I guess the first culture shock was the women's dress sense...tight ...and I mean..really tight jeans.. with even tighter tops. The story behind is that it accentuates the curves and their feminine side...even if their accessories are bulging out.... a known fact and written in all books....
Secondly, something I have experienced is the well known " Tico Time". This means arriving late, 30mins for appointments and up to several hours for meeting friends.
Family is extremely important to a Tico. It is common practice for the family to live next to a sister or brother, in front of their parents home and with their married children. They prefer to socialise outside of their home. So you rarely see friends popping over!
Ticos hate confrontation and would say "yes " when they mean "no" to avoid a conflict.
When greeting the locals, just remember it's a kiss on one cheek and not both !
Lastly, Ticos are some of the friendliest and warmest people to meet who won't hesitate to use
" con mucho gusto" ( with pleasure ) .
For further guide to customs and etiquette...a must read... is
Culture Shock! by Claire Wallerstein
Sunday 26 October 2008
A weekend retreat in Atenas
Just 40 minutes in a taxi from San Jose, boasting mountain views, coffee plantations and the best weather in Costa Rica.
Gone are the days of 5 hour bus journeys and time for discovering the nearby areas of San Jose.
We stayed in El Cafatel ( http://www.cafetal.com/ ) owned by the eccentric and Che look alike, Romulus.
It was a weekend of waking up to the birds, taking in the fresh air and eating to our hearts content. This hotel is famous for its elaborate breakfasts of tico food; Gallo Pinto ( rice and beans); tamales ( meat wrapped in banana leaves) and french toast ( not quite Tico...but very yummy...)
I just have to add...and some will quietly giggle...I was relieved to hear there were no stray dogs...but as I sat on the porch, alone, with this spectacular view of the valley, thinking to myself , I have just found paradise..... out pops....yes...an Iguana...about 1/2 metre long...hehehe...
Yes...Iguanas....roaming the patios...and if you step into the bushes..monkeys...hehehe..
ahh...the joys of the rainforest...
Gone are the days of 5 hour bus journeys and time for discovering the nearby areas of San Jose.
We stayed in El Cafatel ( http://www.cafetal.com/ ) owned by the eccentric and Che look alike, Romulus.
It was a weekend of waking up to the birds, taking in the fresh air and eating to our hearts content. This hotel is famous for its elaborate breakfasts of tico food; Gallo Pinto ( rice and beans); tamales ( meat wrapped in banana leaves) and french toast ( not quite Tico...but very yummy...)
I just have to add...and some will quietly giggle...I was relieved to hear there were no stray dogs...but as I sat on the porch, alone, with this spectacular view of the valley, thinking to myself , I have just found paradise..... out pops....yes...an Iguana...about 1/2 metre long...hehehe...
Yes...Iguanas....roaming the patios...and if you step into the bushes..monkeys...hehehe..
ahh...the joys of the rainforest...
Monday 20 October 2008
Volcan Arenal..
That's right guys...
probably the next best tourist attraction Costa Rica has to offer..the magnificent Volcan Arenal..an active volcano, lying the in heart of Costa Rica amongst the rain forest.
A truly impressive sight as you approach on the single road that carries the bus loads of tourists daily from far a field.
It was probably worth the overnight stay to catch a glimpse of the larva...be it red specks...but a great atmosphere as tourists gather at the view point at 6pm to witness Arenal in action.
La Fortuna, one of the few places in Costa Rica, which boasts clean roads, the lack of stray dogs and our prize find, a Viennese Cafe serving quality food whilst playing the likes of Beethoven....
an oasis amongst the chaos ...
However, one cannot leave the area without a visit to the famous hot springs ( aguas thermales). We chose Baldi but there are alternatives such as, Tabacon. (www.costaricatravelplans.com/baldi_hot_springs_la_fortuna_costa_rica_arenal_volcano_hot_springs.html
As we lounge in the hot springs, occasionally sip on wine, take a dip in the pool, soak in the view of Volcan Arenal, we realise 3 hours is not enough !
We sadly leave La Fortuna on Sunday, rejuvenated, preparing ourselves for the daily tropical storms of San Jose.....
....only 15 days to go before the summer begins in Costa Rica....
probably the next best tourist attraction Costa Rica has to offer..the magnificent Volcan Arenal..an active volcano, lying the in heart of Costa Rica amongst the rain forest.
A truly impressive sight as you approach on the single road that carries the bus loads of tourists daily from far a field.
It was probably worth the overnight stay to catch a glimpse of the larva...be it red specks...but a great atmosphere as tourists gather at the view point at 6pm to witness Arenal in action.
La Fortuna, one of the few places in Costa Rica, which boasts clean roads, the lack of stray dogs and our prize find, a Viennese Cafe serving quality food whilst playing the likes of Beethoven....
an oasis amongst the chaos ...
However, one cannot leave the area without a visit to the famous hot springs ( aguas thermales). We chose Baldi but there are alternatives such as, Tabacon. (www.costaricatravelplans.com/baldi_hot_springs_la_fortuna_costa_rica_arenal_volcano_hot_springs.html
As we lounge in the hot springs, occasionally sip on wine, take a dip in the pool, soak in the view of Volcan Arenal, we realise 3 hours is not enough !
We sadly leave La Fortuna on Sunday, rejuvenated, preparing ourselves for the daily tropical storms of San Jose.....
....only 15 days to go before the summer begins in Costa Rica....
Unforgettable moments in CR....
... trying to escape from a Pentecostal service without being noticed while desperately thinking of excuses to not to offend the host ..along with seeking solace in midst of an hour of a Michael Jackson thriller video... with meditation...... but getting caught red handed...." bye ladies....thanks for visiting "....hehehehe... ( pentecostal services are very expressive with arms being flung around and people prostrating on the floor...)
.... ahh....and stumbling upon a Viennese cafe....at the foot of a ...volcano....in the heart of Costa Rica...which just so happens to play Mozart... and serves the best sandwich and coffee in Costa Rica....ahhh.. ( Cafe de Vienna...La Fortuna )
...ahhh....one moment please...as I recollect thoughts of laying in a hut...amongst the hot springs of Baldi resort and Spa....having a deep tissue massage...with a view of Volcan Arenal...ahhhh..
Sitting in the only Indian restaurant in Central America, the Taj Mahal, enjoying the naan and curries, watching clips from Hindi films and speaking Spanish....
.... ahh....and stumbling upon a Viennese cafe....at the foot of a ...volcano....in the heart of Costa Rica...which just so happens to play Mozart... and serves the best sandwich and coffee in Costa Rica....ahhh.. ( Cafe de Vienna...La Fortuna )
...ahhh....one moment please...as I recollect thoughts of laying in a hut...amongst the hot springs of Baldi resort and Spa....having a deep tissue massage...with a view of Volcan Arenal...ahhhh..
Sitting in the only Indian restaurant in Central America, the Taj Mahal, enjoying the naan and curries, watching clips from Hindi films and speaking Spanish....
Wednesday 15 October 2008
Life...??!!??
I don't think I can express in words what I have just experienced....
I guess its a mixture of shock, anger, frustration, disgust and sheer sadness.
We arrive in a respectable neighbourhood, step into a decent looking house with clean white walls and floors, and are greeted by a well presented lady, Ana.
Latino music is blaring from the computer, a scruffy dog brushes against you as you take a seat on the unusually clean sofa. I spot a television and photos of Ana's children. I remember muttering to myself how distant from poverty this home is compared to what we have become accustomed to on our daily visits with Mision Consuelo. It's clean, has a roof, a good size with 2 rooms. A luxury.
Little do we realise what lay ahead of us.....
Our patient, Ana's mother, an 83 year old lady, with dementia and a past history of a stroke, lay in the outhouse.
Yes, a corrugated leaking roof, a gate for a door, exposed to all of nature's delights, cement walls, rubbish and the dog for warmth.....
She is munching on the dirty sheets, smelling of excrement and rocking to and fro aimlessly.
The daughter attempts to defend herself by saying in Spanish..." We are so poor. There are not enough rooms inside and we don't like the smell"
I dread to even think how long our patient has been left in the state. Let's just say, if RSPCA were around, they would have rescued her in an instant.
We attempt to change the situation by inviting the sisters of the Mother Theresa convent to the home. Unfortunately , there are no state care homes or laws to protect the elderly in Costa Rica. We hope the sisters will take her in. However, there's one condition and that's the family cannot visit her ever again...... It's interesting how the family quickly agree..
Our hopes are dashed when the sisters say she doesn't qualify??? The sisters take in street people, who have noone in this world, and not a penny to their name.
So we leave, despondent, hands tied behind our backs, frustrated and angry on how humans lack respect for others. Is there any justice in the world?
We take the sisters, to who I stand in admiration for the selfless work they do for the street people of San Jose, to another patient....
I guess, my favourite, for her laughter, permanent smile and endless warmth....
Amelia, resides in her garage, alone, in the damp and dirt, at 93, with leg ulcers and food provided by Mision Consuelo.
She qualifies. There's hope!
But guess what....she declines the offer and says that her next and final move will be to the cemetery....
I guess its a mixture of shock, anger, frustration, disgust and sheer sadness.
We arrive in a respectable neighbourhood, step into a decent looking house with clean white walls and floors, and are greeted by a well presented lady, Ana.
Latino music is blaring from the computer, a scruffy dog brushes against you as you take a seat on the unusually clean sofa. I spot a television and photos of Ana's children. I remember muttering to myself how distant from poverty this home is compared to what we have become accustomed to on our daily visits with Mision Consuelo. It's clean, has a roof, a good size with 2 rooms. A luxury.
Little do we realise what lay ahead of us.....
Our patient, Ana's mother, an 83 year old lady, with dementia and a past history of a stroke, lay in the outhouse.
Yes, a corrugated leaking roof, a gate for a door, exposed to all of nature's delights, cement walls, rubbish and the dog for warmth.....
She is munching on the dirty sheets, smelling of excrement and rocking to and fro aimlessly.
The daughter attempts to defend herself by saying in Spanish..." We are so poor. There are not enough rooms inside and we don't like the smell"
I dread to even think how long our patient has been left in the state. Let's just say, if RSPCA were around, they would have rescued her in an instant.
We attempt to change the situation by inviting the sisters of the Mother Theresa convent to the home. Unfortunately , there are no state care homes or laws to protect the elderly in Costa Rica. We hope the sisters will take her in. However, there's one condition and that's the family cannot visit her ever again...... It's interesting how the family quickly agree..
Our hopes are dashed when the sisters say she doesn't qualify??? The sisters take in street people, who have noone in this world, and not a penny to their name.
So we leave, despondent, hands tied behind our backs, frustrated and angry on how humans lack respect for others. Is there any justice in the world?
We take the sisters, to who I stand in admiration for the selfless work they do for the street people of San Jose, to another patient....
I guess, my favourite, for her laughter, permanent smile and endless warmth....
Amelia, resides in her garage, alone, in the damp and dirt, at 93, with leg ulcers and food provided by Mision Consuelo.
She qualifies. There's hope!
But guess what....she declines the offer and says that her next and final move will be to the cemetery....
Monday 13 October 2008
Friday 10 October 2008
Zipping....?!?!?
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
Can't believe we finally experienced the zip lines of Costa Rican Rainforests.
I'm sure many of you are wondering what on earth they are. So let me explain. You are basically about 100 metres above the rainforest, perched on a tree, attached to metal rod by various ropes and suddenly you see yourself flying down this rod to the next tree!!!!
So I psyche myself up while I climb to the top of each tree. I hear people whisper into my ear,
" You can do this, just look at that 60 year old guy " ..or " the stats are worse if you drive a car" ...hehehe...
Little do I realise how high you are and how far away (approx 600 metres) the landing site is. So you will be pleased to know, I call for a "taxi", yup a guide, to take you across, so you actually enjoy the spectacular rainforest, do a few spins and land in one piece...hehehe....
the photos are on the way....
or check out... www.selvatura.com
Can't believe we finally experienced the zip lines of Costa Rican Rainforests.
I'm sure many of you are wondering what on earth they are. So let me explain. You are basically about 100 metres above the rainforest, perched on a tree, attached to metal rod by various ropes and suddenly you see yourself flying down this rod to the next tree!!!!
So I psyche myself up while I climb to the top of each tree. I hear people whisper into my ear,
" You can do this, just look at that 60 year old guy " ..or " the stats are worse if you drive a car" ...hehehe...
Little do I realise how high you are and how far away (approx 600 metres) the landing site is. So you will be pleased to know, I call for a "taxi", yup a guide, to take you across, so you actually enjoy the spectacular rainforest, do a few spins and land in one piece...hehehe....
the photos are on the way....
or check out... www.selvatura.com
A New Species.....
So we arrive in in Monteverde at 1pm, a place famous for the spectacular rain forest in the clouds and well worth the journey. Just a word of warning, the last 2 hours is pretty much on dirt track. Brace yourself for the bumpy ride but made plausible with the stunning mountain views.
Eager to see some wildlife, we booked ourselves onto night and day tours. Definitely worth every penny and always a wonder on how these guides spot reptiles in the wildlife...and in the darkness???!!!. We managed to see snakes, tarantulas at night and white faced monkeys and sloths in the day plus a bonus class on how to survive in the rainforest. The photos are on the way....
However, a moment I'm especially proud of, being zoologically challenged, while walking amongst the bushes, having just seen a sloth in the wild, I suddenly spotted something white..and moving...So I yell to the guide... so sure it must be another animal of some kind...
little to do I realise...out pops a human.....male....Yes a species...I should say ...yet to be studied and always a wonder...hehehehe....
Eager to see some wildlife, we booked ourselves onto night and day tours. Definitely worth every penny and always a wonder on how these guides spot reptiles in the wildlife...and in the darkness???!!!. We managed to see snakes, tarantulas at night and white faced monkeys and sloths in the day plus a bonus class on how to survive in the rainforest. The photos are on the way....
However, a moment I'm especially proud of, being zoologically challenged, while walking amongst the bushes, having just seen a sloth in the wild, I suddenly spotted something white..and moving...So I yell to the guide... so sure it must be another animal of some kind...
little to do I realise...out pops a human.....male....Yes a species...I should say ...yet to be studied and always a wonder...hehehehe....
Tico Time.....
Hola...Hola...
So our adventure continues in amazing Costa Rica..
We begin our journey at 6am from San Jose and hope to head to Monteverde by 11am.
That's right..another 5 hour bus ride but I'm sure it's worth it to see the forest in the clouds !!!
So the bus makes various stops along the way, people get in and out and we are enjoying the ride. Little did we realise, before we know it, we see signs for San Jose!!!!! What!??!! When did the bus turn around...hehehehe..
In our broken spanish, and frantic expressions, we manage to stop the bus by a roadside cafe. The time is now 9am. So..with further broken spanish we understand that we can wait for another bus to Monteverde.
...So it's now 9.45 and we are considering calling a taxi for the rest of the ride. Thanks to some kind english speaking waiters and an hour later with the addition of 3 phone calls, a taxi arrives on tico time.
All I have to say is my mother will be proud of my patience and my conversion into Tico Time!!
So our adventure continues in amazing Costa Rica..
We begin our journey at 6am from San Jose and hope to head to Monteverde by 11am.
That's right..another 5 hour bus ride but I'm sure it's worth it to see the forest in the clouds !!!
So the bus makes various stops along the way, people get in and out and we are enjoying the ride. Little did we realise, before we know it, we see signs for San Jose!!!!! What!??!! When did the bus turn around...hehehehe..
In our broken spanish, and frantic expressions, we manage to stop the bus by a roadside cafe. The time is now 9am. So..with further broken spanish we understand that we can wait for another bus to Monteverde.
...So it's now 9.45 and we are considering calling a taxi for the rest of the ride. Thanks to some kind english speaking waiters and an hour later with the addition of 3 phone calls, a taxi arrives on tico time.
All I have to say is my mother will be proud of my patience and my conversion into Tico Time!!
Thursday 2 October 2008
Puerto Viejo, another little Paradise....
Hi all...Hola..
Sorry for the late report on another little find in Costa Rica..
After a 4 hour bumpy ride, in not one of the most comfortable buses, we arrived in a tiny, sleepy
town on the Carribean Coast, Puerto Viejo. That's Amy, I and a new found friend, Belinda , a fellow Volunteer from Hong Kong.
Carribean in every way from the rastas hanging out of the roadside bars...to the very chilled waiters taking about an hour to serve a meal...hehehe..
But not to worry, we soon got the hang of things and acclimatised to Carribean beach time.
I can't recommend enough Banana Azul. Hidden amongst the rainforest ,on the edge of the Carribean Sea, stood this idyllic and gorgeous hotel made of natural resources. The team are from Canada and serve your every need, including a special request to have dinner on our terrace. Truly a memorable moment, dinner with Frederique and Julia , a couple from the states , also ex students of Maximo Nivel. Under the stars with the sounds of the ocean..with the occasional yell from a mosquitoe bite...ahh...muy romantica..heheh.. Don't worry, no marriage proposals for our Amy!!!
Something must have been in the air because all our intentions of checking out local national parks went out of the ..terrace. Chilling...on the beach..on the terrace...with the swealtering heat...the occasional good book..and the sounds of Buddha Bar on the ipod was on my agenda!!
The only down point of the whole experience was my constant effort to dodge the 5 dogs in the open air restaurant and lounge...and beach...hehehe.. yes..I can hear many of you giggling in the background.
So if any of you are in need of peace, to be in touch with nature and to have a beach all to yourselves, head to Banana Azul ( www.bananaAzul.com ) and send my regards to Tony and Michel!!!
Sorry for the late report on another little find in Costa Rica..
After a 4 hour bumpy ride, in not one of the most comfortable buses, we arrived in a tiny, sleepy
town on the Carribean Coast, Puerto Viejo. That's Amy, I and a new found friend, Belinda , a fellow Volunteer from Hong Kong.
Carribean in every way from the rastas hanging out of the roadside bars...to the very chilled waiters taking about an hour to serve a meal...hehehe..
But not to worry, we soon got the hang of things and acclimatised to Carribean beach time.
I can't recommend enough Banana Azul. Hidden amongst the rainforest ,on the edge of the Carribean Sea, stood this idyllic and gorgeous hotel made of natural resources. The team are from Canada and serve your every need, including a special request to have dinner on our terrace. Truly a memorable moment, dinner with Frederique and Julia , a couple from the states , also ex students of Maximo Nivel. Under the stars with the sounds of the ocean..with the occasional yell from a mosquitoe bite...ahh...muy romantica..heheh.. Don't worry, no marriage proposals for our Amy!!!
Something must have been in the air because all our intentions of checking out local national parks went out of the ..terrace. Chilling...on the beach..on the terrace...with the swealtering heat...the occasional good book..and the sounds of Buddha Bar on the ipod was on my agenda!!
The only down point of the whole experience was my constant effort to dodge the 5 dogs in the open air restaurant and lounge...and beach...hehehe.. yes..I can hear many of you giggling in the background.
So if any of you are in need of peace, to be in touch with nature and to have a beach all to yourselves, head to Banana Azul ( www.bananaAzul.com ) and send my regards to Tony and Michel!!!
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