A most interesting sojourn yesterday. I was invited by the family of Vicente, a neighbour to visit his wife's parents' farm in Guanacaste. Along with them, their daughter Jennifer and Santos, a young fellow who is working on the house across the street, we set off at 6:00 am for the two hour drive northwest. We arrived at the farm, located in a small village called Arizona. Warm greetings ensued from gracious hosts, children, chickens, cattle and a tethered pig. Soon after, Alonso and Lenora along with their two boys and Lenora's mother arrived to complete the gathering. After a filling breakfast of gallo pinto, huevos and tortillas, we toured the farm while Santos and Vicente's father-in-law began the preparation of the main meal: the tethered pig.
After a few hours, the pig became pork, all of which was expertly cut into ribs, loins... Water boiled outside, savory pieces deep fried and presto, chicharrones, a Costa Rican specialty. Along with salads, bread, yucca and rice, a mouth watering, somewhat artery hardening, meal.
It was amazing to be a part of a family experience in a setting I would probably never encounter without good neighbours. I feigned complete understanding of deep and meaningful conversations, drank a few beer, demonstrated the innate soccer skills of Canadians and even had the energy to photograph a high wire monkey act on the drive home.
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