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Updates: Quake, Hotel, EFT

The tremors under my office chair, all the way over here on the other side of the valley from the epicenter, have finally subsided. We had one – a long one – at 3am Monday morning, but it'd been several days since the one before that. Thank goodness! Those tremors are unnerving. I'm sure the survivors near Poás are grateful the aftershocks are mostly gone. They have enough to deal with. I imagine freedom from the anxiety over an immediate repeat performance is welcome.

Recovery and reconstruction are underway. The area will be affected for years to come. . . . → Read More About Updates: Quake, Hotel, EFT

27 January 2009
7 comments - (Comments are closed)   CR: Bureaucracy, CR: Weather, CR: Working, Earthquakes, EFT = Emotional Freedom Technique, Hope, Volcanos

Where’ve I Been?

Just now at Volcán Arenal with Mom and Aunt Gay, mom’s baby sister. This was my third time at the volcano, my favorite place in Costa Rica so far. Volcán Arenal is flawless, when you can see it.

Did you know, on a clear day, you can see the top of Arenal from San Ramon, two hours to the south of it? Huge and magnificent, an incredible sight. This picture (right: you click on it to make it bigger, Arenal’s peak is smack in . . . → Read More About Where’ve I Been?

28 January 2008
15 comments - (Comments are closed)   CR: Cost of Living, CR: Working, Economy, Entrepreneurs, Expat, Hope, Volcanos

What To Do On Weekends

Jane wrote to me this morning:

Hey, Saratica:

My Son has visited your site many times and loves all the info you give. He and I are coming to CR this weekend. We are enrolled in a language school in San Jose. We will have the afternoons and weekends free. Can you give us advice on places to see and things to do?

Thanks for taking the time to read and reply,Jane

I don’t always have time to write back, although I certainly mean to… But sometimes days and weeks go by (right, Arp?) while . . . → Read More About What To Do On Weekends

20 September 2007
Comments are closed   CR: Accommodations, CR: Attractions, CR: Wildlife, Travel Tips, Volcanos

Ceasar Salad (specially made)

This was the description of the first item on the menu at the Arenal Observatory Lodge. $6. "Specially made." Turns out, they were not kidding.

I lived in Manhattan in the early 80′s. Had Ceasar salad prepared table side at some fabulous restaurants: rub the big wooden bowl with lemon, toss in Romaine lettuce, raw egg, big fat homemade croutons, little olive oil, fresh Parmesan, whole anchovies… tossed and served by snobby old waiters in tuxedos. You can get ALL these ingredients in Costa Rica except the tuxedos.

Let’s just say this Cesar was nothing like that. . . . → Read More About Ceasar Salad (specially made)

10 June 2007
2 comments - (Comments are closed)   CR: Attractions, Criticia Voluptua Right-Right, Food, Restaurants, Travel Tips, Volcanos

Costa Rica’s Magic Kingdom®

That’s what our trip to Volcán Arenal was almost like. Certainly it was as expensive.

PHOTO: I took this March 06 while we were driving around Lake Arenal. This is our first look at Arenal. We’d been in the area for two days but had not seen the volcano at all because of the dense cloud cover. When we came around the curve and saw this, we almost crashed the car. A massive gray rock jutting up out of the greenest landscape you ever saw..

Before relaying our trip, please see . . . → Read More About Costa Rica’s Magic Kingdom®

28 May 2007
2 comments - (Comments are closed)   CR: Attractions, Travel Tips, Volcanos

Weekend of Ooohs and Awes

When you visit Costa Rica, be sure to bring your wallet. And a debit card. God made Costa Rica breathtaking; she didn't make it free. And before you return home to report on your visit, arm yourself with every synonym for fabulous, breathtaking, amazing, magical, unbelievable and incredible you can find. You'll need them.

Hal's mom, Joni, and his Aunt Sally have been here for a week. [FLICKR PHOTOS] We visited every tourist destination within an hour's . . . → Read More About Weekend of Ooohs and Awes

21 March 2006
One comment - (Comments are closed)   CR: Accommodations, CR: Attractions, CR: Bamboo Farm, CR: Wildlife, Farmer's Market, MOM, Travel Tips, Volcanos