Playing in the Sand instead of the Snow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This holiday season, we are missing family and the traditions of home, but we are so happy and grateful for being able to celebrate here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instead of our usual towering pine tree, this year we've a branch strung with shells and lights.

 

 

An arty shot of the glowing gingerbread lantern (which the coatis devoured as soon as we turned our heads.)

Praying Mantis instead of deer in the yard.

Building sand mermaids instead of snowmen.

Sunset swims instead of sledding.

Horseback Riding instead of sleighriding.

Costa Rican wildlife themed bananagrams, in preparation for Grandma's visit.

SIBU Sanctuary by Sam

The Sibu Sanctuary is a rescue and rehabilitation centre for howler monkeys and other local wildlife that have been injured. It was started by Vicki and Steve after they had moved to Nosara and found a baby injured howler monkey. The baby’s mother had been electrocuted on an uninsulated power line and the baby had fallen (Nosara has had a lot of development and the monkeys like to swing and run along the wires that look like vines from when there was more forest.) Many years later they have 50 acres of protected land which includes a lot of forest and hills and bananas!! Also, they have a small casita for volunteers  to live in, their own house, and the monkey enclosure right behind it.

 The injured monkeys first go to the Nosara Wildlife Rescue for medical care and then to the SIBU Sanctuary where they are cared for until they are well enough and old enough to be released back in the wildlife.  Vicki and Steve spend a lot of time talking and working with the government and power company to get the wires insulated and try to get more money (for all the food and supplies). But, most of their day is filled with taking care of the monkeys. 

On our visit, Steve met us at the front gate that has monkeys on them. We started a hike up to the sanctuary. Along the way, we met a worker with a raccoon. The raccoon had been kept as a pet and couldn’t be released back into the wild. Steve was telling us about the property, their history and lots of things about the plants and trees. One of the trees, a pochote, has spikes on its bark to keep the animals from climbing it and reaching the fruits. He also told us that the indigenous people of Costa Rica thought when you died, your soul would go through the roots and branches of this tree and be released. We went to a lookout overlooking the hills and valleys and ocean. Then, we got to ride in the back of his pick up truck up the house and sanctuary. We had to duck down because one of the trees was leaning out over the road at eye level!

At the house, we got some juice from Vicki while she talked about the sanctuary and all the animals who’d lived there. We also watched a short film that a previous visitor had made. Then, we went down a walkway to where the howler monkeys were kept. It was like one large enclosure with lots of braches and tires and hammocks for the monkeys to climb and swing on. Some of the hammocks had baby howlers peeking out at us from inside. There was a large mat suspended about a metre off the ground and this is where the food (mostly tender leaves and vegetables) is dumped. Steve fed them while we were there and all the monkeys came running. One of the monkeys hung down from the ceiling and tried to get on Patti’s head but she moved away just in time. We weren’t allowed to touch them for safety reasons and Vicki and Steve want them to remain as wild as possible. One of them peed on Mom’s t-shirt. We didn’t get many photos because our memory card was filled up.

We also went to the enclosure that housed two white-faced capuchin monkeys. There is a bigger door that when you slide it open it can connect the two habitats. They have to make several locks because the monkeys are so smart and mischievous and they can often figure out how to undo the locks! They have a lot more energy than the howlers and were jumping around like toddlers. They’ll eat anything, even baby birds.

Then, we entered a sort of treehouse that had coatis and a Mexican Hairy Porcupine living in it. There were what looked like mini-bunkbeds for them to sleep in. The porcupine looked cute but wasn’t what you’d call friendly and tried to nip at Vicki’s hand. I think he just wanted a nap. 

We asked many questions and kept wanting more stories so we sort of went past the time we were supposed to be there. We had to hurry back. After saying goodbye to Vicki we got a ride back down the hill, again watching out for the tree. We also a green iguana just off the trail and a golden orb spider weaving her web. When I get older, I think I’d like to stay there for a while volunteering. Anyone who loves monkey and other wildlife should consider going there and supporting the work. I’m keeping my eyes on the power lines and I think I’ll write a letter to the power company and to the government to tell them why I think the lines should be insulated.

Miss Sky Canopy Tour by Maeve and Zaylie

Today we went to a zip lining place called Miss Sky. It was AWESOME!!!!!!!!  Some of them were so long and they were all so high. We will describe the morning to you.

We woke up in the usual way, with a game of Crazy 8 Countdown in bed. Then, Sam and Jet woke up and we found out that Sam had a bad earache in the middle of the night and they only had an hour of sleep. We were all feeling a little bit like we had colds. Alison/Mama came upstairs to get us for breakfast and reminded us that today was the day we were going zip lining. We all felt better after that!!

After breakfast, we all piled in the car (with six in the back seat!) and drove off. We had to wait for the person at the desk when we got there and so we explored the nearby river which was mucky and I (Zaylie) got a cut on my finger. Then we went back and the woman was there so we got checked in and got all of our gear on (which is a helmet and a harness.) It turns out we were the early birds there. It turns out we would go on a 20 minute drive in the back of a huge pick-up truck that had bench seats to the starting point.

The guides (who were really nice and funny and it looked like they really liked kids) showed us how to be safe on the zipline, put your feet up and not put your hands on the front of the cable. The little kids go first which would be us and Tayo. So we got clipped on to the cable and then the guide behind us got clipped on and we pushed off and we went FLYING!!!!

The birds were soaring so high except they were at eye level to us. There was a stream trickling down below and mostly we were zooming over the tree canopy. The first time, we went just with a guide and on the second time, they asked if we wanted to go together with a guide and we said yes, definitely. On some we went super fast but on others we got stuck. Once we got stuck in between the platform things and our guide that was in back of us flipped upside down and put his feet on the wire and walked on it to push us along. Sometimes we got to the platforms we couldn't touch so we'd have to dangle until the guide came to get us and unclip us. The cables were set up between mountains so that there would be a giant drop in between. It was so beautiful.

There was one last really long zipline. After we unclipped there was a giant hill we had to climb. They gave us water at the end and then one of the guides made flowers out of the plastic cups and gave them to us. We got a ride back in the pick up truck again. We wish we could do this every morning!

CHEESE!!! by Maeve and Zaylie

[Editor's Note: The kids wrote this some time ago, shortly after visiting the Monteverde Cheese Factory and I was meant to post it then. Apologies.]

This is the story of  CHEESE!!!!!! Hello my name is Manchego. I am going to be a piece of cheese when I grow up.But right now I am a can of milk (a milkling) I will be imported from my farm in a big truck to the Monteverde cheese factory!!! 

This is what happened to me.They put me in to a big cold tank that I really did not like.I got turned in to this flaky stuff that my flaky companions called cheese curds. After a while I got put into a tiny mold and they squeezed me so hard it hurt. They put me in a super cold room and left. After a while I thought they had forgotten me but they took me out of that horrible place and rubbed slimy stuff that smelled like olive oil on me. Yuck have you ever had that stuff on you? You’d reek of it forever!!! 

Next they put plastic rapping on me and shut me in a box that was really Small. Then they shipped me to a shop to be bought and eaten. Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!

          

                                            The End

Molasses

'Tis the season for gingerbread and so last week we went searching for molasses. We couldn't find any. But, driving home later that day, the smell of molasses was all of a sudden overpowering. Sticking our heads out the window, the kids and I saw 3 guys with a bucket, a bowl, and a hose spraying the road and then flinging a viscous, dark liquid on the road. Yep, it was molasses.

Mucho polvo: A whole lot of dust on the roads

Once the rains end in Nosara, things begin to dry up very quickly and the dirt roads create enormous amounts of dust. Clouds of it hang in the air and cover the trees, the homes, well, everything really. It also creates health problems for many people. The dry season lasts from late November until April or May.

In an attempt to mitigate the effects of the dust, molasses is sprayed on some sections of the road. Which sections depend, of course, on who can afford it to be covered in front of their property, or how much money is raised by whom for some extra coverage. Each barrel of molasses costs just under $100 and two barrels are needed to cover 50 m of road. It works well and will generally last until the first rains. Apparently, the insects are not attracted to the sugar, but cattle have been known to break down fences to get to the road for a good lick.

Nosara now smells of molasses. I think it will make our memories of Christmas in Costa Rica that much sweeter. Also, Rich kindly brought us some fancy molasses from Canada and so we were able to make our traditional gingerbread lanterns in time for a warm, brightly lit solstice today.

Granada, Nicaragua

Photo credits, except the breakfast shot, to Sam and Maeve

Last weekend, we went to Nicaragua, on a visa-run. As long-term tourists in Costa Rica, we're eligible for a 90 day visa which is renewable, but only after leaving the country for a few days.We were happy to oblige with a visit to Granada, on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. [As a side note, though we are able to easily obtain a new visa, our car is not. The car would have to be out of the country for three months in order to qualify for another 90 day permit. So... we've begun the process and payment of importing the car, swapping New Brunswick license plates for Costa Rica ones.]

The guy in the ghostbuster outfit is part of the team that blows a puff of smoke into your car, 'disinfecting' it before entering Nicaragua.

Wind turbine, one blade dangling

The border crossing itself was uneventful and we passed through in record time (just under two hours!) Not long past the border, there is a gigantic wind farm. The winds have been particularly strong in Nosara lately. They must have been in Nicaragua as well. We first passed a wind turbine that had a whole blade ripped off and then a wind turbine that had completely toppled.

Families hanging out at the shore of Lake Nicaragua.

Granada is the oldest Spanish-built city in Central America. Set near the Pacific Ocean, Granada became very wealthy as a shipping port for gold and other minerals (ie. like many other colonial cities, it became rich from exploiting the local people and land.) In the mid-1800s, Granada was burned to the ground by order of William Walker, an American 'adventurer' who took control of the city and country for a time, but was then overthrown. (You can read more about his exploits or watch either Marlon Brando or Ed Harris portray the character in the films loosely based on his life.) Today, many of the buildings have been restored and repainted in their pastels, as the city is a central part of Nicaragua's tourism industry.

Busy on the steps of our hostel

Our hostel in Granada was right outside the city's main market. The market was bustling at all hours and was full of bright colours, (deep green mangos! deep pink bras!) interesting smells, (freshly plucked chickens! warm cheese!) and cacophony (people greeting friends! people swearing as their carts or goods toppled over!) It reminded me of living in Tanzania, when I would walk through the market on the way home, picking up vegetables for dinner, sometimes returning for breakfast of chips mayai (potatoes fried in egg!) at Mama Mzee's stall. In fact, I found myself looking for the same kids I used to see there. Speaking of kids, it was interesting, unsurprising to see the market be a bit much for Sam. The challenges of taking in all those smells, avoiding the rows of fresh meat and about-to-die chickens, trying not to step in various piles and puddles of things... he handled them bravely, stoically, but would have preferred a gentler stroll through the woods.

Oranges were peeled and the top sliced off, for people to squeeze directly into their mouths.

A horse-drawn hearse-carriage. Tim Burton-esque I think.

Reading about the history of chocolate at ChocoMuseo

We had chocolate for breakfast! The ChocoMuseo is set in an old mansion in the middle of town and offers factory tours, workshops, and a history of chocolate and its production in Nicaragua. They also have an all-you-can-eat buffet breakfast which you can enjoy in the small cacao plantation in the courtyard. The kids and I had done a chocolate project years ago, so it was pretty fantastic - and delicious - to immerse ourselves in a place where the production happens. Nicaragua is quickly emerging as the largest producer of organic cacao in Central America.

Thrilled with their breakfast

Some of the colour from the arts/crafts market

Mostly, we walked. We walked through the central park where families and friends were hanging out. We walked along the streets, both more touristy and more local. We walked to the gelato shop, twice. We walked down to the lake (the kids were surprised/concerned at the level of garbage lining the shore and the kids hanging out there despite.) We walked alongside street kids who made us beautiful flowers and grasshoppers out of sugar cane stalks. We walked in and out of old churches and up to the bell tower for a view. We walked through an art centre and peeked at the art and in on a group rehearsing for their performance that night. We walked back through the market to the hostel for a swim and a read.

Check out her hair! I wish we had a before, during and after shot.

Initially, we'd hoped to explore more of the political, revolutionary history, and culture of Nicaragua in Leon, but an unreliable car and friends awaiting us when we got back to Nosara made this a quicker trip. I look forward to a longer trip.

The view from the bell-tower on the old cathedral.

The view in the bell-tower.

Cartwheeling through the gallery.

Sugar cane grasshopper, crafted by Alec

Photo taken through the windshield. It was a bit tough to drive out of the city.

Snippets with Snapshots, redux

There comes a moment when you've let too much time pass, assigned too many posts to those you love, got muddled down with trying to write honest and meaningful responses to the (sometimes horrific, infuriating, grief-inducing) world events happening, been wrapped in the goodness of good friends and a beautiful place - and ignored your blog. This is that moment. So, I just leap in here with some photos (taken mostly by Sam, some by Maeve - with our gorgeous new underwater camera, generously gifted) and captions from the past few weeks.

Early morning turtle patrol at Ostional. Could there be a better start to a day?

Late afternoon hanging out in the 'hot tub' tide pools at Playa Pelada. Could there be anything better than a good friend?

Learning (nerf) archery (and how to machete through the jungle to find the arrows.)

Geysers with the incoming tide.

Sketching at the beach.

The kids made us peace crane wall art to go over our bed - out of electrical tape! So cool.

Hermit crabs and...

Brittle stars and...

Electric blue fish, oh my!

Pre-dance noodle snack.

New couch! So as to have more room to cuddle with friends.

Stick Insect! On face! Seriously, we could illustrate a book with all the things Patti has held (in hands and on face.)

Zaylie! In one of the crazy fun under-water portrait sessions.

Sam, gaining an understanding of what it's like to have the hearing of a bat.

Click on this to make it bigger if you can. I love how Sam captured this spider on our night hike in Monteverde. It looks like an eight legged woman weaving her web!

A White-faced Capuchin Monkey, the next morning, in the Children's Eternal Rainforest, Monteverde.

Magnificent hummingbirds at the feeder outside of our cabin.

A peek into the cheese factory in Monteverde. The factory and the community were both founded by Quakers who left Alabama in the 50s, fleeing mandatory inscription and refusing to support continued US militarism. They were joined by other pacifists and conscientious objectors. Read more about it here.

Getting into the Christmas spirit with some trees constructed from our collected shells.