OH, DARN

Oh, well. And I was so looking forward to displaying my athletic prowess. Flying home tomorrow.

FRESH OFF THE PRESS!!

While some residents of San Ramón were anxious to host the first Pamplona style of running of the bulls in Costa Rica, others weren't so much, forcing an action of constitutionality and an order of the Ministerio de Salud to ensure public safety.

The running of the bulls was scheduled to start on Friday.

However, this morning, the ministra de Salud, María Luisa Ávila, notified the Festejos San Ramón 2010 that the bull run is off.

The ministra said her inspectors found that the bulls would be too close to the public which could result in injury.

Although the Festejos had co-ordinated the event with the Policía de Tránsito to close off the streets and had erected barricades to protect the public from the bulls, and the regulation that people could run only alongside and to the rear, but not the front of the bulls, the event will not take place.

The festival of San Fermin, or the Pamplona bull running as it's more commonly known outside Spain is a tradition that occurs in July every year, where thousands of people congregate in the square awaiting the mayor's official announcement that the fiestas have begun, a rocket is launched and the partying begins.

The Pamplona encierro is the most popular running of the bulls in Spain. .Injuries are common to the participants who may be gored or trampled.

Última lección

Today was our last English language lesson until I return. Oh, sure, the class thinks it is all fun and games, but just wait until they see the exam in November!

Tough Teacher

Even if a student in my English class has a broken arm, I insist on proper decorum during class. Have a question, raise that hand regardless of the discomfort. Or else, outside for a "time out".

Preparándose para correr con los toros

The first thing one needs to run with the bulls is a look of authenticity. The bulls, much like toads before an earthquake, can sense when danger lurks.
I am, however, having a problem locating matador head ware!

But Before I Return Home......

I am returning to Vancouver on April 17th. Today, the papers issued the following announcement:


Running Of The Bulls Pamplona Style Will Be Imitated In San Ramón

In the best tradition of Pamplona, Spain, the city of San Ramón, Alajuela, will have its own running of the bulls on April 16.

The city has been busy building organizing its own running of the bulls that will see the bulls run through some city streets instead of being confined in a bull ring.

The running of the bulls of San Ramón will start at 5pm on April 16 and for two weekends more to raise funds for a school and a colleged in the city.

Of course, many of the business owners of the La Sabana street, one of the streets that will be used in the run, are questioning the activity.

To ensure public safety, the city is erecting posts and fences to control contact between the bulls and bystanders.

The running of the bulls of San Ramón will not be like the savage fiestas of San Fermín in Spain where people run ahead of the raging bulls that has resulted in deaths, in the running of the bulls of San Ramón people will be allowed to run alongside and at the rear of the bulls, but not in front.

I am a little disappointed we will be unable to run in front of the bulls.

The Neighbourhood

Time to post a few pictures that might provide a context for where we live in San Ramon. We are about a twenty minute walk from the centre of town (two kilometers closer to the Pacific coastal port of Puntarenas where the cruise ships dock.) Although, San Ramon is only fifty kilometers Northeast of Puntarenas, the drive takes at least an hour as the highway is only one lane each way and wends its way up and down and around sharp curves. As it used by trucks bringing goods to and from the port, on steep hills, traffic can be almost at a stand still as lines of semis strain to climb and descend.

On my walk back home from the mall, I took a few photos of our barrio (Santiaguita): our neighbourhood as it looks from the highway, a large field, a tiny corner store just down the road, and Super Pro, the bicycle fabrication plant, at the bottom of our hill.

Warm Weather Wings

For the past three or four days, it has been unseasonably cool in San Ramon. The temperature reached a high of only 19 degrees, and for the first time, I had to don long pants. Interestingly, adult males in Costa Rica (and, I suspect, all Latin American countries) seldom, if ever, wear shorts. Such frivolous wear is consigned to adolescents and Norte Americanos. I refuse to make allowances for old age with its transformation of appendages to matchsticks. If a Straw Man I am, so be it.
Today, the weather turned for the better; the rising thermometer a harbinger for birds of all colour.

Differences

From a home buzzing with the activity and energy that accompany Elizabeth and Ania: decorating, re-decorating; combing the country to find (or not to find) an out of the way vivero with just the right plants for our expanding garden spots; miles spent searching for muebles to furnish new living spaces; searching markets and aisles for oats, flax, chai, four colours of vegetables and fruits and the ever so important corvina or tilapia.
Mostly, just hanging out together and filling our home with family.
What a six weeks. Just like that, over. All work completed, no more sounds of saws or thrice daily trips to the ferreteria or lumber yards. Just fine tuning, following to do lists to prepare for this December when work commitments will no longer preclude both Elizabeth and I being here for five months.
I have posted a few photos of what used to be the laundry room and is now the TV room, our renovated patio and Elizabeth and Rosario whistling while they work.

A Few Road Trips

Over the past little while, we embarked on a few sojourns: the rehabilitation zoo in La Garita and up to the soothing gardens and agua thermales at the foot of the Arenal Volcano.

House Progress

Well, the renovations are drawing to a close (for now, at least, as Elizabeth manages to construct new lists of essential items on a daily basis). New paint (I will not really miss the pinkish hue with primer highlights that greeted us every time we entered the driveway), nor the dirt flavoured concrete that characterized the side walls. San Ramon is now firmly ensconced in the dry season with temperatures climbing to 27-28 daily. Thank goodness, the place is cool at night. A few days in the south reinforced that we are not creatures comfortable with plus 30 temperatures and high humidity.
Next week, we are off to the Arenal volcano area to luxuriate in the hot springs.

Manuel Antonio

On, Tuesday, we made the three hour drive south down the Pacific Coast to stay in Quepos for the night and visit Manuel Antonio National Park. It is the second most popular Park in Costa Rica and features a variety of species of monkeys, birds, sloths, iguanas and lizards and three of the best beaches in the country. The weather was stiflingly hot, about 36 degrees.

Amigo por comida

A friend dropped by for some of Elizabeth's healthy and tasty salad today.

Photo Update of Renovations

Panama

We just returned from a four day trip to Panama City. Upon arrival (six hours later than scheduled due to problems with the plane), we took a "taxi" from the airport to the Hotel on the canal. The forty minute drive provided us with all the adventure we needed. Our driver knew the city well enough to take side routes through the poorer areas at breakneck speed, all the time advising us to avoid this barrio, do not go through here at night, only interrupting his steady patter to honk impatiently at any driver ahead who had the audacity to stop at a red light or stop sign. The speed at which he drove was, more or less, the equivalent to that which was coursing through his system.
We arrived late in the evening, checked in and went to our room which overlooked the canal, literally a stone's throw away from our balcony. The views and sights were wonderful.
On our second day, we took a tour, (3 tourists, one guide and a driver) to an Embera village that was located in a National Park about a ninety minute drive followed by a forty minute boat journey up the Chagres river. The day was remarkable, as we caught a glimpse into the life of the Embera Indians, The tribe is around 15,000, inhabiting the Darien rainforest of Panama. The culture of the tribe was, in the past, defined by their relationship with the river basin far up river in the deep forest.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the peoples is their contribution to the making of modern day pharmaceuticals. With incredible botanical knowledge from living in the rainforest, their expertise has been unrivaled. We had the good fortune to be guided by the healer of the community to his medicinal garden located deeper in the forest from the village. He explained the medicinal properties of the various plants and flowers which are used to treat everything from prostate cancers, STD's, skin disorders, stomach ulcers.
Considered master artisans, the members of the tribe make beautiful baskets and woodcarvings. The Embera people also use woodcarving for everyday life such as making canoes, weapons, paddles, furniture, and so on. However, they now also carve tagua, which is called “vegetable ivory”. From this material, the Indians have made some of the most imaginative art you will ever see, inspired by the animals and plants found within the rainforest.
Taking the tagua, they sand it down and then use various types of lacquer or varnish to create sheen. The tagua is ivory colored with dark brown or gray skin. In addition, the Embera Indians can use natural extracts taken from the earth and plants to create vibrant colors, which are then used to dye the baskets.
There are four communities on the Chagres, each headed by a chief and council. They meet regularly to discuss common issues and concerns and do not adjourn without reaching consensus. The village has a school that the children attend until grade seven, after which they have to travel to attend secondary school. When living outside the village, they are always accompanied by a parent or elder whose role is to guard against the unhealthy excesses of outside life. Undoubtedly, this collision of cultures will pose tremendous challenges for a people striving to maintain its autonomy and uniqueness. The reliance on tourism as an economic asset brings with it all the threats inherent in the transformation of a culture into a commodity, a people whose struggle to maintain its independence is scaffolded by dependence.
The next post will provide an overview of Panama City as we travelled through its original site, walked through the old city and were dwarfed by the skyscrapers which now dominate its landscape as part of its insatiable quest for economic growth.

Renovations Update

A few more pictures as the downstairs has been painted and is almost finished. Elizabeth and I are off to Panama City for four days tomorrow morning so should have some interesting stories and pictures to share. Today, we drove up to La Fortuna in search of plants alongside the highway. A successful trip!

More Photos

We have posted a few more photos to provide a peek into our place: the newly decorated second bedroom, the bathroom and new shower in the casita, the steps leading to the upstairs study/bedroom and a glimpse of the view from the upstairs lounge.

Update on Casita Reno's

As you know, the last five weeks have involved extensive development of the adjoining building behind the main house. Before work began, the casita was basically a concrete block, steel edifice with very rough concrete on the walls and most of the floors. It was not wired properly but did have plumbing and water. For the most part, it was a garbage and dust collector . The plan is to have, on the ground floor, a second bathroom and shower, move the laundry from the main house and construct a kitchen/bbq area adjoining the back patio. The upstairs will consist of a lounge room with view and another bedroom/study. Well. the work is almost complete and things look great. Over the next little while, I will post some pictures of the progress.

Zarcero and Beyond

Yesterday, we took a drive into the mountains to Zarcero, a small, picturesque town noted for its organic vegetables, fruit and specialty cheese- Queso Palmito. However, Zarcero’s most popular attraction is its surreal topiary gardens. We were confronted by artist-landscaper Evangelisto Blanco’s latest inventions inspired, he says, from Celestial visions. Here we had opportunity to step through the looking glass to come upon shrubs and trees manifest as dancing animals, stylized creatures and other unique abstractions. Quite the sight.
We then took a drive further up the hills along winding roads and passed through horse and cattle country, surrounded on all sides by the greenery that is characteristic of CR.

Elizabeth Settles In

It always takes a while to decompress once one arrives here. Inevitably, the slow pace and tranquil nature bring about a relative calmness, a welcome escape from the hurly-burly life of everyday work.

Elizabeth Arrives Home

Elizabeth arrived safe and sound at 8:00 pm on January 1. Many thanks to mi hermano David for picking her up at 4:00 am and waiting at the airport with her to ensure that her two 33 kilo bags were cleared for take off.
It is impossible to imagine the number of pillows, pictures, sheets, gifts and everything else under the sun she is able to bring with her to improve the ambiance of our home here in San Ramon. I will try to keep a running photo account of the changes she is making while here. Most of all, her presence enriches.