11/28/2013 Thanksgiving so far from home. How will we console ourselves?

How about by having Thanksgiving dinner with the acting U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica and his family! Holy cow what an honor. There were four volunteers chosen, one from each branch of Peace Corps Costa Rica. Let me tell you I'm glad that these folks are representing us. They are just like our family back home. The turkey and fixings were delicious and they even managed to make sweet potato using camote found here in Costa Rica. It was incredible! We played farkle through the night and were invited to spend the night at their residence. HOT WATER! If you've ever been to central America you know that hot water is only for people who can afford a heater. It's something we are trying to get in site but we need a few more weeks to gather all the parts for the solar water heaters. We feel so blessed to have been able to share Thanksgiving with other Estados Unidences. We miss everyone back home. Hope you all come down and see us soon!

11/16/2013 Costa Rican National Dance Competition, San Jose

We were invited to travel with a dance group from our site to San Jose to enjoy a demonstration of Costa Rican dance.  The dance groups often made their own costumes, props, and routines, but all of the dance routines focused on traditional bailes típicos and la marimba.  Most of the dances come from Guanacaste and many of the dances act out a farming story.  It was a wonderful display of national heritage!  We're so happy we received the invitation to attend.

The Stage is Set

Dancers are Ready

Let's Dance!

¡Que linda!

Less flashy, because in this style the dancers are often barefoot and dressed in farmer’s clothing (campesino).

11/06/2013 A hidden site...that unfortunately for now remains hidden.

Went to yet another hidden waterfall today. I will say that this one is probably only for experienced hikers. It is situated just North of El Humo about 4km from Pejivalle. The approach is steep and from behind the waterfall if you can believe that. It opens into a large open ledge that forms a pool you can swim in. 

The Waterfall

My host sister Karla says that when she was in high school there a lot more water here. There is a rock island in the middle. I recommend water shoes as it can be a little rough on the feet. 

The pool eventually drops off into a gigantic waterfall. (Why didn’t we go to the bottom of that one?) It’s way down there just under a thousand feet below. Gorgeous. I have got to get the bed and breakfast group organized pronto.

I was going to include photos of this site but unfortunately my camera appears to be inoperable. I will try to salvage the photos at some point but I don't have high hopes for it.  

Update 1/28/2014:  Camera works!  Here's the pictures.

Part of Our Brave Host Family

This little hole is right behind the large stone that our host family is standing on..formed by water and time. Thankfully no one fell in!

Love this Natural Waterpark!

Can't you just hear it calling your name?

10/22/2013 Meeting the neighbors

Some days you really feel lucky. We could have ended up anywhere in the world for our Peace Corps service but the powers that be have sent us to a secret getaway tourist site in Costa Rica. Here are some pics of La Marta the local wildlife refuge. We had a brief encounter with some sort of large cat but it ran before I could get a good look at it. Big and black was all I saw.

And here is a brief tour of just a few of the things you can see in the park.

 Ruins

 Big cats... see her?

 White water rafting river

 Camping sites

As it turns out there is more than one waterfall around our site. I’m told there are about half a dozen. Here is another one. 

You go about half way up a hill covered in trees and the canopy opens up into this beautiful waterfall with two stone seats at the bottom.  As you sit on the stone, you get a massage!!

All the waterfalls empty into the river of Pejibaye (Rio Pejibaye; pictures forthcoming) which separates Pejibaye from it’s neighbor Plaza Vieja. 

Part of my project here is to help set up a bed and breakfast group for tourists to stay.  As we make more progress and have a firm idea of prices I will keep you posted, but please if you have interest in coming to Pejibaye let us know! In the mean time, I'll be bringing you more info about this beautiful site that's just 3 hours from the San Jose airport in Costa Rica. See you soon!!

10/19/2013 Where the Sidewalk Ends

My Walk to School Everyday Sans Sidewalk

When asked to pick the name of a book, movie, or poem that best describes our site after our first visit to Pejibaye, the first that came to my mind was Shel Silverstein's "Where the Sidewalk Ends."

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins.
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.







Pejibaye is well known for its beautiful river (Rio Pejibaye).  And by river, I mean white water rafting, kayaking, inter-tubing, and swimming in sparkling clear, fresh water.  Here the town is devoted to the environment and conservation.  The high school is one of three in the nation with an environmental focus.  I've loved watching families enjoying this river. It seems the river at the right side of the bridge is for teens and adults.  I saw an adult swim against the current, and it looked like one of those individual exercise pools because you could just keep swimming stably in the same place.  On the left side of the bridge is akin to the "kiddy pool".  Here there's an area that is slower moving and has sand for the little ones to play in.  While you're swimming, you'll see brightly colored tropical birds and feel the cool breeze that gently moves the tree tops nearby.  To say it's stunning doesn't do it justice.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow

If you've ever taken a trip to Costa Rica, you know how beautiful the beaches and the oceans are here.

For Example, Beautiful Playa Ostional

You may also know, as my husband likes to say, that San Jose is like a grand painting...it's best appreciated from far away.  Past the dark streets and asphalt flowers of San Jose, at the end of the sidewalk and the road, you reach Pejibaye.

We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.

 

Students in the High School

Pejibaye is both the definition of tranquila and pura vida.  It's a town out of a bygone era.  Here you can hear the clip clop of horse hooves as much as you hear the roar of traffic in bigger cities.  Here neighbors know each other well, and guests are always welcome for cafecito, which includes rich, delicious, local coffee from El Humo and bread made fresh daily in the local panaderia.  Here children walk to and from the center of town running errands for parents or playing futbol in the local concha.  With the faced-paced lifestyle of the United States, we easily forget how splendid an afternoon chatting with a neighbor can be.  We're re-learning how to walk in Pejibaye...


Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow.
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go.
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know,
The place where the sidewalk ends. 

Where the Sidewalk Ends

  by Shel Silverstein

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends. 

- See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/20541#sthash.etHuPq0Z.dpuf

Where the Sidewalk Ends

  by Shel Silverstein

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends. 

- See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/20541#sthash.etHuPq0Z.dpuf

Where the Sidewalk Ends

  by Shel Silverstein

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends. 

- See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/20541#sthash.etHuPq0Z.dpuf