San Jorge Fiesta 2012

 Organized Confusion at the San Jorge Cabalgata :-) 

Chicharrones and Cerveza:-) 

Dancing Horses!  

 

Bull Riding and Improvisados 

Another Successful San Jorge Fiesta!

The end of March saw another successful 3-day Fiesta de Torros hosted by our small pueblo of San Jorge (population 50-75 depending on the time of year.) The fiesta featured bull riding every night and we were entertained by some exceptional bulls and riders this year, although I believe the bulls won by a large margin.  See the video on the sidebar for a look at the performance.  Note the fellows running around after the bull, called improvisados - they prove their manliness by seeing how close they can get to the angry bull – there are not many old, bold improvisados in Costa Rica!   The music was provided by a local high school band bused in for the occasion. Every night featured salsa dancing and great typical food cooked over the open fire.  Nothing like arroz con pollo cooked over a smoky fire!    Sunday morning featured an early morning mountain bike ride with both short and long distance courses - a great way to start the day after too much cerveza the night before!  Later on in the afternoon the cabalgata (horse trail ride) took place.  These are great events scheduled to start at 11:00 AM but never really getting going till 2:00 PM (Tico time).  Cabalgatas are a hoot with lots of visiting before, during and after the ride.   The ride is usually 2-3 hours in length with a halfway stop to eat chicharrones and have a cerveza or two.  Check out the video on the sidebar showcasing how the Ticos train their horses to dance to music.  After the ride there are draw prizes along with more visiting, food and partying.  This is the 3^rd year that Donna and I have contributed as volunteers and financially to the San Jorge Fiesta de Torros, alongside our Tico neighbors.  If you plan to visit Costa Rica in the future, we really recommend you make it a priority to attend one of the many Fiestas de Torros that all towns, big or small, stage each year.

San Jorge BBQ  mmmmmm! Recently we were invited to our neighbor's home for a good old fashioned pig BBQ - Costa Rican style!!  This is not your sit down dinner as we experience in Canada or the US rather this is an all afternoon event!  Early in the morning the neighbors butcher a nice fat young pig.  They then stoke the wood fires in a 45 gallon drum.  First course is the best of all in my mind - chicharrones!!!  Chicharrones are the skin of the pig deep fried in hot oil.  Similar to piggy puffs but much better.  These fried pieces of pig skin with some meat and fat attached are to die for (literally).  I am sure the cholestrol level goes through the roof but they are very tasty.  Along with the chicharrones comes the traditional Costa Rica dishes of  pico de gallo (tomatoe, onions, culatro, peppers mixed with mandarine juice), plantain and or yuca.  So this somewhat offsets the chicharrone effect :-)  After a little visiting, a few cervezas or a taste or two of Scotch the next course is ready - deep fried pork pieces.  Another tasty delicacy!  More visiting, cerveza, scotch and then the finer pieces of  pork are BBQ over the open wood fire.  Definitely not your vegetarian meal here.  Finally as the evening approaches the best of the best are put on the smokey wood fire - pork ribs!!!  These are the best ribs we have ever tasted - Tony Romas has nothing on these babies!  Slow cooked over an open fire.  Washed down with ice cold cerveza or whatever.  This is definitely a meat lovers afternoon of munching but never miss the chance to attend these little get togethers!  Often these events are held for birthdays, holidays or just as a chance for friends and family to get together - PURA VIDA!

San Jorge de Bagaces

March 30-31 & April 1

Friday March 30:

Riding of the Bulls 6:00 pm

Dance and Crowning of the Rodeo Queen 7:00 pm

Saturday March 31:

Coffee with the Village Founders 2:00 pm.

Riding of the Bulls 6:00 pm

Dance 7:00 pm to 1:00 am

Sunday April 1:

Mountain Bike Race 8:00 am

Cabalgata (Horse Ride) 11:00 am

Riding of the Bulls 6:00 pm

Featuring traditional Costa Rican food cooked over wood stoves available every day, including: 

tamales , picadillo de papaya, carne asada, vigorones  

and much more …..

Peligroso! Very Dangerous! The Most Dangerous Snake in Costa Rica

If you are walking in the jungle and smell the fragrance of dog poo!  Be careful as these are the early warnings of a Fer de Lance - the most dangerous snake in Costa Rica.  Apparently their venom smells like dog poop. This is a picture of a dead Fer de Lance.  One of our our neighbours was clearing brush with a machete when he came across this fellow about 1.2 meters in length.  He killed it with his shovel.   Normally these snakes are shy and will get out of the way but sometimes they can become quite agressive and that is not a good thing!  I have travelled a lot of miles by horse, on quad, on foot and of course by car and I have only seen one of these babies.  Thats a good thing!  They are quite pretty for a snake and their skin is almost velveteen. Hence their spanish name terciopelo - 3 skins!

German airline will land first in Guanacaste

Air Berlin has decided to include for the first time to Costa Rica in its list of destinations 2011-2012.The first trip will be held on 12 November this year. The route will go to the International Airport Daniel Oduber in Liberia and is from Düsseldorf, Germany with a stopover in Cancun, Mexico and Tourism Minister Allan Flores says in an official statement that this achievement is the result of negotiations held in March at the ITB tourism fair in Berlin. This flight represents the first route between Liberia and Germany and will generate a significant increase in tourist arrivals to the country, “ Flores. In order of importance, Germany is the second largest European market for Costa Rica, surpassed by Spain. Second the Yearbook of Tourism ICT -2010, for that year, Liberia Airport received a total of 225.224 visitors. Of this total are 1.029 from Germany. AirBerlin is the second largest airline in Germany and flies to 163 destinations in 39countries.

Toucans for Lunch!

Our favourite little restaurant in Colonia Blanca on the edge of Rincon de La Vieja National Park always has some special guests when we stop by on our quad tours.  These two toucans are free to fly in and out as they please.  Quite often being a bit of a pain when you are trying eat.  Toucans are usually shy and very hard to get close to at any time.  These guys have it figured out!! On our side of the mountains the Keel Billed (Fruit Loops) toucan is abundant.  The Chestnut Mandibled Toucan is more common on the caribbean side of the mountains.  So given that Colonia Blanco is just over the divide we get both species.  Lots of entertainment with these characters plus the plethora of hummingbirds that fly by like little jet fighters.  Just another special treat in paradise.  Pura Vida!  

You NEVER know who you are going to meet in Costa Rica!

You never know what to expect when you tour the back country of Costa Rica.  We live in the mountains about one hour from the beach.  When we are not at the beach we spend a lot of time touring the back country by quad and by horse.  A few weeks ago we toured by quad out to our favorite little bar in the little pueblo of Colonia Blanca.  This is a great little lodge with a fine Tico restaurant and bar.  While we were there we met this little guy who was roaming the place.  Playing with the cat and of course my wife Donna who has never met an animal she does not love!  This little guy quickly became a favorite with Donna.  Always an adventure in Pura Vida Ville!