howler1104April

The Howler

Volume 16, No. 4 Issue No. 175

April 2011 Founded 1996

TAMARINDO COSTA RICA www.howlermag.com THE HOWLER Ced. Juridica: 3-101-331333

FEATURES

Publisher, editor and production David Mills

dmills@racsa.co.cr Tel: 2-653-0545

9 NFL Comes to Costa Rica

A small American football league has started up in the Central Valley, and Ticos have an alternative sport to soccer.

CONTRIBUTORS ELLEN ZOE GOLDEN TONY OREZ TOM PEIFER JEFFREY WHITLOW DIANE MADSEN

8 Dining Out

Years after being ousted from its home at Iguana Surf by fire, Kahiki is back again in a new building with the same great food.

JEANNE CALLAHAN KAY DODGE JESSE BISHOP MARY BYERLY CYNTHIA CHARPENTIER

12 Tales of Guanacaste

Our columnist takes us back to her first visit to Costa Rica with a tale of sharing a small boat with a large pig.

14 Around Town

Openings, closings, parties, music. The Gold Coast has it all, and barhoppin’ David is in the groove.

15 Surf Report

Deadline for May: April 15

With a win in the Palo Seco de Parrita, the Circuito Nacional’s second date, Luis Vindas looks good for another national championship.

Howler advertising

16 Fiesta!

The Howler offers a wide range of advertising sizes and formats to suit all needs. Contact David Mills • dmills@racsa.co.cr

All over Costa Rica, town fiestas continue to entertain, but unreasonably high prices threaten to close them down.

Advertising rates & sizes

Tom segues between the Japanese earthquake disaster and nuclear contamination, Facebook and empty shelves in supermarkets.

Size

1/8 1/4 1/3 1/2 Full

Dimensions (cms) Width Height 9.4 9.4 19.2 6.3 9.4 19.2 19.2

x x x x x x x

6.15 12.70 6.15 25.80 25.80 12.70 25.80

23 The Virtual Vortex

Price $ 75 120

26 Surviving Costa Rica

Driving down to Costa Rica from the U.S. may sound romantic and adventurous, but it also has its share of scary moments.

150 210

DEPARTMENTS

400

5 Doctor’s Orders Discounts For 6 months, paid in advance, one month is deducted.

For 12 months, paid in advance, two months are deducted.

Ads must be submitted on CD or e-mail attachment, JPG or PDF format at 266 dpi, at the appropriate size (above).

24 April Forecasts

10 CD Review

25 Parents’ Corner

11 Book Review

28 Sun & Moon

21 Slice of Life

31 Tide Chart

22 Yoga

All comments, articles and advertising in this publication are the opinion of their authors, and do not reflect the opinion of Howler Management.

www.tamarindobeach.net

www.tamarindohomepage.com

Cover Caption: Howler monkey enjoying the flowers.

Cover photo: Leslie Abadia Anderson, Finca Punta Flor, Cover design: David Mills

Doctor’s Orders Jeffrey Whitlow, M.D.

I

n my last column, we discussed how the over-consumption or underconsumption of certain foods would affect the skin, hair, and nails.

In this column, we will continue the discussion, but this time we will focus on the sensory and nervous system.

Our bodies run on electricity, and our nerves are the wiring that carries the electrical current. Like any other wire, our wires require adequate insulation to ensure the orderly flow of current. The insulation is provided by a protein called myelin. The excessive consumption of acid-producing foods damages the insulation, and that damage manifests itself in a variety of ways. The problem is compounded by the under-consumption of protein, as the body then lacks the required reservoir of protein that would be necessary to repair the damage.

Researchers have looked at a number of hypotheses as to why people get pre-senile dementia, otherwise known as Alzheimer’s Disease.

They have mainly focused on the differences in brain structure between affected and unaffected individuals in their attempt to develop patent medicines that can slow down or reverse those perceived differences.

No researcher, to my knowledge, has ever looked at diet as the root cause of the “disease”, and that, along with our arrogance in believing that the structural changes we “see” are actually relevant, is why their research has failed so miserably, in my opinion.

It really is quite simple. If you have a wire that is poorly insulated, it will not carry a current well. Moreover, if you hook it up to another poorly insulated wire, the hookup will “short-circuit” or fail. In my opinion, that is exactly what happens in the brain of a person who consumes too much acid-producing food and not enough protein. The brain is constantly forming new connections, as this is the basis of learning and remembering new things, within our very limited understanding of the physiology of the brain. The new “wiring” has inadequate insulation, so the current doesn’t flow properly, and the new connections fail. This explanation fits the disease model perfectly, as Alzheimer’s sufferers are well-known to be able to remember distant events with clarity, but they have trouble remembering recent events. In my hypothesis, the old connections would be the last to short-circuit, since they were formed when the brain was relatively healthy. Makes sense, yes?

Parkinson’s, so-called Lou Gehrig’s disease, or amytrophic lateral sclerosis, and all of the other brain and nervous system disorders that are not associated with a specific causative organism, have a similar etiology, in my opinion. We just don’t know enough about brain structure and physiology to understand why the same dietary excesses and inadequacies result in different “diseases” in different individuals. As long as the focus is on developing profitable patent medicines that ameliorate the symptoms of a disorder, rather than trying to ferret out the root cause, we will continue to be frustrated in our efforts to cure these diseases.

What we do know for sure is that these diseases do not occur in the animal kingdom in animals that eat totally natural diets. It is incomprehensible to me that people really believe that we can eat Cheez Doodles, Ho-Ho’s, and Doritos without causing ourselves some serious health problems! In my next column, we will continue to discuss the sensory and nervous system.

W

e dodged the bullet – again. When the monstrous earthquake devastated Japan, a tsunami set out to cross the Pacific. ETA in Guanacaste was around 4 p.m., but estimates of its size were uncertain. Nonetheless, Tamarindo Beach was busy with surfers – looking for The Big One? – walkers and sunbathers, so I guess nobody took the warnings seriously. As it happened, not a single wave out of the ordinary arrived.

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An astute (or really pinchy) Canadian tourist brought to my attention that a Corona beer in Costa Rica is better value than in Canada. I checked, and she is right! A bottle in the frozen north contains 335 grams; here it has 355. Another good reason to visit Costa Rica.

Many of the older residents of Tamarindo wonder why events – concerts, fashion shows, etc. – start so late. When an event starts at 9 or 10 p.m., half the population (arguably the half with money) are lying abed instead of spending cash at your restaurant.

In February I wrote an article about Ol-Trans, the miracle drug for animals. I received this note: “OlTrans has changed our 14-year-old Rottie’s life. After numerous hip operations and pinched nerve in her spine we had given up hope. Two months after giving Tanga Ol-Trans we have seen a 50% improvement in her mobility. Many Thanks!”

Also, a doctor who is scheduled for two shoulder replacements has started taking Ol-Trans after reading the article. I will report on his progress as appropriate.

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NIMBY. So, everybody wanted a cellular phone.

Then you wanted wider cell phone coverage; then you wanted better cell phone coverage. So don’t bitch when the phone company erects a huge tower next door to your house. These ugly – and maybe hazardous – towers are springing up all over, but don’t blame me. I have existed many years without a cell phone. The demand brings the towers.

For those who didn’t know – and I was one – there is a new community group in Tamarindo. ADI-PLATA, (Association Integral de Playa Tamarindo) is a different entity then APMT (Asociacion Pro-mejoras de Playa Tamarindo). It is ADI which is responsible for the town fiesta in July, not APMT as reported in last month’s Howler.

Casagua Horses The greatest variety of tours and riding experiences for all ages, featuring spectacular countryside, howler monkeys, colorful small towns and fun-filled fiestas.

Cantina Tour - Nature Tour Fiesta & Tope Rental - Old Tempate Trail Tour Located near Portegolpe on the main road, opposite the Monkey Park, just 20 minutes from the beach.

Phone us at: 2-653-8041 • kaydodge@racsa.co.cr www.paintedponyguestranch.com The best horses on Guanacaste’s Gold Coast!

Dining Out David Mills

T

he members of the Huacas Association voted on February 23rd in favor of the donation of land of 1000 m2 in Huacas (behind the public school) to the organization CEPIA!!! We deeply thank the Huacas village members for their support and trust!

The principal idea is the construction of a Community Centre, which will consist of a prevention and attention centre with educational, psychological, cultural, sportive and recreational services, for the children, teenagers and adults from low-income families of the communities of Santa Cruz. Activities and services to be offered: night high school CINDEA; after-school program in sports, arts, English, informatics and recreation; psychology and education; support to children and mothers in extreme poverty; trainings for teenagers excluded from school; professional trainings; Public library and internet access; environmental education and recycling; support for public schools; Cultural events; scholarships; meeting room for all the groups of the civil society; inter-institutional work; volunteering; etc.

We need to find $350,000 for the construction of the building. Would you like to be part of the project and help us? We can’t do this alone! Please contact Laetitia at 83018282 or E-mail to cepiacostarica@racsa.co.cr

K

ahiki Restaurant has moved around a little – by force majeure.

When Gecko’s restaurant moved out of its location at Iguana Surf, Kahiki took over, serving good international dishes with a Polynesian accent. A fire destroyed the complex, and Kahiki moved to Hotel Mamiri for a couple of years. Now the restaurant has been rebuilt in the original location and is thriving as before, under ownership of George Vanengelen with Ronaldo presiding over the kitchen as before.

Appetizers include three salads – house, Caesar and arugula - which we chose, plentiful fresh lettuce in a delicious dressing. We also had firecracker shrimp from the appetizers, which also has aloha tuna tower; chicken satay; and Thai shrimp roll. For fast food, there are two burgers – classic and fish.

Entrees comprise chicken penne pasta; exotic Thai curry; lemon chicken; blackened mahi-mahi; pork tenderloin; filet mignon, marinated in chipotle sauce; and surf ‘n’ turf, jumbo shrimps with filet mignon.

We enjoyed two entrees – whole red snapper and blackened tuna, both served with crisp vegetables and braised spinach.

The dessert menu includes banana flambée; rousi brown; ice cream, alone or with liquors; and brownie with pineapple and ice cream.

There is also a children’s menu comprising cheese or chicken burger; fish or chicken fingers; fries; and pasta with butter.

The wine selection includes offerings from Chile, Argentina and Italy.

Food and service were excellent, and we were serenaded by Ontarian Brian Dale, who visits Tamarindo a couple of times a year to play his guitar around town. Brian plays Wednesdays; Sunday Jesse Bishop provides the entertainment. There are also several big-screen TVs for all the games.

Kahiki Sports Bar & Restaurant, in Tamarindo 100 meters south of Super 2001; open seven days from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. All credit cards accepted. Phone for reservations: 2653-4263; web kahikirestaurant. com.

NFL Comes to Costa Rica

T

wice a year in Costa Rica the whole country slumps into a nation-wide depression when the futbol (soccer) season closes down for several weeks. Soccerstarved fans avidly watch last season’s televised games or argue loudly in bars about the merits of La Liga and Saprissa. The national channels repeat, ad nauseum, games from long ago. Because, here in Costa Rica, there are no alternative sports to watch; no baseball, basketball, rugby, hockey, cricket, lacrosse, sports which are so popular in many countries.

Now there is hope! A small league of American football - Federación de Futbol Americano de Costa Rica - has been developed and is playing a regular game schedule. The league started in 2008, and there are only six teams, all from the Central Valley – La Sabana Raptors, Cartago Dragons, Santa Ana Bulldogs, Hatillo Tiburones, Uruca Toros, San José Rhinos. Two other teams – San José Scorpions and Perez Zeledon Predators - are being developed. But it’s a start.

Players are all over 18 years old and are mainly Costa Ricans, with some foreigners, and coaches are ex-players from international level teams. Currently, all games are played at Cancha de Río Oro, in Santa Ana, on Saturdays at 2 and 6 p.m. Soccer fields are smaller than NFL fields, so adjustments are made to the distances to accommodate the difference.

Teams are supported by corporate sponsors including Coca-cola; Boutique el Gimnasio; Centro technico de Extintores; Gimnasio Sport Fitness & Personal Fitness; Unlimited Sport. Some teams provide their own protection equipment.

The league is looking for players and referees.

Write to jugadores@email.com.

Maybe we can look forward to TV coverage, and hope this development will encourage an interest among Ticos in alternative sports and diminish a little the endless bar arguments between Saprissistas and Liguistas.

The 2011-12 season started February 19 and runs to Tico Bowl III on May 14. For information, visit wwww.ffacr.com or call Reyhan Fraile at 2289-2515.

CD Review New Reggae Night in Costa Rica Tony Orez

R

eggae music has become a global phenomenon. Cast into public awareness forty years ago by musicians like Johnny Nash and Bob Marley, the music remains Caribbean in temperament.

In 1995, the young Costa Rican label Papaya Music released “Costa Rica Reggae Night”, an excellent compilation of thirteen songs from well-known Costa Rican bands serves as a history of notable local reggae bands. The album has been a monster, selling over fifteen thousand copies in fifteen years, a remarkable feat for an independent Central American label.

Papaya has decided to release a second album in this vein, appropriately titled “Costa Rica Reggae Night 2”. It is a logical follow-up to the first CD and picks up where it left off, with some new conceptual twists. Recorded October and November last year, this new disc is an excellent showcase of current Costa Rican bands and how reggae has been embraced globally and woven into other musical fabric, including ska, electronica, cumbia, dub, even punk, along with conventional Latin rhythms.

The album opens with “Danger” by the Kingo Lovers, a popular band from San José. The second song is “A Queen Is” by Unity, formed by Sergio Camacho, a veteran in the Costa Rican Reggae scene. His original band, Native Culture, appeared on the first Reggae Night compilation. Other notable groups include Huba & Silica, performing “Rockin’” from their “El Origin de las Especies” CD and Sulalakaska (which means “paradise” in the indigenous bri-bri) doing “Ayer Triste Hoy Feliz” from their album “Mummy Fingers”, blending ska, punk, cumbia and meringue into their reggae stew for their own unique sound.

Another impressive band on this compilation is Moonlight & Huba, who mix reggae dub with electronica and an environmental message.

Very Twenty-First Century. Appropriately, their song is titled “Global Warming”. The band was founded by bassist Gabo Davila, from the popular band Mekatelyu, also featured on the first Reggae Nights CD. Moonlight has recorded two CDs, “Biodub” in 2009, and the new disc “Se Caliente”, released in February 2011. The hard-driving sound of “Positivity”, from the CD “Elevarse” by the popular San José band Cocofunka is a nice selection for a closing song. But somebody needs to call a doctor: these guys have Rock & Roll fever!

The standout performance is “Contracorriente” by Lucho Calavera y La Canalla from their new debut CD “Ni Pa Que Te Quento”, which took a full year to make. The eight-piece band is known for its lively stage shows and an earnest attention to detail in the studio, a rare combination.

As Lucho explained, “We play what we know: Costa Rican and Central American rhythms, rumba flamenco, meringue, funk, even cha cha cha!”

The potpourri has drawn a lot of attention, including by Papaya Music, who are interested in distributing the new CD for the band.

In all, twelve bands appear on the album, produced by the husband/wife team Yazmin Ross and Luciano Capelli, two of the founders of Papaya Music. The result is a great barometer of the breadth Costa Rican reggae has reached, revealing new talent and the evolution of popular local musicians. Costa Rica Reggae Night 2 has the propensity to succeed beyond its predecessor. It’s a great addition to anyone’s collection.

Book Review Hammock Between the Mangoes Tony Orez

A

s a North American, I admit that my exposure to Latin American authors prior to moving to Costa Rica was limited, at best. Yes, I’d read Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Carlos Fuentes, Jorge Luis Borges and Isabel Allende (I’d even had the pleasure of meeting this famed author a few times), but honestly, my knowledge of this expansive world of literature was sorely lacking.

When I moved to Tamarindo eight years ago, I made it a point to start amending this void and it has since been my pleasure to discover the rich, poetic world of Latin literature.

I recently found a copy of “A Hammock Beneath the Mangoes”, a compilation of short stories written by twenty-six Latino authors from eight different Latin American countries. It is a great way for any novice to gain an introduction to this extensive genre. The collection is organized into five geographic sections: Mexico, the Caribbean, Chile, and two more chapters covering the rest of South America. Prior to each story, there is a brief bio of each author.

I was a little disappointed and more than a little surprised that the famed Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa had not been included. I’ve read a collection of his short stories and can think of more than one of these that could easily have been included. By the same token, the book exposed me to a variety of writers whose other works I will now pursue reading. Two of the good surprises for me were discovering Jorge Amando, via “The Miracle of the Birds” and Murilo Rubiao’s “The Ex-Magician from the Minhota Cavern”, both modern Brazilian writers who combine sensuality, humor and the fantastic into a lively literary buffet.

The Puerto Rican authoress Rosario Ferre was an excellent discovery for me, too. The story included in this book was “The Gift”, a well-crafted, flowing story about two girls from opposite sides of town who become best friends at a Catholic all-girl school and what ensues. It is truly a wonderful tale. Another Puerto Rican writer, Ana Lydia Vega, is represented in this anthology with her novella “Story-bound”, a sort of romantic detective tale told with a very hip, caustic wit. I also enjoyed being exposed to the Mexican writer Juan Rulfo via his perfectly paced short story “Luvina”. My favorite new author (for me), though, was the “enfant terrible” Cuban writer Reinaldo Arenas and his delivery of “Bestal Among the Flowers”, a bizarrely enthralling story that could never be properly recounted and deserves to be read first hand only for its full impact.

And the aforementioned Isabel Allende and Gabriel Garcia Marquez are here, too: he with “The Last Voyage of the Ghost Ship”, a rambling, three-thousandword single sentence of interior monologue and she with “Toad’s Mouth”, a classic example of her talent for fairy tale erotica.

Spanish is called a Romance language for a reason and it means a lot more than what goes on between the sheets. The culture seeps through the language.

Metaphors and adjectives live in a poetic, otherworldly level. This book is a nice primer for non-Latinos to become exposed to this Romantic way of life.

Tales of Guanacaste Part I Kay T. Dodge, Ph.D

T

he smell of garbage, mixed with oil and urine, forced us to walk outside the Puntarenas dock area for another breath of fresher air. What time does the boat leave, asked one of my students, for at least the 20th time? We were all accustomed to “Tico Time” in the three weeks we had already spent in Costa Rica traveling from Arenal and Monteverde to Cajuita and the Osa Peninsula. Traveling with thirty-two US and Costa Rican high school students and four teacher chaperones, we traveled the country in a forty-passenger school bus that had obviously been retired from service in one of the Texas school districts years ago. This was my first trip to Costa Rica and it was July, 1974.

Three weeks into our visit we were scheduled to go to the beaches of Nosara to see the arrival of the Pacific Ridley turtles, visit bat caves and spend time enjoying the beach. Our base was the Costa Rica Academy located at that time on the Sabana in San José, and we all lived with families, had classes at the Academy and traveled out of the capital for extended field trips. We were told this adventure would be a boat trip from Puntarenas to Nosara, with a wet landing.

For three nights, we would be “camping out” in the Director’s beach house. We had already camped out on other trips - the front porch of the United Fruit Company’s school, a rented cantina in old Arenal (now sitting on the bottom of Lake Arenal) – and now we would divide up the floor and bed space in a small beach house. One of my students claimed the space under the kitchen table and I got one of the box springs.

Ah, back to the docks of Puntarenas. Thirty-six of us were waiting for the boat to arrive. Of course it was supposed to leave at three in the afternoon, and it was now 8 p.m. As the boat finally slid into the dock, the excitement grew. We had carefully packed our clothes, cameras, and binoculars in plastic bags in preparation for the wet landing. We were ready, but the boat wasn’t! The Costa Rican crew began to load supplies onto what I considered, after close observation, to be a tugboat size version of the famous African Queen. We obviously were not to be “first class passengers.” A very large pig in a wooden cage seemed to get the most attention, as she was carefully tied onto the flat top deck along with what seemed like a ton of toilet paper, beer, coke, and a few three-foot fruit trees. This was, in fact, the boat that cruised up the coast bringing supplies to the small fishing villages.

At about 1 a.m. we finally loaded and were delegated to the wooden park benches that surrounded the main deck and would be our beds for the night. Vesta, the director of the exchange program from Costa Rica Academy, handed out Dramamine, which she told me would help with sea sickness and perhaps put the students to sleep. We finally moved out of the dock area at 3 a.m. Some students did fall to sleep, heads on their plastic-covered belongings; others were fascinated with the passing shoreline. Once safely underway, a couple of the crew climbed into their hammocks suspended over the very noisy engine to get a few hours sleep. Maybe we were in first class for this boat! (continued page 21

Alcoholics Anonymous Schedule of Meetings

Flamingo

Tuesdays: 5:30 - 6:30 pm (open) Fridays: 5:30 - 6:30 pm (open)

Location: Hitching Post Plaza Unit 2, Brasilito Contact: Don H. at 2-654-4902

Tamarindo

Saturday: 10:30-11:30 - Open General Meeting Monday: 5:30 Open Meeting Thursday: 6:30-7:30 - Open Meeting Location: Behind Restaurant La Caracola Contact: Ellen - 2-653-0897

STEAKHOUSE NOW SERVING DINNER EVERY NIGHT 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.

8 oz RIB EYE or NEW YORK STEAK ¢4,500 Fully Air Conditioned Daily Specials 7 oz FILET MIGNON ¢6,000 Ice-cold Beers Games for the Kids 16 oz T-BONE STEAK ¢7,500 Flat Screen TVs Free Pool Table GRILLED PORK CHOP ¢4,000 ALL MEALS INCLUDE COMBINATION OF SIDES MADE DAILY

¢1,000 IMPERIAL • PILSEN • ROCK ICE

CEPIA’s annual fundraising event will take place Saturday, April 30, at “Le Beach Club” in Tamarindo !!! The all-daylong event “Music Marathon” starts at noon with a garage sale and at 2 p.m. silent auction and non-stop music concerts till late...Guadelupe Urbia, famous musician and songwriter from Guanacaste, will offer us an unforgettable concert! Tickets for sale at Le Beach Club Tamarindo, at CEPIA in Huacas and at Super Massai in Flamingo. Give your support to the young people of the community. Contact cepiadirector@racsa.co.cr or 2653-8533 / 2653-8365.

It’s time, Tamarindo, to grab your ruby flip-flops and follow the yellow brick road to the Diria Amphitheatre for another great production directed by Paul Belanger of the Beach Nuts Theatre, Co. in association with Amigos De La Educacion.

The Wizard of Oz will be making high season sing here in Tamarindo on March 31, April 1st and 2nd. Tickets cost $15 adults and $12 children and are on sale now at Papaya Con Leche, Jamie Peligro books in Tamarindo, Café Café in Tamarindo, or by contacting Gayle Almquist, 8703-9662 Info@ beachnutstheatre.org. The doors will open at 6:00 and Dorothy and Toto will skip onto stage at 7:00 p.m.

Bingo is playing to a full house at Doña Lee’s Country Kitchen two Tuesdays a month. Your play card only costs ¢1,000 and gives ten games. So far, ¢210,000 has been collected to go to the local community needs such as beach cleanup and Cruz Roja. But sponsors are still urgently needed to donate prizes – tours, meals, etc. Great publicity for your business.

Call Doña Lee for details at 2653-0127 or 8876-0508.

To add some new tastes to Tamarindo’s eating experience, a load of small eateries has opened up around town, from Taco Tico, El Arepago, Burger Beach, Juancho’s fast Food and Pura Vida Juice bar at Coral Reef (opposite Voodoo), to Fish & Chips next to Licorera Cristal, Parrilla Argentina opposite Kahiki and the Cuban Sandwich place next door to the Catholic Church.

In Brasilito, Jason from Pedro’s in Tamarindo has opened Pedro II Restaurant.

Send me news of your openings and other events for free publicity here.

KIDS UNDER 7 EAT FREE (SPECIAL MENU) Located in the Plaza with Gil’s Place & Tamarindo Gym Tel: 2653-1423

www.howlermag.com

Surf Report Story: Ellen Zoe Golden

T

he current Costa Rican national surf champion, Luis Vindas of Jacó, is really on a roll.

very happy,” explained Hundley, who also won the Junior Women’s division in Palo Seco.

Not only did he win the first date of the Circuito Nacional de Surf Oceans by DayStar 2011 in Playa Jacó, but he is now 2-for-2 in the countrywide tournament with a win in Palo Seco de Parrita on February 27.

With Carlos Muñoz (Esterillos) and Jair Perez (Jacó) both off training in Hawaii, there was a different running order in the Junior division as well.

Fillingim easily shone with a score of 14.17 to take first place. Noe Mar McGonagle of Pavones ran up 11.73, while Manuel Mesen of Jacó earned 11.27 and Gabriel Muñoz of Jacó scored 8.30. The latter surfer debuted for the first time at the podium during this contest.

Vindas (photo) scored the Palo Seco trophy by outrunning the final heat contenders Anthony Fillingim of Malpais, Jordan Hernández of Puerto Viejo and Luis Castro of Limón. Waves were almost 2 meters during that final heat, and it was seen by about 500 people on the beach.

Eyeing that second winner’s podium, Vindas entered the water for that final heat looking to put high scores on the boards quickly. He accomplished this by choosing two waves that gave him a Photo: Fabián Sánchez combination of 13.33 (7.83 and 5.50), points that went well beyond his competitors. Fillingim punched up 8.70, Castro added 8.03 and Hernandez combined for 7.24, all in waves that closed out abruptly and did not allow these competitors the chance to maneuver much.

Except Vindas. His experience showed, making innovative aerials from lefts in the closing of his routes. As a matter of fact, he finished the heat and his waves with 8 of his 20 minutes left.

“I felt safe, because I found the place where I could make my points.

These were not easy waves, but I congratulate my opponents because at any moment they could put doubt in me about whether or not I was going to win again. Now I prepare myself for whatever comes, because it’s going to be very hard. But I am motivated to defend my title,” said Vindas.

With this win, Luis has accumulated 5,000 points in the Open and is the undisputed leader of the 2011-12 rankings table.

There was a tremendous upset in the Women’s Division at Palo Seco.

For the first time in a long, long time, there was a winner that wasn’t either Lisbeth Vindas or Nataly Bernold (both of Jacó).

The winner was Jordan Hundley from the United States (photo page 23), a constant podium visitor who had always threatened the dynamic Tico duo with a big win and now has accomplished just that.

Hundley, who lives in Jacó, combined for 12.00 (7.33 and 4.67), against 10.50 for Bernold, 6.33 for Merary Jimenez (Quepos) and finally, 4.33 for Lisbeth.

“It is far from easy to gain this win. In Costa Rica there is an incredible level of surfing in the Women’s category and for that reason I am

The next date of the Circuito Nacional de Surf Oceans by DayStar 2011 will be the Copa Quiksilver in Nosara on April 2 and 3. Once again a 6-star contest; winners in all categories will receive 2,500 points.

The Circuito Nacinal de Surf Oceans by DayStar 2011 is sponsored

by Oceans by DayStar, 104.7 Hit, Red Bull, Mango Skate & Surf, Britt Iced, Adoc, Quiksilver, Banzaii Surfboards, OFF!, Reef, Boltio, Surfos magazine, Ibarquero Design, AyA Palo Seco de Parrita February 26, 27, 2011 Open Luis Vindas (Jacó) Anthony Fillingim (S. Teresa) Luis Castro (Limón) Jordan Hernández (P. Viejo)

Longboard Anthony Flores (Jacó) Diego Naranjo (Jacó) Arturo Quiros (Jacó) Esteban Leitón (S. José)

Junior Anthony Fillingim Noe Mar McGonagle (Pavones) Manuel Mesén (Jacó) Gabriel Muñoz (Jacó)

Women’s Jordan Hundley (USA) Nataly Bernold (Jacó) Merary Jimenez (Quepos) Lisbeth Vindas (Jacó)

Boys (Under 16) Noe Mar McGonagle Manuel Mesén (Jacó) Bruno Carvalho (Jacó) Tomas King (Tamarindo)

Junior Women’s Jordan Hundley (USA) Emily Gussoni (Jacó) Selena Moberly (Tamarindo) Paula Duarte (Jacó)

Grommet (Under 14) Kevin Montiel (Nosara) Leonardo Calvo (Barranca) Bruno Carvalho (Jacó) Callen Rield

Grommet Girls (Under 15) Leilani McGonagle (Pavones) Selena Moberly Paula Duarte Emily Gussoni

Minigrommet (Under 12) Alex Calero Aldo Chirinos Sean Forester Malakai Martínez

(continued page 19)

Fies

Is the town fiesta on the

B

ullfights, chorreadas, bombetas, fairground, cervezas, baile, guaro, tope, arroz cantones... All these ingredients add up to one thing – fiesta!

During summer in Costa Rica, every pueblo and pueblito has a oncea-year town party, a five-day event that brings the whole town – and

its neighbours – together to eat, drink, dance and be merry. Chicas work on their party dresses, caballistas polish their tack, musicians tune their instruments, women work in the cantina conjuring a variety of comida tipica.

The fiesta’s day starts at 5 a.m. with “triple bombetas” shattering sleep

for miles around and entreating you to join in the diana, a morning parade through the streets with the town cimarrona band to remind the faithful that it is fiesta time again.

Fiesta usually starts on Thursday, the kick-off being a “baile de polvo” where old and young dance together in the bullring, sending up clouds of dust as the band blasts its music through a dozen fridge-

sized speakers. A standard offering every day is the bullfight – more of a rodeo – where young guys, often with Cacique-inspired courage, ride or taunt the bewildered half-ton Brahma bulls. Older people may choose to sit in the bleachers for the spectacle but many onlookers sit on the wooden fence, lifting their legs in the air when the toro takes a

sta!

endangered species list? swing at the dangling feet. At times, the bull gets lucky and tosses a would-be matador into the air, to stomp him with his huge weight on the dusty earth. Blood in the sand, as Hemingway put it. A Cruz Roja kiosk is handily placed so the injured can be dragged off the pista for treatment or prepared for an ambulance trip to a far-off hospital.

Most fiestas feature a cantina, dispensing tasty snacks such as arroz con pollo, chop suey, chicken deep-fried in lard to a crispy brown, beef or pork strips sautéed with onion. Interesting machines squirt ground cornmeal into long tubes, to de dipped into hot fat and coated with sugar. Smaller stands dispense “monkey-on-a-stick”, kebabs of pork or beef on a grill. A first-world food inspector would scream

in horror at the sight of mounds of raw chicken, covered with flies, waiting to be dropped into the boiling manteca.

Nearby is the midway, or fairground, with a mixture of rides: small trains chugging slowly around a tiny track for the babies, a full-size dodgem arena where people polish up their driving skills for Guanacaste roads; rapidly spinning anti-gravity wheel which plasters riders to

the walls as it rolls sideways and inverted; a ferris wheel with two-seat cars filled with screaming kids and driven by an ancient diesel (continued page 20)

Surf Report (from page 15) A lot of you may be familier with the online website called www.crsurf.com. You may get your tides from it, or your surf news. What you may not know is that its actually called CR Surf Travel Company, and the online site dedicated to finding the best place to travel and surf in Costa Rica, has supported local environmental groups in Costa Rica by donating money, materials, and surf products while providing free publicity for events. The site �s unique position as the �go-to � source for the latest swell forecasts, surf contest updates, environment and community news, top-notch surf shots, travel specials and fully licensed sale of customized surf trips to Costa Rica, makes CR Surf Travel Company a sounding board for issues pertaining to the country that it promotes on their website www.crsurf.com.

Issues such as the protesting of oil drilling off the Caribbean Coast, building a marina that would have destroyed Salsa Brava, and most recently supporting the group PRETOMA in their effort to stop a proposed Tuna Farm off the coast of Pavones get full coverage. PRETOMA (Programa Restauracion de TortugasMarinas), a Costa Rican non-profit group, also has led the campaign to stop shark fins from being unloaded from private docks.

To further show their commitment to protecting the oceans and beaches, CR Surf Travel Company has joined 1% for the Planet, pledging to donate at least 1% of sales to environmental causes. Joining 1,200 other businesses in North America, the site �s founder Greg Gordon wants to take a lead role in being an environmental steward and to set an example for the rest of the business community. He has set up this system of donations from a portion of profits so that the money will go to PRETOMA and the Tamarindo, Costa Rica chapter of the Surfrider Foundation.

The marriage of information a surfer needs to plan a trip and the focus on places that are eco-friendly and involved in their community, make www.crsurf.com a perfect platform for its other global environmental activities.

“My goal is to help promote local businesses so they can invest in sustainable development based on adventure tourism like surf trips.” explains Gordon, who started writing surf reports for Costa Rica in 1998 while living and surfing in the Pacific coast town of Dominical. “It’s not just the great waves that bring surfers from around the world to Costa Rica, but the friendly people who live there and the beautiful natural surroundings. I’d like to help keep it that way for future generations of surfers.”

You can get free surf, travel, and eco reports here – www.crsurf.com/subscribe.html Or find them on Facebook – www.facebook.com/crsurf For videos – www.youtube.com/crsurf20 One Percent for the Planet – www.onepercentfortheplanet.org PRETOMA – www.pretoma.org Surfrider Foundation – www.surfrider.org CR Surf Travel Company 877.SURF.007 travel@crsurf.com Photo: Fabián Sánchez

That’s all I’ve got. Looking forward to hearing what you think. Keep those emails coming at EllenZoe@aol.com. Send your comments, information, errors or praise, because I can’t do this column without you, the real surfers.

Fiesta! (from page 17) motor from a bygone age; Look closely at any of these rides and you will see the entire structure held up by a few wood wedges that sway and wobble back and forth until a muchacho with a mallet pounds them back into place. Most of these rides can trace their history back maybe a hundred years, probably back to county fairs in the United States.

Evening features the baile, a dance in the communal hall to enormously loud cumbia, samba, merengue, reggae, attended by the entire community. Age is no barrier, but the viejos slope off to bed early leaving the kids to dance their hearts out until much later. No doubt many romances are made – or broken – at the baile.

Sometime during the ceremonies there is the crowning of the reina, the fiesta queen, who arrives in a decorated ox-cart attended by her retinue of pretty young girls. Lately the ox-cart has given way to the Hi-Lux pickup.

Sunday is tope day, and the whole afternoon is given over to this big horseriding event. Some three or four hundred riders, dressed to the nines, start arriving at noon for the inscription party at a distant location. Over three hours the riders trickle in, some on horseback, others trucked in, to drink cerveza and Scotch and enjoy the tough but tasty lomito Guanacasteco cooked over a grill. At long last, the cimarrona sets off in a truck, playing a medley of canciones rancheras, followed by the tope, led by sashed dedicados and invitados especiales. Along the way, the tope stops at another bar to replenish the thirsty riders until, arriving at fiesta town, it winds through the streets to the communal hall, where yet another fiesta starts up.

Monday is an anti-climax to the whole fiesta.

Only the brave and the stupored carry the party to its conclusion before leaving the town hung over, covered in debris but happy at another successful fiesta.

Unfortunately, the fiesta may be on the way out, due to several factors. The tradition of the tope is undermined by kids on quads, to whom a stinking noisy vehicle is preferable to a horse. Once the fiesta was a cheap day out, but prices have risen rapidly so that a day out with the family is now a major financial consideration.

A few years ago a tub of food was ¢400; now it is ¢2,500! Tope inscription has quadrupled in the last ten years. One pueblito this year cancelled its fiesta at the last minute because the townsfolk refused to pay the high fees.

So enjoy the fiesta while you can. Soon it may be just a memory.

Tales of Guanacaste... (from page 12 Too excited to sleep much, most of the group got up to see the sun rise over Isla Cabo Blanco at the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. The sea birds and dolphins kept us company as the boat chugged up the spectacular coastline toward the beaches of Nosara and Ostional, the famed nesting ground of the Pacific Ridley sea turtles. Hershey bars and granola washed down with warm water or Coke was the breakfast fare. We told everyone to repack their garbage bags securely, because they had to carry everything over their heads from the pangas or dinghy that would take small groups as far as the surf break where they had to get out and walk to shore. Some toilet paper, coke and beer were also taken in to waiting villagers to replenish the small towns’ supply. The beach roads were impassable after the first rains and either the freight boat or small planes brought in precious supplies to the isolated villages along the coast.

You were wondering about the pig? Well she was destined for the same beach as we were, so the crew had the idea that if they just dumped her into the ocean that she would swim ashore to the waiting townspeople. It didn’t quite happen that way. She squealed as she hit the water and began to swim in circles, and more circles, obviously not knowing where the beach was. After the last boatload of students was getting out of the panga and wading through the crashing surf to the beach, the crew loaded the pig back on board and decided they would send her in the last panga with the chaperones. As we moved toward the breaking waves, four men rushed out to meet us. We thought they might help us, but no, they each grabbed a leg of the now exhausted pig, threw her over their heads and waded to shore.

When ashore, they took off toward their village, men shouting and pig now screaming. I asked if she was for dinner, and our guide said no, she would be used for breeding. We certainly did not want our companion for our dinner.

As we waited on the deserted beach, the director of the Academy motored up to us on a World War Two vintage motorcycle that he kept at his beach house. We then trudged along the sandy beach following the motorcycle to his beach house that would be our home for the next three nights.

Next Month - Part 2 – Finding the turtle, the raging river, and stranded by a plane crash.

Now Begins the Study of Yoga Putting a Spring Into Your Step

Ah, springtime, when one’s thoughts turn to ... well, here in Guanacaste they usually turn to “when will the rain come?” Springtime is a time of renewal, a good time to “spring” forward into your yoga practice. Typically, as adults we only jump to conclusions. Think about how often and how spontaneously we jumped as kids. We had lots of energy and enthusiasm, and this can still be so. If you don’t already incorporate jumping into your routine, adding this can bring a feeling of greater energy and lightness into your body.

Begin standing in Mountain Pose in the middle of your mat, facing the long side. Inhale, and on the exhale take your hands and arms straight out to the sides as you jump your legs apart. Land as softly as you can on the balls of your feet, with the middle toes pointing forward and moving both legs equally out from center in a balanced movement. Do whatever standing pose you are doing on each side and then jump your feet back together to Mountain Pose, again coordinating movement in both legs.

Jumping is physiologically good for us. It helps us develop healthy bones, agility, coordination, and strengthens our immune system.

In fact, at one point, mini-trampolines became popular due to the promotion of jumping as good for our health. Jumping on one of those trampolines or in water is a way to get these health benefits with low impact on your joints.

In Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar - below), you can add in jumpings; just keep in mind your flexibility in hips, knees, and feet, as well as your upper body strength. All are required to do this well, so that you do not crash land! Start by practicing jumping from a standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana) into Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana), and back to Forward Bend. Lift in and up through the pit of your abdomen as you spring your legs up and back to go back, and reverse this as you come forward. Try to keep a feeling of floating as much as possible and land softly.

In your yoga practice, include jumping to move in and out of poses in a balanced way and to bring a feeling of lightness into your body.

Barring any major knee, hip, or back problems (in which case you should seek out the advice of an experienced teacher), one easy way to incorporate jumping is in and out of standing poses from Mountain pose (Tadasana or Samasthiti - above).

Mary Byerly is one of the owners and the yoga teacher at Panacea.

An oasis of tranquility and health 10 minutes from Tamarindo.

Discover Paradise and Bring a Peace Home www.panaceacr.com • 2653-8515

Jumping will add some energy to your practice, and help you remember to be light, as well as being the light!

Enjoy the spring, and Namaste.

The Virtual Vortex?

Tom Peifer

May you live in interesting times—Old Chinese curse

O

ne definitive image from the recent tsunami tragedy in Japan was hauntingly simple. A boat, adrift and sucked in towards a vortex that whirled in the aftermath of the subsea quake. The image struck those primal chords of fear: loss of control, overwhelming force, uncharted destiny and probable doom. Aftershocks of the quake continue as I write, geophysical as well as geopolitical.

For one thing, the much-ballyhooed renaissance of nuclear power is beating against a stiff headwind in a number of countries which have cancelled plans for renovations or new construction, all growing out of a renewed sense that “gee, y’know, this stuff really is scary, huh.” Oh yeah! One expert, citing experience from Chernobyl and Three Mile Island, talks about the possibility of groundwater contamination for 300 years. More than that, who knows just what happens when you cool down a nuclear inferno by rinsing it out with millions of gallons of seawater. Coming soon to a sushi bar near you: yucko-nuki rolls that glow in the dark.

The world financial markets were quick to react. Among other things, Japan lost 18% of its electricity generation capacity. Given the interconnectedness of globalization, it turns out that something like 20% of the sophisticated microchips needed in the new breeds of ‘smart’ phones in fact come from Japan. Just-in-time supply chains are feeling the pinch already. Prices inevitably will reflect the altered state of supply. In a year or so of ‘interesting’ natural phenomena—from Haiti and Chile to Pakistan, Australia and now Japan—it appears that we’ve received yet another notso-gentle reminder that mother nature holds the trump cards in the real world reality show.

Ironically, of late, I have been drifting into another version of reality. Along with the other 500 million users of Facebook worldwide, it all started innocently enough. I was encouraged to set up a page as part of social network marketing for my little eco-paradise development. Pura vida, I thought, now what? Oh, then you get friends to “like” your page, and that goes out to their friends, and so on. Sort of like the emanation of ripples from a seismic event. I dove in headfirst.

And came up smiling, initially. It was cool, allowed me to reconnect with people I hadn’t seen in 40 years, flirt with some of the girls at Lola’s, keep tabs on the waves without driving and occasionally get an interesting article or video forwarded to me.

I was on the page several times a day, clicking out of whatever I was doing—like writing articles a day late (and the rest – Ed) for a magazine in Guanacaste—to see who was doing what, exchange comments with some and barbs with others and generally hang out

in the ‘virtual’ online community. As I said, it was fun at first.

I began to pick up on a tendency that I can only describe as increasing banality in direct proportion to bandwidth. Here in the woods, a good connection is like an oasis in the desert. You have to get the most out of every drop. Users with time to burn and reliable, fast connections seemed to spend an inordinate—to me—amount of time posting doggie pics, baby birthday pics, party pics and then regretful hangover laments. As one friend put it: “They tell me, ‘this weekend I bought a wash cloth at Wal-Mart.’

Like I really care???”

Now, let me take a step back here and acknowledge the important role that web-based communication and networking sites have played in the ongoing upheavals in the Middle East and North Africa. But, it’s a long way from being all in a twitter about mass movements for social change and the digital drivel that drifts across my desktop. OK, maybe I need an upgrade on my list of friends. Or, then again, maybe I’m an addict.

Allow me a ‘heads up’ to Helen, at Nogui’s in Tamarindo, for clueing me in to a wealth of literature on Facebook addiction, online gaming addiction and programs for overcoming both of the above. NYU apparently even has courses for incoming students on how to, you know, like, interact with real people, instead of virtual ones, face-to-face instead of via Facebook, skills apparently in short supply as kids grow up in an atomized social milieu whose web of interrelatedness is virtually sketchy, compared to the real thing. That would be human families and communities with proper names, not simply e-m@il addresses. Add those concerns to the results of a recent German study about electronic devices with screens causing insomnia, the long-known but fervently suppressed studies on radiation effects from both mobile devices and the network of antennae they depend on and you might just end up with a queasy feeling—like the boat sucked towards the whirlpool—where in fact are we headed with all this?

Follow this tidal wave of profundity back to its point of origin deep in the earth’s crust off the east coast of Honshu Island. What if, as some experts are arguing, climate change exacerbates tectonic activity, the shifts in the earth’s crust that cause earthquakes? This could be due to sea level rise, decreasing density in the ocean itself, shifting of pressure on the crust due to ice melt. As if we don’t have enough to worry about—or prepare for—here along the Gold Coast given the rather ominous, official warnings about (continued page 28)

October F orecasts April F orecasts

by Jeanne Callahan

Visit Jeanne’s site at CelestialAdvisor.com

Aries: 21 March - 20 April

Libra: 23 September - 23 October

Taurus: 21 April - 21 May

Scorpio: 24 October - 22 November

Your ruling planet, Mars enters your sign on the second, bringing some chaos, aggression and a sense of urgency in some venture you’ve already established. Don’t be too hasty in the early part of the month as there’s an accident prone vibe around the third and fourth when Mars conjuncts Uranus.

You are generally good in an emergency as you can keep a calm head while performing under pressure. Be a leader now. Best days are the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 29th and 30th.

While you are a bit rattled by the abrupt changes and energy surges of late, you are keeping a calm exterior which helps those around you stay calm, too. There’s much going on in your subconscious mind as you process where you will be going in the future. Wait patiently for your intuition to give you the clues you need to take appropriate action. This is a month of quiet preparation before you take action for your future. Your best days are the 4th, 5th and 6th.

Gemini: 22 May - 21 June

The big lineup of planets in Aries happens in your eleventh house of friends, associations and professional gains. You are already a master of communication and your talents will be in demand during this time. Mercury is going into retrograde motion from the 2nd through the 22nd so you may find yourself caught up in too many projects. Don’t overpromise and underdeliver, now more than ever. The 7th and 8th are days of great promise.

Cancer: 22 June - 22 July

With the Aries stellium in your tenth house of profession, you can expect an increase in your responsibilities or projects. It is also a good time to incorporate new technology or something innovative as part of your retinue of services.

Though it is a demanding time you feel energized by the experience and ready to take on the world. Make sure you also schedule in some R&R time to just rest and play. The 10th and 11th are good days to do just that.

Leo: 23 July - 23 August

Things come to a head regarding your personal and business partnerships as the stellium in Aries travels through your seventh house. Don’t get into any negotiations at the beginning of the month as they won’t end well. Your power days are the 16th and 17th so the tension will be less at that time. Distance yourself if you need to and seek a win/win solution. Deep transformation is required now. It won’t be easy but it will work out better for the long run.

Your focus this month will be on health, habits, co-workers and your work environment. Correct the conditions that bother you the most and lead by example. People won’t mind changes during the mercury retrograde period at the beginning of the month. Look for ways to ease stress and tension for everyone but start with yourself. This is a good time to get an overall health checkup. The 18th and 19th favor you.

Sagittarius: 23 November - 21 December

This month a new love interest could make its way into your life. You won’t be expecting it but there it will be, out of the blue. It’s a creative time, too, and one in which you will find ways to satisfy your lust for adventure and fun.

Keep in mind that this it can also be just a short term playful interest, but you generally don’t mind that sort of thing anyway. Just enjoy the attention and action. The 20th and 21st are good to you.

Capricorn: 22 December - 21 January

With lots of planets moving through your fourth house of family, roots and real estate you could find yourself moving to a new location, deciding to renovate the family home or discovering something about your ancestry that you didn’t know before. You are extremely goal oriented so these projects may take almost all of your free time to accomplish.

Delegate and conquer would be a good motto at this time.

The 22nd and 23rd are good days for you.

Aquarius: 22 January - 19 February

This is a month which brings people of other cultures or philosophies into your life because of an energized ninth house.

You may get unexpected opportunities to travel abroad or you may find yourself drawn toward learning foreign languages, studying other religions, martial arts or yoga. This is a time to expand your horizons and seek wisdom. The 12th and 13th bring in the necessary insights for your next venture.

Communication styles, your neighborhood and your siblings are in the forefront of your mind this month. You may find people reacting to you in odd ways that cause you to want to re-think how to get your point across without being offensive.

Yes, they may be touchy but you still have to learn how to be heard in some way. Since you like learning new things, this could be very interesting for you. The 24th, 25th and 26th have good lunar vibes for you.

The emphasis this month involves joint resources, taxes, legacies and shared income. You may get some unexpected windfall or bonus which will release you from some kind of financial obligation. You could also experience some otherworldly or psychic experiences that will intrigue you.

With your ruling planet, Mercury, retrograde from the 2nd22nd, you will be a little forgetful. The 14th and 15th are days to have fun.

The main focus this month has to do with your financial resources, your values and your stuff in general. Some changes are needed for you meet your long-term goals. Look into taking some classes in financial management or hire someone to help you. You don’t know what you don’t know. You’ve come a long way over the past seven years and now you can start to establish real gains for the next seven. Stay focused.

The 1st, 27th and 28 are excellent days for you.

Virgo: 24 August - 22 September

Pisces: 20 February - 20 March

Namasté

Parents’ Corner Understanding Adolescence

A

s parents we are challenged every day by the different new situations that we have to face as our children grow older. One such challenge is adolescence, the period of development between the onset of puberty and adulthood, characterized not only by physical, but by psychological changes. Based on the stages of emotional development, teenagers have to solve the key conflict between building an identity and experiencing role confusion. No longer a child, but not yet an adult, the teenager navigates in a transitory stage, life becomes more and more complex, and responsibilities start to have a whole new meaning. Until now, development mostly depended on what was done to us; as teenagers development depends on what we do. To build his own identity, the teenager will have to discover who he is, separate from his parents, and as a member of a wider society; he will have the need for his own philosophy of life, mostly characterized by idealistic thinking. This is the period in life where people create the most meaningful relationships, and loyalty is a common strength.

In addition to the psychological changes, there are dramatic, biological changes taking place during this time and they have an important impact on teenage behavior. The rapidly increasing levels of hormones are responsible for their sometimes extreme emotional response. Hormones also cause the emotional “rollercoaster”, going from feeling incredibly happy, to terribly sad, within a very short period of time. The visible physical changes go hand-in-hand with an increased sexual curiosity that is too often misguided through social pressure, which can lead to feelings of guilt and shame.

The teenage brain, also, is changing... we know now that the human brain is “under construction” until the end of the adolescent period.

Neurons and neurological connections are being perfected during this time, and the areas of the brain responsible for impulse – control, decision - making, planning and organization are the ones that suffer the biggest changes during teenage years, not reaching their full maturity until approximately age 25!

Considering all of the above, if you have a teenage son or daughter, it is important that you: 1.

Modify and/or adapt current rules and responsibilities to this new stage. Responsibilities should be challenging enough to prepare the teenager for the upcoming life as a young adult, and rules should be age appropriate, aiming at protecting the teenager from the potential risks of our society, while enabling him to demonstrate that he can be trusted to make smart decisions.

2.

Do not react to teenage emotional outbursts with an emotional response. Deal with the problem (big or small) once emotions have calmed down, and a dialogue can take place.

3.

Listen to your teenage son or daughter, and support his or her attempt to make sense of life and of this world.

4.

Share your experience, but don’t impose your vision.

“Young people need models, not critics” John Wooden Msc. Mónica Riascos Henríquez Psicóloga – Psicopedagoga Tel. 83589550 consultariascos@live.com

Surviving

C hapter XXIX

T

COSTA RICA

he first time I drove down to Costa Rica from Texas was early 1997.

We’d flown there the year before and our friend Reese, who still lives till this day in Playa Flamingo, somehow talked us into convoying down with him to Central America. Here, to be exact.

He and our buddy Al were in a Jeep Cherokee while Susan and I took her 1993 Montero, the old-style ones that looked like safari vehicles. Getting into Mexico is usually pretty easy; however, we found out that driving through Mexico was a little harder. You basically had to mortgage your car and possessions with the Mexican Army Bank for the duration of the trip, upon which you received a holographic decal which insured you six months of Mexico-ness.

However if you didn’t return the decal at the six-month point your car would be impounded on your next visit.

Loaded with the necessary documents needed to drive through the country, we made pretty good time driving during the day and stopping at night. Once we got close to the southern border with Guatemala we had to share the road with columns of Mexican Army Humvees and Jeeps filled with seventeen-year-old soldiers and twenty-year-old lieutenants who were dealing with the latest peasant revolt in Chiapas.

We made it to the border after three days in transit through Mexico and were making pretty good time so far.

From then on we would only be in each Central American country for hours and not days.

We stopped for the night in Guatemala, which had just resolved its most recent civil war and everyone was celebrating by shooting their weapons in the air.

There was a large army fort nearby that was providing as much noise as anyone, and I recall our hotel was next to a hospital that was next to a funeral

Heading South

parlor whose back yard was filled with vultures.

We proceeded into El Salvador hoping to bypass as much of Honduras as we could and ended up in a little surfing tourist spot named Libertad. The locals told us to try the Shark Ceviche, a local specialty. A little later while strolling on the beach we noticed several large pipes discharging something extremely unpleasant into the local waters.

The next day we had barely gotten started when the boys in the lead jeep became very ill, the symptoms of which I will spare the reader. We barely made it to Honduras, and the combination of two sickies and some of the meanest border officials we’d yet encountered made for a pretty miserable crossing.

We made for the nearest town and put the guys to bed.

The next day the boys were feeling better but Susan and I now had IT. We had another wretched day, making it to Nicaragua and then finding a place to put us to bed.

Feeling better the next day we journeyed on toward the now-beckoning Costa Rica border. We did get stopped on the road near Masaya where a group of AK47-toting traffic police gave Reese and Al a ticket that was payable on the spot for sixty dollars. I must mention that in the following three trips we drove from Texas to Costa Rica we were always stopped at the exact same location and given the same option.... Pay or else!

I betcha they’re there right now today just waiting.

We were soon in Costa Rica where this time we stayed for a couple of months, our plan being to sell the Montero here for big bucks and then fly back to Texas.

We had been assured by local experts the we could get twelve or thirteen thousand dollars for the car easy.

Story by Jesse Bishop

What we soon found out was it was maybe worth that much if the car had the nationalizing taxes paid on it, but no one would touch it if they weren’t. It was getting towards the end of our trip and we still hadn’t sold the car and we were starting to sweat it. Fortunately a dealer in San José took pity on us and took it off our hands the day before we were flying out.

We ended up driving down another three times, and one time back north.

The next year brought something new.

There was now a ocean-going ferry traveling out of Brownsville, Texas, by the Mexican border that could take cars and passengers to Puerto Cortes on the Caribbean coast of Honduras, maybe a day away from Costa Rica.

The ship had a chequered past. It originally sailed the Mediterranean, but after a fire killed a number of passengers it lost its certification. A Honduran company bought and repaired it and set up the Texas-Honduras deal. The ship had already been in the local papers when a group of passengers on a delayed trip put on a hunger strike.

We were able to book passage and spend a relatively pleasant three days at sea. The Customs and Immigration officials upon our arrival in Puerto Cortes couldn’t seem to figure out what to do with us, but after an eight-hour wait in a hot dusty holding area they finally let us go and we were in Costa Rica the next day.

The following month the same ferry boat broke down and drifted for three days in the Gulf of Mexico before it was towed to Tampiche, Mexico. The passengers were allowed to disembark but never were able to retrieve their cars.

We had dodged one big bullet!

The Virtual Vortex (from page 23) the overdue earthquake on the Nicoya Peninsula. I mean, if the store shelves in Tokyo are emptying out within days after the recent quake, what happens to our supply chain if all the bridges to the coast collapse—as predicted by government studies? If it happens during the rainy season, there’ll be no pasta until the next primavera, that’s for sure. And the ‘real’ reality will present challenges that require a far different skill set than surfing the net, texting and twittering.

Special this Month! $1.90 per square meter

After seeing the empty shelves in Tokyo, a close friend who’s bored with his landscape anyway and wants to change to more food crops on his land asked me to come up with the five to ten easiest to grow, disaster-proof crops, just in case something gets out of whack. For me it’s an exercise in focusing nearly twenty years of effort into something that can be shared with others having similar concerns. People like Ron at Avellanes last week who said, frankly, that he wasn’t interested in buying something, planting it, watering it, and all the rest, if ‘it’ didn’t give him something in return. At this point my list is a work in progress, maybe the ‘fodder’ for a future article in these hallowed pages. The project is also a helpful nudge back to the earth-based reality that I moved here to live surrounded by and involved with, a source of sustenance for both body and soul in these very troubling but very interesting times.

Tom Peifer is an ecological land use consultant with 16 years experience in Guanacaste. Phone: 2658-8018. peifer@racsa. co.cr El Centro Verde is dedicated to sustainable land use, permaculture and development. Web site: http://www.elcentroverde. org/

Evening Swim All day small breakers are the steady breath of the beach at Brasilito. The narrow bay is an onyx dress fringed in white lace. After sunset the still light cloudless sky casts a sheen on black water.

A p r i l ( a l l

t i m e s

2 0 11 l o c a l )

Sun

1st - rise 5:40; set 5:54 15th - rise 5:33; set 5:54 30th - rise 5:26; set 5:55

New: 1st quarter: Full: Last quarter:

Moon

3rd 11th 17th 24th

I stand with feet bathed in volcanic sand and bend down to cup and lift your lathering froth, douse my arms and chest and with one, two, three quick steps pick up my pace to thrust head first into your dark silence.

Submerged, I turn on my back. Buoyed to the surface, my head half in and half out of the water, I open my eyes to the dimming streaks of sky, the moon rise in the darker East and listen

8:32 a.m.

6:05 a.m.

8:44 p.m.

8:47 p.m.

to your breath muted and my breath amplified and whose heartbeat, the shift of bed clothes as I drift?

Tom Mallouk

Around the World ( a news digest)

O

ld soldiers: Frank Buckles, oldest veteran of the 1914-18 First World War, died in West Virginia one month after his 110th birthday.

Four days later Buckles’ successor as oldest surviving veteran, Australian Claude Choules celebrated his 110th.

An ex-Royal Air Force flight engineer, who flew 50 bomber sorties in WWII, is now recovering from the loss of both legs due to disease, and will fly again at age 85.

A man hired to clean out disused oyster farms on the island of Oleron in France has been arrested for stealing a quarter million of the luscious mollusks.

65,000 Mazda cars were recalled when some cars were found to have spider webs in the fuel system. A Mazda spokesman said there was a potential fire risk.

Brown is green! Vijender Shakhawat has discovered a new material for making paper – Elephant manure! His Indian company, Poo-poo Paper Company, turns out 2,000 sheets of paper per month made from pachyderm poop.

Rolls-Royce has introduced an electric car which doesn’t need to be plugged in. Instead, a panel under the car connects remotely with a panel in the garage floor and charges the car by induction.

Body heat from travelers at Stockholm’s Central Station is recycled and pumped into a nearby office building, reducing its heating costs 25%.

Indian authorities have taken action against 57 airline pilots who reported for duty drunk in the past two years. A crash last May was blamed on a “sleepy” pilot.

A British car, designed to break the land speed record next year, will have a top speed of 1,000 m.p.h. Its power plant is equivalent to 645 family cars, and will accelerate it to a distance of 8 km in 100 seconds. Not on Guanacaste roads!

“Murderer, murderer!” shouted the crowd when a soccer player kicked an owl off the field at a game in Bogotá, Colombia. The bird, the mascot of Atletico Junior, the home team, had wandered onto the field. The owl died of its injuries.

Politicians in Scotland propose the implementation of minimum prices for alcohol to curb excessive use of booze which is costing the country 3 billion pounds a year. The UK government has similar plans for England and Wales.

209 years ago How right he was!

“I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.”

Thomas Jefferson, 1802

1F

2S

3S New Moon 4M

5T

01:28 07:34 13:49 20:00 02:09 08:11 14:26 20:36 02:46 08:45 15:01 21:10 03:22 09:18 15:34 21:44 03:57 09:52 16:08 22:18

7.5 1.0 8.5 0.8 7.8 0.7 8.4 0.5 8.1 0.5 8.7 0.2 8.2 0.4 8.8 0.0 8.3 0.4 8.9 0.0

6W

7T

8F

9S

10S

11M 1st Qtr

04:32 10:25 16:42 22:52 05:07 11:00 17:17 23:28 05:44 11:37 17:54

8.2 0.5 8.8 0.1 8.0 0.6 8.5 0.3 7.8 0.9 8.2

00:07 06:23 12:18 18:36 00:49 07:08 13:05 19:24

0.5 14T 7.5 1.2 7.9 0.9 15F 7.3 1.4 7.5

12T

13W

APRIL TIDE CHART

01:38 08:01 14:01 20:22 02:35 09:03 15:06 21:30 03:39 10:10 16:17 22:39 04:45 11:14 17:25 23:44 05:47 12:13 18:26

1.1 7.1 1.6 7.3 1.3 7.1 1.7 7.2 1.3 7.4 1.4 7.4 1.1 7.9 0.9 7.8 0.6 8.6 0.2

16S

17S Full Moon 18M

19T

20W

00:43 06:44 13:07 19:21 01:36 07:37 13:58 20:12 02:27 08:28 14:47 21:01 03:16 09:17 15:35 21:49 04:05 10:06 16:24 22:38

8.3 0.1 9.3 -0.4 8.9 -0.4 9.9 -1.0 9.3 -0.8 10.3 -1.4 9.6 -1.0 10.4 -1.5 9.6 -0.9 10.3 -1.3

21T

22F

23S

24S Last Qtr 25M

04:54 10:55 17:13 23:26 05:45 11:45 18:03

9.5 26T -0.6 9.9 -0.9 9.1 27W -0.1 9.3

00:17 06:38 12:39 18:57 01:10 07:34 13:36 19:54 02:07 08:35 14:40 20:57

-0.3 28T 8.6 -0.5 8.6 0.3 29F 8.1 1.2 7.9 0.9 30S 7.6 1.6 7.3

1S May

03:09 09:39 15:48 22:04 04:12 10:41 16:56 23:07 05:13 11:38 17:54

1.4 7.4 1.9 7.0 1.6 7.4 1.9 6.9 1.7 7.5 1.7

00:03 06:05 12:26 18:43 00:52 06:51 13:09 19:25

7.0 4W 1.6 7.7 1.4 7.3 5T 1.5 8.0 1.0

2M

3T New Moon

01:36 07:32 13:49 20:03 02:16 08:09 14:26 20:39 02:53 08:46 15:02 21:16 03:31 09:23 15:39 21:52 04:08 10:00 16:16 22:28

7.5 1.3 8.3 0.7 7.8 1.1 8.6 0.4 8.0 0.9 8.8 0.2 8.1 0.8 8.8 0.1 8.2 0.8 8.8 0.1