surfboards sitting outside ready to go catch a wave...

We had a lunch stop and I grabbed a chicken empanada and a bottle of Tropical peach tea. We still were an hour out from the airport. 

By the time I got to my gate it was 1pm and they changed gates 3x- eventually transporting us to the runway by a small bus.  Departing about SJO @ 5pm  arriving Atlanta at 9pm. A long, long day...

FOTO FRIDAY: ENYUCADO

FOTO FRIDAY: For my last cooking class at Máximo Nivel, we made enyucado with instructor Noylin.

 A new fried dish for me, as it's made from yucca.  It was as good as it looks.

Noylin had already peeled and boiled the yucca until it was fork tender. 

That was a lot of yucca !

Our job was to mash it, removing any tough fibrous centers. 

We then added margarine, 2 eggs, and. a little salt... 

working the mixture until it was puree smooth. ( See video below.)

Croquet like shape

While the shortening was melting in the fry pan,  *we took pinches of dough,                                    * rolling the yucca mixture into flat small discs in        our palms,                                               *adding ~ a tablespoon of mozzarella cheese on        top                                                                      *and folding it over,                                          making sure the shape was sealed.                    

 

In order to ensure a nice browning, the shapes were lightly dusted with a wheat masa.  

Then, fried in the shortening until golden.

YUM...

I definitely will miss our weekly cooking lessons at Máximo Nivel Costa Rica..

then mashed to make a puree-like consistency. 

Margarine is added, as well as shortening, 2 eggs, and salt to taste. 

TBT: WITCH HUNTING (2019 posting)

TBT:  It's definitely time to post this article on witch hunting again as that is exactly what is going on in our country today with our ICE witchhunt...  And the Peter , Paul and Mary lyrics keep playing "When will they ever learn?  When will they ever learn?"

MIDWEEK MUSINGS: RAINMAKER

MIDWEEK MUSINGS is about my last side trip, a half hour from Quepos on Sunday.  

Destination: Privately owned Rainmaker Conservation Park, 1500 acres, a less frequented rainforest reserve where one can walk along suspension bridges, preserving vegetation and wildlife around you.

The day's guide, Kevin, a university student whose English and patience was put to work with a Chicago family of 5: a very active Grandma, her sister, son, daughter-in-law, 5 yo grandson and yours truly. 

The path was challenging as we climbed the paths into the canopy of the rainforest with the use of tire steps, brick stairways, dirt pathways, lots of metal railings and some rickety wooden ones and then suspension bridges to killer views and down to waterfalls and pools where we could cool off.

Thank goodness we were spared snakes, but I did add a colorful poisonous dart frog, helmet lizard and millipede to my rain-forest critter collection.

ants go into this tree at the round dot

and vegetation galore with all types of ferns,  and different types of symbiotic relationships with insect ant hosts/plants

                 Giant philodendrons climbed massive trees seeking light.

It was a terrific last excursion for my last week living the Pura Vida.

 

tUESDAY tUNES: EL AVENTURERO

Today's tUESDAY tUNE holds a special memory in my heart now and I don't think it would have until the following happened this week. You see my home stay family listens to very conservative music so that's what I have heard for the last month.

 So  I have to tell you that was when my bus driver Angel switched his route and his personalized license plate was not hanging in the front window, but COYOTE's was in its stead. Coyote had music playing as we boarded. One song ended and another started. The lyrics and melody were catchy, and before I knew it, I was tapping my fingers along with the music. Then one voice  in front started singing along followed by others then more and more passengers joined in as did  the bus driver as they sang along. No kidding, in a crowded bus- truly experiencing the Pura Vida. 

Take a listen to Yeison Jimenez's Aventurero and you'll understand...

CATCHY AVENTURERO. 

MONDAY MUSINGS: JUNTOS SOMOS AMERICA

 MONDAY MUSINGS: Last night I joined a packed restaurant La Gran Escape ( pronounced Es - Kah- Peh) across from Quepos 's boardwalk here in Costa Rica. Where else could be better to watch Superbowl's LX half time performance by Bad Bunny?  Remember I've been an a'sportual for the last 25 years.

I was sitting with some Maximo Nivel's participants, and we, as well as others around us, hooted, hollered and did some chair dancing along with Bad Bunny. 

Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, had visited San Jose, Costa Rica's capital just before he was awarded the Grammys, receiving 2026's Best Album award. The Ticos  (Costa Ricans), as most latinos are very proud of him. Bad Bunny, has unapologetically made sure to remain true to his roots and perform in Spanish, his native tongue. He didn't have to 'make political statements' during this performance as his pride in his roots was exemplified by him being surrounded by people humilde (humble) as the football field was transformed into a casita (home),  the markets, the sugar cane fields and on the streets connecting  Central and South Americans with their flags dancing with fellow latinos. Need I say Gran Escape roared with glee when Costa Rica was mentioned!

Behind Bad Bunny a billboard displayed the words "The Only Thing More Powerful Than Hate is Love." 

At the end of his performance, he spiked a NFL football with the message  "Juntos somos América,Together We Are America." Let us not forget my friends, the United States of America is and will always be, a nation made up of many different nations. 

FOTO FRIDAY:PAINT & SIP

FOTO FRIDAY: PAINT & SIP provided by Máximo was a fun hour and a half as 12 of us were given local wildlife to paint: frogs, butterflies, toucans and different birds, turtles, raccoons, and sloths. I got my favorite...

TBT: SOCIALISM

TBT: SOCIALISM 

MIDWEEK MUSINGS:JUST PARK IT

MIDWEEK MUSINGS: It's nothing new to U.S. citizens that we are a country totally dependent upon our cars and as a result we don't have a great public bus system but I have been privy to a good bus system here in Quepos which can have me at my teaching job in less than half an hour. Small residential and main streets leave little room for parking in the beachside towns. The hills winding down the beaches are tight pin curves and narrow. 

I definitely wouldn't want to be renting a car here!

But I actually want to talk about another kind of park'ing, the Manual Antonio National Park, a must, especially with a guide otherwise you will miss out seeing many of the park's residents.

The park covers about 7 miles which is managed by the National System of Conservation and the Ministryof Environment and Energy which take care of maintenance, protection and visitor rules creating an eco-friendly environs. Backpacks and bags are searched for food which is not allowed. No handouts to leave along the trail nor plastic water bottles. And with no food the monkeys won't be compromised by eatinfghuman food.

 A long line awaits entrance to the park which see 2500 guests per day. Tickets must be bought ahead. Non-residents cost ~$18, 5.65 for kids under 12. Residents about $2 .

Our senior Tico tour guide in his 60's has had this job since he was 22 and he was a font of information. 

His high power binoculars took us into the canopy above us to spot a sloth mommy and her baby and howling monkeys chilling. 

And to the foliage with dragonflies,  tiny frogs/ 

spiders on the leaves and gorgeous butterflies. 

Lizards abound hugging the shade.

Can  you find the lizard?

and even a red crab!

My Facebook friend Kathy and I really had a terrific visit and it was definitely worth the tour to enjoy some of the residents of the park. We didn't partake in the waters of the park's beautiful public beach; mia culpa as we had frequented one of Manuel Antonio's other 2 beaches the previous day and yours truly had too much sun that day... but the park is a must see.

tUSDAY tUNES: I'VE GOT SUNSHINE IN MY POCKET

tUESDAY tUNES: Bossa Nova was the background to another late afternoon cocktail by the ocean.  An ocean breeze, Ceviche and a Sangria Diablo all spoke to me ... 

May this warm your bones as well -

BOSSA NOVA & Cocktails

MONDAY MUSINGS: ANOTHER WOMAN LEADER

 MONDAY MUSINGS have me a bit surprised this am in Costa Rica as I walked by a couple of schools yesterday where voters were lining up for voting. Yes, on a Sunday, no less to ensure citizens could cast their vote for one of the 40 presidential candidates. In my mind I had no doubt there would be a runoff with so many contenders but I was not alone as many Ticos were surprised to learn differently too..

For the last 2 weeks I have heard the political candidate's cars with flashing lights and blaring political jargon ambling through our INVU neighborhood here in Quepos at all times of the day. How could there not be a runoff with so many political contenders?

Yet, the voters have spoken and it was a big win (48-50% ) for the right-wing Sovereign People's party candidate, Laura Fernandez, a hand-picked successor to outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves. I had seen her a couple times speaking on tv interviews with her mere 39 years young, she is well spoken, attractive and spoke to the issues that TICOS are concerned about, the rising drug-related crime and violence.

Cocaine trafficking is on the rise here and she promised to be tough. She also promised to work on security for their economy. One thing voters were worried about if she will work towards allowing consecutive terms for Presidents. Interesting as the U.S.'s present President wants to discontinue our 2-term policy to unlimited whereas Costa Rica has only ever allowed one term. We shall see, won't we?

MIDWEEK MUSINGS:A WHALE OF A TALE ....

Never too late for  MUSINGS  as the 3 Musketeers joined the Ocean King catamaran sunset outing... It did not disappoint...

We had mixed reports regarding upper-level chair availability, so after the itinerary and rules were given in both English and Spanish re: moving chairs and jumping in the water before the appropriate time, we rushed to the upper deck to secure front-row seating. 

The company was fun, music was great, tropical drinks didn't hurt as we were equipped with our wrist bands for 4 drinks, fruit appetizers, a traditional fish dinner in addition to a gorgeous afternoon filled with possible whale/ dolphin watching, a dip in the ocean/ snorkeling and, of course, another spectacular Costa Rican sunset.

Just last June I had gone on a smaller boat to whale watch in southern California but all I saw was a dark form and I was thrilled then to even have had a sighting.

We hit the jackpot Monday since actually whale watching takes place in two other past months, not January. Awaiting us about 15 miles out was a pod of 5 humpback whales. Unbelievable!

Imagine the boat's passengers' glee to not only witness spouting and fins but also heads and tails...

  There was clapping and cheering as the engines idled while the whales circled our catamaran.  

I got my exercise running around the deck trying to capture it all.

At one point the whales were so close to the boat, one could almost touch them. Thrilling. 

I have so many video clips  but below is my favorite photo of the day which really makes this musing a whale of a 'tale'...

What a sight to behold...

FOTO FRIDAY: MY 1st VISIT to MANUEL ANTONIO

 

FOTO FRIDAY: Favorite shot in Manuel Antonio 

 Last week's WINDOW VIEW

TBT: 2019

 TBT:2019 Back in 2019 I posted this frozen thermometer from the End of the Rainbow Valley. I think the South and my friends and family in Arkansas now understand...  

"Although at 10pm we are at -18 by 7am the thermometer will read -25 and that is not a wind chill temp! 48 hours of this cold. Schools, malls and even the postal service won’t be operational tomorrow."

tUESDAY tUNES: Cuando Calienta el Sol

tUESDAY tUNES is a blast from the past since I am livng in a beach town and spending time on the beach and made a five decade memory resurface. What could be more appropriate than this original version of Cuando Calienta el Sol ... a song I learned in my early 20's. This is the original version ... not the Luis Miguel version.

 All I can say is, it's hot!

ORIGINAL TUNE : CUANDO CALIENTA EL SOL  

And here's the English version Love Me with all of your Heart  by Engelbert Humperdinck Love Me With All Your Heart

but LITERALLY ;

When the sun heats up here on the beach

I feel your body close to me.It's your heartbeat, it's your face, it's your hair, it's your kisses that make me tremble...

I like the Spanish version...

MONDAY MUSINGS: CASAS de AMOR

MONDAY MUSINGS: Casa de Amor is where I was assigned to spend Monday through Friday mornings during my month here in Quepos, Costa Rica. A bus ride takes Steve, my co-teacher and me to Paquita, a small town 10 minutes outside of Quepos. 

(How surprising to see rice fields en route! I was then told that in their last rainy season there were 22 days of continuous rain. WOW!)

The bus driver already knows us and where we need to get off...

A five-minute walk then takes us to Casa Amor, a free men's rehabilitation center where patients voluntarily join a 9-month program in search of a life free of alcohol/ narcotics through routine and discipline. 

They have chores/work that may alter their class attendance. The residents hail from mainly surrounding areas but as we listened to their introductions, I  also heard Colombia, El Salvador and Nicaragua. Regardless, many come to consider Casa Amor home. Some have returned to the program more than once... This group's ages range 17- 66 years old with varying degrees of literacy.

Main housing: Great room as  den/class/ dining 
 kitchen and bunk bed s for 

Our job is to equip them with some English which might be useful in their future lives, the service industry, in particular, food service has me scouring the net for useful vocab and ideas. Luckily, the book English for Restaurant Workers has been found and will be a terrific asset, in addition to my fixation with cooking shows and legends like Anthony Bourdain. Wink, wink.

This project is good work, and I feel privileged to have a little part in their program. In such crazy times, we all need to provide 'casas de amor..