By Jim Parisi

Charles Darwin had it right: the strong survive and adapt to their ever-changing surroundings while the weak ones become mere memories. And the Darwin Theory can be witnessed in action in Managua, Nicaragua with the rock star Perrozompopo. Even the stage name he chose is indicative of his tenacity. Loosely translated, perrozompopo is a colloquialism for “street smart” but the nickname was actually first given to a species of gecko who stowed onboard in crates of goods coming from Cuba to aid the Sandinista uprising in Nicaragua in the 1970s. These non-indigenous lizards, easily identified by the red marking on their foreheads, quickly took over, running out all the local geckos, and a nickname was born.

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Filed under: Jim Parisi, Music Review on June 14th, 2010
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By Bruce Zabov

This issue we’re doing homemade pizza and, as it turns out, the house is sold, and this will also be my final column so we’ll celebrate with a pizza “party” before we return to the U.S.

Whether you’re settling in for a quiet afternoon or evening at home or planning a party there’s always something festive feeling with pizza on the menu! ( In Italian “pizza literally means”pie”). Or it’s handy to have in the freezer so it’s ready for a quick snack or you need a quick bite to eat if you’re in a rush.
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Filed under: Bruce Zabov, Cooking Corner on June 7th, 2010
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By David Gee, El señor del norte

The sun played well its roll today. It changed a cold desert into a less cold but glowing desert at sunrise. It back-lit the Organ Mountains. Then it warmed the desert floor and inched it’s way into dark corners and brightened them and warmed them. The day grew warmer and brighter with each passing hour.

At mid day it was a delight to have lunch at a sidewalk cafe. Alone, yet not really alone, lunch was leisurely and interesting. People came and went. Some spoke, others not. Some looked terribly busy. I wondered how their day was going.

Rush hour ushered in what could tentatively be called a hot afternoon.

By sundown all was warm. The white patches of cloud which drifted into the valley late in the afternoon were being underscored with heavy dark rain clouds. I doubt there was water in them. They just looked threatening.

Shadows grew long and stretched endlessly up the gentle slopes away from the Casitas and towards the Organs. Suddenly a puff of air. . . . and it was cool. How fickle the sun made the breeze. I made some hot tea and sat in my chair on the porch to watch the Organs change colors. I drifted off…..

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Filed under: Guest Writer on June 7th, 2010
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(in English)
Por Carol Vlassoff
Traducido por Rosa Arechederra

Probablemente lo primero que le llama la atencion a uno cuando conoce a Krissia Rodríguez, Gerente General del supermercado mas grande en Quepos, Super Mas, es que ella se ve tan joven. Y es joven – sólo 31 años -y lleva trabajando en la tienda de su padre desde que era niña.

Se ríe cuando recuerda cómo ella y su hermana se organizaban las vacaciones de verano de tres meses: “Nos poniamos de acuerdo para tener un mes de vacaciones y pasar los otras dos trabajando en la tienda. Pensábamos que trabajabamos muy duro, siempre pidiendo a los cajeros que nos dejaran ayudarles, ahora me doy cuenta que realmente no trabajabamos tanto.”

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Filed under: Carol Vlassoff, Personalidades en Medio Nuestro on June 6th, 2010
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(en Español)
by Carol Vlassoff

Probably the first thing to strike you when you meet Krissia Rodriguez, General Manager of the largest supermarket in Quepos, Super Mas, is that she looks so young. And she is young – only 31 years old – but she has been working in her father’s store since she was a child.

She laughs as she remembers how she and her sister organized their three month summer vacations: “We agreed to take one month of holiday and spend the other two working in the store. We thought we were working very hard, always begging the cashiers to let us help, but now I realize that we really weren’t.”

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Filed under: Carol Vlassoff, Personalities in Our Midst on June 6th, 2010
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These Horoscopes are meant to be fun and enjoyed. They should not be taken too seriously.

GEMINI

Another birthday has arrived…Large tongued Gemini dogs will come your way in overly affectionate encounters, particularly after early supper, bowl-of-water-lick, or mid evening walkies until well into July. Embrace these moments, as we all know that love comes in many different forms and we should take what we can get!

BEST LOVE TIME: ALL OF JUNE

COMPATIBILITY: SCORPIOS OR LIBRAS

CANCER -June 22-July 22

Today you will stumble across conclusive proof that cilantro is actually the main ingredient in soaps and detergents, and that its culinary use started at a joke—it’s just that most people are too shy to admit that they’d rather spray Lysol on their burrito than put cilantro on it!

BEST LOVE TIME: JUNE 10^TH EARLY AM

COMPATIBILITY: LEO

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Filed under: Cosmic Confetti, Horoscopes on June 6th, 2010
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Welcome/Bienvenido to PARADISE…………how lucky you are to be spending time in beautiful Costa Rica and particularly the Quepos/Manuel Antonio area. We have an abundance of wonderful, tasty restaurants so you won’t go hungry and will enjoy a variety of flavors and beautiful views, too……while visiting our advertisers it’s always nice to tell them that you found them in Quepolandia. We may be a small area but we have lots and lots to do…….from fun packed tours to the greatest live music around! We are into our rainy season so look out for those afternoon showers some can really be heavy….. if driving please take care to slow down – nothing is so far away that you need to pass on the hill – take your time and enjoy the scenery – if you get caught downtown and streets are flooded take care where you walk and wash your feet well when you get back to your hotel – better safe than an infection……Quepolandia would like to thank Dennis Arnold for his great red eyed tree frog photo that makes our cover this month…enjoy our beaches, food, and tours –spend some time talking to locals to get a good feel for the area but most of all have a great time – tell your friends about us and come back soon………..if you have enjoyed our magazine you can now follow us here on the web at www.quepolandia.com… see you around town…….caio………………….P

Filed under: Pat Cheek, Qué Pasa en Quepos on June 4th, 2010
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