Travel Magazine

HOWLER SERVING COSTA RICA SINCE 1996

MARCH / APR 2017

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PLAYA GRANDE LEATHERBACKS PG 16

TAKE A CLASS PG 34

CAPTURING COSTA RICA PG 54

SMART HOME REALITY IN GUANACASTE Smartech makes it simple - PG. 12 Read online, like and share

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PLAYA TAMARINDO LA COMETA #10 1 BED CONDO ~ US$ 89,000

PLAYA FLAMINGO OCEANICA #805, OCEAN VIEW 2 BED CONDO ~ US$ 339,000

PLAYA TAMARINDO DIRIA #301, OCEAN VIEW 3 BED CONDO ~ US$ 479,000

PLAYA TAMARINDO SAND DOLLAR #1 2 BED CONDO ~ US$ 159,000

PLAYA TAMARINDO SUNRISE #6 2 BED CONDO ~ US$ 289,000

PLAYA TAMARINDO TAMARINDO PLAZA #19 COMM. SPACE ~ US$ 110,000

PLAYA LANGOSTA COURTYARD’S VILLAS #4 3 BED HOME ~ US$ 395,000

RESERVA CONCHAL BOUG. #8315, OCEAN VIEW 3 BED CONDO ~ US$ 539,000

PLAYA TAMARINDO CASA IXCHEL, 6 BEDROOMS PERFECT B&B ~ US$ 599,000

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HOWLER SERVING COSTA RICA SINCE 1996

M ARCH / APR 2 017 VOL. 2 2 , NO 3

Features Editorial

10

Smart Home

12

Leatherbacks Gone

16

Photo Tips

42

What to Expect

60

The Sounds of Life

62

Cover Story

March Feature Lifestyle

Travel & Adventure Entertainment

24 54 58 6

THE HOWLER MAGAZINE

16 Departments 20

Community

34

Lifestyle

Sands of Change 20, August Odysseys 22, Tide Chart 23, Surviving CR 24, Environment 27, Legal Ease 28 Community Information 30, Directory 31

Take a class 34, Study of Yoga 38, Spanish 40, Photo Tips 42, Surf Report 44, Surf Science 46, Recipe of the month 48, Wellness 50, Pet Care 52

54

Travel & Adventure

62

Entertainment

Capturing CR 54, Off the beaten path 56, Cool Places 58, What to Expect 60

Happenings 62, Spotlight 64, Horoscope 65, The Bookshelf 66

67 Dining Guide

Restaurant Directory 74, Contributors 75

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HOWLER

The

Tr o o p

Editorial Controversial, Actionable or just Pura Vida?

We cannot always Pollyanna on important stuff

Living in “Paradise” sometimes has a side that we don’t want to address, or maybe we feel that skirting issues to not offend a group is best. Should we say something? Should we act? Or are we just here for Pura Vida? It will never be our intent as a publication to single out and point fingers of blame, and we will not discuss political matters unless they have begun to affect us in a way that we cannot ignore. It is not our intent to be controversial.

Many of us chose to escape the rat race and live Pura Vida. At times, we must act to keep the life we have chosen.

As with any society, there are social issues that surround us here in Costa Rica. The Howler sometimes needs to cover them, even though they might not be popular or someone might not like it. I feel in some situations we cannot turn a blind eye and ignore just for fear we might offend. Even though this magazine is not a hardcore journalistic endeavor, certain things that affect the expat community, the tourists and the locals need to be brought to light. Sometimes being popular is not the proper stance. We will occasionally discuss things that are not popular or could offend some. It is certainly not our intent to single out or demean, but we might have to expose. We understand, that with people from as many different cultures as are represented here, there is also a wide variety of opinions among us. It is the responsibility of the media to present topics that we find relevant and compelling to the people here, and start dialogs that can be productive and cause change or bring awareness.

We live in a very active area. Many adventures put us close to nature and many facets of the environment. I have been so impressed with the number of locals that are so concerned with the wildlife and how we respect their space and protect them. I have also witnessed the ugly side of the disrespect that causes long-term damage to environmental features and encourages the once abundant migratory or native creatures to diminish by either dying off or finding other places to be. There is a balance that we can and must achieve. Walk softly, listen to your surroundings, and impact things you encounter in a way that leaves a positive trace, like picking up trash or helping a wounded critter, or no trace at all.

I hope that you are reading and enjoying our publication. I would love to encourage interaction and comments as well as suggestions that we can explore and write about.

I think it is important that we have a wide variety of articles about our local community and the country that we choose to be in, showing off nature, with both funny stories that entertain as well as informative ones. Well-rounded is our goal. Your participation can help us greatly improve what you as readers want to see. Please visit our website at www. howlermag.com and comment.

John Quam Hear See Howl

If you enjoy the Howler, please support our advertisers and let them know you saw their Ad in The Howler!

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March/Apr 2017 Vol. 22 No. 3 PUBLISHER / EDITOR-in-CHIEF John B. Quam headmonkey@howlermag.com

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Martin Svoboda martin@howlermag.com

M A N A G I N G PA R T N E R S John B. Quam Marty Svoboda ART DIRECTOR M. Alauddin Cover Photo Brandon Visel www.viselphoto.com S TA F F P H O T O G R A P H E R Bentley Fachner S A L E S C O N S U LTA N T S Troy Radike Sheldon Silverman WEBMASTER Maria Fosca C o n ta c t CR Office: (506) 4701 5942 US Office: (720) 507-7596 (leave message) info@howlermag.com Facebook: The Howler Magazine Costa Rica T w i t t e r : @thehowlermag The Howler Gold Coast CR S.A. Ced. Juridica: 3-101-725213

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of The Howler organization or its advertisers.

Copyright © 2017 by The Howler Gold Coast CR S.A. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

For permission requests, write to the info@howlermag.com The Howler Magazine does not assume responsibility for the content of its advertisements

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cover story

SMART HOMES

Reality in Guanacaste Smartech makes it simple to turn your home into a Smart home.

W

hat is a Smart home? If you don’t know, it’s about convenience of central control, where you access your security system, AC, lights and entertainment system from your smartphone, tablet, TV, or the Smartech central controllers. You will now have the convenience of controlling all these devices and technologies locally or from around the world.

However in Costa Rica it’s not primarily about convenience, security is the major issue! As Expats, we need to be more vigilant about our surroundings because we are out of our normal comfort zone of security and let’s face it, we are primary targets for theft.

A key feature of Smartech is its use of unique user codes that send alerts and record who accessed your property and

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THE HOWLER MAGAZINE

cover story

when. Smart Perimeters can be set up that alert a monitoring company and user to check the cameras when crossed. Hence, Smartech systems offers a new level of security and comfort to protect ourselves and property with better deterrence.

We know Smartech provides convenience and security, but let’s talk about just how cool it is! Smartech provides the latest and greatest gadgetry. How awesome is it to enter your driveway and the darkened landscape comes alive with lights, welcoming you home. A single button can unlock your door, sets the mood by playing your favorite tune and adjusts the lights to exactly the desired level.... besides turning off the security system and regulating the climate to your perfect desired temperature in each room.

Then with a single push of a button, it turns off what you want, locks the doors and arms the security system. A notification pops up on your phone verifying everything has been set to your preferences and your house is secure. This kind of security, convenience and technology is here today!

Smartech makes everything work together, but you still have the option of controlling all the individual components with built in redundancies. If you want to start small, Smartech will get your initial setup right so your smart home can get smarter as you add more options. Most people are pleasantly surprised to learn how economical an entry level Smartech security system costs.

Security and convenience is not their only specialty. Smartech can design the perfect home entertainment systems and theater room to dazzle your senses!

Smartech adds value to your home and simplifies your life by providing real security, energy savings and many other cool features. Come to the showroom and immerse yourself in the experience.

Smartech’s showroom is 2 km outside of Huacas on the road to Tamarindo.

Smart Security Energy Control Audio Video Wifi Internet Smart Hospitality Solutions Lighting Control Access Control Automated Shade Control

4001-2084 • office@smartechcr.com www.smartechcr.com

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FEBRUARY feature

where have all the

LEATHERBACKS GONE Playa Grande’s Legendary Leatherbacks

By Marcet Araya

M

ale turtles spend their entire lives at sea. An adult female will swim 1,000 – 1,500 miles, just to turn around and return to her birthplace to nest. At the right time of year, which around here is late October through late February, she comes in under the cover of darkness, usually using the high tide to help her massive body more easily trudge up the beach to the softer sand. Here she digs a hole, deposits 50 to 90 eggs, and covers them carefully.

As a decoy for predators, she also makes a fake nest nearby.

She’ll lay 4 to 7 nests per season.

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Turtle eggs take 60 days to hatch. One fun fact is that their sex is determined by the egg temperature: Below 85 F results in males, above 85 F you get all females, and at 85 F a mix of males and females exits the nest. The baby turtles need to emerge under the cover of darkness. Lights on the beach can easily disorient them and cause them to travel in the wrong direction, meaning they may not make it to the surf before the sun comes up, and certain death.

Photo Credit: George Shillinger

Not so long ago, the giant, majestic leatherback turtle (Latin: Dermochelys coriacea; Spanish: baula) swam all of the world’s largest oceans and populated their birthplace beaches abundantly. Weighing 600-2000 pounds, measuring 6 feet, and with an expected lifespan of around 100 years, their reptilian ancestors predated the dinosaurs, already roaming the earth more than 100 million years ago.

Playa Grande’s legendary leatherbacks

Back in the day, these beaches were literally loaded with thousands and thousands of turtle eggs, the result of an estimated 2,000 unique turtles that nested multiple times in Playa Grande every season. The leatherback turtle coexisted peacefully among local residents.

Carmen Jaen Lopez, 55, was born in Playa Grande along with 7 siblings. Coming from a hunter-gatherer-type background, her family would gather turtle eggs to sell for grocery money. They would fill huge sacks, with maybe 250 eggs each, every night, then transport them by horseback.

The turtles were so abundant, this was done with the easy consciousness of fishing today. Other reports say people loaded eggs off the beach in ox-carts. Despite new laws preventing their removal, even cookie companies continued to come with heavy machinery under cover of darkness— until the media reported on them.

The path to their protection

In 1974, Louis Wilson left behind a promising career as a Florida psychologist in favor of the pristine beauty and epic waves here. Wilson and his brother, Randy, were the first gringos living in Tamarindo. Surfers would occasionally stop by, but no one else was around except the locals. “The community was on the edge of starvation,” recalls Wilson, a salty, seasoned expat. “The very next year, Puka shells were discovered here. An hour’s worth of collecting these shells could bring $1,000. So people came from all over for the shells. That put Tamarindo on the map.”

Turtles were abundant. “One time a turtle came into the Lobos bar and made a nest right inside the bar,” recalls Wilson, squeezing a whole lime on his papaya then giving it an even layer of salt. “There were sand dunes, and Tamarindo had no one on the beach. It was a perfect nesting ground. Pristine.”

Wilson reports having seen 50-100 turtles nightly between Tamarindo and Grande, of all varieties that nest here, but primarily leatherbacks. Other turtles include Ridleys, Loras, Greens, and Blacks.

In 1978, authorities cleared the sand dunes for road construction. That was the Tamarindo turtle habitat. From then, the turtles came mainly to Playa Grande. But people came to Tamarindo wanting to see the turtles. So Wilson

␀㐀㔀

攀瘀攀爀礀 匀甀渀搀愀礀

䄀吀嘀 吀漀甀爀猀 簀 吀甀爀琀氀攀 吀漀甀爀猀 簀 䠀漀爀猀攀戀愀挀欀 刀椀搀椀渀最 簀 䴀椀爀愀瘀愀氀氀攀猀 䠀愀渀最椀渀最 䈀爀椀搀最攀猀 䈀甀攀渀愀瘀椀猀琀愀 䌀漀洀戀漀 簀 䄀爀攀渀愀氀 嘀漀氀挀愀渀漀 漀渀攀 䐀愀礀 簀 䴀漀渀琀攀瘀攀爀搀攀 䌀氀漀甀搀 昀漀爀攀猀琀 倀愀氀漀 嘀攀爀搀攀 一愀琀椀漀渀愀氀 倀愀爀䬀 簀 吀栀攀爀洀愀氀 䠀漀琀 匀瀀爀椀渀最猀 簀 䌀愀琀愀洀愀爀愀渀 䌀爀甀椀猀攀猀

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would boat people across the estuary at night. He didn’t know it, but this was the beginning of what today is known as eco-tourism.

Things began shaking up in the 80s and Wilson began his crusade to save the natural habitat of the area.

Economic forces, i.e. developers, were pushing for control of the estuary and Playa Grande, and seeing dollar signs, the local community didn’t believe the turtles were worth saving. Impassioned Wilson brought an economic argument, showing how keeping nature intact would both bring tourists and increase surrounding land values, pumping up the economy in two ways.

In the meantime, the people came in droves. Everyone wanted to see the turtles. Politicking by day, by night Wilson and his partner Marianela Pastor, a Tica who had grown up camping in these parts and compelled to save them, were running turtle tours out of their Hotel Las Tortugas and serving 150 dinners every night. An employee from that time, Matapalo native Yohana Paniagua Obando, recalls “You would be finished working at 9:00, all cleaned up and ready to go home, and here would come another bus of [25-40] people to see the turtles. So you would have to open everything back up again, start chopping again, and go back to work.”

Also in the 1980s, another player entered the turtle conversation. The Leatherback Trust established itself as a research institution, and built a site right next to Hotel Las Tortugas in Playa Grande.

Wilson and Pastor, with the help of Senators Rudolfo Brenes and Gladys Rojas (dec.), worked exhaustively for years to gain protected status for the area. In 1990 the Tamarindo Wildlife Sanctuary was finally passed into law, forever protecting Playa Grande. Wilson wrote that law, and Rojas helped gain senate approval. In 1993, the estuary was recognized by Ramsar, the international body that identifies the world’s most important wetlands, as a critical wetland for the planet’s ecosystem. In 1995 the national park Marino Las Baulas was officially established, and the Ministero de

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Ambiente y Energía (MINAE) took over care of the park and the welfare of an estimated 2,000 healthy female leatherbacks, according to Wilson and Pastor’s estimation.

MINAE biologist Ademar Rosales Ruiz says the park they manage, Marino Las Baulas, measures approximately 26 ha of marine and 900 ha of terrestrial property, and confirms that their primary purpose is the care and welfare of the leatherback, followed closely by the estuary.

Wilson and Pastor kept pushing for increased protection for the area. “But by that time, Tamarindo had become a party town, and ecotourism took a back seat to unbridled development,” laments Wilson.

The legendary leatherback nesting site Playa Grande still attracts a lot of tourists hoping to see the turtles, and Wilson still runs Hotel Las Tortugas, employing all local people.

At press time, 12 different turtles have returned to Playa Grande this nesting season.

What happened to the leatherbacks?

It turns out 1995 was about the last time anyone really saw an abundance of leatherbacks pretty much anywhere. Some sources say the species has declined by 98%.

These numbers beg the question of what happened?

The answer to that depends entirely on who you ask. Some reasons observed include: unethical Pacific fishing fleets, largely by Asian nations; local fishermen callously slaughtering turtles coming home to nest; death by choking on plastic, mistaking it for food; bright lights on the beach; devastated habitat; egg poachers; MINAE mismanagement; people’s dogs; free-wheeling scientific research programs; authorities not responding to calls of poaching and slaughter in a timely manner if at all; no reporting of slaughter and poaching due to fear of retaliation; ocean current changes; moving eggs and handling hatchlings; raccoons that arrived with the hundred or so Palm Beach residences; and ocean floor changes. Perhaps it was a combination of a lot of these elements, and maybe

some not on this list. Humans were probably involved in the equation, at least at some level. The leatherbacks survive just fine for 100 million years, then in the last 20 they nearly disappear? I smell a human hand in there somewhere.

The bottom line, however, is that the leatherbacks are nearly gone from Playa Grande. Rather than point fingers, it’s more productive to focus on what we can do, which is live sustainably in every way and enforce sustainability when we observe its violation. For example, gas-powered boats, leaving behind fossil fuel waste and tearing up the crucial marshy bottom with lethal propellers, have no business in an internationally protected estuary deemed critical to the planet’s ecosystem. This is not the Disneyland Jungle Tour.

Take a canoe. Another example is eating snacks fried in palm oil, as most here are, contributing to destroying habitats and many species. The orangutans shouldn’t have to die for your potato chips. Homemade chips are delicious! Maybe we can’t stop this type of destruction, but we can choose to not support it. It’s not easy to live responsibly in an irresponsible world. And for heaven’s sake please do not feed any of the animals. Just leave them alone and stay out of their way. They do not exist for our amusement and deserve our full respect.

It is up to us to be the responsible ones, as consumers.

We cannot leave it to industry to do the right thing, ever.

We have to think, and to question businesses’ sustainability practices, knowing that businesses will always exploit and destroy in pursuit of profit. Greed knows no conscience.

They will exploit whatever we pay them to. We have to support the responsible ones.

If we had had this conversation a thousand leatherbacks ago, this story might have a happier ending. At this point, these numbers are screaming at us to behave responsibly and show some respect for all the plant and animals species with which we coexist. Our own comfort and convenience should never trump the health and well-being of others, human or not.

Please support the Ocean Conservancy and World Wildlife Fund.

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feature

SANDS OF

CHANGE

COMMUNITY

By Louis Wilson

I

n the early seventies, my brother and I arrived in Tamarindo with single fin, 7 foot, down-railers and homemade bungee cord leashes. When your tail “side slipped” out from under you on a late drop, your board stretched out to the breaking point on the rubber bungee and sliced back at you like a fiberglass filet knife.

Often the cord broke, which meant a dicey swim in with the sharks. From the porthole windows of the old DC 3s that landed on the grass airfield in Santa Cruz, the surf breaks looked like chocolate chip cookies-white breaks dotted with dark colored sharks. These old DC 3s, now fallen the way of lumbering dinosaurs, were our major transportation back and forth to San Jose on our many trips for banking and supplies at a time when even the Intercontinental highway was gravel and there were no easy routes to Tamarindo.

For the last several years I have been noticing the changes in the sand in Playa Grande. Perhaps these changes in the sand structure are connected to the 1978 sand removal in the Tamarindo Estuary mouth by the local developers and the Santa Cruz “Municipalidad”.

The mountain of sand was taken to build roads and affected the Tamarindo beachfront almost immediately.

At the next big high tide, the water washed away the “blue house” and several other rickety buildings. The Diria lost its expansive beachfront, walls, and hammock ranchos. Dolly’s Cabinas nearly fell into the estuary, which was the beginning of her family’s decades-long doomed struggle to save their livelihood.

Prior to this disappearance of the sand mountain, the giant leatherback turtles nested in Tamarindo on

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the sweeping dunes. The sand reached all the way out to the rock in front of what we used to call “pico pequeño” on the south side of the estuary mouth.

For surfers, the estuary take-off spot was about 50 meters to the north of the “pico grande” big rock. There was an island next to the rock with a withered tree. The left was accessible by paddling across the estuary to the island and then wading in knee-deep water out on the spit to the top of the horseshoe- shaped bar. There was no right. The gaping curl zippered down the spit opened by the slightly northerly angled Papagayo wind and finished somewhere half way to Playa Grande. Each perfect wave broke in flat turquoise water, swallowing the white water tails almost immediately as the wave was absorbed by the deeper water in the estuary, The gentle southern current drifted us slowly back to the line-up. We kept our feet up on our boards to avoid tempting the ever-present toothy predators. The etiquette was to take your time and watch your friends and visitors take a turn.

As I watch the dunes here in Playa Grande disappear year after year, along with the demise of the leatherback turtle nesting habitat, I am reminded of the fragility of our marine environment and how dependent we are on it for our lifestyle as surfers.

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HISTORY OF THE SURFBOARD

AUGUST ODYSSEYS

by Robert August

I

n the beginning, waveriders were making boards from solid wood. They were really heavy--like 120 pounds--and not easy to manage or ride. You kept in shape just lugging your board around! Drop your board on your toe, no surfing for a week.

It was then, when boards became something really reasonable and even easy to manage, that surfing began to evolve into the popular sport it is today.

Next, they progressed into what they called “paddle boards.” These paddle boards were made out of plywood and then painted on the outside. They were hollow in the middle, so a lot lighter than the solid wood variety--the paddle boards weighed about 70-80 lbs.

I entered the surf scene at the paddle board stage. When I was five years old, you could go to the lumber supply place for the wood, and then purchase patterns that you could cut out into paddle board shapes. This was how I made my first surfboard with my dad. We got the lumber and patterns, then we made boards together, and then we surfed together.

Actually, he pushed me in the water at Seal Beach, California when I started. This was my very first board.

But the guys that were into surfing kept looking for better ways to make their boards easier to ride and deal with in the water and out. They paid attention to the life preservers that were modern at the time and made from balsa wood with canvas. If a plane crashed or a boat sank you could float for a day or so hoping someone could save you. So they copied the idea and cut boards out of balsa and glued the canvas on it. Now surfboards were specifically designed to float.

Then the boating industry at the time began using fiberglass on their hulls. Someone smart realized that if they cut the balsa wood into a board, then covered it with fiberglass, it would be much lighter and more maneuverable than what they were currently doing. Add a fin in the back, shaped like a dolphin or shark tail, and you could maneuver and make turns!

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Robert’s first surfboard

Then, in the balsa wood and fiberglass era, Greg Knoll was making surfboards with these materials in his mother’s garage in Manhattan Beach, California, and Hobie was making surfboards in Dana Point, California. After my paddle board I rode the Hobie boards, which they made with the fin already in them.

I have been shaping my own boards since 1966. Today, I shape my boards from polyurethane foam and Curtis Custer brings the material to me from California. They are glassed

by Juan Diego Evangelista at Cheboards here in Tamarindo.

My favorite is the 9-foot What I Ride.

TIDE CHART

MARCH 2017

Day

Sunrise Sunset

Moonrise MR Moonset MS

High Tides

Low Tides

Day

Sunrise Sunset

Moonrise MR Moonset MS

High Tides

Low Tides

1 Wed

5:53am 5:49pm

8:17am 8:49pm

4:38am-9.37’ 4:59pm-9.80’

10:41am-(-)0.85’ 11:08pm-(-)0.79’

17 Fri

5:45am 5:50pm

9:20am MS 10:04pm MR

5:55am-8.24’ 6:12pm-8.54’

11:54am-0.39’

2 Thurs

5:52am 5:49pm

9:06am 9:45pm

5:20am-9.29’ 5:43pm-9.76’

11:23am-(-)0.79’ 11:52pm-(-)0.68’

18 Sat

5:44am 5:50pm

10:03am MS 10:52pm MR

6:35am-7.77’ 6:52pm-8.07’

12:21am-0.44’ 12:32pm-0.87’

3 Fri

5:52am 5:49pm

9:57am 10:43pm

6:04am-9.02’ 6:27pm-9.52’

12:07pm-(-)0.53’

19 Sun

5:43am 5:50pm

10:49am MS 11:40pm MR

7:17am-7.27’ 7:34pm-7.58’

1:01am-0.87’ 1:12pm-1.38’

4 Sat

5:52am 5:50pm

10:50am 11:41pm

6:54am-8.61’ 7:19pm-9.11’

12:40am-(-)0.39’ 12:55pm-(-)0.11’

20 Mon

5:43am 5:50pm

11:35am MS

8:07am-6.82’ 8:24pm-7.15’

1:47am-1.31’ 2:00pm-1.85’

5 Sun

5:51am 5:50pm

11:45am MR

7:48am-8.12’ 8:14pm-8.62’

1:32am-0.03’ 1:49pm-0.41’

21 Tues

5:42am 5:50pm

12:29am 12:24pm

9:03am-6.49’ 9:24pm-6.85’

2:39am-1.67’ 2:56pm-2.19’

6 Mon

5:51am 5:50pm

12:40am MS 12:41pm MR

8:50am-7.68’ 9:21pm-8.18’

2:30am-0.49’ 2:51pm-0.91’

22 Wed

5:42am 5:50pm

1:17am 1:14pm

10:09am-6.40’ 10:30pm-6.79’

3:39am-1.88’ 4:02pm-2.31’

7 Tues

5:50am 5:50pm

1:37am MS 1:38pm MR

10:02am-7.43’ 10:33pm-7.95’

3:38am-0.83’ 4:03pm-1.23’

23 Thurs

5:41am 5:50pm

2:06am 2:06pm

11:13am-6.61’ 11:34pm-7.00’

4:45am-1.84’ 5:10pm-2.12’

8 Wed

5:49am 5:50pm

2:33am MS 2:35pm MR

11:16am-7.49’ 11:43pm-7.99’

4:52am-0.93’ 5:21pm-1.24’

24 Fri

5:40am 5:50pm

2:54am 2:58pm

12:11pm-7.06’

5:45am-1.55’ 6:12pm-1.65’

9 Thurs

5:49am 5:50pm

3:26am MS 3:31pm MR

12:24pm-7.83’

6:02am-0.75’ 6:31pm-0.97’

25 Sat

5:40am 5:50pm

3:42am 3:51pm

12:30am-7.43’ 1:01pm-7.68’

6:39am-1.08’ 7:04pm-1.01’

10 Fri

5:48am 5:50pm

4:16am MS 4:24pm MR

12:49am-8.25’ 1:22pm-8.30’

7:04am-0.40’ 7:31pm-0.55’

26 Sun

5:39am 5:49pm

4:30am 4:46pm

1:20am-7.97’ 1:45pm-8.38’

7:27am-0.51’ 7:50pm-0.31’

11 Sat

5:48am 5:50pm

5:04am MS 5:17pm MR

1:43am-8.57’ 2:14pm-8.77’

7:56am-0.02’ 8:21pm-0.14’

27 Mon

5:39am 5:49pm

5:18am 5:41pm

2:06am-8.52’ 2:27pm-9.05’

8:09am-(-)0.06’ 8:36pm-(-)0.35’

12 Sun

5:47am 5:49pm

5:48am MS 6:07pm MR

2:33am-8.85’ 2:58pm-9.13’

8:42am-(-)0.28’ 9:07pm-(-)0.17’

28 Tues

5:38am 5:49pm

6:07am 6:37pm

2:48am-9.02’ 3:09pm-9.62’

8:53am-(-)0.56’ 9:18pm-(-)0.88’

13 Mon

5:47am 5:50pm

6:32am MS 6:55pm MR

3:17am-9.02’ 3:40pm-9.34’

9:24am-(-)0.45’ 9:49pm-(-)0.34’

29 Wed

5:37am 5:49pm

6:57am 7:35pm

3:32am-9.38’ 3:51pm-10.01’

9:35am-(-)0.91’ 10:02pm-(-)1.21’

14 Tues

5:46am 5:50pm

7:14am MS 7:43pm MR

3:59am-9.04’ 4:20pm-9.37’

10:04am-(-)0.46’ 10:27pm-(-)0.34’

30 Thurs

5:37am 5:49pm

7:49am 8:34pm

4:16am-9.56’ 4:35pm-10.17’

10:17am-(-)1.06’ 10:6pm-(-)1.30’

15 Wed

5:46am 5:50pm

7:55am MS 8:30pm MR

4:37am-8.91’ 4:56pm-9.23’

10:40am-(-)0.31’ 11:05pm-(-)0.20’

31 Fri

5:37am 5:49pm

8:48am 9:34pm

5:00am-9.52’ 5:21pm-10.06’

11:03am-(-)0.98’ 11:32pm-(-)1.14’

16 Thurs

5:45am 5:50pm

8:37am MS 9:17pm MR

5:17am-8.64’ 5:34pm-8.94’

11:16am-(-)0.02’ 11:43pm-(-)0.07’

Moon Phase

1st Q

Full 8:56am

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Moon Phase

3rd Q

New 8:55pm

23

SURVIVING COSTA RICA Chapter MDXVI

by Jesse Bishop

He was a wise man who invented beer. – Plato I’ve never had a drink in my life. – Donald Trump

O

ne of the first things they tell you at Columnist College is “write about what you know”. As I began pondering on what to write this month, and contemplating the rule of thumb from above, it came to me in a flash. “BEER”! Just to get me in the right frame of mind I have just consumed a six pack of fancy imported Old Milwaukee. It is now 8:29 AM. I don’t want to give you the impression that I was a lush at the age of four, but I distinctly recall the taste of beer, which my father went ahead and gave me a taste of upon request.

It was very sharp and metallic tasting to my unaccustomed taste buds, and was discouraging enough to keep me sober for the next fourteen years or so.

I can’t say exactly when I became a beer enthusiast, probably about the same time I became unchaste, but needless to say it was a long time ago, and I have become and remained an enthusiastic fan of ale, brew, stout, suds, cerveza etc. etc.

Beer first showed up on the world stage along with the written word and the wheel close to 5000 years ago when it was first mentioned in a Sumerian text.

24

THE HOWLER MAGAZINE

Well of course by that time beer had already been around China for 2000 years, but ancient beer scholars aren’t really sure how good it was.

By the time the Pharaohs were employing their entire nation to build pyramids, they made sure that each slave…. err, citizen received five liters of barley beer for both nutritional and recreational needs, and even the Romans, who were better known as serious winos, came up with the root word “cerevisia” from which all future beers would be known, at least in Spanish.

Which brings us to here in Costa Rica.

One of the first decisions that the experienced and serious beer drinkers must decide upon is whether you drink an “Imperial” or a “Pilsen”.

Photo Credit: Paul Joseph Ekem Ildar Sagdejev

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

- Benjamin Franklin

Now there are doubters out there that think that it’s the same beer in two different bottles, and after all there’s only one beer company here anyway, the Florida Ice and Farm Company, so what do they have to lose?

Those of us who are Pilsen drinkers, and I must stress that I fall into this category, know that there is a vast difference in how the two beers taste. Just don’t ask me to describe them.

It has more to do with a “mind set”. Although I do have a passing familiarity with Imperial, also known as a “Pollo Negro” for the fierce black chicken on its label, you see a lot of real live surfers and cowboys in this neck of Costa Rica drinking the stuff, and there are probably more of them than there are of us.

But the fact of the matter is that we Pilsen drinkers, (also referred to as a “Rubia”, because of all the beautiful blonde Costa Ricans featured in the yearly Pilsen calendar), ARE JUST PLAIN COOLER!

(506) 2653-0708 (Local) (949) 891-7385 (US & CAN)

Plaza Tamarindo A11, Tamarindo, Costa Rica

WWW.HIDDENCOASTREALTY.COM

It was the same way back in Texas when you either drank Budweiser or Miller Lite, although there still is a beer call Lone Star that was sort of the state’s official beer until it was sold to the Heileman Brewing Company of Wisconsin and kind of lost its luster.

Back in my Texas days I defied convention by enthusiastically imbibing Busch beer, Budweiser’s secondtier product named after the company’s founder and recent Super Bowl subject Augustus Busch.

Oddly enough back in my earlier hippy-dippy days I ran into Augustus Busch IV who was similarly inclined. He had a fabulously tricked out VW van and all the Budweiser beer you might need. It turned out he and I had the same birthday and…… he was a triple Taurus!

But I digress.

We beer drinkers here in the greater Tamarindo Cosmopolitan Area are lucky to have Auto Mercado if for no other reason that they have a fabulous beer selection. I was recently surprised when I found none other than my old friend Busch Beer stocked in the beer cooler. For old time’s sake I bought a couple but I didn’t let it interfere with buying our usual brand these days: Orangeboom 8.5, a pretty stout offering from Holland, not to be confused with their stronger models 12 (percent alcohol), 14 or the 16 also known as “psychedelic beer”.

Writing this column has made me thirstier.

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25

26

THE HOWLER MAGAZINE

ENVIRONMENT

Too Much

by Tom Peifer

of a

Good Thing

I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain. James Taylor

M

y first night in Guanacaste: love at first sight. The uncluttered view of the star-filled heavens and the sultry summer breezes touched a kind of primal chord. The warm offshore winds rekindled memories of my youth in Southern California. There, the Santa Ana winds surged down out of the high desert, across the plains, and swept the dreary summer weather pattern of ‘late night and early morning low clouds and fog’ into oblivion. And yes, we also got some great surf.

In my case, that first week of offshore winds in Guanacaste helped to clinch the deal on buying land, settling down and sinking roots. After all these years, the night airs still waft the fragrance of the nearby forest through the open window and still provide a source of sensory pleasure. But, there are times when it’s like, OK, enough already.

In the present case I’m scrambling to write now that the electricity is back after a series of wind-related power outages, telephone snafus and assorted irrigation disasters.

(Some people insist that things come in threes, but to say that when it rains it pours is the wrong metaphor for these dog days of the dry season.)

As it turns out, there’s a wind advisory in effect due to a cold front jammed up against the Caribbean Coast.

It’s windy and drizzling in San Jose. The only drizzle in my neck of the woods is downwind from my irrigation system, much to the chagrin of the wind- and sun-stressed plants.

Let’s face it: For gardeners and growers the high winds are a major nuisance and a pain in the neck, but for others the prevailing conditions portend more serious threats.

Last year, after several years of drought, a few months of summer breezes turned the hills all over Guanacaste into

an explosive mix of dead trees and tinder dry undergrowth.

In our valley south of Tamarindo, the long ridge from 27 de Abril to the hills behind Playa Negra and Avellanes played host to a fire that lasted for weeks. It was like watching the Wehrmacht marching its way westward, chewing up new territory on a daily basis.

Extreme weather pays heed to the laws of physics and thermodynamics and is wont to make short shrift of the best-laid plans of mice and men. One neighbor bulldozed what he thought would be a Maginot line of defense to protect his domain from flames but the wind whipped embers floated effortlessly above and far beyond his line in the sand and torched hundreds more hectares of forest covered hills.

One doesn’t need to believe in nor deny the science of climate change. Like Sargent Friday used to say, “The facts ma’am, just the facts.” Worldwide the hard data on extreme weather could not be more crystal clear. Fires up, both in area, intensity and frequency. Droughts, ditto, the former often following on the heels of the latter. Flooding and increased intensity of thunderstorms are both way up even in Europe where drizzle used to be more the norm than tropical downpours.

We’ve seen the wild swings of an increasingly chaotic climate right here on our home turf, from drought to fire to the first Tico hurricane that calmly waltzed across the country, sparing most of us near the coast while wreaking havoc in the hills and valleys further inland. As an article in La Nación pointed out, the hillside forests are key to buffering the effects of extreme rainfall. Consider that a word to the wise. This time of year, preventing the onslaught of fires is top priority for all of us.

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27

LEGAL EASE PURCHASING A CONDOMINIUM

by Ivan Granados Attorney at Law and utilities are duly paid and current, ensure that the property has legal access to water and electricity, determine if there are zoning restrictions or Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs), and appraise any other relevant matters. The real estate attorney’s office will conduct the research and verifications with the National Registry, Municipality, Department of Social Security, Tax Office, and other government offices. Hiring a licensed contractor to perform a home/condo inspection alerting the buyer of any potential problems that need attention or repairs is also highly advisable.

DUE DILIGENCE

I

n Costa Rica, all real properties are duly registered within the Registro Nacional (National Registry) and all relevant information about the title and the survey maps must be duly recorded. Any modification in the status of a title or any claims that might affect it must also be noted on the registry, making it possible to verify said title.

Before buying any real estate in Costa Rica, potential buyers should get proper advice from a Costa Rica real estate attorney, who will conduct a proper and full Due Diligence (DD). The purpose of this DD is to verify that there are no annotations, liens, easements, or encumbrances affecting the property, confirm that any and all taxes, dues,

When purchasing a condominium, the DD shall also include CC&Rs or Condo Bylaws, existence of the Homeowner’s Association (HOA) legal and accounting books (duly legalized), the last three HOA meeting minutes, breakdown on the approved budget, dues per month, any extraordinary assessment/dues approved, proper registration of the HOA legal administrator’s term, any lawsuits against or in favor of the HOA, the HOA’s insurance policy, voting rights set up, common and private areas of the HOA, survey map for fully-built condos, parking space assignment (titled or common use for condo owners), pet policies, and Master Condo bylaws for condos that belong and are subject to a Master Condo complex.

Before the end of the DD period and based on the DD report, purchasers can negotiate with the seller for necessary repairs or credits for repairs, accept the real property in its present condition “as is”, or cancel the sale.

We specialize in: • U.S. Citizens living, working and investing abroad • Back reporting and filing.

• Foreign earned income exclusion • Business consulting & financial reporting • U.S. and Costa Rican accounting and bookkeeping

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+ 1 786 206 9473 (United States)

“OUR BUSINESS IS MAKING YOURS GROW”

We are a premium boutique Law Firm. For more than three decades we have focused on attending the needs of our clients in an integral and personalized manner, while satisfying promptly and effectively all their legal requirements.

PRACTICE AREAS Real Estate Corporate and Business Law

RECENT AWARDS

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Los Yoses, San Pedro,

Flamingo Beach,

Tamarindo Beach,

San José

Guanacaste

Guanacaste

(+506) 2253-0661

(+506) 2654-4367

(+506) 2653-2155

GM Attorneys

(+506) 2234-9898

(+506) 2654-4415

(+506) 2653-2154

GM Attorneys

Website: www.gmattorneyscr.com Mail: info@gmattorneyscr.com

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29

COMMUNITY INFORMATION EMBASSY CONTACT INFO: UNITED STATES +506 2242 4000 EU & CANADA +506 2519 2002 TOURIST POLICE +506 2654 6136

POISON CENTER +506 2223 1028

FIRE UNIT Filadelfia: +506 2688 8733 Santa Cruz: +506 2680 0090

Robert August would like to send out a special invitation to support a great cause while having fun for the Annual Robert August "Surf n Turf" Charity Challenge!

OIJ CONFIDENTIAL 800 8000 645 TAMARINDO POLICE +506 2244 6173 ACCIDENT REPORT 800 800 8000 VEHICLE ASSISTANCE 800 8000 8001

HIGHWAY PATROL 1117 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS TAMARINDO

Waves of Sobriety Monday / Thursday 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday / Saturday 10:30a.m.

Behind the Tamarindo circle, through Pedro´s Surf Shop Contact: Ellen Zoe +506 8484 1360

•

•

FLAMINGO / POTRERO

Beach front Serenity Group Tuesday / Friday 5:30 p.m.

Upstairs Costa Rica Saling Center Contact : Craig +506 8699 0254

“PACIFIC SERENITY GROUP”

30

Meeting Sunday at 7:00 pm behind Pedro’s Surf shop (same as AA) Contact info: Bruce +506 8866 9448

THE HOWLER MAGAZINE pacificserenity001@gmail.com

100% of this event profits are donated to CEPIA, a Costa Rican based non-profit organization, which seeks to improve the quality of life of children and teenagers and their families from poor backgrounds in Costa Rica by promotion cultural development, educational and market opportunities, physical and mental health, social cohesion and participation.

To secure your spot, email Kristina: cepia.surfandturf@gmail.com or Call (506) 8447-6900. Thank you!

COMMUNITY DIRECTORY

Church Services and Counseling Main Road to Tamarindo Sunday 10: 00 am 8868-0871 tamarindochurch@gmail.com

Beach Community Church Visit and Socialize

Love, Hope Peace

Computers and Accessories Tune up your PC Certified Technicians, Printers and Accessories Huacas & Tamarindo M-S 2653-4090 or 2653-9090 info@pcsolutionscr.com

Dr. Carlos Santos Full Service Dentistry 24 hour Emergency Service

Huacas M-S 2653-8365 cepiacostarica@gmail.com

Desarrollo Comunal

ADIT is a group of volunteers interested in the welfare of Tamarindo

Eco-friendly Laundry Service

CRIA

School Education Accredited Grade School and High School Education Brasilito M-F 2654-5042 info@CRIAcademy.com

Waldorf

Education K -12 Accept the children with reverence, educate them with love Canafistula 6 km SE Villarreal M-F 8651-8301 info@gws.ed.cr

Terrazas

Teak Furniture Fine Teak Furniture Tamarindo Garden Plaza M-S 4701-5785 diego.vargas@spanishroyalteak.com

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31

FURNITURE

Royal Palm Plaza M-F 9:00 am - 5:00 pm 2653-0539 rguerrero@digitall.tech

5 km calle Huacas Tamarindo from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm 2653-6363 info@educartecostarica.com

EDUCATION

Computers Devices and Technical Support

Laundry Service

Pickup and Delivery Mon-Sun 8:00 am-5:00 pm 8353-1275 Cleandelivery1@gmail.com

COMPUTERS

Apple Certified Mac Tech

Mobile All areas Call 8595-3569 mistawaypacific@gmail.com

Educarte

Private Bilingual School

Insect Control / Fumigation Misting Systems all natural Control your environment from Pests

Flamingo / Mar Vista M-F 2654-4532 paz@LaPazSchool.org

Preschool, Primary, Secondary

MistAway Systems

Pickup and delivery, serving the Gold Coast without water waste.

Hotel Capitรกn Suizo M - F. 9:00 am - 5:00 pm 8319-4015 adi@playatamarindo.org

Digitall

Royal Palms Plaza Center 9:00 am to 6:00 pm 2652-9016 info@northpacificdental.com

DOMESTIC SERVICES

Development Association

Huacas M-F 2653-7036 happygarden_huacas@yahoo.es

EDUCATION

Plaza Potrero S-F 7 - 12:00 am and 1-5:00 pm 8788-9079

Full Service Dental and Cosmetic Dentistry

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMEN

Promote culture, health, sports and education for children

Caring while Teaching

All Grades International Baccalaureate program

24 Hour Emergency Dentistry

Dental Services Non Profit

Day Care / Preschool

Private School

Clinica Dental

North Pacific Dental CEPIA

Happy Gardens

La Paz

DENTAL / MEDICAL

Main Road to Brasilito Sunday 10:00 am 8621-6273 perrycarlile@gmail.com

PC Solutions

CHURCH / COUNSELING

tamarindochurch@gmail.com

COMPUTERS

Tamarindo Church

COMMUNITY DIRECTORY J & G Furniture Specialty Furniture for All budgets

New and Used Furniture, Trade yours in

Food, Liquor and Fishing Gear and Delivery

main Road Huacas to Tamarindo 7 days 8:00 am - 5:00 pm 8379-0168 brucescott.scott@hotmail.com

300 mtrs W of Flamingo Cruce 7 days 7:00 am - 8:00 pm 2653-8714

Mr. Toms Printing

US Style Grocer

Local and Imported food items Garden Plaza Mall 7 days 8:00 am - 9:00 pm 2653-2414 amidomicilio@automercado.cr

Mega Super Local Grocer

Nice Store Local and Imported Food Royal Palm Plaza 7 days 7:00 am - 8:00 pm atencionalcliente@megasuper.com

32

THE HOWLER MAGAZINE

GRAPHICS / PRINTING

Automercado

Printing Internet and supplies All your office needs

HARDWARE STORE

GROCERY STORE

Across from Hotel Pasatiempo 7 days a week, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm 8395-6184 labodegacostarica@gmail.com

200 Mtr West of Huacas Cruce 24 Hours 2653-9911

Wil-Mart

Between Matapalo & Playa Grande 7:00 am - 9:00 pm daily 2249-0387 wesone2020@yahoo.com

Market specializing in Fresh, Local, Organic foods and local products

Main Office - Across street from Auto Mercado - Tamarindo Mon-Sat 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (CR) 2653-4300 (24/7) 973-536-1191 info@allinsurancecr.com

Emergency, Medical, Pharmacy and Dental with Other Specialties

Full service supermarket with an emphasis on imported products

Organic produce, meats, coffee

Offering the best coverage with customer service a priority

24hr Medical and ER Services

Fruit, vegetables, quality meats

La Bodega Market

Health, Auto, Homeowners and more

Beach Side Clinic

COMACO

Centro Comercial Plaza 9:00 am - 6:00 pm 2653-3886 mrtomtamarindo@hotmail.com

MEDICAL AND PHARMACY

New and Used

Convenience Store

Onda Pixel

Graphics and Printing

Your one stop for all your building needs centrally located Huacas-1 km E of intersection M-S 2654-5020 info@comacocr.com

Modern Hospital

Providing the highest quality medical care in Guanacaste Downtown Center, Calle 3 24 Hours 2666-1717

Pharmacy El Cruce

Dr. Jose M. Garita Monge Pharmacy Plaza Juan Pablo Huacas 9:00 am - 4:00 pm M-F 2653-6884 jgarita040@hotmail.com

Medical and Pharmacy Services Medical, Emergency and Pharmacy

Pacific Park Tamarindo M-F 2653-4452 info@ondapixel.com

Building & Paint Supplies

San Rafaél Arcángel

Tamarindo Doctor

Graphic design, advertising and printing services

Conchal Plaza Tamarindo 9:00 am - 8:00 pm 2653-0121

OPTICAL / MEDICAL

Scott Furniture

La Uruca

GROCERY STORE

FURNITURE

Huacas M-F 2653-8519 jygfurniturestore@gmail.com

INSURANCE

All Insurance CR

Decor

Opticas Pacifico

Eye Doctor and Glasses Eye Exams and Eye Glasses and Contacts Huacas Call For Appointment 2653-6950

If you enjoy the Howler - Please support our

COMMUNITY DIRECTORY

Pool Equipment

All Pool and Water Related Supplies and Chemicals

Swimming pool supply store, pumps and storage Tamarindo and Huacas 7:30 am to 5:00 pm 2653-2333

Legal Services

Full Service all practices Legal Tamarindo and Flamingo Call for Appointment 2654-4367 info@gmattorneyscr.com

Accounting and Auditing Full Service Accounting and Tax Plaza Conchal 2nd floor Call for Appointment 2653-4423

Call for appointment 2653-0962 support@ForceOneNow.com

Smartech

Security, Home Automation Audio Visual

Serving clients in Guanacaste since 1990. We know Costa Rica!

Residential, Commercial, Farm Land Tel: 8860-9756 roldan@emeraldshoresrealty.net

REAL ESTATE

Real Estate, Development, Management

Royal Palms Plaza 7:30 am 2652-9009 / 8815-5713

Clinica Veterinaria

Veterinary Services - English Spoken Full Service: X-Rays, Lab, Ultrasound, Emergencies 100meter before main intersection towards Huacas Mon-Sat 8-5 2653-0796 / 8849-2647(emergencies)

Home Automation control your home from anywhere Main Road from Huacus to Tamarindo Call for appointment Visit Showroom 4001-2084 office@smartechcr.com

Tranquila Vet Mobile Vet

Mobile Veterinary Services US Trained Veterinarian Main Road from Huacas to Tamarindo Call For Appointment 8482-9230 tranquilavet@gmail.com

Costa Vida Adventures

Tuanis Vet

Adventure tourist Transp

Full Service Vet

Nature Travel Adventure Playa Grande Kiki's Place Call 8466-3482 costavidacr@gmail.com

ECOTRANS

Adventure / Transport Reliable Transport at Great Prices

Emerald Shores Realty

Full Service Veterinarian Hospital All Animals and Wildlife

Flamingo 24 Hr 2654-5151 reservas@ecotranscostarica.com

Shuttle Express Tamarindo Tours Transport

TRANSPORTATION

MVCONTA

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

GM Attorney

Animal Hospital

State of the art integrated electronic, physical security solutions

VETERINARIAN

Water Pumps

PUMP SUPPLIES

Water Pump Solutions

Cavallini Veterinarian

Security, Patrol and Monitoring

SECURITY

In the DOIT CENTER M-S 2667-0131 aquapoolbluecr@gmail.com

POOL AND PUMP

Aqua Pool Blue

Force One

Full Service Veterinarian and Grooming Villarreal 9:00 am - 5:00 pm 2653 4119

GENERATE BUSINESS GET IN THE

DIRECTORY

Shuttle Service for Adventure and Tourist Tamarindo 24 Hr 6290-0485 info@shuttleexpresstamarindo.com

Advertisers, tell them we sent you!

4701 5942 / ads@howlermag.com

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33

March feature

TAKE A CLASS!

So many choices!

By Marcet Araya

LIFESTYLE

CLASSES

L

ife here on the beach is pretty amazing, no doubt.

We live smack in Mother Nature’s playground.

Kicking around, beating the heat, and living pura vida on Tico time, the days simply melt together.

Hammocking becomes a viable activity.

It’s frightfully easy to settle into an easy, even lazy, even complacent lifestyle routine.

With that in mind, there’s no time better than the dawn of a new seasonal year, with March signaling the beginning of spring, to get off our fannies and move a little! We might feel it a little less down here near the equator, but spring is still the best time of year to get moving on new ventures and bring those things you’ve been wanting to do off the back burner.

The greater Langosta-Potrero area offers all kinds of classes to help you learn a new skill, get back into an old one, or just explore for no reason other than the sheer fun of it.

So come on! Beat the heat’s lethargy and get your blood pumping and your brain whirling! Here’s a sampling of the classes you can find right here in this area. See something you like? Something that makes you go “ooooooo!” Feel a little tug of the gut when you come across something in particular? That has your name on it! Call them up or, as appropriate, stop by for a class! If you think you’re too old, you’re not.

If you think you’re too weak or too small or too out of shape, you’re not. If you think you’re too clumsy or unskilled, you’re definitely not.

ses

Exercise Clas

tions y of exercise op ell et ri va e id w a s s and agility w This area offer your limbernes in ta re u yo lp to he en years. into your gold 85 osta - 2653 24 Center, Lang s es ln el W Revive 17 0639 marindo - 85 e Crossfit, Ta Pacific Wav r - 2653 1423 tness Cente Tamarindo Fi s 2653-9026 st Gym - Huca Pacific Coa

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu The combat martial art Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is a type of grappling. BJJ technique relies heavily on leverage, meaning that smaller and less strong people can still have half a chance against bigger and stronger opponents. As a combat sport, technique involves learning a lot of chokes, such as rear-naked choke, and guillotine, and learning leverage to control your opponent and push nearly every joint in the human body into dislocation. it’s excellent self-defense training.

Tamarindo Jiu Jitsu Academy, Huacas - 7030 8765, ajiujitsu@gmail.com Adult classes: M/W 6:30p and T/Th 9:15a. Women only 8:15a Tues. Kids M/Th. Friday Open Mat

34

THE HOWLER MAGAZINE

Dance Where there are people, there is dance. Dance is as human as walking upright. We have danced since we have existed. What better place to learn salsa dancing than in a Latin American country?! Or do ballet stretches in a climate conducive to supple joints and muscles.

Whether you want to actually improve your skills in these areas or just want to do some super fun in exercising, there are a couple of dance options out. the area to help you Tidal Dancers, Tamarindo - 8484 3756, tidaldancers@gmail.com M ballet 4:00, 5:00, 6:00; T Hip Hop 4:00, 5:00; W Jazz 4:00, 5:00; Barre 6:00; Th Varied Styles 9:00.

1:00, 2:45, 4:00, 5:00, 6:00. F Dance Academy Sat Mostly Ballet 8:30, 10:00, 11:30, 12:30.

W/Th Dance Academy 6:45 am. er, The Loft at the Costa Rica Sailing Cent Potrero - 8546 1422 Salsa, Th 6:00; Belly Dancing, Sun 9:00

Yoga Yoga provides excellent strength and flexibility training, which become increasingly important as we age. The Costa Rican jungle environment and the pura vida vibe provide a perfect backdrop for this meditative exercise form. Stretch your muscles and your joints, release tension, strengthen neck-to-toe, develop awe-inspiring flexibility and push into some impressive poses. People come from all over the world to indulge in the particular variety of yoga offered on these beaches and in these hills. Yet here they are in our own backyard!

Mermaids & Sailors, Tamarindoinfo@mermaids-and-sailors.com 2653 2280 Various classes. Times: M 9:00, 10:30, 6:00p; T-Th 9:00, 10:30, 5:30p; F-Sat 10:30, 3:30; Sun 10:30.

Tai Chi Tai Chi finds itself at the nexus of meditative movement and martial art. It uses ancient body movement techniques to manage your body’s energy while you develop strength and balance.

Some forms of tai chi are combat-oriented, moving this seemingly harmless slow set of moves into a full-on martial art. Tamarindo even has Tai Chi! Mermaids & Sailors, Tamarindo,- 2653-2280, info@mermaids-and-sailors.co, Sat Noon

Panacea Yoga, for Everybody and Every Body 8592-8826 marybyerlyyoga@gmail.com The Empower Yourself Project, Tamarindo, 8355-7295 Yoga Tamarindo. Couples yoga by appointment. beherenow@yogatamarindo.com The Loft at the Costa Rica Sailing Center, Potrero 8546 1422 M-Th 6:00a, 8:30, 10:00, and 5:00 or 6:30p. F 7:00, 8:30, 10. Sat 9:30, 4:30. Sun 4:30.

Cala Luna, Playa Langosta 2653-0214 T/Th/Sun 8 am Om Ganesha Shala, Playa Langosta. 8828 0549 M/W/F 8 am Serom Shanti Yoga, seromshantiyoga@gmail.com 8591 6236 M-Th 8:00, 9:30 or 9:45, 5:30 or 6:00. T/Th, 7:00p. F 8:00a, 9:45, 5:30. Sat 8:30a, 10:30. Sun 10:30, 6:00p.

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35

Diving Ever wondered about the vas t life out there under the surface of the oce an? What’s out there? What does it look like ? How big is it? How does it behave with other cre atures? Where does it sleep? Will it want to eat me? We terrestrials comprise only a small portion of the life here on planet earth. Water covers 75% of the planet.

That means there are worlds out there that we terrestrials cannot even ima gine—until we strap on a pair of fins and a face mask, and go check it out for ourselves.

Freedive Costa Rica, Tam arindo 8353 1290 Freediving Level 1: Mar 2-3; 13-14; 20-21. Level 2: Mar 4-6; 15-17; 22-24. Level 3: Mar 8-11; 27-30.

Snuba Costa Rica - 886 4, snubacostarica@gma il.com Tamarindo Diving - 8583-58 73 Sea Horse Diving - 6250-95 28 Costa Rica Dive Center 2654 6175 Scuba Dive Costa - 860 2 6581 info@scubadivecostarica. cr Pacific Coast Dive Cente r 2654-6175, 8827-4515, 870 6-9415

Healing Wellness comes in many forms. Ideas of energy and working with energy to live a smoother life are inching westward. Tamarindo has a holistic health center where you can learn techniques aimed at inner health. They are offering some workshops this month.

The Empower Yourself Project, Tamarindo - 8358 7295, Info@theempoweryourselfproject.com Mar 11 10:00-1:00 Awaken your Inner Child; Mar 18 10:00-1:00 Energy Rebalancing; Mar 25 10:00-6:00 Mindfulness Revive Wellness Center 2653 2485 and 8533 8797 Info@revivewellnesslangosta.com

Painting

Sailing Water, wind, sailing! For some, sailing is the quintessential water experience. The noiseless boat glides gently through the water, relying only on nature’s elements. But enjoying sailing is a very far cry from knowing how to sail yourself.

Knots, lines, tack, oh my! Fear not! We have a sailing school in Flamingo that will teach you everything you need to know about how to sail safely out there in the open waters. Maybe a world tour isn’t on your list, but a silent sunset sail with just you and your favorite people? You can’t put a price on that.

Costa Rica Sailing Center - 8473-7761 justin@costaricasailing.com

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Stimulate your right brain with Art Classes. You never know what hidden talent you have. It’s relaxing and fun. So many things here to paint.

Get a group together and have a fun filled time with your friends painting and drin king wine. You might be the next art sensation.

Sagebrush Art Studio, Brasilito - 8336 3836 Intuitive painting classes, open studio, ladies’ art and wine

night.

Cooking We are so fortunate in this area to have such an amazing selection of flavor-packed native foods. The only question becomes, what to do with them? Look no further, as cooking classes offered by local chefs are here to help you make the most of this area’s fine food offerings.

Contact the following locations for cooking class information.

Cala Luna, Playa Langosta 2653-0214 Los Altos de Eros, Tamarindo Tel: 8850-4203, 88504222, info@losaltosdeeros.com

Spanish Little offers a greater cognitive challenge than learning a language. Besides it’s the national language of the country we are living. Live it, learn it… at least give it a go! Don’t be scared of it… embrace it ! Also, from a more practical perspective, It’s believed that learning languages helps reduce the chances of dementia. In short, take a Spanish class!

WAYRA Spanish Institute, Tamarindo 2653-0359 spanishw@racsa.co.cr M-F 8-12 or 1-5.

Spanish for Expats - 2288-2157 info@spanishforexpats-cr.com Th 8:00, 10:00 Agua y Sal Brasilito. F 9:00, 12:30 Cabana Blanca Tamarindo Sylvia Monge 8729-4857 monge23@gmail.com

Do you or someone you know offer classes in the area? The Howler wants to know!

Drop us a line at editor@howlermag.com.

Disclaimer: Please confirm all times directly with service providers. The appearance of this information is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services defined or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.

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37

THE STUDY

YOGA OF

BY MARY BYERLY

SIRSASANA T

his month, we explore Sirsasana, or headstand. As with shoulderstand, headstand is not advisable if you have neck, shoulder or back injuries, osteopenia or osteoporosis, high blood pressure, or migraines.

Any of these conditions can prevent you from doing headstand safely. It is also imperative that your shoulders have good range of motion and strength to support your body in good alignment. Before I work with any of my students on headstand, I assess their mobility and strength of their shoulders to make sure it is possible. If it is not deemed a good pose for your body, there are alternatives that can still give you some of the same benefits of the full pose. Once you know that you have the ability, headstand is an excellent pose to add to your practice. Sirsasana can help balance your endocrine system, bring fresh blood flow to the head, and activate the pituitary gland and pineal gland.

It is a very energizing pose!

Headstand is usually done after warm-ups, sun salutations, and standing poses. Then I like to include this shoulder stretch to create flexibility. Stand with your forearms on a wall, in line with your shoulders.

Clasp your hands together, take a step back and slide your arms down halfway between your shoulders and hips (those with good flexibility can go lower; those without good flexibility stay farther up).

Extend from the outer armpit region to the outer elbows, pressing them, your forearms, and hands into the wall. At the same time, lift your inner elbows up into your inner armpits. Secure your shoulder blades into your back by attempting to “scrub” your elbows both towards and away from

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THE HOWLER MAGAZINE

each other at the same time. Keep your abdomen drawing up and into your body, and activate your legs.

Hold for 5-10 breaths.

Follow this with the strengthening dolphin pose.

Dolphin pose uses the same arm position as the previous stretch, and can be done safely by most people because it is not weight bearing on the spine. Come onto your knees and forearms on your mat. Align your elbows under your shoulders, and clasp your hands in front of you. Create the same extension from your outer armpit to your outer elbow, the same lift from inner elbow to inner armpit, and the scrubbing action that you did in the previous stretch at the wall. This should feel as though you are lifting your heart up into your body. Take an inhale, and on the exhale lift your hips into the air. Keep lifting up through your sitting bones, again “scrubbing” your elbows out and in while reaching your chest towards your thighs. Hold for 5-10 breaths and come back down.

Headstand time! Make sure that you have the help of a teacher to begin incorporating this invigorating and energizing pose into your practice.

You may also want to try the alternative restorative version pictured here. May you reap all the benefits of Sirsasana in your practice!

Namastè, Mary

• Jan – Mar 2017: Morning yoga classes at Panacea • Weekends April 21 – June 25, 2017: 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training AT Downtown Yoga, San Jose (in Spanish) • Aug 3 - 24, 2017: 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training, 21 day immersion at Panacea (in English) • March 3 – 24, 2018 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training, 21 day immersion at Panacea (in English) 8592–8826 Marybyerlyyoga@gmail.com

@MARYBYERLYYOGA

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spanish

Un poquito más....

SPEAK Spanish

LEVELING UP

by Silvia Monge

T

here are two kinds of language learners: the adventurous and the cautious. The adventurous go out there with a couple words and sprinkle them around, laugh and learn. These learners are loose and having fun trying to get people to understand them. The cautious either decide they cannot learn or hole up in their homes with software, workbooks and the latest solution to language learning. The cautious are afraid people will think they sound ignorant or silly and hope to wait until some magical amount when vocabulary clicks into sounding suave and clever. Unfortunately this works for so few people that we can safely say it takes a little adventurousness to level up in language.

become immersed in family and culture on a whole other level. For those of us with a mate already, don’t fret, there are lots of other ways.

The truly interesting thing is everyone eventually feels like they are stuck in the level they are in. I have many, many students who can speak the language but feel they are lacking something. That fear of not getting anywhere and even the blanking experience don’t go away, and that is a very good thing.

Music is an incredible and personal way to connect with the language. If you think “Spanish” music on the radio is the only sound out there, you have so much to explore it is exciting.

There is Latin American and Spanish music in every genre imaginable.

Start searching for the kind of music you like in Spanish and you will find a whole world of people who love the same sounds as you. To take it to another level, find videos with lyrics and sing along. This helps immensely with perfecting your accent.

Before we go any further let me clear up a serious misconception.

Accents are hot! They are exotic and downright sexy. Only xenophobes dislike accents; everyone else is simply tickled by them. When you think you are butchering the language, the native sees someone who is being endearing, someone brave enough to sound silly in order to respect a culture and a people. You become a little bit of a hero each time you go out on a limb and try out the language--any language.

That said, in order to level up your intended language it has to become not a secondary appendage but part of you. You need to wrap yourself up with the culture and people and leave behind what you were before. To become fluent you need to become a new you. There is no one way to do this; it can happen in subtle and quiet ways or you simply slam into it one day. My mother used to say the best teacher is the bedroom. What she meant was that falling in love with a native is the fastest way to become fluent. You 40

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The fact that you feel stuck means that you are in the process of leveling up. Every time you blank it means you’ve pushed yourself beyond a saturation point, and that is how the cerebral muscle grows. Each time you experience these moments, your brain is busy restructuring and becoming more efficient. The brain needs to focus and then defocus in order to organize thoughts properly. Artistic expression, exercise and meditation are powerful ways to allow your brain the time for restructuring.

Any of the arts can create this connection: Latin America and Spain are big, varied and very creative. Any kind of artistic expression you love in English can be found in other languages and cultures. Read a book, watch a play, see a movie--just a few suggestions for making language learning fun and engaging.

Language learning is about perspective. It is about how you see the world and yourself. The more playful we are the more engaged we become. Surrounding yourself in culture and people is the single most powerful way to become fluent. Each mistake, each simple encounter that becomes hilarious because of misunderstanding is a big win and a crucial part of getting to the next level. Enjoyment and engagement go hand in hand.

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41

PHOTO

TIPS

By Greg Basco

M

o d e r n cameras, even on our phones, are a m a z i n g l y intelligent, but they don't always get the exposure right. In Costa Rica, tricky lighting conditions are the norm, and getting that perfect shot of a monkey or macaw can prove difficult. What do you do if your camera isn't getting the job done? Adjust your exposure compensation!

The light meters in cameras are calibrated to make everything a middle tone of brightness (think of a medium gray). If your scene is darker or lighter, your camera can easily be fooled. Exposure compensation is a quick way of telling your camera to make a picture brighter or darker than what it thinks. It works on any camera in Program, Aperture Priority, or Shutter Priority modes, and it's even available as a camera control on most smartphones.

Exposure compensation (EC) is based on the principle of stops in photography. If you have 0 EC the brightness of the

Pennye Wheeler MANAGER +506 8369-1610 US +1 941-447 0008 pennye@overseas.de

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THE HOWLER MAGAZINE

picture will be just as the camera recommends. An EC value of -1 will make your picture only half as bright. An EC value of +1 will make your picture twice as bright as the camera's recommendation.

Next time you're out shooting and face a tough situation, give exposure compensation a try. You just might nail that vacation shot of a lifetime!

• for either keel-billed toucan photo “An exposure compensation value of +1 allowed me to capture the vibrant colors of a toucan even against a cloudy Costa Rican sky.”

• for the roseate spoonbill photo - “An exposure compensation value of -1 allowed me to capture the bright pink hues of a roseate spoonbill as it was lit by a shaft of sunlight, even though the surrounding were in shade.”

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43

Surf Report

by Ellen Zoe Golden

At the Flight Centre Burleigh Pro on the Gold Coast of Queensland, both girls were positioned in the same Round 1 heat.

Gussoni came in 2nd, while McGonagle was last. Again, Emily stalled in Round 2.

The current Costa Rica Women’s champion, Leilani McGonagle of Pavones, remained in Australia after her two-round appearance at the World Surf League’s Junior championships in Kiama. First, she improved to the Quarterfinals of the Subway Surf Series Pro Junior in Cronulla. Then in a man-to-man (woman-to-woman?) heat against the 2016 world Junior champion Macy Callaghan, who hails from Australia herself, McGonagle was unable to find the waves that would allow her to demonstrate her skills. She ended her run for that contest right there.

Leilani fared a little better at the Telstra Stores Tweed Coast Women’s Pro in Carbarita and Komunity Project Great Lakes Women’s Pro in Boomerang Beach with a 1st place in her first heat (Emily punked out there), and a 3rd place in each of these dates.

Next, she participated in the NIB Pro Junior at Merewether Beach. After a 2nd place finish in Round 1 behind another Aussie, Alyssa Lock, she did not deliver in the next Round, also filled with locals familiar with the wave—Sophia Fulton, Alysse Cooper and Jamaica Selby. Once again, McGonagle could not find the right waves in a country she visited for the first time. You can be sure, now that she has spent some time there, she’ll improve on the next go-around. She’s just like that.

McGonagle also had a go on the Women’s Qualifying Series (QS), along with her pal Emily Gussoni of Jacó.

Gussoni was in Australia specifically to try to earn enough points on the QS that would enable her to participate in the important Prime events. At the start, at the Carve Pro in Sydney, she passed two heats (McGonagle seeded in Round 2 but that’s as far as she was able to go in this one).

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THE HOWLER MAGAZINE

Gussoni considered the conditions in Australia to be a letdown and a hindrance to her potential performances. “Waves were about 1 foot and it was windy. I think with better conditions I could pass more heats.”

It’s also important to keep in mind that these girls are both young, and can only improve on the next go-around.

At this writing, Emily was in Hawaii, just as Tiago Carrique, Malakai Martinez, Dean Vandewalle and Aldito Chirinos left. She was looking forward to trying out the big, fun waves.

Also in Hawaii last month was Esterillos’ Carlos Muñoz, who we haven’t heard from in a minute. Although he was seeded to start in Round 3 based on his QS rankings last year, he was unable to put anything together. He was in excellent company of those who struggled, as even Kelly Slater fell out in that round. Slater had previously won at Pipeline in 2014 and 2016.

The second date of the Kia Costa Rica Circuito Guanacasteco de Surf was wrapped up last month. The Copa Tiki Hut Marbella

Leilani Photo credit is: by WSL/Ethan Smith

W

hile the national surf competitions are now underway, the veterans of these circuits are enjoying the start of their international work on the World Surf League (WSL) contests.

had some notable moments including a return to the top spot in this circuit by national champion Anthony Fillingim, three finals finishes for Malakai Martinez, an upset in the Women’s by Rubiana Brownell, and an invitational for the older surfers, the Masters.

While super stoked to win the Invitational Masters, Boos said he wants to compete in every event, but understands that the rules have changed.

“It’s okay because the kids are surfing very good blowing minds,” he said.

Copa Tiki Hut Marbella February 11, 12, 2017 Open 1. Anthony Fillingim 2. Danny Bishko 3. Malakai Martinez 4. Ramon Taliani Women’s 1. Rubiana Brownell 2. Serena Nava 3. Coral Wiggins 4. Braidyn Cummingham Juniors 1. Dean Vandewalle 2. Oscar Urbina 3. Malakai Martinez 4. Francisco Coronado Boys Under 16 1. Malakai Martinez 2. Dean Vandewalle 3. Tiago Leão 4. Oscar Urbina

Girls Under 16 1. Valentina Resano 2. Rubiana Brownell 3. Serena Nava 4. Auxiela Ryan Castillo Boys Under 14 1. Sam Reidy 2. Aaron Ramirez 3. Axel Castro 4. Josiah Knapp Groms 1. Calendario Resano 2. Kalani Abrahao 3. Pietro Garroux 4. Isaiah Dawson Masters Invitational 1. Christian Boos 2. Fabian Sanchez 3. Heitor Abrahao 4. Jeff Allen Best Performances 20-point Heat Sam Piter 3 Finals Appearances Malakai Martinez

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45

SURF SCIENCE Tamarindo Spot Check

I

n the previous Surf Science articles, we have explored: how waves are created, the importance of swell period, the different swell producers of Costa Rica, and the weather mechanisms responsible for the famous Papagayo winds. In this article, we will apply what we’ve learned to analyze the location that put Costa Rica on the map as a surfing destination, Playa Tamarindo.

Knowing that many of us reading this are living (at least for the moment) in the Tamarindo area, I figured this would be an appropriate location to analyze. Tamarindo was mostly unknown before some adventurous surfers discovered the wave potential in the 1970s. And then, with the release of The Endless Summer 2 in 1994 starring our friend, Robert August, Tamarindo quickly emerged as a world-class surf destination.

TAMARINDO ESTUARY But what is it about this particular beach that brings in surfers from around the world? What factors really make this surf spot tick? In this special edition Surf Science article, we will break down the geographical, meteorological, and environmental mechanisms responsible for Tamarindo’s iconic surf.

We will start with Tamarindo’s geographical layout.

Unlike many surf spots in Costa Rica, Tamarindo has a

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unique west-north-west beach orientation that receives both southerly and northerly swells. Year-round surf here is the result of massive low-pressure systems roaring around the high and low latitudes of the Pacific Ocean.

Located approximately 2 km offshore, Captain Island, locally known as “La Isla”, plays a significant role in swell refraction and swell shadowing for certain parts of the beach. Adjacent to La Isla lays a submerged reef, or bombora, which acts as an indicator for incoming sets while also refracting swells into Tamarindo Bay. Along the shoreline, Tamarindo’s main features include a sandbottomed estuary acting as a northern border to Playa Grande, and several lava-rock formations along the beach. All of these locations produce unique waves when different swell events occur.

When analyzing any surf spot, it is critical that we also take into account the Swell Window. Basically, we need to know the range of angles at which a swell can successfully reach the beach. In the example below, you can see Tamarindo receives direct exposure from swells entering the bay from 225° to about 315°. Swells that come from outside this window will have to wrap in, causing wavesize depletion. Isla Capitán also plays a role with southerly swells by shadowing parts of the beach from the brunt of the energy. With Tamarindo’s unique swell window, we

Photo Credits: Pura Vida Hostel, James Kaiser, surfing-waves.com, ksusa.org, Shaka Media

“La Isla” NW swell Jan 2017

are lucky enough to receive consistent swells all year long coming from both hemispheres. Our best seasons being March - September with consistent, long-period SW swells (220° - 235°) and December - March with long period NW (280° - 315)

TAMARINDO’S SWELL WINDOW The estuary may be Tamarindo’s defining feature. Separating Tamarindo from Playa Grande, the estuary plays a huge role in sand deposition at the north end of Tamarindo beach.

Because the estuary is meandering (long-term movement resembles the slithering of a snake), the sandbars will constantly be changing, creating new line-ups from one season to the next. Anyone remember how the estuary used to emerge by the rocks to Tamarindo’s north creating the epic, pinwheeling right hander? Since then, the estuary has shifted further to the south leaving us with a perfectly fun peeling left hander. only northerly and strong south-west swells will light up this part of the beach. Depending on the exact angle and period of the swell, Henry’s reef in front of Hotel Diria can produce both a left and right-hander on either side of the rocks. Although both waves are quite fickle, they have their share of epic days with a strong northerly swell.

Capitán Suizo is our final stop along the beach. Located in front of Hotel Capitán Suizo, this wave can produce fun (mostly longboardable) peaks that have wrapped around the La Isla right offshore. The beach here will receive both north and south swells. Mostly reserved for beginners and intermediates, Capitán Suizo can produce a lengthy left hander with shorter, punchier rights. The wave is playful on the surface, but there are a few submerged rocks below to be aware of.

ESTUARY RIGHT-HANDER Working our way south from the estuary, we have our first lava-thumb reef known as Pico Grande and Pico Pequeño.

With a swell window similar to the estuary, Pico Grande and Pequeño will receive both SW and NW swells. Pico Grande is a ledgy right hander crashing over a shallow rock pile on the outside, and can range from mushy peelers to spitting barrels depending on the swell size. Pico Pequeño on the inside of the rocks is the result of the immediate swells wrapping in to create a fun, punchy left and right wedge at high tide just a few meters off the beach. This wave can be quite fun, but rarely makes it above chest high.

Anyone who’s surfed Tamarindo has surely been mesmerized by the reeling lefts and boiling rights on either side of the deserted island offshore. Because of its location, La Isla’s swell window is open to incoming swells ranging from 180 to 320. A quick note: Anyone who surfs here must be to-the-minute aware of the tides if they plan on paddling to and from the beach. I have to admit, I’ve never surfed La Isla (not sure why) but it sure does look like a wave worth the paddle on some days.

Thanks for reading! Any questions or topic requests, please send them to Ryan@witchsrock.com

PICO GRANDE As we move further south to the next lava reef known as Henry’s, our southerly swell window begins to tighten, so

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47

Recipe of the Month

Recipes brought to you by

CHEF COCKTAIL Ingredients • 1 1/2 oz malibu rum • 5 grm tarragon • 20 grm mandarin • 4 oz sparkling wine

LOBSTER SALAD

Preparation Smash the mandarin, the tarragon and the malibu rum.

Serve over a glass of ice and finish it with the sparkling wine.

Ingredients

Preparation

• 30 grm cucumber

Wrap the lobster tail with plastic film and aluminum foil,making like a sausage. Cook in boiling water 12 min.

• 80 grm lobster • 15 grm diced mango

Vinaigrette:

1 passion fruit 5 grm sugar 3 oz rice vinegar

Puree the passion fruit, rice vinegar, and sugar in a blender.

Take out the lobster and put it in ice water until it cools down.

Take wrappings away.

Cut it in slices and serve it over a bed of thin cucumber slices. Finish it with the passion fruit vinaigrette and diced mango.

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THE HOWLER MAGAZINE

Quick sample of our constantly evolving menu

Tapas -Fresh Goat Cheese Crostini -Sea Bass Ceviche -Papas Bravas -Hummus Duo with Vegetables -French Fries

Home made DESSERTS! -Chocolate Trío -Piña Colada Verrine

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Specials -Tataki Tuna with Rice and Grilled Pineapple salad -Fish and Chips -Mahi Mahi, stuffed roasted tomato and tomato cous cous -Jalapeño Bread Burger with Home Fries (Veggie option too!)

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Fresh seafood / Organic / Diverse / Local produce / Fusion cuisine

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49

Wellness

Health & Spirituality

Superfood!

SECRETS OF THE TARO

by Staff Writer

T

hat dark, hairy, root-looking thing in the vegetables— what is that?

That, my friends, is taro root, a starchy, nutrient-rich local flavor. It’s high in fiber, with a single serving offering a full 27% of the day’s fiber needs, which matters to gut health first and a lot of disease prevention as well. Its rich antioxidant content helps fight most kinds of disease and improve vision. Loaded with potassium, it helps with circulation. Its high vitamin C levels boost the immune system and help combat immunodeficiency conditions. Also rich in iron and copper, it reduces the chances of developing anemia and stimulates blood flow.

The only thing to be aware of is that it’s also pretty high in calories—112 for every 100 grams, higher than potatoes.

In food prep, whatever you can do to a potato, you can do to taro. Its flavor and texture are more interesting than a potato’s though; it’s soft, creamy, and flaky. It’s sometimes slightly sweet, and sometimes not recognized as having any distinctive flavor at all. This makes it an easy side dish, whether fried, mashed, simmered, or stewed, or breakfast option, shredded into little taro cakes. In Hawaii, taro is mashed into the famous dish poi.

Working with taro root is a little weird since its skin can irritate your skin, and the flesh is a little slimy. You can circumvent these challenges by wearing gloves or a using a towel when peeling, and by parboiling and rinsing taro cubes before putting them into your recipes.

The Center

by The Artist

By Perry Carlille

T

he center is seen by a photographer, one who paints with light and feels the draw of my soul and spirit to this paradise. What is it about the beauty and majesty of creation that draws us out to see as if our soul is called?

Look anywhere in paradise here and you will see the composition of the Artist. I’ve always lived in this awareness of the surroundings painted around me. Within my journey, I am in awe of the colors and magnificent beauty that my eyes behold. My creativity dances around in my head just searching for that one picture to capture what masterpiece is before me. The hue of the morning light in Playa Potrero’s early light. Can I capture for all to see what is sketched before me?

The intrinsic details of the flowers and animals speak volumes of the expanse of the Artist’s creativity and majesty. The contrast of the plumeria’s white flower with the vibrant dark green leaves against the Costa Rican azul sky forever formatted within the digital world. Will my lens create such a painting to make you want to travel to Bahia De Pirates and experience this artwork yourself?

The wide variety of birds in all their colors and habitat.

What a great time to dismiss the “busyness” of your time here and observe. The Artist has created such a variety for you to experience. The “silence” of nature will lure you into its world.

Even through times of darkness and uncertainty I look up at the stars above and something deep within me is stirred… When I look at the canvas of the heavens, the

work of the brushstrokes, the moon and the stars, which have been set in place, I ponder, who am I that He is mindful of me, and why is it that I sense that the Artist cares?

Oh, the sunsets here in Costa Rica… that time as the sun descends to kiss the horizon of today and I observe a sense of healing, hope and peace. The Artist displays an array of burning reds and oranges…only to give way to a palette full of blues, pastels and warmth. What is it that draws us to the water, sand and this time of day? The soothing sound of the surf combined with the color of the air calls us to contemplate.

For it is one thing to view what others “paint with light” and digitally capture the compositions, and another to come and visit. During your journey, give yourself time to reformat and capture the blessings of the Artist. Experience Costa Rica yourself…it will communicate volumes to you.

“Every painter paints Herself” Read online, like and share

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51

Pet Care

Dr. Gilberth Cavallini Dra. Leticia Cajal

Sponsored by

TICK

FEVER OR EHRLICHIOSIS

The most common disease here and our dogs’ main enemy

T

his worldwide disease transmitted by ticks is known as Ehrlichiosis. There are several erhlichiosis species that can affect dogs, but Ehrlicchia canis is the most common type. The spreading of this disease is due to infected ticks with the bacteria E.canis; usually the type of tick that carry them is Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The physiology of this disease can be divided into three phases:

enlargement, usually in chronic cases; bleedings, through the nose, urine or faeces; vomits, usually yellow, meaning bile; bad breath; uveitis; eyes color turns blue; neurological symptoms; joints ache; edema; kidney and liver abnormalities.

Acute phase: replies in mononuclear infected cells, there is dissemination to multiple organs, microvasculitis, nonregenerative anemia, low white blood cells (leucopenia) and/or low platelets (trombocitopenia), mild increase in hepatic enzymes, diminish of serum albumina.

Treatment: mainly antibiotic, but a variety of other medicines might be needed depending on each particular case (Consult your Veterinarian).

Subclinic phase: can last even years. Bacteria is spreading and antibodies are being produces; changes in blood work are usually found.

Chronic phase: there is an inefficient response from the host.

The symptoms are usually related to the breed susceptibility, age, immune system and concomitant diseases. Chronic cases might show the same findings as the acute phase.

Most common symptoms are: depression--just a change in behavior is a reason to start paying particular attention; anorexia, usually related to the fever at the moment they are offered food, meaning no eating if they have fever at that moment; intermittent weight loss and fever; mucous membranes turn pale, (normal is pink); adenophaties; spleen 52

THE HOWLER MAGAZINE

Diagnostics tests: complete bloodwork, Snap Test 4Dx, PCR and blood smear (hard to do and hard to find).

Most important is to prevent your dogs from getting ticks; one infected tick will cause the acute phase of the illness in just 2 weeks.

There is a huge variety of medicines, poisons and shampoos available against ticks. Most recently, the Nexgard pill, given monthly, seems to be more effective, or a Bravecto pill given every 3 months. Drops like Advantix or Frontline, collars like Preventic from Virbac, shampoos like Tooms, medicated baths with poisons Bovitraz or asuntol, are part of this tick prevention.

Doing bloodwork periodically is necessary in this area. In our facility, lab results are done in just 10 minutes and they can save your best friend.

Diagnosing early is the key to successful treatments.

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53

feature

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

GREG BASCO Photographer

by Ariana Clashing O'Reilly

Capturing

COSTA RICA

Looking through a camera lens is Costa Rica’s new way of getting up close and personal with the dynamic biodiversity and microclimates found here.

If you ever imagined yourself as a National Geographic-type adventurer, photography tour company, Foto Verde Tours, gives you the skills and experience of being a nature and wildlife photographer out in the tropics of Central America.

However, be warned that engaging in tropical photography in Costa Rica comes with risks.

Warning 1:

YOU WILL CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

Co-founders Paulo Valerio and Greg Basco remark that in being a good nature photographer, you also become a naturalist.

During one of the 10 to 12-day-long tours, days begin as early as dawn and go into the early hours of the evening to observe nocturnal creatures in action. Participants end up spending several threeto-four-hour chunks out in the field looking for sloths, hummingbirds and red-eyed green frogs.

The tour moves from one lodge to another every three days to experience different microclimates.

Classroom sessions at each lodge focus on the camera techniques relevant to the wildlife, landscapes and lighting conditions they are likely to encounter.

Taking care to coexist well with the local ecology, the lodges themselves are also set up to attract wildlife such as frogs and hummingbirds.

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THE HOWLER MAGAZINE

After a fortnight of a Foto Verde photography intense schedule, you may even find yourself displaying behaviors of naturalists. Do not be surprised if you catch yourself following one or two conservationist organizations on social media; becoming an expert in one of your favorite species of tropical wildlife; or having passionate discussions with other wildlife enthusiasts.

Warning 2:

FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY IS ADDICTIVE. There is a reason why many of the people on a Foto Verde Tour are repeat customers. These tours go beyond just taking photos of maw caws and lizards. Each workshop is an experience in composing compelling images.

The majority of participants on these tours are amatuer to semi-professional photographers looking to improve their camera techniques from renowned photographers they admire.

Specializing in rainforest photography, Foto Verde Tour owner, Greg, has mastered the use of external

flash for very natural looking nature prints. It is the photographers inspired by the beauty of Greg’s photos that seek out multiple Foto Verde workshops.

During the tour photographers learn to utilize their cameras and equipment to their full potential in less-thanideal conditions. Costa Rica’s tropical conditions offer a perfect breeding ground for creativity. As lighting is not consistent, the use of flash to compensate and mimic natural light is a craft that has to be continually practiced and refined.

The result can be absolutely stunning photographs.

Following these workshops, many of the participants of Foto Verde Tours have had their work submitted in their own local and regional photography contests.

Even more have ended up selling their prints to various publications and stock photography outfitters.

Warning 3:

YOU WILL DISPLAY SOME CONTORTIONIST TENDENCIES. When the subject of interest is only six inches away and often camouflaged in foliage, capturing that image requires some strange looking and contorted poses. You could be on your belly, on your knees, or even hugging a tree to get the perfect angle and lighting without said subject scurrying off.

Each tour theme has a different pace. Where landscape photography is more contemplative and about getting the right composition, you may need a good stretch after a macro-photography session of shooting frogs, lizards and butterflies.

During a tropical birds workshop, you may instead want an ice pack and soothing cream. This is for the stubbed toes and ant bites you will receive while your eyes are peeled to the skies and treetops as you scan for toucans, falcons and quetzals.

If you think that that may be too intense for you, there is no need to worry. Many of the Foto Verde participants are between 50 and 70 years old. Greg and Paulo also ensure that you don’t walk off a cliff while shooting a falcon soaring in the sky. You can be as adventurous as you please within reason. They are there to make sure you don’t go over any safety limits.

NOT JUST FOR SEMI-PROFESSIONALS If you ever thought that nocturnal tours and guided nature walks were a boring and unnecessary tour to indulge in, put a camera in your hand and you’ll realize that it is a thoroughly engaging physical and mental activity.

Having now been warned of tropical photography’s effect on you, why not look up some nature photography tips and start engaging with Costa Rica’s incredible biodiversity in a truly personal and adventurous way.

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55

Off the Beaten Path

BY STACEY JEAN

SECRET NICA BORDER CROSSING

O

ptions for border crossing from Nicaragua and Costa Rica are very few. Peñas Blancas is the main border; it is very congested with freight, locals and tourists.

There is another alternative to this crossing that is out of the way and very beautiful -- “Off the Beaten Path”. The Las Tabillas is a land crossing created two years ago. Located just an hour north of Caño Negro National Park, this border is very straightforward and not crowded.

This border closes at 5pm daily, unlike the other borders and has the same exit and entry fees as Peñas Blancas.

The closest town to the Las Tabillas border on the Nicaragua side is San Carlos just forty five minute drive from the border, it is a rustically beautiful little town, where the Rio San Juan meets Lake Nicaragua. From Las Tabillas a $2 shuttle ride operated all day. Everything is within walking distance in San Carlos, and safe to explore. There are many choices of hotels/hostels/ restaurants there. A local port offers ferry service to the Island of Ometepe and down the Rio San Juan.

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Still in Nicaragua, two hours east by boat down the Rio San Juan you will arrive in El Castillo. The fort Immaculate Conception a fort founded in 1675, built to protect against pirates crossing Nicaragua, via the natural canal of rivers, to the other ocean. Pirates roamed these passageways looting from any ship or village they came across.

Visible from anywhere in town is the flag atop the fort. El Castillo is near the Indio Maiz Biological Reserve, a 4,500 square kilometer wildlife haven, there are many tours to the reserve, fishing, birdwatching, kayaking and canoeing, stargazing, cinnamon and chocolate plantation tours. The town of 1500 people has no motor vehicles, only bicycles and walking paths. Workers and students every morning load up on water taxis to head out for the day. All local supplies are brought in on the river and delivered around town on hand-made wooden wheelbarrows. Sundays watch the local Nicaraguans participate in their national sport, baseball at the local diamond in the shadow of the fort.

Take a great road trip for your next border run or just for a nice place to visit and see the world that exists off the beaten path.

Come check out our selection of jewelry, toys, games, sports equipment and beach chairs

Find us at Sunrise Mall #14 Tamarindo Tel: 2653-1157 chichisaenz@yahoo.com

COOL PLACES

BY TOM SCHULTZ

Aon CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP Costa Rica’s ring of fire.

I

n the Central Valley, over the past several months, a thin grey covering of volcanic ash has covered homes and cars the result of new activity at Turriabla Volcano.

Living ‘under the volcanoes’ in Costa Rica, it’s good idea to spend time getting to know and learning to enjoy their beauty and activities in our part of the ‘Ring of Fire’ that circles the Pacific. A cross country trip is the best way to get to know the volcanoes of Costa Rica.

I spent my youth studying geology, it helped me understand and enjoy each volcano. Costa Rica’s volcanoes are a result of movement in geologic tectonic plates. The Caribbean plate is being pushed over what is known as the Coco’s plate in the Pacific causing the earth’s crust to bend, buckle and crack, causing the earth’s interior to push up, resulting in a Volcano.

We have a ridge of them, called Cordillera in Spanish, that crosses almost the entire nation along the boundary of these plates. All our volcanoes are classified as stratovolcanos or composite volcanoes. These are ‘classic’ volcanoes like the ones we made as kids for science fairs, a cone with the eruption from the top. Through time they grow layers from one eruption to the next the cone-like look broadens to a ridge. Sometimes holes are punched in its side causing multiple cones.

Starting on Pacific side we travel from Liberia, around and ending on the Caribbean.

Driving northeast, Rincón de la Vieja our first stop. Rincon is one of those cones with new holes punching out of its

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THE HOWLER MAGAZINE

sides, it has four distinct craters. Last erupting in 2011 it is still considered active. This National Park is wonderful to visit, with its many trails and hot springs. I like the lesser-visited north side. You can hike the trails until you get to the forbidden zone that was created after the 2011 eruption. Also from this side you get views of the Rio Celeste (Celeste means sky-blue or baby blue in Spanish). The river flows out of our next stop, the Tenorio Volcano and travels up to Lake Nicaragua.

Tenorio, one of those places that leaves you in awe, Not widely visited, it is considered a dormant volcano. The hike to the headwaters of the Rio Celeste is not easy, but worth it: Springs bubbling up from volcanic fumaroles and crystal blue waters and are enjoyed by tourist and Ticos spending the day enjoying a picnic in the cool clear waters.

Okay, another nerd break. Many people think the waters of the Rio Celeste are the result of the water dyed blue from copper minerals bubbling up from the Tenerio volcano. The truth is that the water is crystal clear.

Researchers from the University of Costa Rica showed the color is not a chemical process, but optical. Crystals of aluminum and silicon in the water refract sunlight causing the baby blue color. This optical effect is also represented in hummingbirds, whose color flashes come from colorless feathers refracting light making bright colors. The highlight of Tenorio has to be one of the most spectacular waterfall in the country at the river’s headwater.

The most famous volcano in Costa Rica and a major attraction is Arenal Volcano, a classic, with its perfect cone shape. It is still considered active, even though its eruptions have stopped for now. We spent half the night looking out our hotel window at the fire and explosions on our first visit. The region offers many activities, hot springs, trams and zip lines are just a few of the things to see. My favorite area is the western side of the lake, it is less built up, the wind turbines cut a striking skyline, It is worth visiting the calmer, quieter side of Arenal.

On dreaded route 32 you drive through the tunnel the final stop on our trip – the Barva Volcano, the only really classified dormant volcano, home to the Braulio Carrillo National Park, This park was established to protect the source of drinking water for San Jose. The park is over 110,000 hectares, and harbors many animals and birds. The main entrance is past the Rio Sucio (Dirty River) in Spanish. This spot is known mostly to locals that come from San Jose and enjoy the trails, birds and animals. This is the entry to the Caribbean zone.

Well, we made it all the way to the Caribbean side. If we look south we can see the now grumpy, active Turriabla that is causing headaches to citizens and stranded airport travelers alike, but when you see the wonders and beauty volcanoes here in Costa Rica create, you put up with dusting off your car in the morning.

To the east we arrive at the tallest active volcano in Costa Rica- Poas Volcano. It still causes problems – the 2009 eruption and earthquake caused the most damage from a volcano since the 1960’s, and as recent as 2014 its activity has increased. At 2800 meters or almost 9000 ft, it’s an imposing figure over San Jose. The drive to the crater is exciting, the road is as winding and scary as any in Costa Rica. At the top, is an active crater with a volcanic lagoon. The highlight is the geyser that erupts 100 meters into the air. Leave before dawn to see this, since by noon fog and clouds could cover the summit. The trails at the top are also worth the time. the hike back to the old crater, now a lake called Lake Botos , well worth it. Scientists say it was the active crater over 5000 years ago.

If you like birds, the Volcano Hummingbird, aptly named and only exist at the top of the highest peaks here.

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59

What to Expect - Repelling

WHAT TO EXPECT: expect to get wet WHAT TO WEAR: quick-dry shirts and shorts that cover your hips and thighs to protect from the harness, trekking shoes.

NECESSARY PHYSICAL CONDITION: medium.

There’s some hiking and some minimal agility required. If you can handle the light hike, you can most likely handle the rappel.

NECESSARY ATHLETIC ABILITY: you will be more comfortable if you know how to swim, but if you don’t, guides are there to keep you alive.

Gently MARCET ARAYA

Adventurous R

appelling, a.k.a. canyoning, is a really cool adventure activity, and if you haven’t done it yet, you should really give it a try! If the height-thing freaks you out then maybe don’t start with a 100-foot midair rappel off a bridge, ok— although those are around too if that’s what you’re into. But there are plenty of tamer options that allow you to really enjoy the activity without pushing your cool.

You show up, get transported to the actual rappelling spot, sign your waiver, and get strapped into your harness.

They give you a helmet and leather gloves. Everything might still be wet from the last round but no worries—you’ll be wet soon enough. Then you traipse through the jungle clanking carabiners and gear, which makes you feel all rugged and outdoorsy and is pretty cool in itself.

Soon you arrive at your rappelling destination!

You’re given a quick demo then asked “who first?” But it’s an easy ride, so feel free to jump right in. They strap you in and get your ropes all connected in amazingly complex yet simple carabiner-rope riggings.

The rappelling itself is so much easier even than it

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THE HOWLER MAGAZINE

WHAT WILL HAPPEN: swing through waterfalls, free rappel off of bridges, rappel off cliff faces, rappel under and through waterfalls Where rappelling happens: some of the most beautiful parts of rivers and in some amazing waterfalls

looks, which you can’t say about a lot of things. In rappelling, you have to participate a little more than you do ziplining, if you’ve ever done that, but not a lot more than that. Basically holding your rope, you angle your dominant hand behind and under your booty and sit back. When you want to move down the rope, you release your grip on the rope with that dominant hand. Release a little and move a little. Release a lot… you get it. Inch your way down if you like, or go faster like they do in the movies. Kick off the cliff faces so you don’t slam into the rocks. Get to the bottom of the rope, free-fall a couple meters into the river! (Climb up the ladder, do it all again!)

Rappelling options in Costa Rica range widely, but usually involve waterfalls in some way. The nearest option here is at Rincon de la Vieja, which offers 2 rappel drops and 1 waterfall swing in its canyoning tour. Rappelling is a very cool and quite popular adventure activity here, and all the major parks offer rappelling tours. If you can hike a short mountain path, you can rappel. And if you haven’t, you really should!

刀䔀䄀䰀 䔀匀吀䄀吀䔀 䤀一嘀䔀匀吀䤀一䜀 䤀匀 伀唀刀 䈀唀匀䤀一䔀匀匀Ⰰ 伀唀刀 伀一䰀夀 䈀唀匀䤀一䔀匀匀

Bentley Fachner Photography Lifestyle Portraits Real Estate Weddings Advertisment

Call: 8469-9325 Email: bentleyfachner@hotmail.com www.fachnerphotos.smugmug.com

Happenings

By Howler Staff

LIVE MUSIC - THE SOUNDS OF LIFE Music, the sounds of life. Music make you smile, dance, laugh and is the background to most of our life's important events.

The Coast area from Tamarindo to Surfside Potrero has a wide variety of sound and a pool of brilliant musicians that make our community ring.

ENTERTAINMENT

TAMARINDO: / LANGOSTA: The streets ring with activity and almost every place has some sort of music or entertainment to draw you in. Whether you are visiting or you live here, get out and listen to some great music.

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Music is played regularly at these fine establishments. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

THE HOWLER MAGAZINE

Walter’s Fish and Cheese Langosta/ Tamarindo Bokas Langosta / Tamarindo Pura Vida Hostel: Hotel Pasatiempo: Dragonfly: El Be: Latitude Blue: El Coconutz: Longboards The Ocean

●

El Faquaro

●

Witch's Rock

●

Pacifico

●

Oveja Negra Hostel

●

Sharkys

●

The Roof

●

Selinas Hostel

●

El Vulcano

●

El Chiringuito

PLAYA GRANDE AND PALM BEACH AREA HAS A COUPLE UNIQUE SPOTS FOR MUSIC ● Rip Jacks: A tree house feel, and nice mellow music to enjoy at the end of a great day of surfing and the awesome sunset at the Playa. ● Seven: This place jams and is a very comfortable to relax have great BBQ and enjoy the musicians’ creativity on stage and played, not so loud that you can still talk.

Brasilito, a town right next to the waterfront: ● Tiki’s the large restaurant on the corner is a spot to enjoy the view of the ocean and the occasional group

Surfside / Potrero known for the large expat community that is lively and really get out and socialize. This area is a good bar hopping crowd.

Almost every night there is something playing at these great bars.

●

The Beach House Maxwells El Castillo The Shack Perla The Smokin Pig

● Wil-Mart store on Friday nights. Hang outside the store and relax meet Wil the owner and mix with locals and tourist a good place to end the week and hang with friends.

Matapalo, know for being authentic Costa Rica: ● Charlies Bar. They feature Karaoke, and live music.

Sometimes they have singing competitions with good cash prizes. Not only is it great for music and entertainment but it is also a go to sports bar for Futbol, Football and more Futbol. Charlie is the jovial owner and greets you with a happy smile and a great laugh.

● ● ● ● ●

Each of the places listed are unique and fun filled places to enjoy our music scene here in the Gold Coast.

DOG DAY AFTERNOON

Fundraising Event benefiting Barbara’s Animal Rescue Center Come out and support this vital community service, socialize and have a great time!

Sunday, March 12, 2017 5:00 PM-8:00 PM TIKIS SEASIDE GRILL - Brasilito Silent Auction • Raffles • 50/50 Draw Barbara’s Corner • Pet Portrait Photography

Spectacular Live Entertainment

by Charly Lopez, Dave Nelson, Mike Shannon & Fatiniza Barbara has been running her Animal Rescue Centre for over 22 years. Barbara’s rescues injured, neglected and abandoned animals.

Kids’ Games • Food & Drink Specials

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63

Spotlight Leatherback Rock

BY JOHNNY LAHOUD

T

he month´s theme for the magazine is all about Playa Grande. So in keeping with this I´m writing about the Leatherbacks. No not the turtles, but the iconic local rockn-roll band that has been playing all over Costa Rica and the Gold Coast area for the past 20 years.

The lead singer and guitarist Nick DÁmico formed the leatherbacks 20 years ago in 1997 when Tamarindo was just getting its feet wet as one of the area’s best known live music venues.

I remember first seeing them when they played in Grande at Rancho Diablo. They showed up and rocked the house for 3 hours.

Their mix of rock-n-roll classics like “Mustang Sally” with tunes from the Rolling Stones and AC-DC plus their own originals have always kept the crowds shakin’ to a solid rock-n-roll vibe.

The band as we know it now was consolidated into its current makeup in 2005 when Canadian Brian Burback joined on lead guitar and vocals. Brian is a ripper who mesmerizes the crowd nightly with his blazing solo performances.

Rounding out the 5-member band and aptly capable of their own solo jam sessions during the set are Tony G on drums, Pedro Golobios on bass and Roy on percussion drums.

For the past 2 years, Joe Hrbek, has been popping up on stage with the boyz. Joe is one of the latest local musical transplants who has been lighting up the local bars playing his jazz saxophone to many classic tunes. He also plays with the band and when he’s up there jamming, they definitely take it up a notch with his solos.

Then you always have the yearly migration of Donnie Walsh from the legendary Down Child Blues Band. When Donnie and the boyz get together, you can count on a blues jam session you won´t soon forget.

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The Leatherbacks have been a rock-n-roll staple in these parts for as long as I´ve been living here. So when you see them advertised on a chalk board, poster or FB post, make sure you hit up that local venue and check them out. It´s always a safe bet that you´ll be in for a great show and a good time with good friends.

Pura Vida, Johnny Grande

HOROSCOPE This month’s major planetary changes involve Jupiter going into retrograde motion on the 6th and staying that way for 4 months.

Jupiter’s retrograde period in the sign of Libra generally means one must review behaviors regarding relationships. Venus and Mars

ARIES

With Venus, Mars and Uranus still together in your sign you are in for a bit of a wild ride. It is a lot like February’s energy only but the Venus retrograde on the 4th will give you an opportunity to re-do something. You will reconfigure a derailed plan from the end of February. Keep a cool head and spend some time alone to ground yourself, by the ocean if at all possible—calm that fire with some water! Your best days are the 1st, 27th and 28th.

TAURUS

This month has you working behind the scenes or trying to retreat a bit from the world as your ruling planet, Venus, goes into retrograde motion for 6 weeks. Major areas of concern will be your health, your work environment and your appearance. This would be an excellent time to begin a diet or start an exercise plan. Just keep a low profile with your goals, and get more rest and solitude. Days to push for your agenda are the 2nd, 3rd, 29th and 30th.

GEMINI

You are still continuing the focus on your public image, improving professional contacts and forging ahead in your career. Creativity, having fun and children will also be a part of your focus as well. Be careful if you start a love affair during this Venus retrograde period as they usually don’t last. But then again, maybe you don’t want it to!

Gemini’s are not really known for their ability to commit, so a short term thing might be just what you need! Your power days are the 4th, 5th and 31st.

CANCER

There is a concentration of energy in both the mind expansion area of your life and your public image sector. Is it that you are contemplating taking a long trip to see where you want to work or are you considering taking a job in a foreign country? Both scenarios could definitely be in play so at least update your resume and circulate it smartly. It’s hard for Cancers to leave their nest so figure out what you would need to give you that cozy feeling you like to have. Good days to get your way are the 6th and 7th.

LEO

STARS MARCH 2017

By JEANNE CALLAHAN

will be traveling through Aries together all month and visible in the evening sky after sunset. Saturn will be transiting over the Galactic Center in Sagittarius this month as well. Talk to your astrologer if you want to know what that means for you personally.

LIBRA

With 3 planets concentrating power in the relationship area of your life, the upheaval continues for at least the next 6 weeks. Venus retrograde will give a direction and time frame for the details. Strive to be fair and keep your commitments. What is out of balance will be corrected after Venus goes direct on April 15th. Something liberating that will result from this drawn-out drama, so have faith! Your immune system is weak this month so take some time off to rest and recover if you can. The 13th and 14th are your best days this month.

SCORPIO

Hopefully, you paid attention to last month’s energy in regards to taking better care of your health as the next 6 weeks offers another good time to solidify those positive changes. Make a plan and stick to it. You have prodigious amounts of willpower and courage so take it on as a challenge to test yourself. Creativity, children, love affairs and having fun play a big part in your life this month as well so don’t forget to enjoy life! Good days to reward yourself are the 15th, 16th and first half of the 17th.

SAGITTARIUS

Saturn, the cosmic task master, is at the Galactic Center in your sign all month, giving you a kick in the rear to get your life in order. Now is not the time to slack off but the time to take directed action, use discipline and do the work. Family plays a big part of your life now so you will have lots of contact with them. In fact, plan some fun outings with your kids and just play a little. Best days for that are the 18th and 19th.

CAPRICORN

There is a major emphasis on your family of origin, brothers and sisters, your home, your neighbors and neighborhood. Some disruption from a recent event is demanding your time and attention over the next 6 weeks. It’s also time to rethink your public image and career during this Venus retrograde period. With your ruling planet, Saturn, at the Galactic Center now, taking some time to retreat from the business world is a good way to connect with the wisdom coming from that part of the universe for you. Stellar days for you are the 20th, 21st and 22nd.

AQUARIUS

This is still a time of soul searching and introspection to continue the vibes of February. It’s also a time to have the difficult conversations about the end of life, i.e., money, wills, legacies and insurance. What do you want to leave behind and to whom do you want to leave it?

Be honest and open about this. There is cosmic support for a longdistance journey this month, though even if you go to a familiar place it will feel different. Take your considerable spirit of adventure along and go with the flow. The 8th, 9th and daylight hours of the 10th are your stellar days.

Money, assets and communications will occupy a lot of time and energy in your life this month as some new plan is starting to come together. Being receptive is part of the key during the next 6 weeks as things group, shift and then re-group again. Siblings may be in contact with you. Jupiter’s position in the mind expansion of your chart is trying to open your mind to learn something new or broaden your experience in some positive way. Best days are the 23rd and 24th.

A married Virgo’s spouse may be in for some upset around money, insurance, an investment or a financial upset of some kind. It’s out of your control and that will make you worried and uncomfortable.

Over-analyzing it will not change the facts so pick up with what is and move forward. There is some bright side to this situation that hasn’t been revealed yet so have faith and keep plugging away with what you can control. Your best days are the 11th and 12th.

You will be paying lots of attention to money, your spending habits and long-term financial planning. In addition you may be considering changing up your image a bit with a new hair style. Don’t go too dramatic as with Venus in retrograde, you might not like it long term. There’s a romantic vibe around you at the beginning of the month so expect an unexpected trip to a beautiful place with your significant other. Good days are the 1st, 25th and 26th.

VIRGO

PISCES

THE HOWLER BOOKSHELF Welcome to The Howler bookshelf! Here we showcase books relevant to the area, and offer some creative pieces for your pleasure and entertainment. If you come to know of books we may be interested in publicizing, or if you write creatively and would like The Howler to consider your work for publication, please email editor@howlermag.com.

“O

ver the course of his time abroad, Joe brings his experiences to life alongside the history of the region as he travels throughout Costa Rica and its Central American neighborhood with stops in Panama, El Salvador and Guatemala. Xenophobic expatriates, delicious food, vibrant market scenes, an epic battle with Mothra, and inevitable culture clashes all make an appearance in Talking Tico, leaving readers with a new impression of this fascinating region.” (from the author) This book is a travelogue, or memoir of moving to Costa Rica from the U.S. and the many challenges confronted in that endeavor. The writer doesn’t limit the story to Costa Rica however, and also presents adventures and challenges in other Central American countries. (from The Howler)

CHILDREN’S STORY

“T

amarindo Beach-The Treasures of Nature, by Susie Anella is a vibrant handpainted watercolor guide to the seashells found along the shores of Playa Tamarindo. The beautifully illustrated pages depict the shells in color and shore location groupings that coordinate to a numbered map.

This fanciful map leads you on an early morning beach walk from the northern tip of Playa Tamarindo near the “Estero” to the southern rock outcroppings that lead to Playa Langosta.

Available at Jaime Peligro’s New and Used Book Store in Tamarindo and the Saturday Feria.” (from the author) Each page of this 11x17 book is a vibrant watercolor painting. The artist’s lines are carefully delineated, making each shell painting very clear and easy to match with the shell itself. There are hundreds of shells shown and named here. The artwork is so beautiful, it tempts separation and framing. (from The Howler)

Fast Friends Marcet Araya

Smitty the Kitty and Liliana the Iguana live in a hotel in the jungle. It’s a real hotel, a people hotel, but they live there too.

Both Smitty and Liliana like eating from the restaurant, and they like to play with the hotel guests.

Smitty loves to be petted, and he jumps into people’s laps while they are eating!

Liliana loves to have her picture taken, so she is in heaven since all of the hotel guests want to have their pictures taken next to Liliana.

Liliana smiles and poses for them, nodding her head up and down, and the people laugh and laugh, and take lots of pictures. Liliana is famous all over the internet, but she doesn’t know it!

Smitty and Liliana like to play chase around the hotel. The hotel guests are always a little freaked out at first, because they don’t know that Smitty and Liliana are friends and they are just playing. Sometimes that huge lizard chases after that cat and they both go racing around, which is fun to watch because they make a big mess running through things sometimes. They both go really really fast!!

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One day, Smitty chased Liliana into a really tall coconut tree.

THE HOWLER MAGAZINE

Liliana, feeling a little stuck out on a limb, jumped from the tree all the way down onto the beach chair below her, like iguanas can do.

But Smitty was stuck in the tree! He couldn’t get down because cats can’t just jump out of coconut trees like iguanas can, and coconut trees don’t have branches to help with the climb back down. So Smitty made himself comfortable on top of some coconuts and leaves, and cried, and cried, and cried, for a whole day!

The people at the hotel were worried about Smitty, and they didn’t like listening to him cry. So they called the coconut man Tomas. Tomas climbed right up that coconut tree to reach Smitty. Smitty was very happy to see Tomas, but he didn’t know Tomas so was a little afraid. Tomas reached in and picked up Smitty, safely putting him in the bag Tomas had climbed up with. And while Tomas was up there, he cut down some coconuts for everyone to drink.

When they were about half-way down the tree, Smitty jumped out of the bag and ran off, and Liliana started chasing him all over again!

DINING GUIDE

GET TO

KNOW A

RESTAURANT BEFORE YOU GO

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TAMARINDO-LANGOSTA

DINING GUIDE

Restaurant Capitán Suizo: Beachfront Restaurant

Hotel Capitán Suizo, Main Road to Langosta Hours of Operations Everyday 12:00 am - 10:00 pm Phone: 2653-0075 concierge@hotelcapitansuizo.com Specialties Every Friday Gourmet Nights Live Entertainment 4 course meal includes: welcome drink and coffee

MENU SELECTIONS Superfood

$16.00

Dinner Tuna Tartar

$15.00

Shrimp Tacos

$15.00

Caldereta de Mariscos

$21.00

Arroz Tradicional

$14.00

Lomito

$29.00

Chickpea salad - feta, rosemary & thyme, avocado, grilled chilies, sprouts & chia

Served with coleslaw, pineapple & basil pico de gallo, guacamole and tartar sauce

Mon & Wed Marimba music at dinner

TAMARINDO-LANGOSTA

Our objective is to provide fresh, healthy and balanced dishes, which showcase the flavors of Costa Rica with a European twist in a peaceful atmosphere.

Our beachfront restaurant offers an oasis with impeccable and friendly service. Come relax and enjoy the sun with fantastic food and drinks.

Rice with chicken - black bean purée, sweet plantain, fried yucca & cabbage salad

Tuna tartar with capers & mango with a cilantro, ginger & soya vinaigrette

Octopus, calamari, mussels & shrimp stew in a tomato & thyme sauce with rice

Beef tenderloin with a ginger and tamarind gravy served with Rösti and vegetables

Get your Restaurant in the

25 Metros sur de Naxos, Playa Langosta Hours of Operations 6:00 pm - 12:00 am Phone: 8562-5432 Specialties New menu daily

DINING GUIDE

Bokas

French Costa Rica fusion

Wine Bar Restaurant: Enjoy the tapas with a variety of fresh ingredients daily. French chefs prepare specials daily with Live music on Wednesday

Clear & Simple Information

clients want

to know when deciding where to

eat

MENU SELECTIONS Ceviche c4,000 Ceviche - ginger, red onions, peppers, cilantro, chili

Mahi-Mahi Carpacio

Passion fruit and vanilla, vinaigrette, lime, zest

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c5,000

4701-5942

ads@howlermag.com

DINING GUIDE

TAMARINDO

Tamarindo / Pinilla Hours of Operations 4:30 pm - 11:00 pm Phone: 8416-1010 Specialties Fish & Seafood Exotic vegetables & fruits Fine dining experience

HiR Fine Dining:

Discovery Menus

The Surf Shack

4 days a week international chefs like Michelin star Quentin Villers create discovery menus HiR. Every dinner has 6 to 10 plates. 8 guests per dinner

Off the Tamarindo Circle Hours of Operations 11: 00 am - 8:30 pm Thursdays Closed

Burgers, Wings and Fries

No Hurries, No Worries, No Rice and Beans!! Burgers, Wings, Fries and Milkshakes (The Best In Town)

MENU SELECTIONS

Phone: 2653-2346 Specialties Burgers, wings and milkshakes

MENU SELECTIONS

7 Plates Fish Menu

$75

Blue Ribbon Blue Cheese Burger

c4,300

Michelin Star Chef

$75

Boneless Wings (8 Pieces)

c3,800

Raw and cooked fish in the jungle of Costa Rica

6 Plates menu with meat, fish or vegetarian

Hours of Operations 11:00 am - 10:00 pm Phone: 8996-9990 Specialties Local fresh fish and seafood, native indigenous inspiration

Sapoa Cuisine

Sauces include mild, medium, hot, mango or honey BBQ

Pura Vegan

Local, Native, Costa Rican

With personal creativity, and an emphasis on native, local, and seasonal ingredients, our repertoire includes a generous variety of authentic recipes.

Roasted sunflower seeds and spices, with shaved yucca

Flamed Jumbo shrimp

Roasted stuffed pineapple, veggies and plantain purĂŠe

Second floor of Plaza Tamarindo

Vegan Serving 100% vegan cuisine that's sure to satisfy. Inspired by our chefs homeland of Thailand.

MENU SELECTIONS White fish Tiradito

TAMARINDO

In front of Sharky's Sport Bar

Blue cheese, bacon, sauteed onions and garlic

Hours of Operations: Monday to Saturday 10:30 am - 8:30 pm Closed Sunday hello@puravegancr.com

MENU SELECTIONS $9 $22

Thai Red Curry

c4,300

Pad Thai

c4,300

Coconut milk & mixed veggies, served with coconut rice

Rice noodles, veggies, tofu, tamarind sauce Read online, like and share

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PALM BEACH

DINING GUIDE

200 meters West of Bula Bula next to Wil-Mart palm beach Hours of Operations Daily 8:00 am - 9:00 pm Phone: 2653-0236 Specialties Sunday night BBQ $10 Platters

Seven Cave Bar and Grill: Barbeque, Pizza and Costa Rican Seafood Outside dining under a Costa Rican Rancho. Specializing in Argentine Barbecue: Fresh seafood and the highest quality meat: beef and chicken. A true barbecue feast!

Also offering pastas, pizza and salads. Come on Friday night to enjoy great music and drinks with friends. Free boat rides to and from Tamarindo throughout the night!

MENU SELECTIONS BBQ Platters

Beef tenderloin, Surf & Turf Ribs or Mahi Mahi With amazing sides

Casado: Beef, Fish Chicke or Pork Served Tico Style

PLAYA GRANDE

Chicken Breast in Amazing Mushrooms sauce and great sides

Hours of Operations Open Monday - Saturday 5:00 am - 10:00 pm

Homemade fresh ingrediance

MENU SELECTIONS Bruschetta

c2500

Fresh Tuna Tartare

c5500

Bread topped with fresh tomatos garlic, basil & black olives

Spinach & Ricotta Ravioli c6000 Choice of sauce: tomato, pink or butter & sage THE HOWLER MAGAZINE

Homemade Fresh Burgers

Our emphasis is placed on simple, fresh ingredients & Italian cooking methods. Fresh pastas & our famous Ravioli are made in-house daily. All meals are complemented by a selection of hand-made breads baked according to traditional methods. Dinner menu: antipasti, salads, pastas, seafood, beef and a wide variety of desserts.

Tuna tartare marinated with soy sauce, olive oil & avocado

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Hamburger and Fries

Cafe del Pueblo: Restaurant & Pizzeria: Traditional Italian cuisine!!!

Phone: 2653-2315 Specialty Homemade Pastas *Also Gluten Free Pastas

Black Oyster, Fish or Shrimp

Pizza Made Fresh to Order

Grilled Chicken Breast

Main Road to Playa Grande Intersection Cabo Velas Street

Ceviche Frsh Special

Pesto Tagliatelle/Spagetti c5800 Homemade basil sauce with nuts

Grilled Salmon

c8500

Tenderloin Gorgonzola

c9000

Grilled to perfection with lemon & herb butter sauce

Cooked to order topped with a rich gorgonzola sauce

DINING GUIDE

MATAPALO

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Charlie’s Bar: Tico Tico Sports Bar and Restaurant

MENU SELECTIONS c2000

Garlic Fish Filet

c4500

Ceviches c2500

Buffalo or BBQ Wings

c4800

Nachos c3500

Mixed Tico Appetizer Plate c9500

Fresh Tacos with all the goods

Fresh homemade with the best fish

Best Beef, Chicken or Vegetarian

11

M ATAPALO

Main Square Hours of Operations 12:00 pm - 2:00 am

Classic Tico Restaurant and Sports Bar! Do you want to experience the “Real” Costa Rica nightlife?…Vamos a Charlies!!! Ice cold beer, chiliguaro, and great Costa Rican cuisine! All weekend long both Ticos and Gringos are celebrating life!

Beef or Chicken Tacos

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Fresh fish served tico style casado

Your chioce os sauces and dips

Phone: 2653-6511 Specialties Karaoke - Friday, Saturday & Sunday (Drink Specials) Happy Hour Daily 12 pm- 6pm

A Great Mix of Appetizers to share

BRASILITO

Tiki’s Seaside Grille: International Cuisine Tikis Seaside Grille is beautiful location with a spectacular ocean and sunset views.

The perfect place to enjoy fresh-made foods from breakfast to dinner. We feature 12 local beers on tap.

180 Brasilito, Guanacaste, Costa Rica Conveniently located on the main corner in Brasilito Hours of Operations Daily 8:00 am - 10:00 pm Phone: 2654-9028

MENU SELECTIONS Cacique Mussels

c4000

Tiki Burger

c7000

Avocado Shrimp Salad

c6500

Churrasco Steak

c9500

Cuban Sandwich

c6000

Pargo

c9800

Sautéed with Cacique liquor, garlic and parsley

Tossed with veggies. Served with toasted garlic bread

Braised pork mustard, Swiss cheese, pickles, and ham

Topped with Swiss cheese, mushrooms & onions

Specialties Sunday Brunch 9:00 am -1:00 pm

Delmonico cut, rosemary potatoes & grilled vegetable skewer

Whole snapper garlic sauce or rice sautéed vegetables

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SURFSIDE POTRERO

DINING GUIDE

800 M Norte Banco Nacional Potrero Hours of Operations 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

The Beach House Private residence on the beach transformed into a quaint restaurant and bar, renown for its fresh seafood. Come and enjoy incredible food and awesome sunsets and views of the Pacific Ocean.

Phone: 2654-6203 Specialties Fresh seafood, Epic sunset view

MENU SELECTIONS Grilled Scallops

c5000

Onicn Rings

c3500

Catch of the Day

c9000

Jambalaya

c7500

Angus Tenderloin

c11000

Pesto Tuna Sandwich

c7000

Grilled in a bath of cacique liquor, lime and garlic

Tropical salsa, grilled vegetables & potatoes or rice

SURFSIDE POTRERO

Grilled to perfection with vegetables & rosemary potatoes

420 Aveinda Tres, Surfside Estates, Playa Potrero, Costa Rica Hours of Operations 7:00 am to 8:00 pm

MENU SELECTIONS Ultimate Burger

c6500

Vegi's Gone Wild

c5500

Spcecialty Salads Will Amaze you

Homemade Sausage Sandwich c5000 Made with real maple syrup

THE HOWLER MAGAZINE

Pesto seared tuna on fresly bread served with lettuce, tomato & pesto aioli

Located in a beautiful garden setting, great pool table for the adults, and lots of room to run around for the kids. Cater to all eaters, veggies, kids, meat eaters, and even non eaters. We are now open for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, until 8pm, daily.

Bacon Chees, Grilled Onions and homemade chile verde sauce

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Sausage, shrimp & chicken-onions, tomatos & peppers in Cajun sauce over rice or linguini

Maxwell’s: California Cuisine

Phone: 2654-4319 Specialties Breakfast, Burgers and Beer

Thick cut battered with a subtle blend of spices, served with garlic mayo and rosada sauce

Hand Cut Fries

c2000

Appetizers

c Vary

Traditional Mexican Food

c Vary

The Best Fresh Hand Cut Fries

A Great Selection of Items to pick

Taco, Buritos, Enchiladas, Salads

DINING GUIDE

Hwy 911 Just East of Bahia del Sol

Numu’s pool side restaurant is a wonderful modern setting that has an eclectic fusion of international cuisines like pad thai, sushi and red curry. Also offering of selection of vegan and gluten-free alternatives. Numu’s uses as many locally sourced ingredients as possible for the richest flavorful dishes.

Hours of Operations 12:00 pm - 10:00 pm Phone: 4702-8689 Specialties Vegan and gluten-free

MENU SELECTIONS Pad Thai

c4000

Numu Angus Burger

Numu Roll

c4500

Grilled Tenderloin

Kung Poa Chicken

c5000

Seabass

Noodles, sauce, red pepper, green beans, red onion, & bean sprouts

Salmon, mango, avocado, cucumber, spicy mayo, unagi sauce Stir-fried with vegetables, peanuts and chilli peppers over jasmine rice

c4500

Premium Angus ground, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, fresh cut fries

c10000

8 oz chargrilled tenderloin, chimichurri sauce on the side, choice of two sides

c9800

Pink peppercorn sauce, capers, choice of two sides

HWY 911 (Main Road) intersection Avenida Tres

The premier sports and entertainment bar in the Potrero: dartboards, free pool table & more. A complete menu from local fare, tasty pub menu and amazing seafood.

Food or drink specials every night. Light menu after 11pm. Friday night - Chase the Ace raffle for Charities

c4000

Perla’s Double Cheeseburger c7500

Fajita Lava Bowl - beef or chicken c8000 Peppers, onions, mushrooms & cheese in lava bowl

Two beef patty, cheddar, onions, lettuce, tomato

Blackened Tuna Steak

c8000

Beef, Fish or Pork Casado

Tenderloin Steak Dinner

c9000

c4800

Served with Rice, Beans, Salad & Plantain

Phone: 2654-4500 Specialties Live bands, DJs or Karaoke

MENU SELECTIONS Served with bacon and hash browns

Hours of Operations Daily 7:00 am - 12:00 am

Served with Perlas’s special potatoes & veggies

8 OZ choice beef, grilled onions, peppers & potatoes

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SURFSIDE POTRERO

Perlas: Sports and Entertainment Restaurant & Bar

Eggs Benedict

SURFSIDE POTRERO

Numu: International Cuisine

French Costa Rican Fusion

HiR Fine Dining

Inviting Wine Bar and Restaurant

Specialty Experience

International chefs, Michelin star Quentin Villers 8 guests per dinner

25 Mtrs Sur de Naxos 6:00 pm to Midnight 8562-5432 bocas langosta@gmail.com

Second floor Plaza Tamarindo 10:30 am to 8:30 pm N/A hello@puravegancr.com

Beach Front Restaurant Fresh healthy cuisine with a European twist Main Road to Langosta Everyday 12:00 am 10:00 pm 2653-0073 concierge@hotelcapitansuizo.com

Breakfast Grinds

Breakfast by the Beach

Russell's Steakhouse Steakhouse

50 Mts S of Super 2001 Daily 2653-0683

Cafe del Pueblo

Traditional Italian cuisine Simple fresh Italian ingredients, Homemade Pastas

Tropical Garden Place Gourmet Restaurant Weddings, Birthdays Special Events Diagonal blvd Pacific Park Daily 2249-4770 info@elpatiodetamarindo.com

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Sapoa Cuisine

Local Fresh Cuisine Local fresh fish and seafood, native indigenous inspiration Across from Sharky's From 11AM to 10PM daily 8996-9990

Surf Shack

Burgers and Wings Surf Shack Burgers and Wings family friendly at reasonable prices Off Tamarindo Circle 11am to 8 pm Closed Thurs 2653-2346

PLAYA GRANDE

TAMARINDO

El Patio

Seven Cave Bar & Grill

200 W of Bula Bula 8am to 9pm 2653-0236

EL Coconut

Across for Witch's Rock Tues - Sunday 2653-0086 katharina.elcoconut@gmail.com

Follow Signs M - Sun Break, Lunch, Dinner 2653-0975 frontdesk@hotelbulabula.com

BBQ, Pizza and Costa Rican Seafood

Serving the Finest Cuts of Iowa Beef. Break, Lunch and Dinner

Second Floor Deck Aqua Disco 6:00 am to 11:30 am 8582-6380

More than exquisite meals Discover Pura Vida Flavours

50 mts N/O de Gollo Store 11:30 am to 8:00 pm 4702-4054 adreinapepiada@gmail.com

Mixed Cuisine

Awesome food endless coffee

Pura Vida Flavours

Hidden treasure of the most traditional Venezuelan foods

Great Restaurant Bar, Happy Hours and Specials

PALM BEACH

Vegan Delights

Capitan Suizo

Venezuelan Comfort Food

Best Restaurant in the Jungle

Pura Vegan Vegan

La Reina Pepiada

The Great Waltini's

Tamarindo / Pinilla 4:30 to 11:00 pm 84161010

TAMARINDO

TAMARINDO-LANGOSTA

BOKAS

VILLARREAL

RESTAURANT DIRECTORY

Main Rd to Playa Grande 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm M - Sat 2653-2315

Mordo's Fish and Chips Fresh, Hot and Alot

Fresh, fast and delicious, Open late Friday for live music at WilMart Playa Grande next to Wil-Mart Tue-Sun 11-3 and 5-9 Fri Late 8577-4054 smdrm23@gmail.com

If you enjoy the Howler - Please support our

RESTAURANT DIRECTORY

CONTRIBUTOR Marcet Araya. BA English Lit, UC Berkeley. Former writing instructor. marcet.araya@gmail.com.

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M ATAPALO

Charlies Bar

Tico Sports Bar Restaurant Bar food and typical specialties Matapalo Main Square Noon to Midnight 2653-6511

MATAPALO

26

3-

Robert August. Surfer. Long-term Guanacaste resident. Local celeb.

BEACH HOUSE

Gregory Basco. Gregory Basco, awardwinning professional nature photographer and environmentalist. www.deepgreenphotography.com www.fotoverdetours.com

Fresh Seafood Best Sunset Cocktails and Beach Food Road to Surfside 11am to 9pm 2654-6203

Jesse Bishop. Long-term Guanacaste resident.

Mary Byerly. HIghly certified yoga instructor. Guiding others to live vibrantly, creating positive change one person at a time. panaceacr@gmail.com

Punto Tranquilo

Jeanne Callahan. Astrologer. Aware, smart, funny and interested in everything under the Sun! jeanne@celestialadvisor.com www.celestialadvisor.com

Tipical food and Pizzeria Typical Food, Tropical Place Cozy Ambience

BBQ

Brisket, Ribs and all the Fixins At BW Hotel Huacas Daily 2653-6818

Perry Carlille. Pastor of Beachside Community Church.

Maxwell's Breakfast, Burgers and Beer Lovely jungle garden with an occasional musician playing 420 Av Tres 7am to 8pm 2654-4319

NUMU International Cuisine Eclectic fusion International cuisines pad thai, sushi and red curry.

Tikis Seaside Grill International Cuisine

Main Corner Brasilito 8am to 10pm 2654-9028

THE SPOT Beachfront

Breakfast Lunch Tapas and Dinner Brasilito Beach side 7am to 10pm Closed Mon 2654-5463 thespotbrasalito@gmail.com

BRASILITO

International Cuisine / Sunday Brunch / 12 local Beer on tap

East of Bahia del Sol 12:00PM - 10:00PM 4702-8689

Gilberth Cavallini. Veterinary Doctor, owner Cavallini Veterinary Services, Villarreal (MegaSuper Plaza) tamarindovet@gmail.com Ellen Zoe Golden. PR background helps her write, write, write! Surf culture fascination.

EllenZoe@aol.com Ivan Granados. Managing Partner at GM Attorneys. He specializes in real estate and corporate law. igranados@gmattorneyscr.com Stacy Jean. A Canadian who has spent half her life in Guanacaste. sjean1990@hotmail.com Johnny Lahoud. Owner/broker of Pura Vida Realty, Playa Grande. He loves Costa Rica a lot. pvrealty@gmail.com Sylvia Monge. Owner of Spanish for Expats, a tutoring and translation service. spanishfhorexpats23@gmail.com.

Ariana Clashing O’Reilly. Local writer.

Tom Peifer. Ecological land use consultant with 20 years experience in Guanacaste.

2658-8018. tompeiferecv@gmail.com Tom Schultz. BS Biology and Geology, avid birder and nature photographer, retired software executive. tom@pananima.com

Perlas Sports and Entertainment Sports, Entertainment Restaurant and Bar Hwy 911 Main Road Av, Tres 7am to Midnight 2654-4500

Advertisers, tell them we sent you!

SURFSIDE POTRERO

TEXAS BBQ

HUACUS

200 mt Rd Sur de Huacas Cruce Daily 2654-8356 info@elpuntotranquilo.com

Ryan Waldron. BS Atmospheric Science, surfer. ryan@witchsrock.com Louis Wilson. Founder, Tamarindo Wildlife Sanctuary and Las Tortugas Hotel. info@lastortugashotel.com

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