Issuu

Volume 19, No. 12

December 2014

Issue No. 217

Founded 1996

THE HOWLER Ced. Juridica: 3-101-331333

FEATURES

Publisher, editor and production David Mills

dmills@racsa.co.cr Tel: 4702-5771 8323-2795 Howler • Mono Congo

14 Around Town

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

15 Surf Report

CONTRIBUTORS JEANNE CALLAHAN JESSE BISHOP MARY BYERLY ROBERT AUGUST KAY DODGE LYNDA ESPADA

ELLEN ZOE GOLDEN TONY OREZ TOM PEIFER JEFFREY WHITLOW BARBARA DEPPE SUSAN SMITH

Deadline for January: Dec. 15 Howler advertising

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

Advertising rates & sizes Size 1/8 1/4 Banner 1/2 Full

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

x x x x x

6.15 12.70 6.15 25.80 12.70 25.80

Just outside Playa Grande is a two-part development, Ventanas de Playa Grande, built to conform to all environmental requirements.

Halloween Spread

From a selection of Halloween parties around town, our staff photographers compile our annual photo-spread.

Surviving Costa Rica

From his vast knowledge of Costa Rican folklore and customs, Jesse brings us an insight to the more important holidays.

Teach The Children Well

Price $

This month Tom dons his “teacher” hat and gives children from La Paz school an informal lecture on sustainability.

100 140 140 230

DEPARTMENTS

400

Ads must be submitted on CD or e-mail attachment, JPG or PDF format at 266 dpi, at the appropriate size (above). All comments, articles and advertising in this publication are the opinion of their authors, and do not reflect the opinion of Howler Management.

www.tamarindohomepage.com

15 What’s Developing?

Discounts For 6 months, paid in advance, one month is deducted. For 12 months, paid in advance, two months are deducted.

www.tamarindobeach.net

Carlos Muñoz places third in the O’Neill SP Prime in Brazil; Emily Gusson takes first place in the NSSA Women’s event.

10 Music Review

30 December Forecasts

11 Book Review

32 Yoga

12 August Odysseys

36 Sun & Moon

17 Dharma Corner

36 Rain Gauge

25 Shape Up

37 Tide Table

29 Poetry by Diana Renee

Cover Caption: Beach House, Potrero Cover Photo: Maureen Thompson Cover Design: David Mills

Please jot these numbers in your little book. They are The Howler’s new numbers; do not use the old one. Home: 4702-5771 Cell: 8323-2795 Our previous e-mail addresses are still in service. •

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We would like to thank our friends, our advertisers, columnists and our readers for another successful year. There have been many changes this year, and we look forward to another challenging year. We continue to offer the best service to clients for the promotion of their businesses, with the best prices available. The Howler offers the best distribution in the zone, plus the availability on our website. •

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The very prestigious Forbes magazine recently published its list of Happiest Countries in the World. No surprise to see the result: 1. Costa Rica 2. Croatia 3. Chile 4. Malaysia 5. Colombia 6. Switzerland 7. Thailand 8. Czech Republic 9. Philippines 10. Bulgaria. •

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The government of Costa Rica is studying a “canal” across the country – but this time a dry canal. Capable of moving 20,000 to 30,000 containers per day, it would cost upward of $7 billion. Two companies, from the United States and Canada, are interested in the construction.

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The Howler wishes you all a Merry Christmas and a very Prosperous 2015.

Howler tels: 4702-5771 / 8323-2795

I feel as though man’s future is tied to the environment. We cannot successfully move forward with the belief that man and the environment are separate.” Vincent Losasso, volunteer at The Monkey Park Since we’ve become involved with Tamarindo’s Original Residents, I have had the opportunity to visit Nosara Wildlife Refuge, Puma Refuge in Canas and Monkey Park in Cartegena where I was thrilled to be invited to accompany Vincent Losasso thru the forest, on a typical work day. Vincent, a man at home in the forest, in his element, comes from PA with an undergraduate degree from University of Pittsburgh and a Masters in Environmental Science from Ducane University. Vincent’s day begins early to start his chores which include cleaning cages, feeding the animals, guiding tours, and checking for any new arrivals of injured or abandoned animals which might have arrived overnight. The on-site habitat houses an injured, one-winged pelican (fishing line), flightless crested caracara (pesticides), spider monkeys, crested guan, scarlet macaws and more, which were taken as pets by local residents or injured, and are unable to be released into the wild. Today’s mission is to check the night vision cameras. Tension is mounting as we traversed the game trails alongside the drainage arroyos which carries the rainfall during rainy season in Guanacaste. Mosquitos were thick and swatting was constant. Monkey Park is a secondary forest, having been clear cut for cattle ranching in 1950’s, then replanted for natural animal habitat. The night vision cameras are placed strategically along game trails and arroyos, which allow the perfect opportunity to view the animals in their environment with no human interaction. The first camera captured a very healthy, omnivorous pizote which was enthusiastically foraging for anything he could fit into his mouth. Later, we viewed past recordings of margays, skunks, agoutis, and male and female ocelots. The female ocelot showed signs of pregnancy which is proof that the species will continue if given the opportunity and undeveloped native habitat. Vincent is very interested in the cat species and tries to identify them by memorizing their spot patterns for a data base for the study and documentation of their populations. To his complete and utter surprise, I survived the trek back to the rehab center. There we entered a dark, secured structure facing a large one-way glass window. This allows us to view two juvenile monkeys living in a jungle environment prior to being released into the wild to join a troop which accepts them as family. It was dreamlike, knowing they weren’t aware of our presence as they swung about the vines. One visiting troop’s large male lies on the top of the enclosure to preview the monkeys. The enclosure allows the humans to feed the monkeys without any human contact, keeping them as wild as possible and maintain the fear of humans, which allows them to survive in the wild. This philosophy differs from Nosara’s Refuge for Wildlife, which allows human contact until one year from birth, replicating the mother’s nurturing instinct.

(continued page 16)

Music Review

Tony Orez

Around Town with Bradley Brown

met Bradley about a year and a half ago. He was working at Monkeys ‘n Crocs, but I’d seen him at various locations: hostels and beachfront restaurants, playing his guitar and singing. I liked his delivery and obvious passion for music right away and he has a very good singing voice as well. When I asked him about it at his work, I found him to be, surprisingly, a bit reserved. He told me he had come to Costa Rica to write songs and to surf. When I spoke with him recently for this article, he told me he had moved to Villarreal in November of 2012 and initially kept to himself. By performing solo, however, he was basically putting out a calling card. Tito Madoi, a local guitar whiz, and bassist Eric Atkinson eventually approached him and the three musicians started rehearsing, a garage band, in June of 2013. They recruited a drummer and started playing around town, gelling, but still a nameless entity. They eventually replaced the initial drummer with Eder Vallejos Mena and settled on a name for the band: Glasseye. The gelling was nearly complete. Saxophonist extraordinaire Joe Hrbek sat in one night and voila! If the proof is in the pudding, then Joe became the whipped cream & maraschino cherry on the top, making the band complete. They have evolved into one of Tamarindo’s most popular bands & perform several times each week. Their home bass is Higher Ground, generally performing there every other Friday night and usually starting at 7:00 p.m. The alternating Fridays, they perform at FT’s Tamarindo. Glasseye plays a combination of Rock, Jazz, Reggae & Hip Hop music, leaving “a little room for the magic” in their repertoire, as Bradley puts it. And you can see just that when it clicks with these guys. I asked Bradley is he remembered his first guitar. He smiled and told me that when he was eleven years old, going to middle school in Winter Park, Florida, a local skater kid, the “cool guy” in his class, let Brad play his red Stratocaster. That experience transformed Bradley. At that point, he knew he wanted to be a musician. I asked him if he remembered the first song they played and he answered immediately. “Come As You Are. Nirvana. We played it poorly but we played it about a million times,” he laughed. He told me Nirvana and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were a huge influence for him during those formative years and that the whole Grunge Scene became a foundation for him. It’s obvious to me that Bradley is also entrenched in standard Rock and that Bob Marley crept into his life somewhere along the way, too. Always searching, though, he has launched a new band, currently called Touch, which is a trio comprised of Bradley on guitar and vocals, a local drummer and a local DJ. They have been finding their groove on Sunday afternoons at various locations and are worth checking out. Glasseye was wrapping up production on their debut CD when this article was being written and should now be available at their shows. In less than two short years, Bradley has progressed to being a songwriter, a solo act, into being one of the most recognized musicians in town. Tamarindo should be thankful that he is here.

Book Review

Tony Orez

The Family Freedom Project

iisa Vexler is a conundrum: she is an engaging mother of two boys, Dexter & Charlie, happily married to their father, Derek. They are a family unit who enjoy doing things together: a classic family unit. I know these people. Liisa is a no-nonsense, down to earth realist. And she has a quick wit, along with a sense of adventure. She takes chances, but calculated ones. She is also an author, her new book very aptly titled “The Family Freedom Project” and even in that title, the dichotomy comes out. Liisa takes chances. The book is an instructional guide for parents looking for a change for their family life, a step toward more happiness, and yes, more freedom. Liisa chose the word “project” appropriately because she tackles everything in the book as such, prompting the reader to follow suit, follow her example and make a change toward a more fulfilling life. Do not go looking for a smarmy story about moving to Costa Rica and all the quaint vignettes that occur along the way. There are some of those in this book, but it is more about making appropriate, realistic lists and then setting out to accomplish them. Liisa and her family are living proof that her methodology works. Having lived in Costa Rica almost thirteen years, I was pleasantly surprised to find information that was new for me in Liisa’s book, stuff I have actually been curious about and even some things of which I was not aware. I thoroughly enjoyed her chapter about earning an income abroad, for example. The detail and insights are invaluable. I also appreciated her chapters about a means to decide on education for your children and choosing the right healthcare for your situation. She’s obviously done her homework and offers a plethora of options. Liisa is directional. She knows how to accomplish her goal and she shares that enthusiasm in this book. She gives the reader lists to accomplish, explains how she did so, presents a blank copy and practically puts the pen in your hand to complete your own list. This practical project concludes with experiences from other expat families: what they did correctly and what, in hindsight, they wish they had done differently. Experience, or that of others, is a very good teacher. Liisa and her family’s own experiences are also weaved into the entire book, beginning with the honeymoon she and Derek had here and their practical, incremental move from Ottawa to Playa Tamarindo. I feel Liisa’s personal recounting is beneficial to anyone considering any kind of a move or transition in their life. If I were to add anything to the book, it would be to suggest that once you have relocated, get involved in your new community. Liisa and Derek have certainly done this; their participation in their sons’ school has been commendable at the very least. Planning to move? Check The Family Freedom Project out. It’s now available on Amazon.com as well as at both Jaime Peligro book stores, in Playa Tamarindo and Quepos.

August Odysseys Ollie’s Point

otrero Grande, also known as Ollie’s Point, is located in one of Costa Rica’s national parks, Santa Rosa, there is no development for miles and therefore the break is only accessible by boat. No development means lots of wildlife; I have seen flying manta rays, whales, mating turtles, birds, and huge schools of fish. One minor detail are the crocodiles that live in the estuary…out of sight out of mind! A group of us once were up at Ollie’s and one of the gals in our group came face to face with a croc while snorkeling while we were surfing! Besides the crocs, the whole trip is a great experience. An interesting fact is that the wave got its name from Oliver North, the American Colonel who used a “secret” airstrip nearby to land weapons for the Contra rebel groups in Nicaragua. Ollie’s was made famous by The Endless Summer II and it is a perfect right point break.

Ollie’s needs a South swell to really break. I have heard reports numerous times of surfers going to Ollie’s only to find it flat while other spots were 5ft. The beauty of Ollie’s is that even if it is big, the wave is not going to pound you and it is not hard to paddle back out. The best time to usually surf Ollie’s is around low tide. The wave becomes fast, steep, and if the sandbar is just right, it will peel towards the beach giving you a nice long ride. The takeoff point is right by the rock; you can’t miss it during low tide.

dmills@racsa.co.cr

Good Show Sele The Seleccion National has had an excellent year, after their showing in the World Cup, in which they reached the quarterfinals. They then closed the year with twelve international games without a loss in which they scored six wins and six ties. Congratulations Keilor A short time after joining Real Madrid, based on his performance at Levante Football Club, Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas (ex-Saprissa) was voted the “Best Goalkeeper in Spain”. Not too shabby when you consider that the Spanish Premier League has 20 teams. Going to Canada The Women’s Seleccion has classified for the Mundial Feminina to be held in Canada in June/ July 2015.

Costa Rican Final In the Costa Rican premier league, four teams will qualify for the playoffs to be held, ida and vuelta, 30th November and 7th December. The final will also be held on two dates, on December 14th and 21st. At print time the semifinalists are La Liga, Heredia, Saprissa and UCR. Possible contender is Cartagines. The summer league starts January 18th.

The Howler - 4702-5771 Tels: 8323-2795

AROUND TOWN International Real Estate company Krain, of Potrero, can fill all your real estate needs Check out their inventory. See ad page 3. Sol Realty, in Tamarindo, offers Real Estate and Investment Consulting. See ad page 19. Che Boards is your place to go to for board resources, with a wide range of blanks, resins and fiberglass. See ad page 12. Tony DiMaggio, with Coldwell Banker in Tamarindo, has a wide range of expertize and experience. See ad on page 25. “Current mobile information for Tamarindo Beach. Tides, weather, exchange rates, 3D map tour and more. If you’re a local or plan to visit Tamarindo bookmark http://TamarindoMobile.info.” Beautiful homes on Playa Grande . El Roble is a horizontal condominium at Ventanas de Playa Grande. See article on page 18. Clinica Veterinaria SYBA: Salud y Bienestar Animal. Dra. Rosa Bustamente is now open in the Plaza Tierra Pacifica in Playa Junquillal. Medical veterinary services for the health and wellness of your pets. Medicine, surgery, emergencies, pet-grooming and quality pet foods. Tel; 2658-7225, 88871493, sybavet@racsa.co.cr. Be happy, be careful, be fun, Be le Beach Club in Tamarindo, open for brunch, lunch, dinner. See ad page 9. Mermaids and Sailors Yoga Centre offers classes daily at all levels. See ad on page 5. Black and White Car Repair and Paint Shop in Santa Cruz is fully equipped to take your wrecked car and turn it into new. See ad page 19. Want a restaurant, house, home, condo, business? See Rosie’s Real Estate for your investment needs. See ad page 7. Mosquitoes, roaches, ants, spiders. Need fumigation, call Bug Busters. See ad this page.

Happy New Year 2015

Surf Report Ellen Zoe Golden ellenzoe@aol.com

nd the news keeps getting better and better for Costa Rica surfers outside the country in competition: Right now, this country has not one, but two Ticos competing in the Hawaiian Triple Crown of the Association of Profession Surfing (ASP). These are special events, in which Qualifying Series (QS) surfers may participate if they are in the Top 100 in their rankings.

First up is the Reef Hawaiian Pro which took place mid-November, then Van’s World Cup at the end of the month, and finally Billabong Pipemasters at the beginning of December. Our competitors Carlos Muñoz of Esterillos will ride in all three contests, while Noe Mar McGonagle of Pavones, as the ASP wildcard goes in the first two.

To learn the results of the Reef Hawaiian Pro go to http://www. aspworldtour.com/events/2014/mqs/724/reef-hawaiian-pro and follow the action at the Vans World Cup at http://www.aspworldtour.com/events/2014/mqs/728/vans-world-cup and Billabong Pipemasters at http://www.aspworldtour.com/events/2014/ mct/730/billabong-pipe-masters

The phenomenal Muñoz earned his spot by beating out surfer after surfer all the way to the semi-finals of the O’Neill SP Prime in Mareias, Sao Sabastiao, San Paulo, Brazil in November. There he placed 3rd (and scored a whopping $11,000 for his work), with a loss to Felipe Toledo of Brazil. Nevertheless, the result bumped him up 22 spots on the QS ranking all the way to #20. This is the highest ever position on the WQS chart for any Costa Rican surfer and then, going into Hawaii, the best spot on the chart for any Latin nation.

Prior to the O’Neill SP Prime, McGonagle participated in the Allianz ASP World Junior Championships in Ericeira, Mafra, Portugal. Among his age-group peers, his solid surfing brought him to the quarterfinals, where he placed 5th overall. Early on in the competition, the talented regular footer secured a near-perfect 9.57 wave for a succession of big arching turns on the outside section of the wave, before pulling into a barrel. On the Junior ASP ranking, McGonagle is already at #5.

“I’m very happy with my performance here,” Muñoz said after Brazil. “I think I surfed well during all of the different conditions this week, and there wasn’t anything I could really do against Filipe. He got all the good waves in our heat and put on a show. I know that my chances of getting into the WCT have improved and now I’m heading to Hawaii with more confidence and I’m looking for good results to reach the Top 10 in the QS.”

The Circuito Nacional de Surf (CNS) keeps feeding new talent into the championship arena. Just recently, in Ventura Harbour, California, frequent CNS podium visitor Emily Gussoni (photo page 17) of Jacó won the Open Women’s NSSA event. In the same run, Aldito Chirinos of Playa Negra won the Air Show and Leo Calvo of Barranca came in 3rd in the Junior competition. Outstanding work by the Costa Rica national surf team last

Prior to Brazil, Muñoz made a stop at the Cascais Billabong Pro in Portugal, where he sprinted to Round 5 and finally lost to Jeremy Flores. But not without a fight, he only came in at .67 points under the Frenchman who said: “Carlos Muñoz is a hard man to beat. He rips.” Of course, Cali is going to try to do well in Hawaii, and if he makes that Top 10 of the QS, he will be allowed to compete on the Dream Tour next year, the WCT 2015. Can you imagine? Slightly behind Muñoz on the QS rankings is Noe Mar McGonagle of Pavones at #50. He joined Muñoz on the plane ride to Hawaii and entered the water as a wildcard participant based on his work in Brazil as well. There McGonagle ended up with a 9th place finish at the O’Neill SP Prime, after getting as far as Round 5 before falling out. Of course, this was McGonagle’s first invitational Prime, having finally made it to the Top 100 on the QS rankings prior to Brazil.

(continued page 24)

Vincent discussed the need for funds for an enclosed receiving area for new arrivals to keep them safe, clean and available for medical care, prior to being moved to the recuperation areas before being released back into the wild. MINAE’s oversight of the animals’ release is obtained for possible relocation prior to being released back to the wild. The above-mentioned Refuges and Parks are a great way to connect yourself to nature, Costa Rica’s wildlife, and your entrance donations can help insure our future as well as the animals. Tamarindo Transfers and Tours can arrange your travel plans at www. tamarindoshuttle.com. This past month has seen both success and loss. Larry Graziano of SalveMonos.org was able to save a little Howler after electrocution and successfully deliver it to Brenda at The Refuge for Wildlife in Nosara. There are now 28 baby monkeys at The Refuge in various stages of recovery from injuries, some are from Tamarindo and Langosta. At least three deaths occurred from dog attack and electrocution while crossing electrical lines and could not be helped. So much is needed, and you can help in a variety of ways. Old towels, blankets, yoga mats, etc, are needed at The Wildlife Refuge in Nosara for the nursery and hospital. You could also volunteer to help out at the Tamarindo’s Original Resident’s table at the Tamarindo Feria with sales of t-shirts and SalveMono products , as well as passing out information. Please contact us. It’s a great way to help the monkeys while having a good time! SalveMonos have for years worked closely with government agencies, pleading the case of protecting our monkey populations. They have been one constant advocate for bridges, safety of electrical wires, and progress is being made! Last week’s Interinstitutional Meeting at Monkey Park with Yeimy Cedeno (MINAE), Simona Daniele (Salve Monos) and other agencies are stressing more government cooperation and veterinarian funding. Coopeguanacaste has insulated some wires and will put up more bridges. Funding is desperately needed. Please keep these numbers on your phone for : An injured or abandoned baby monkey: Patricia Sterman 8729-6095 Hotel Luna LLena – 2653-0082 Larry Graziano 8835-2977 A monkey in trouble or electrocuted: Yeimy Cedeno – 8357-4053 Jairo Arroyo at Capitan Suizo - 2680-1820 & 8876-9592 A hurt monkey: Monkey Park – 2653-8032 Veterinarian Gilbreth Cavallini - 2652-9009 & 8815-5713 A dead monkey: Hotel Luna Llena – 2653-0082 Yeimy Cedeno - 8357-4053 To donate time or money: FB: Tamarindo’s Original Residents WWW.SalveMonos www.refugeforwildlife Call Susan Adams 2653-0742 or owlhumm@hotmail.com

Dharma Corner

Sue Smith

Friends Almost everyone enjoys doing things with friends from time to time. And, there are different kinds of friends….best friends, close friends, casual friends and even “old friends” who you haven’t seen in years but still consider a friend. Friends are a big part of our lives.

aturday, November 15th, was a memorable day. The Vice President of Costa Rica, Ana Helena Chacon and Vice Minister of Public Security, Maria Fullmen, flew down in a helicopter to Huacas’ soccer field, a couple of miles from Tamarindo, where they attended a conference about social and economic difficulties of youth and families from poor backgrounds in Guanacaste, and how the Integrated Community Center offers a variety of responses and strategies to deal with these issues.

In the Sigalovada Sutta the Buddha identified four types of friends and their characteristics. Here is what he had to say: Young man, be aware of these four good-hearted friends: the helper, the friend who endures in good times and bad, the mentor, and the compassionate friend. The helper can be identified by four things: by protecting you when you are vulnerable, and likewise your wealth, being a refuge when you are afraid, and in various tasks providing double what is requested. The enduring friend can be identified by four things: by telling you secrets, guarding your own secrets closely, not abandoning you in misfortune, and even dying for you. The mentor can be identified by four things: by restraining you from wrongdoing, guiding you towards good actions, telling you what you ought to know, and showing you the path to samsaric heavens. The compassionate friend can be identified by four things: by not rejoicing in your misfortune, delighting in your good fortune, preventing others from speaking ill of you and encouraging others who praise your good qualities. As I write this description I realize that I have friends that fit into each of these categories and some of them fit into more than one. I consider that a blessing and am grateful. If you are reading this and saying to yourself “Oh, I don’t really have any friends”, remember…the best way to have a friend is to be a friend. Choose someone that you might want as a friend and be one of those four descriptions to that person. The Buddha (and the Christ) taught that what we “cast upon the waters” will come back to us.

Most directors of public institutions (AYA, INA, IMAS, PANI, etc.), business owners and community leaders also attended the conference, which at the end resulted in interesting agreements and teamwork initiatives. The model of ‘Integrated Community Center’ focuses on solidarity, education, culture and health, as well as inter-institutional teamwork and connections between businesses, community groups and government. After the meeting, more than 200 community members and visitors gathered together to celebrate the grand opening of the Community Center. The University of Costa Rica offered a modern dance performance and children of Villarreal showed a typical Guanacaste dance. The Vice President of Costa Rica and the board president of CEPIA spoke about their belief and love for this kind of project and how social inequality must be fought and social cohesion must be strengthened if we want to keep Costa Rica a peaceful and happy country. Many thanks to all who supported the event and participate in CEPIA’s projects and solidarity efforts. Cepia can be contacted at www.cepiacostarica.org

Happy friending!!

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

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall. Larry Wilde, The Merry Book of Christmas

Whatâ€™s Developing?

LAS VENTANAS PLAYA GRANDE

as Ventanas de Playa Grande is an exclusive residential ocean view community neighboring the Leatherback National Marine Park, only 1.5 kms away from the beach developed in harmony with nature, while promoting social and economic welfare of local communities. The master plan was to follow the guidelines on environmental management, return on investment and sustainable development - our team keeps on improving on the same direction. The property is 143 hectares fully permitted to build up to 490 dwellings. Even though our location is so close to the park, we lie outside the conflict area. WE are ready to go!

(Some of our permits are: Environmental sustainability issued by SETENA, Water Concession, INVU and Municipality Construction Permit for Infrastructure and our condominium is inscribed) After being successful with the first phase La Sabana, where 100% of the lots were sold, we are making improvements in infrastructure and opening our second Phase El Roble. El Roble is a 24-lot horizontal condominium, where prices will range from $49K to $135K with an average of 1,700m2. The infrastructure is to be first class: TV, land lines and internet is brought in by fiber optics, allowing the width of internet band to be able to cope with any professional/recreational need of communication. The roads are being paved and the water is conceded and include on the HOA fees, which range will be from $75 to $150 a month. We already started building one of the three model houses for this phase. Both are two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a pool, with asking price of $290,000. Our model homes are designed under the guidelines of bioclimatic principles in

order to achieve an energy efficiency that helps the project to keep the carbon imprint below zero. Security is one of our prime goals: every home is linked to a security system that will alert our onsite rangers. Every ranger is carefully trained to ensure not only the security of the residents, but also the wellbeing of the property, being on alert for fires, floods, or any other natural threat. Up to date we have finished two homes: Casa Bambu and Casa Linda, and the neighborhood is growing by the recently started of Casa 4 and Casa 14. Very soon, early 2015, four new homes will also be started, so we will end the next year being no less than eight fully finished homes. To attend the need of this new residents we are finishing up our Beach Club - Las Ventanas Beach Club, located next to the National Park quarters in Playa Grande, giving the residents a privileged location to rest by the beach in a family-oriented area with a Deli CafĂŠ that will be serving fresh products from our organic garden, a Bikes & Boards Rental branch of the very well-known surf shop Frijoles Locos, and a set of services for homeowners that will go from showers and lockers to playroom for the kids. If you are thinking to move to a new residential or vacational area, Las Ventanas de Playa Grande is your best choice for your investment! We are ready and we will make your building process a very smooth experienced where no surprises will be coming up along the way. Come and visit us in Playa Grande. Contact information: Las Ventanas de Playa Grande www.ventanasmar.com info@ventanasmar.com Office +11506 2653 2678 Mobil +11506 8811 1523 Santiago Beneyto

Amigos de la Educación 2014-15 Update

very year in October and November the Amigos de la Educación non-profit organization makes an annual visit to all the local and regional businesses in Guanacaste and San José.

During our visit we ask for your support/donation to help provide quality education and scholarship for Costa Rican students in grade school, high school and university. This past year the economics of the world and Costa Rica have severely affected our organization. Amigos needs to downsize their operations and focus only on our true mission to give scholarships to local students and to support local schools with supplies and materials. Our Amigos office will remain open, but we will not have a full time staff in our office. And we are always available by telephone and email. Phone: 2653-1945 Email: infoamigoseducacion@gmail.com. In case of emergency: 2653-0270 In addition, we will not have our annual “Have A Heart” Charity Golf Tournament this year. After 14 years of fundraising our volunteer and sponsor base of support has changed. We need new volunteers and sponsors in the future. We invite you to volunteer with Amigos & to share your new ideas and bring your energy to our organization before we consider supporting a golf tournament or fundraiser in the future. In summary, Amigos is actively supporting our current scholarship students and donating supplies and materials to our schools. We currently support three University students, two high school and three grade school students. And we are proud to announce our first University student will graduate this year! Feel free to contact Amigos with any questions or ideas. We can be reached by leaving a message @ 2653-1945 or Email: infoamigoseducacion@gmail.com. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Suzye and Barry Lawson, Co-Directors AMIGOS DE LA EDUCACION is a non-profit organization supporting quality education and scholarships for students and teachers, from kindergarten through university in the Canton of Santa Cruz, Guanacaste, Costa Rica https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amigos-de-la-Educacion/291689584191345 Plaza Tamarindo, Local A-10 Tamarindo, Santa Cruz, Costa Rica 50309

Halloweâ€™en

Photos Bernard A and Natalie L

s by Agosto d Lynn

2014

“Walk With a Tico” Project a Great Success

ive area residents with leg amputations had an opportunity to travel to Belgium recently for new prosthetics legs with the project “Walk with a Tico.” The project was the effort between two friends; one the owner of a Belgium-based prostatic company, and the other a repeat visitor to the Tamarindo area who wanted to help residents of the country he adored. Candidates were selected with the assistance of local hospitals, Do It

Foundation, and CEPIA. A doctor travelled from Belgium to make the final selection. Jorge Pizarro Jain, Keith Timpson Howell, Waner Cepas Bustos, Roland Barrantes Brown, and Consuelo Juarez Pizarro were chosen for this trip of a lifetime. The group flew to Belgium for two weeks where they were fitted for their new prosthetics, and had a opportunity to experience Belgian culture. Adventures included: visiting Brussels, boat tour in Gent, seeing Brugge by horse-drawn carriage, and eating mussels, Belgian waffles, and Belgian chocolates. A couple of the more daring even tried waterskiing and rock climbing. Now that the group returned to Costa Rica, some of the participants are continuing with physical therapy to improve the use of their prosthetic. Doctors will visit from Belgium again in February for follow up with the individuals, and look at the possibility for another group to visit Europe in the fall of 2015. . If you would like more information on the project “Walk with a Tico” please email walkwithatico@gmail.com

Maureen Thompson Sunsets are always on the house! Set directly on the beach and just a few feet from the water’s edge, The Beach House offers a vast menu with something for everyone. Delicious appetizers such as Buffalo shrimp, jalapeño poppers, ceviche served in a coconut, and a selection of garden-fresh salads, just to name a few. For lunch, try the best cheeseburger in paradise you will find anywhere, or choose a fresh fried shrimp basket, chicken wings to die for, southwest chicken wrap, Philly cheesesteak or grown-up grilled cheese served with bacon, avocado & a blend of cheeses served on homemade fresh-baked bread. All these items come with fresh-cut homemade fries. Enjoy happy hour daily from 4-6 sipping on 2-for-1 margaritas or rum punch, watching the locals fish from the pier and awaiting the truly spectacular sunsets. Stay for dinner and you won’t be disappointed. The Beach House offers entrées such as fresh-caught mahi mahi with a wasabi lime cream, shrimp pasta, rib-eye steak cooked to your liking and topped with a delicious peppercorn sauce, chicken cordon bleu or whole red snapper to name a few, perhaps accompanied by a selection from the best wine list in the area. Save room for dessert and try the famous Beach House Volcano, a creation of ice cream topped with fried bananas, oreos, chocolate sauce, whipped cream and don’t forget the cherry on top! Not that hungry but still want a treat? You can’t beat the key lime pie! If you hook it, The Beach House will cook it! Anglers are invited to bring their catch and have it prepped and served three ways - fried, grilled & blackened, and accompanied by vegetables and rice at just $6 per person. Speaking of fish - Fridays are Flip for your Fish. Order any fish dish from the menu and they’ll flip you for it. You’ve got nothing to lose, because if you win the coin toss, your dish is free, and if you don’t, you pay only the regular price. Kids eat free at the The Beach House every Wednesday, choosing from the kids menu featuring all of their favorite dishes. Parents can make it a date night while the kids are entertained in the play room. Before leaving, the kids get to choose a treasure from the treasure chest. Everyone leaves happy! For those craving something different, head on over to The Beach House for Mexican Mondays featuring a selection of Mexican favorites starting with tortilla soup, enchiladas, chicken, beef or shrimp fajitas, quesadillas plus two more Mexican specialties such as chile relleno or fish tacos. Ever tried a Margarita Popsicle? Open 365 days-a-year, you can rest assured that whenever you visit The Beach House your beer will be served in a frosty mug with a smile from some of the best servers in all of Costa Rica. It’s no wonder vacationers often become “regulars” throughout their stay Costa Rica, and why The Beach House is voted #1 in the area on Trip Advisor.

Surf Report (from page 15)

month in the Claro International Surfing Association (ISA) 50th Anniversary World Surfing Games. Out of 22 countries and 150 athletes, the team pulled into fourth place overall, the best showing ever for the Ticos in any of the world championships they have entered. At the podium, Gilbert Brown, Isaac Vega, Maykol Torres, Anthony Fillingim, Lisbeth Vindas and Leilani McGonagle were draped with copper medals. In addition, Fillingim earned a silver medal for coming in 2nd in the Open Finals. This is the first time in the general World

Final Results

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.

Women’s Repercharge Final 1. Jessica Grimwood (AUS) 2. Phillippa Anderson (AUS) 3. Nao Omura (JPN) 4. Leilani McGonagle (CRI)

Open Final 1. Leandro Usuna (ARG) 2. Anthony Fillingim (CRI) 3. Shane Holmes (AUS) 4. Nicholas Squires (AUS)

World Rankings 1. Perú 14020 2. Australia 11340 3. Argentina 10922 4. Costa Rica 9508 5. Ecuador 8330 6. South Africa 8268 7. Chile 7830 8. Puerto Rico 6720 9. Japan 6540 10. Panamá 6400 11. New Zealand 6352

12. México 13. Uruguay 14. Colombia 15. Suiza 16. Escocia 17. Tahití 18. Rusia 19. Venezuela 20. Israel 21. Turquía 22. Dubai

6340 5760 5540 4560 3952 3756 3456 2520 2280 1152 720

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

(continued page 33)

Shape Up! Massage Therapy for Wellness

assage therapy has been practiced for thousands of years. There over 80 types of massage therapy styles with a wide variety of techniques, movements and pressures. These all involve pressing, rubbing, or manipulating muscles and other soft tissues with hands and fingers. Sometimes, even forearms, elbows, or feet are used. More and more people recognize the health benefits of massage, especially baby boomers. They choose from among many massage styles to get relief from symptoms or to heal injuries, to help with certain health conditions, and to promote overall wellness. Whenever I mention to someone I have a massage appointment, the usual response is “must be nice.” It goes without saying that massages can feel pretty darn good and can come with a hefty price tag but I find regular massage provides a litany of health benefits. As someone who has slight scoliosis, I have been receiving massages on and off for over the past 15 years. When I moved to the Tamarindo area about a year ago, it took some time to find a massage therapist best suited to work with me. After working with a few different therapists, I now am working with a therapist who is very well-suited to work with me. I do best with a therapist who also is either a physical therapist or sport/ athletic therapy background. Also, I need a therapist who also has knowledge of stretching the body for flexibility and scoliosis. Before you can decide which massage style is best for you, you need to ask yourself a question. Do you simply want a massage for relaxation and stress control? Or do you need symptom relief or help with a certain health condition? Remember the massage your friend raved about may not be the perfect massage treatment for you. Before booking a massage, let the therapist know what you’re looking for and ask which style the therapist uses. Many use more than one style. Or the therapist may customize your massage, depending on your age, condition, or any special needs or goals you have. If your first appointment with a new therapist didn’t go quite as you planned, discuss this with your therapist. It is important to develop a working relationship with a therapist and it may take a few sessions. Tell the massage therapist how you feel at any time - good or bad. It is a matter of learning to communicate your needs and ask specifically for what you want. If they ignore your concerns, go elsewhere. It could also be they may not specialize in the type of massage best suited for you. After all, massage therapy is all about your wellness. .

hungry for it legend in my own mind hungry for fame & fortune hungry for it house beautiful love & attention hungry for it a better life a sign a small one this hasn’t been all in vain a big mistake hungry for it

written by geretta geretta from “Pardon me while I eat my young” a collection of 100 poems and verses

A Boy and his Dog During the time I was building my Shangri La in Costa Rica I would be visited by my neighbor’s dog, Pechon. He always seemed hungry and a little rejected by his current master. With regular feedings Pechon had found his new home and I couldn’t be more delighted. Pechone was a constant comfort and truly the only friend I had that would stay up late nights listening to my constant dialogue on what we were going to accomplish the next day. When in conversation with his former owner I broached the question “Would it be alright if Pechone lived with me?” Already tending to 3 dogs, 2 cats, a few ducks and other miscellaneous furry creatures he had no qualms in passing the reins onto me. I thanked and assured him I would always take care of him. Little did I know what impact my new friend would have on my life. Pechone was special in a way that far exceeded the cuteness a new pet is admired for. Over time dogs came and went. Either bitten by snakes or once they discovered the principal road leading to Tamarindo would be run over. Their life seemed short in doggy years. But Pechone endured. He was intelligent, even compared to human standards. He never left the property and I once saw him bite into the back of the neck of a large rattlesnake and shake that snake until it lay lifeless in the grass as the other dogs watched on. What I didn’t realize was he was teaching his underlings how to handle a very dangerous creature and be able to walk away. Pechone constantly chewed and nibbled at the other dogs’ coats while lounging around. As his buddies stood erect with a look of contentment in their eyes he was grooming them of any ticks he could find in their coats. My last trip down, in April, I noticed he was getting a little slower in his gait. I realized over the years of him ingesting so many ticks from grooming the other dogs as well as his own ticks he had succumbed to tick fever. The gray showed in his eyes, as he would look up to me for approval. I was now aware it rendered him close to completely blind. At the close of October as I prepared for my return trip I received an email from my caretaker, “Pechone murió”. As I scrambled for my Spanish/English translator I feared the worst. With the definition confirmed I quickly called my caretaker. The Ticos do not feel for our furry friends as we gringos do in the States. Nevertheless we had a good cry together. Although I know Pechone has gone on to a better life void of pain I wished he would have held on for another week until I arrived. Selfishly I wanted to see him one more time, to pet his coat and assure him everything will be alright. Vaya con Dios my friend. You will be missed like you will never know.

Jerry Martin

Recipe of the Month

ormally in the rainy season of Guanacaste we crave a good soup due to the cool rains and dark cloudy days. However, in December with Christmas in the air we tend to like long meals with family and it seems each year we always end up making a soup to go with those meals as well. Here is our go-to soup that everyone in our family likes. Yeah, it’s a long list of ingredients, but good food takes time. Take your time and make this recipe. You won’t regret it! AZTEC CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP INGREDIENTS Olive oil 2 tablespoons Onion (white) diced 1 cup Garlic minced 1 tablespoon Tomato (canned/diced) 1 cup Corn (fresh/canned) 1/2 cup Black beans 1/2 cup Chicken cooked/shredded 1/2 cup Tortillas (fresh/corn) 6 Chicken broth 4 liters Chile powder 1/4 cup Cumin 1/8 cup Garlic powder 3 tablespoons Oregano 3 tablespoons Salt to taste Pepper to taste Corn starch 1/2 cup Water 1/2 cup Sour cream Dollop Avocado Slice Cilantro Chopped METHOD: Heat a large stock pot with olive oil and add the onion and garlic. Sautée till cooked through but not brown. Wash the canned tomatoes in a colander to remove the tomato sauce. Then add the tomatoes, corn, black beans, cooked/shredded chicken, seasonings, and stock to the pot. Note: if you are using canned corn, strain the corn; and if you are using canned beans, strain the liquid from the beans. Bring to a boil. Once boiling add the fresh-shredded corn tortillas to the pot and continue to boil on medium heat until the tortillas completely dissolve into the soup. Next, make a simple slurry by whisking the corn starch & cold water together. Add the slurry to the soup. Note: the soup has to be boiling for the slurry to work. If the soup is not thick enough to your taste you can add another smaller portion of slurry. After that let the soup simmer for 10 minutes. Serve and enjoy! GARNISH: Garnish with a spoon of sour cream, avocado slice, chopped cilantro.

By Chef Mike @ Sprout

Barbara’s Pet Stories

The Streets of Tamarindo

Do Not Buy, Adopt

o nice story with a happy ending this month, though Christmas is the Festival of Love. No, I like to write some words about feelings, souls, hearts…Christmas is coming soon, only some days left…still looking to buy a present, for your kids, your best friend ? Do not buy a pet. As with a cute puppy, a tiny kitty, a baby rabbit or any other animal, you are not giving only a “thing” as a gift; you will give a living creature, you will give responsibility. Is this person aware of how long a dog can live, or a cat? Do they know that a baby rabbit will grow bigger and will need much more space? Make sure they all understand: to get a pet into the house means taking care of a heart, of a soul. A pet is part of the family. Animals feel pain like we do, they feel lonely when we ignore them. If that part is clear: Do not buy, adopt. Shelters are more than full, all the Rescue-Centers are overloaded…you will find so many animals in there, each of them is happy to find a loving home. A for-ever home. Not a home for just some days, as you can not bring it back into the Supermarket like your shoes, that you do not like too much and want to switch them against another pair. Those animals in shelters, some of the dogs or cats have been through hell already, they want a for-ever-home, with people who love them, for way more than one year that you are in a foreign country and then going back home: “Oh, we will look for someone who will take our dog. We will find someone, and if not, we will give it to the maintenance guy, or to the housekeeper, they are very nice people, they love animals...we know them already for three days.” What will your kids think about this? “We do not need the puppy any longer, or the cat, or the rabbit; we will give him away”.The kids will think the animals are disposable. So WHY care about it? Anyhow: Do not forget your pet this Christmas at Barbara’s Dogs & Cats Food / Supplies Shop, located 40 m south of BCR, Playa Flamingo. Beds, toys, treats….all proceeds will support the Rescued Animals in my Rescue Center. Merry Christmas to you all! barbara.s.animalrescuecenter@gmail.com

by Jeffrey Whitlow

n my last column, I stated that I had a certain affinity for the circumstances of the “street people” of our community, as I had been treated the same way in my former life in the U.S. For instance, in the States the presumption among most white people is that racism is over because they have a black President. In fact, Barack Obama is of mixed race. His mother is white, and his father is black. The fact that he is designated as “black” dates back to the old slave codes. Those codes stated that if a person had “one drop” of Negroid blood, then that person was considered “black” and could legally be bought and sold as a slave. Racism is so deeply ingrained in the people and society of America that they don’t even recognize that they are making a racist statement when they call Obama black, as per the old slave codes. Personally, I have been subjected to racist treatment from the time I was called a nigger for the first time at age seven by a little white kid down the street, up until a couple of weeks ago. I was in Vegas and I went to the new City Center, which is full of high-end restaurants and shops. I stopped by Mastro’s, and I asked the hostess there for directions to one of my favorite restaurants in town, Julio Serrano’s, a very nice tapas place. The hostess pointed the way and I walked out. As I turned the corner, I heard her say to the other hostess, “They don’t serve catfish at Julio Serrano’s!” I walked back in and looked at her and said, “I can’t believe you said that. Are you going to own that?” Both of the girls looked down, as if they wanted the earth to open up and swallow them whole. I then said, “I can’t believe that someone as young as you could say something that ugly. You are a horrible person.” That has been the story of my life in America. I had a good friend as a child. His name was Mark Murphy. His dad, Hal, ran a small radio station. One day the three of us went to the station for a reason I can’t recall. We were on the elevator, and another white man entered. He looked at Hal and said, “What’s a nigger doing in here?” We all just looked at him and I guess our looks made him uneasy. He stammered out a half-assed apology and slunk off. It was very bad in high school. The worst incident happened my senior year. Our high school was set up as a campus, with seven buildings. All of the black kids, about thirty of us, hung out as a group. One morning we were coming up the hill that led from the building that contained the cafeteria up into the central campus. Lo and behold, someone had hung a huge rebel flag from a wire suspended between two trees, and there was a large group of white kids standing underneath it, taunting us. I really don’t think they thought it through though, since our group had some huge bad guys in it, including an All-State linebacker, a defensive end, and a tailback. The only thing that prevented a full-scale riot was that the football coaches all came out and got between the groups. But that didn’t end the matter, as it was circulated around campus that we were going to resolve the issue that night. That evening we came back, led by the AllState DE Willie Thomas. He was carrying a homemade torch. The white kids were led by David Melvin, who was also a hard man. I personally saw him beat another kid bloody one day. I probably weighed about 140 lbs soaking wet at that time. I was scared to death. But I had no choice but to stick with my guys and hope for the best. Willie marched right up to David and looked him right in the eye. After a few tense seconds, David looked down and mumbled an apology. I almost peed my pants! The bottom line is that everyone deserves to be treated like a human being. Nobody knows that better than me. Whether you are the richest person in Tamarindo or the poorest, I have your back, as long as you want to be an asset to the community, rather than a detriment.

Selected Poems from “Tell me about the telaraña” by Diana Renee

arruguitas estás loca she said, riéndose when I scrunched my face up at Rebeca and said no ves que tengo arrugas, ya? tontita said the compañeros de trabajo ja ja ja! pero tú cuando me viste looked and saw my first face laugh line, said, qué lindas arruguitas tienes allí en los ojos when you smile no me dijiste loca, dijiste linda and i said again thank you, smiled again to show them off like a gold navel ring like tattoos like exotic decorations i put there myself que me adornaran

i want your teeth i want your nails i want your undivided attention call me loca call me tonta call me on the phone “Tell Me About the Telaraña” is available at Jaime Peligro’s Bookstore in Tamarindo.

“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ” Norman Vincent Peale

Your Stars in December

Aries: 21 March - 20 April

Libra: 23 September - 23 October

With Saturn about to leave your solar eighth house you can expect a reprieve from some of the financial limitations and heavy topics you’ve been experiencing over the last 2.5 years. The transition will still have some upheaval with Uranus in your sign squaring Pluto in your tenth house of profession so don’t expect it to be smooth sailing…more like gales, swells and rogue waves ahead for three months. Keep your sense of adventure and enthusiasm for the new intact! Best days are the 1st, 2nd, 28th and 29th.

With Saturn about to enter your solar third house you can get a little more motivated about any writing projects you’ve put on hold. With Uranus really active in your solar seventh house of partnership you may find that things deteriorate This planet also squares Pluto for the next three months making the transformation deep and rather dark. Final is final. On the bright side, Jupiter is in a great house to make new friends and meet new positive groups, the 11th. So there…do that! The 15th and 16th are your best days.

Saturn will be leaving your solar seventh house of partnership very soon so the relationship foundations you established over the last 2.5 years will stand as corrected. Joint finances, taxes, wills, legacies, the occult and end of life issues are next on the life lesson plan. There’s still a few surprises in store for you regarding your beliefs and long held premises about how the world works. I hear the sound of delusional bubbles bursting in your future! Great days for you are the 3rd, 4th, 30th and 31st.

Hopefully you’ve done the inner work and introspection required by Saturn in your sign over the last 2.5 years and have a better idea of what your values really are. Keep your finances simple and be economical with your lifestyle to make the most of this transit. Avoid the trappings of too much stuff! Working conditions may become pretty chaotic over the next three months, too, and there may be location issues. Keep adapting, all will work itself out. The 17th, 18th and 19th are good days to begin them.

Taurus: 21 April - 21 May

Gemini: 22 May - 21 June

You currently have three planets transiting your solar seventh house of partnerships, contracts and the public and Saturn waiting in the wings to get in there on the 24th. There’s much to be gained by showing up as a dependable partner. Friendships and the income from your profession will have some interesting turns over the next three months as you discover some hidden agendas or secrets. Jupiter is in a supportive sign so staying optimistic is a good thing. Good days for you are the 5th and 6th.

Cancer: 22 June - 22 July

Scorpio: 24 October - 22 November

Sagittarius: 23 November - 21 December

The early part of this month provide some social invitations and fun as Venus, the Sun and Mercury transit your sign. Not entirely a bummer but a transit that’s more serious than you normally like to be. Money and what you spend on life’s pleasures will undergo some review for the next three months…now that’s a bummer. But your ruling planet, Jupiter is powerfully placed up in your 9th house of vision, travel, publishing, the law, and international anythings. Good days are the 20th and 21st.

Capricorn: 22 December - 21 January

Hopefully you are in the process of reviewing your health and habits this month as that becomes a major focus for the next 2.5 years. Working conditions and employees may also be under review as Saturn likes to improve the efficiency of things. Your professional life and partnerships may cause some problems over the next three months as uncertainty ramps up again with the Uranus Pluto square. The 7th and 8th are nice days to take a break and get some TLC for a change.

Saturn, your ruling planet and the great teacher, will be entering your solar twelfth house, making you a bit of a recluse as you start to work out things with the great beyond. Possibly a retreat is due you over the next 2.5 years. Upheaval in your world is likely in your home and persona as there’s the Uranus Pluto square happening in your fourth and first houses. On a bright note, Venus enter your sign on the 10th, bringing in some lighter feminine vibe and the 22nd and 23rd are days to feel joyful.

Jupiter is in your sign and about to go into retrograde motion on the 8th so you will be reviewing things from your past or running into people from your past. Saturn will be entering your solar fifth house at the end of the month bringing some more responsibilities children, creativity, how you have fun and risk taking. Mars going into your seventh means your partner will demand more attention. The 10th, 11th and 12th are days when things go your way.

Mars enters your sign on the 5th bringing you a needed boost of energy just in time for the holidays. This will give your personality a lift. Saturn will be entering your solar eleventh house so you may get the urge to participate in some group or idealistic cause. You can make a difference during the next 2.5 years. There’s some upheaval regarding siblings or the neighborhood so you can expect some news over the next three months. Good days to enjoy life are the 24th and 25th.

This month holds some pleasure for you with some fun planets in your solar fourth house, so have a party or something! Saturn will be entering that house at the end of the month so you will feel like being a lot more solitary for the next 2.5 years. This ushers in a time of familial duty, ancestors, conditions in your old age. Mars will be going into your sixth house so work ramps up a lot as do health concerns. Get that base line health checkup. Days to just enjoy life are the 13th and 14th.

With Neptune now direct in your first house you will feel less confused about your self image and personality. Mars will be going into your twelfth house so that might make you less social than normal. Money is still getting shaken up by Uranus in your second house so don’t overspend for the holidays as. Saturn will be entering your solar tenth house so there will be more responsibilities as well as opportunities to advance your career. The 26th and 27th bring lots of enjoyment and pleasure.

Leo: 23 July - 23 August

Virgo: 24 August - 22 September

by Jeanne Callahan jeannecallahan007@gmail.com

Aquarius: 22 January - 19 February

Pisces: 20 February - 20 March

Namasté Visit Jeanne’s site at CelestialAdvisor.com

Now Begins the Study of Yoga Nadi Shodhana Just returned from an incredible month in Bali, adding to my yoga teacher tools. Imagine if you will, spending all day for a month practicing and absorbing teachings of yoga – it was incredible. Plus being in the spiritual center of Bali, Ubud, where each day the sights and sounds of their deep honoring of deities and nature abounded was also incredible.

ing! You just need to have a quiet place and a few minutes to yourself.

What did I come back with? A further commitment and deepening of my own practice, along with more ways to share the ancient art and science of yoga with others. I had particularly chosen the course I did for its emphasis on the breathing practices of yoga, called pranayama, as well as for the advanced meditation techniques. One of the breathing practices which is helpful for anyone to do daily is alternate nostril breathing, or Nadi Shodhana Pranayama. Nadi = subtle energy channel; shodhan = cleansing or purification; and pranayama = breathing practice or technique.

To begin, find a comfortable seated position, either in a chair or on the floor. It is important to have the natural shape of your spine, so do take the time to set yourself up well. You will use one of your hands to alternately close and open one and then the other of your nostrils. With your hand in front of your nose, the traditional position is to either bring your first and second fingers toward your palm or place the tips of those fingers lightly in between your eyebrows. You then use your third finger and thumb for closing the nostrils. Close your eyes, and breathe in through both nostrils. Closing the right nostril, breathe out through the left, then breathe in through that same side. On the exhale, close off the left, and breathe out through the right. Breathe in through the right, and switch again on your exhale. Continue in this pattern, alternating the nostril used on the exhale.

Doing this practice, even if only for a few minutes can help you feel calmer and release accumulated tension and fatigue. The mind is typically calmer after a few minutes of this practice and your breathing tends to deepen, which can also help move the nervous system from the “fight or flight” response. If you have any stress in your life, you can benefit from this practice. The nice thing is that you can do this technique without any equipment or special cloth-

Let your breath be smooth and even – it should never feel as though you are struggling for air. If your even and smooth inhales and exhales gets disturbed, stop and return to your normal breath for a little while until it stabilizes. Then begin again. Start with doing this for a few minutes, and gradually increase your time up to 5 – 10 minutes. After you are finished, enjoy the calm!

Namaste, Mary Mary Byerly is one of the owners and the yoga teacher at Panacea. An oasis of tranquility and health 10 minutes from Tamarindo. Discover Paradise and Bring a Peace Home www.panaceacr.com • 2653-8515

Surf Report (from page 24)

Surfing Games that a Costa Rican has earned a medal in this important category. “Today is a day full of blessings,” he exclaimed. “Getting to the Finals was my goal since I got to Peru. I want to thank my team because this was an amazing selection process that resulted in a binding group with the best vibe I’ve ever experienced. I won this for my country and I dedicate it to my country.” With Fillingim’s silver medal, the total number of metals for Costa Rica in World competitions comes to seven: Craig “Tequila” Schieber earned one in 2011 and 2013 in the Masters, Noe Mar McGonagle got one in 2012 in the Juniors, and his sister Leilani got two in the Juniors in 2014.

Felíz Navidad! To get results and see how Fillingim did in El Salvador, review http://www.alaslatintour.com/ Lastly, but certainly not least, after another internet voting competition, Jason Torres (Jacó, photo) ended up competing as a wildcard in the O’Neill Water Classic in Santa Cruz, California. Here he faced a group of 16 unsponsored, but very seasoned surfers, for the chance of getting a $50,000 sponsorship from O’Neill. Torres first lost a close contest with Nathaniel Curran in Round 1, where they went wave for wave until Curran had the last say. In Round 2, Torres found his footing and beat Clay

And, finally, Leilani McGonagle became the sixth best woman surfer in the world in Peru, with her 4th place finish in the Women’s Repercharge Finals. “I am happy to have advanced to the repercharge. The girls that Lisbeth and I faced demonstrated a high level. I learned a lot from this event and thank God I was able to finish in the Top 6,” Leilani said . At the opening of the ISA Claro World Surfing Games, after the march of the teams around Lima’s iconic Plaza de Armas in the center of the city while thousands cheered, ISA President Fernando Aguerre spoke on the 50th anniversary: “I am very excited today for our past 50 years, but I am even more excited for the present and the future. Of course we love surfing, but we also surf for the love of the ocean, love of the environment, and love for this amazing experience of being in the ocean.” With the fantastic showing by the team, they are now eligible to travel to China for the ISA China Cup, set to take place at at the end of November. Here, Costa Rica is scheduled to compete against China, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Panama, Peru and South Africa. We’ll see if the Federacion de Surf de Costa Rica has the funds to send a team. Followup to come. Once home, Fillingim, who is sponsored by Reef, received recognition for his accomplishment in the World Surfing Games by his patron at the unveiling of the new 2015 Miss Reef Calendar at Jacó’s Tsunami Sushi Restaurant. (This year’s international calendar includes two Ticas: Samara’s Lili Cantrel and San José’s Priscila Bolaños, the latter Miss Reef Costa Rica 2014). There he signed autographs and took photos with his fans. His new move was to head to the Herbalife LatinPro Las Flores 2014 in El Salvador where he fought to regain his #1 spot on the Asociación Latinamericana de Surfistas Professionals (ALAS) ranking. At the time of writing, Fillingim was #3, with Noe Mar McGonagle at #1.

Marzo, which brought he back again to face Curren in Round 3. This time, he was ready and snatched the 1st placing in the quarterfinals. He was singled out for his “smooth and technical rail game” to win his heats. “I won the wildcard submission with the support of everyone in Costa Rica,” Torres said. “The country is pretty small and we take care of each other. I posted the video, everyone just started voting for me. This is my first time to Santa Cruz and I’m so happy to be competing here, and I’m stoked to have won my heats. I am just focused and looking forward to the next round.” Sadly, he was unable to advance after narrowly losing to Huntington Beach’s Jack Boyes.

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.

Felíz Año Nuevo 2015!

Surviving

C hapter MCCXXV

COSTA RICA

Costa Rica is a country that really loves its holidays. Currently there are officially thirty seven legal holidays on the books that pretty much guarantee that when you visit the bank for a desperate withdrawal it will be closed. Unofficially there are over seven hundred other special days considered non-government sanctioned events but are nonetheless enthusiastically embraced by whoever feels like it. Many of the holidays are of a religious nature and others not so much. If you are reading this chances are it’s probably sometime in early December and those of you North American types have been involved in the “Christmas Experience” since a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving. It’s been going on here in Costa Rica since about the end of September, when the boxes filled with Chinese Christmas lights start appearing in your local supermarket, department store, pharmacy, post office and hardware store. I have made it a habit to start stocking up on the lights as soon as I can; usually buying six or eight boxes to replace the six or eight I bought last year. Those of you unfamiliar with shopping in the Capital City of San José have yet to experience the hyper and somewhat manic buying spree going on wherever merchandise is sold. For the week following December 25th it’s the custom of the citizens of San José to head to the beaches in vast numbers endearing themselves to the local population for way too long. Easter is the other biggie. It’s actually called “Semana Santa” which, according to my SpanishEnglish dictionary implies that it’s not just one day but a whole week! One of the local Semana Santa customs involves a pilgrimage to the Cathedral in Cartago on foot, although many of the truly devout will make the whole way on their knees. One can see the wisdom of a seven-day holiday for this. The Costa Ricans not participating in the Cartago Pilgrimage return once again to the beaches to continue treating the local population with behavior not soon to be forgotten.

Costa Rican Holidays and Customs

Another holiday that’ll guarantee your bank being closed is Juan Santamaria Day, my particular favorite ‘cos I’m a big military history nut. All Central Americans revere this story because it’s one of the few times in their history that the Yankees got what was coming.

Story by Jesse Bishop owlhumm@hotmail.com

Día de Santo Alfonso Capone, or “Thievesday” is the day that thieves celebrate their “criminalness” by arranging robbery excursions to popular spots like Playa Langosta, Escazú and Santa Rosa. Usually held on a day when all the cops have off.

Juan Santamaria was a young campesino who joined the Costa Rican Army in their struggle to defeat one of the most famous Yankees of them all, William Walker.

Día de Santo Banco Cerrado, considered the patron day of the Costa Rican banking establishment, celebrating the first official bank holiday closing back on Sept 23rd, 1907. Every year the holiday is honored by all banks closing on Actually he wasn’t a Yankee. He was a south- what usually turns out to be on one of those ern “filibuster” who wanted to conquer Central three-day ones. America so they could then become American slave states. Not all the holidays are of a necessarily JudeoChristian bent. There are at least five different walls scattered throughout Central America where William Certain Costa Rican indigenous groups are still Walker was eventually done in by firing squad. celebrating holidays dating back to pre-ColumSo anyway…the Costa Rican army, about fifteen bian times before everyone became Catholic. thousand troops armed with pitchforks and ma- Talamanca Day celebrates the Union of the Sky chetes, have cornered Walker and about twenty Gods in which large rocks are found and cooked guys armed to the teeth with state of the art in a large cauldron accompanied by any spare weaponry, and our boys (I mean the Costa Ricans missionary or Peace Corps volunteer that might of course) are having a pretty rough time of it. turn up. Season to taste. What was needed was a volunteer to torch the hostel the filibusters were holed up in. Several had already failed, and up stepped drummer boy Juan who said he’d try, and made the Generalissimo promise to take care of his mother if he didn’t come back.

Chibchan Misumalpa day is actually at night and is the celebration of Darkness. It is held in the darkness and very little is actually done as it is indeed pitch black and you might accidently knock over the supper cauldron.

On one of my recent trips to San José in late October I was surprised as how much Halloween had been embraced by locals. Every flashy disco bar and casino was all decked out in cobwebs and scary stuff in anticipation of a big night. Even the Walmart made room in its Christmas Juan Santamaria’s mother did receive a state Merchandise display to offer costumes and all pension. the accessories needed to scare someone. Of course you’ve probably already figured out that he did succeed in torching the hostel from which Walker and his men escaped and did not make it back alive.

There are too many religious holidays to list I did notice some Costa Ricans advocating them all so we’ll just look at the most interesting. “Masquerada Day” on the same day instead of Halloween. You see “Masqueradas” at all the Día de Santo Julio Iglesias is the day celebrating local events; they’re tall paper mache puppet the extreme romantic ballad and tight jeans, a characters on stilts and very much a Costa Rican favorite of Ticas who are world renowned tight tradition. jean wearers. The custom is to put on the tightest jeans possible and then have an affair with your I’m not sure if it ever caught on though…… it’s best friend’s husband. hard to compete with Walmart.

Teach Your Children Well Tom Peifer peifer@racsa.co.cr I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. Confucius

ne of my favorite crime-solving sleuths just happens to be a firm disbeliever in coincidences. Usually in life, I tend to agree with him. This time, maybe not.

A week after the headlines in La Nación blared out in black and white that we are headed for a 7o C. ‘warmer’ country, I got a call to host a school field trip on the topic of ‘sustainability.’ Sifting through the encyclopedia of literature on the topic you can narrow it down one basic concept: doing things in the short term that don’t screw everything up in the long term.

the cool subject of working with water in our thirsty land. As things would have it, my carefully scripted presentation and tour was thrown into a bit of disarray when one of the students sort of went bananas. Among the visitors was none other than Cloe Velarde, daughter of longtime Playa Negra residents Carlos and Andrea. Over the years, let’s just say the young lady developed a sweet tooth for the sundried version of the ladyfinger bananas that I have growing all over the place. Sated with a healthy helping of my summer stash, she slid deeper into the improvised sofa as I launched into my short spiel about sustainability.

One doesn’t need a Ph.D. in behavioral science to see how this concept might perk up the interest of the precise age group poised to take the heat, a legacy generated by the collective efforts of the grownups currently running the show. The group of 10th graders from La Paz School came to visit accompanied by their teacher Christina Gabriel. In our conversations prior to their arrival, she had shown enthusiasm for my suggestion to do a little lecture, even more walking around, looking at stuff and lots of question and answer. With a couple weeks of advance warning, I was able to do some serious sifting on my own and narrow down the range of issues—and concrete examples-- that I thought would be most relevant for their visit. As far as issues of sustainability and the environment in general, this quote pretty much sums up my outlook: “Life is a comedy to those who think, a tragedy to those who feel, and an open book to those who read.” I decided to leave the ‘tragi-comic’ aspects of the global environmental mess to the educational experts. Let the real professionals do the heavy lifting in terms of explaining just what Costa Rica at 7 degree C. warmer will look like to these impressionable young minds. Rather than paying heed to Bob Marley’s admonition to “tell the children the truth,” I resolved to open the book of possibilities, and dive into

Since I’m incapable of delivering a truly riveting lecture, it’s always easier to saunter around in the food forest, teasing out learning opportunities based on the ‘scratch, sniff, and, when appropriate, taste’ method. We stuck fingers in compost to feel the temperature, sampled basil from the germination area and headed to a nearby stream to observe the effects of water at work in the landscape. Somewhere along the way we looked at some examples of how we can sculpt our landscape to hold more water and (continued page 36)

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December 2014 ( a l l

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Teach Your Children...

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Sun

(from page 35)

1st - rise 5:46; set 5:19 15th - rise 5:53; set 5:24 31st - rise 6:01; set 5:32

Full: Last quarter: New: 1st quarter:

Moon

6th 14th 21st 28th

6:27 a.m. 6:51 a.m. 7:36 a.m. 12:31 p.m.

RAIN GAUGE

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store it in our soils. A topic that regular readers of the Howler are more than familiar with, but which would make a great ‘hands-on’ sort of practicum for students like those of Ms. Gabriel’s class. Not merely a way to apply physics, math and biology to real world issues and situations. Even more, a way for young learners to begin to carve out the world of the future that they will inherit. The way things are going, much sooner than any of us dare to think.

RAINFALL - October/November 2014

6.0

Howler Meteorological Observatory Huacas

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Total rainfall: 30.9 cm (12.1 inches)

s 2.0 0.0 16

30 1

October

Year-to-date 2014: 103.8 cm 2013: 99.8

November

Rainfall Oct/Nov 2014: 30.9 cm 2013: 21.1

Alcoholics Anonymous Schedule of Meetings

Flamingo

Tom Peifer is an ecological land use consultant with 19 years experience in Guanacaste. 2658-8018. tompeiferecv@gmail.com El Centro Verde is dedicated to researching and promoting sustainable land use, permaculture and environmentally sound development http://www.elcentroverde.org/

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

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

Tamarindo

Saturday: 10:30-11:30 - Open General Meeting Monday: 5:30 - Open Meeting Wednesday: 10:30 - Open Meeting Thursday: 5:30-6:30 - Open Meeting Location: Behind Pedro’s Surf Shop Contact: Ellen - 2-653-0897 / Steve - 8377-1529

“A lovely thing about Christmas is that it’s compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together.” Garrison Keillor

Word puzzle Miscellany

All words from the list below can be found in the word block on the right. Answers may be forward, backward, upwards, downwards and diagonal. abrelatas atrocious beneficial blanco capillary convenience copycat delantero furgon gallon gauge huelgista jackass laguna leniency

luchar minestrone pensive propiedad pulga retrocede sacerdote tantrum telegrama terremoto tirabuzon tormenta trifle wriggle yankee