Candle light dinners are definitely one of the more romantic affairs you can experience it life. Almost inherently you feel differently, the mood is tranquil and the food might even taste betters. There is just something about eating by candle light, real or fantasy, that turns even normal meals into special events.
Dining by head lamp however, which has been annoyingly common lately, does not have quite the same effect.
Beginning some time early last week there have been blackouts at regions throughout the country lasting for several hours at a time. In-fighting between the nationalized energy provider ICE and the Costa Rican government has make it remarkably inconvenient for me, and the rest of the country, to live and work. Ongoing disagreement about a rate increase has resulted in ICE cutting power to manage operating costs to various sectors at scheduled intervals daily.
Fortunately, I have not been stranded anywhere and nothing bad has happened to me, but it is rather tedious sitting around, unable to do any sort of work, while waiting for the electricity to come back. The couple times the power has been out at night I´ve had to improvise and walk about my apartment using a headlamp my brother gave me to cook, clean or do whatever else I had to do.
Resolutions are being passed around between officials and hopefully the blackouts will end shortly. Which is a good thing because illuminating a spaghetti dinner for one with an LED bulb definitely does not provide the same ambience as a candle light dinner, and is as you might imagine slightly depressing.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
La Playa
I have succesfully made the move from Liberia to Playas del Coco, phew. It convenientely was boiling hot the day I was lugging my bags around but I managed to get everything transfered OK. The cabina is quite nice and I like it a lot so far. Things are a little bit more difficult at the moment as far as work because I have to go to an Internet cafe to try and do things. Hopefully I can get internet in my room and then I´ll be all set.
I still don´t exactly know how, but I locked myself in my apartment the first night. Apparently there is a trick lock that allows you to turn the key to lock the latch from the inside, but you cannot undo it. So, after my very first night, I had to call the owner to come and rescue me... man sometimes you just feel like an idiot.
In other slight inconveniences, the handle on the kitchen faucet broke so I had to shut the water off. It is in the process of being fixed (hopefully by tomorrow) but I´ve had to get all my water from the shower for the last couple days. It hasn´t been too bad, especially since it hasn´t really mattered at all due to the random, rolling water shut offs that plague the area.
Guanacaste is the driest province by far and with the exploding development in the province, there isn´t enough infrastructure to support it. You know, watering those fourteen private golf courses daily sure does suck up a lot of drinking water... goddamn gringo golfers.
I still don´t exactly know how, but I locked myself in my apartment the first night. Apparently there is a trick lock that allows you to turn the key to lock the latch from the inside, but you cannot undo it. So, after my very first night, I had to call the owner to come and rescue me... man sometimes you just feel like an idiot.
In other slight inconveniences, the handle on the kitchen faucet broke so I had to shut the water off. It is in the process of being fixed (hopefully by tomorrow) but I´ve had to get all my water from the shower for the last couple days. It hasn´t been too bad, especially since it hasn´t really mattered at all due to the random, rolling water shut offs that plague the area.
Guanacaste is the driest province by far and with the exploding development in the province, there isn´t enough infrastructure to support it. You know, watering those fourteen private golf courses daily sure does suck up a lot of drinking water... goddamn gringo golfers.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Cell Phone
Hear ye, hear ye! I have finally gotten my hands on a cell phone and for you information, I know for a fact that it receives international calls just as well as is makes them. Not that I really expect anyone except my parents to call, but it would also be a little sad if they were the only ones who do.
The number is (506) 350-3422. The parantheses are the country code and the rest is just my number.
In other news, this week has been rather frustrating in light of power outages and crappy coverage of events. I actually started this post about 2.5 hours ago, but thanks to a random power outage I am just now re-typing it. It is rather difficult to write articles if you have no means of typing them, that's for sure.
Also, earlier in the week I was set to go to cover a conference but for no particular reason it was delayed and then cancelled to the complete befudlement of everyone who was to attend. Inexplicably, the whole thing just did not happen. And yesterday, I had a hell of time travelling to visit a artisan museum that is to be opened next month. Ticos are incredibly nice and offer help willingly, but as was reaffirmed yesterday, they often do not have any clear idea of what they are talking about.
The great problem in Costa Rica is inefficiency. It is understood that things kinda just happen and everybody seems perfectly content waiting around until they do. Like for buses to arrive or people to show up in a location, for example. For the most part, being a laid back, roll with the punches type person, this has not bothered me but it is still frustrating at times. I definitely think part of the problem is that I am from the U.S. where everything is structured to be as convenient as possible. I am sure another part is that I still don't 'get' exactly how things operate, but for whatever reason this has created the friction.
I guess the only thing to do when you're stranded at some bus station in rural Costa Rica is think to yourself, "Pura Vida."
The number is (506) 350-3422. The parantheses are the country code and the rest is just my number.
In other news, this week has been rather frustrating in light of power outages and crappy coverage of events. I actually started this post about 2.5 hours ago, but thanks to a random power outage I am just now re-typing it. It is rather difficult to write articles if you have no means of typing them, that's for sure.
Also, earlier in the week I was set to go to cover a conference but for no particular reason it was delayed and then cancelled to the complete befudlement of everyone who was to attend. Inexplicably, the whole thing just did not happen. And yesterday, I had a hell of time travelling to visit a artisan museum that is to be opened next month. Ticos are incredibly nice and offer help willingly, but as was reaffirmed yesterday, they often do not have any clear idea of what they are talking about.
The great problem in Costa Rica is inefficiency. It is understood that things kinda just happen and everybody seems perfectly content waiting around until they do. Like for buses to arrive or people to show up in a location, for example. For the most part, being a laid back, roll with the punches type person, this has not bothered me but it is still frustrating at times. I definitely think part of the problem is that I am from the U.S. where everything is structured to be as convenient as possible. I am sure another part is that I still don't 'get' exactly how things operate, but for whatever reason this has created the friction.
I guess the only thing to do when you're stranded at some bus station in rural Costa Rica is think to yourself, "Pura Vida."
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Just a quickie
Just a quick little update. I had a busy last week with getting my articles written but they´re all finished now and turned. The close for articles is every Friday and so there is always a crunch trying to get everything put together as the week winds down. Definitely believe I am getting a better feel for the whole process of researching, interviewing and writing but I still would hardly consider myself a proper journalist. I which I had a bit more constructive feedback about my stories but as it is, we don´t really have an editor to speak of and it is more of a learn as you go along type system. Oh well.
I also have been looking into new apartments at the beach and think I found one that will work out nicely. I actually just got back from Coco and found a studio/cabina apartment that is only a five minute walk from the beach and at a resonable price. The apartment is currently occupied but will open up Monday or Tuesday, so hopefully be Wednesday I can start moving in.
Lastly, I have applied to a masters program in International Peace Studies at the University for Peace here in San Jose. It is a UN chartered university that offers a number of programs related to conflict resolution, reconstruction and sustainable development. Mine is a one year program and I will find out if I was accepted or not at the beginning of May. I don´t know much about the selectivity and number of applicants so I really don´t know what to expect. Classes would start next September and it would cool if I got in, but I certainly won´t be shattered if I don´t.
I also have been looking into new apartments at the beach and think I found one that will work out nicely. I actually just got back from Coco and found a studio/cabina apartment that is only a five minute walk from the beach and at a resonable price. The apartment is currently occupied but will open up Monday or Tuesday, so hopefully be Wednesday I can start moving in.
Lastly, I have applied to a masters program in International Peace Studies at the University for Peace here in San Jose. It is a UN chartered university that offers a number of programs related to conflict resolution, reconstruction and sustainable development. Mine is a one year program and I will find out if I was accepted or not at the beginning of May. I don´t know much about the selectivity and number of applicants so I really don´t know what to expect. Classes would start next September and it would cool if I got in, but I certainly won´t be shattered if I don´t.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Pictures from Semana Santa
Nice, just nice
Yes Eddie, that´s a statue
- No, no too sexy!-Ah yes, but I must!
Santa Elena and Monteverde
Here´s something you won´t find in Iowa
Thumb´s up says it all
Me, Travis (guy from Iowa), Jen & EddieWednesday, April 11, 2007
Cloud forests, bus rides and Semana Santa
After being chided by my mother for not posting, here’s the latest installment of my Costa Rica saga. Again, I apologize for the length but there was a lot to say.
As some of you may have known, one of my bestest buddies from Mac, Eddie, was in Costa Rica last week visiting his parents (his dad is on sabbatical studying nematodes). And since Costa Rica is approximately 80% Catholic and being that is was Semana Santa last week, much of the workforce throughout the country was on vacation. Lucky that I am, I did not have to work last week so, it worked out splendidly that we could hang out quite a bit. Eddie and a friend of his from Lincoln, Jen, who was also in Central America came up to Liberia last Monday and we all traveled together and did the best we could to enjoy ourselves. We did of course, and unfortunately for Jen, this meant we gave her a hard time often.
After spending a cramped and uncomfortable night in my apartment, we got up early and headed to the cloud forests. There was no direct route to get there but finally, after being jostled around for several hours winding our way up a terribly bumpy road, we arrived at Santa Elena. There is nothing exceptional about the place, it is a rather small, touristy town that merely serves as a gateway to the nearby biological reserves, catering almost exclusively to those who have come to see the cloud forests.
In a remarkable “small world moment,” Eddie, while periodically lifting his head off the seat in front of him in an effort not to become car sick, spotted a guy sitting at the front of the bus we came in on wearing an Iowa State baseball cap. We ended up talking with him when we got off the bus and as it turns out, he graduated from ISU in the mid 90’s and has been traveling Central America for five weeks. Weird... Go ‘Clones!
Anyway, after getting off the bus we got some lunch, dropped off our bags and hopped aboard a short shuttle to the Santa Elena biological reserve to do a quick hike Tuesday afternoon. It was great! Incredibly dense, diverse vegetation with all kinds of things I’ve never seen before, but they are definitely called rain forests for a reason. As soon as we got off the van it turned from a fine mist into a steady rain and we trudged through the forest for about an hour and a half. It was incredibly beautiful with plants and vines everywhere and a towering canopy, but it was difficult to enjoy because we were busy getting soaked to bone (Eddie and I conveniently blame Jen although it was entirely our own faults. You know rain jackets don’t do a whole lot of good balled up in your backpack at the hostel).
We made it back no worse for the wear and the next morning I was fully equipped for a monsoon at the Monteverde Reserve, 5km the opposite direction from Santa Elena. But wouldn’t you know, it barely did anything more than a light mist…figures. I had my heart set on licking some poisonous dart frogs and seeing a resplendent quetzal, but unfortunately neither were to be found. The two reserves are much the same as far as flora and fauna, but there were far more tourists at Monteverde. We saw some howler monkeys, a variety of birds and a few lizards but had to hurry back and get our stuff in time to catch the last bus for San Jose.
We were heading to Eddie’s parents house and because every thing shut down for Semana Santa there was a mass exodus of people leaving the reserves. We had to go on Wednesday afternoon, lest we be stranded there until Saturday and met a bunch of travelers in much the same predicament (i.e. not necessarily wanting to go to San Jose but with no other options because buses didn’t run on Thursday or Friday). Interestingly, I did talk to this guy, who knew another guy, who could hook us with a special deal for a bus just for us on Thursday if we stuck around. A tempting offer but needless to say, one we did not take him up on.
Both lanes were clogged with traffic going into and out of San Jose and when combined with a flat tire, normally a four hour bus ride annoyingly turned into a seven hour trip. We didn’t reach Eddie’s parents house in Heredia, a suburb a few km north of San Jose, until late Wednesday night. With everything closed for Semana Santa activities, there wasn’t a whole lot going on so we just took it easy for a couple days. We did play some soccer and walked around downtown San Jose which were both pretty fun. Mr. and Mrs. Powers were incredibly nice and it was great to kinda be around some familiar people and some semblance of a family.
Eddie and Jen left for the States on Saturday and I took off for Liberia that same afternoon. It was great to meet Jen and hang out with Eddie for the week but now it’s back to the grind. I’ve been looking for new apartments, albeit not very resolutely, but this week I think I’m going to try and move to the beach. I’ll let you all know how that turns out but that’s all for now.
As some of you may have known, one of my bestest buddies from Mac, Eddie, was in Costa Rica last week visiting his parents (his dad is on sabbatical studying nematodes). And since Costa Rica is approximately 80% Catholic and being that is was Semana Santa last week, much of the workforce throughout the country was on vacation. Lucky that I am, I did not have to work last week so, it worked out splendidly that we could hang out quite a bit. Eddie and a friend of his from Lincoln, Jen, who was also in Central America came up to Liberia last Monday and we all traveled together and did the best we could to enjoy ourselves. We did of course, and unfortunately for Jen, this meant we gave her a hard time often.
After spending a cramped and uncomfortable night in my apartment, we got up early and headed to the cloud forests. There was no direct route to get there but finally, after being jostled around for several hours winding our way up a terribly bumpy road, we arrived at Santa Elena. There is nothing exceptional about the place, it is a rather small, touristy town that merely serves as a gateway to the nearby biological reserves, catering almost exclusively to those who have come to see the cloud forests.
In a remarkable “small world moment,” Eddie, while periodically lifting his head off the seat in front of him in an effort not to become car sick, spotted a guy sitting at the front of the bus we came in on wearing an Iowa State baseball cap. We ended up talking with him when we got off the bus and as it turns out, he graduated from ISU in the mid 90’s and has been traveling Central America for five weeks. Weird... Go ‘Clones!
Anyway, after getting off the bus we got some lunch, dropped off our bags and hopped aboard a short shuttle to the Santa Elena biological reserve to do a quick hike Tuesday afternoon. It was great! Incredibly dense, diverse vegetation with all kinds of things I’ve never seen before, but they are definitely called rain forests for a reason. As soon as we got off the van it turned from a fine mist into a steady rain and we trudged through the forest for about an hour and a half. It was incredibly beautiful with plants and vines everywhere and a towering canopy, but it was difficult to enjoy because we were busy getting soaked to bone (Eddie and I conveniently blame Jen although it was entirely our own faults. You know rain jackets don’t do a whole lot of good balled up in your backpack at the hostel).
We made it back no worse for the wear and the next morning I was fully equipped for a monsoon at the Monteverde Reserve, 5km the opposite direction from Santa Elena. But wouldn’t you know, it barely did anything more than a light mist…figures. I had my heart set on licking some poisonous dart frogs and seeing a resplendent quetzal, but unfortunately neither were to be found. The two reserves are much the same as far as flora and fauna, but there were far more tourists at Monteverde. We saw some howler monkeys, a variety of birds and a few lizards but had to hurry back and get our stuff in time to catch the last bus for San Jose.
We were heading to Eddie’s parents house and because every thing shut down for Semana Santa there was a mass exodus of people leaving the reserves. We had to go on Wednesday afternoon, lest we be stranded there until Saturday and met a bunch of travelers in much the same predicament (i.e. not necessarily wanting to go to San Jose but with no other options because buses didn’t run on Thursday or Friday). Interestingly, I did talk to this guy, who knew another guy, who could hook us with a special deal for a bus just for us on Thursday if we stuck around. A tempting offer but needless to say, one we did not take him up on.
Both lanes were clogged with traffic going into and out of San Jose and when combined with a flat tire, normally a four hour bus ride annoyingly turned into a seven hour trip. We didn’t reach Eddie’s parents house in Heredia, a suburb a few km north of San Jose, until late Wednesday night. With everything closed for Semana Santa activities, there wasn’t a whole lot going on so we just took it easy for a couple days. We did play some soccer and walked around downtown San Jose which were both pretty fun. Mr. and Mrs. Powers were incredibly nice and it was great to kinda be around some familiar people and some semblance of a family.
Eddie and Jen left for the States on Saturday and I took off for Liberia that same afternoon. It was great to meet Jen and hang out with Eddie for the week but now it’s back to the grind. I’ve been looking for new apartments, albeit not very resolutely, but this week I think I’m going to try and move to the beach. I’ll let you all know how that turns out but that’s all for now.
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