A pair of Tricolor Herons on Carrillo Beach, just 4km from Casa Mango and Casa Papaya.
Tricolor Herons
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Tag Archives: costa rica
Pinwheels – Dancing Ticos
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- Grupo Folklorico Ceiba danced for us the other night.
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- About 15 kids make up the dance troupe.
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- They perform the traditional dances of Guanacaste and the southern Nicoya peninsula.
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- It’s all about romance, coquetry, and honor.
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- And color.
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- However, the first number was a fairly hot but romantic Cumbia.
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- One dance had a Torero/bull-riding theme.
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- Of course, there was an injury.
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- And a wailing sweetheart.
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- The kids are ages 7 -23.
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- Between them they carry about 50 kilos of satin
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- Each skirt is made of 12 meters of fabric.
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- They’ve been practicing and performing for 3 years
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- Thanks to David, who shared his beautiful home and pizza with us.
Palo Verde is for the birds
This gallery contains 26 photos.
Palo Verde is definitely for the birds. The first time Steve and I visited the wetland, we identified 37 different species of pajaros. The National Park is the home of the giant Jábiru, found only in Costa Rica and whose nests are about a meter and a half wide. Palo Verde stretches from the banks …
Helicopter over Costa Rica
My uncle treated me to a helicopter ride last week. And I had the better view.
He was med-evacuated from Samara to Hospital Clinica Biblica in San Jose, where we spent a week. After surgery, he's home again and doing fine.
But, let’s get back to the flight. We headed (a little north of) east from the football field in Samara, crossed the peninsula and the Gulf of Nicoya, skirting Puntarenas and then headed through the hills towards the Meseta Central. We veered a little south as we approached San Jose, crossing the new highway and hugging the hills above Santa Anna and Escazu. We then re-crossed the river to land at the airport in Pavas. Read More
5 Ways to Volunteer in Samara
Many of our guests ask about volunteer opportunites while they are on vacation here in Samara. Here are some ideas.
1. Teach English – I volunteer one hour a week in the Escuela Santo Domingo, just 4 kilometers from my house. It’s a pretty village of about 40 families. Even though English is a required curriculum in Costa Rica, the government doesn’t always send a teacher to smaller schools. It’s especially difficult if the road is rough as in Santo Domingo or if there’s a river to cross as in Buena Vista. Call me if you’d like to join me for a school visit. There are also some volunteer organizations in Samara that will train you and set you up in a school, for a fee.
2. CREAR – Creatividad, Arte, y Responsabilidad Social is mostly an after-school program for local kids. Their mission is to provide supplemental educational, recreational, and career opportunities for community members, primarily youth with limited resources”. They have computer classes, art and dance. The program is varied and innovative, focusing on academic and artistic education, environmental consciousness, health, and socio-cultural development. The opportunities for volunteering with CREAR are endless, and depending on your strengths, interests, experiences, and skill set they will find a place for you.
3. Clean the beach – CASATUR (Samara Chamber of Tourism and Community Development) organizes frequent community beach cleanups to collect the detritus that comes in with the tide. Watch the CASATUR blog for upcoming projects or contact them at samaracamaradeturismo@gmail.com
4. Spay and neuter dogs and cats – CASATUR (see above) holds periodic castration/vaccination clinics to keep pets happy and healthy. Visiting veterinarians provide the medical treatment but volunteers are always needed to lift the animals, provide transportation and help with post-op recuperation. Watch the CASATUR blog for upcoming clinics or contact them at samaracamaradeturismo@gmail.com.
5. Conserve Sea Turtles – Playa Buena Vista, just outside Samara, is home to The Sea Turtle Conservation Project. Volunteers protect the female turtles which lay their eggs in the soft sand of the beach. The eggs are then moved to an incubation nursery where they are protected from predators. When the baby turtles hatch, they help them get to sea safely – this is the critical time of life for sea turtles. Volunteers camp in cabins on the beach.
10 Hot Shot Spots
This gallery contains 14 photos.
I am not a photographer, but I have a nice little camera and more than a few friends who help me out with images. Here are 10 spots in Samara where you can take a great photo. 1. Samara Beach – There’s so much to see and do on Samara beach that it was tough to …
Tope de caballos
My Tico friends tell me that a Tope, which always accompanies the holidays, is about the horses. but I'm not so sure. My Spanish dictionary says tope means a collision or encounter. To me, it looks like a really great party.
A tope in Costa Rica is a country party hosted by a ranch on a summer Sunday afternoon, inviting ranchers and cowboys from all over the province of Guanacaste. It’s an opportunity to collide with your neighbors and encounter people you don’t see so often. It’s an occasion to eat and drink. The only thing served is barbecued beef – no side dishes, no salads. And two beverages are offered: Imperial beer and Johnny Walker Red. Read More