Bienvenidos/Welcome to our slice of Paradise here on the beautiful Pacific Coast of Costa Rica…we are green- green- green with the waning days of rainy season and happy that we will begin to dry out & de-mold!…..You may still run into some rain but it shouldn’t slow you down much………..Those of us that call Quepos/Manuel Antonio home are happy to have all of our favorite eating establishments open and ready to serve after their much earned vacations……….we have heard that Byblos has added new menu items and Express Pizza Delivery……….Miguelito’s in Quepos has added buffalo wings to their menu and having just had them for dinner I have to say they are very tasty! I had to miss the Chili Cookoff this year at La Hacienda Restaurant but understand Chip took home 1st Place and the People’s Choice Award – congrats! Our friends Bill & Tracy that started the cook off and previously owned La Hacienda have moved back to the states but wanted to say “good-bye and thank everyone for their friendship and great memories over the past four years”……….moving on now to our cover photo we would like to thank Harrison Hitt of Manuel Antonio & Century 21 for the great shot of the nesting hummingbird in his backyard………..our covers photos are sent in by our readers and we are happy to announce we have put them together for the first Quepolandia Calendar now on sale for $10 at Dos Locos & Jaime Peligro Book Store as well as thru Quepolandia at 2777-1113 or use the PayPal link on the left. They will make a great gift and come with a mailing envelope plus $1 from each sale will be donated to PAWS- our local animal rescue/adoption group that you will find at a booth on Saturdays at the feria on the seawall……..well that about wraps it up for this month so get out there and enjoy your visit and if you are here for Thanksgiving and crave that traditional dinner then check out El Gran Escape for a wonderful dinner – just like home …………………caio……P

Filed under: Pat Cheek, Qué Pasa en Quepos on November 3rd, 2010
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Bienvenidos/Welcome to Quepolandia. Rain – Rain and more Rain maybe the motto for this 2 month issue but we don’t mind as it makes everything so very GREEN and cool…..we hope you can enjoy it along with us…..coming up Oct.2^nd is the 4^th Annual Chili Cook-off at La Hacienda Restaurante in MA – it’s a don’t miss fun afternoon to laugh and taste a lot of chili – We are happy that new owners Mark & Karen decided to continue the contest & hope that Tracy & Bill can come and enjoy the fun….it’s also time for Football again …you can watch your favorite team in many spots around town, Byblos in MA, Los Pescadores, El Gran Escape just to name a few…and for  a laugh read Anita Kiesel’s story on becoming a cheerleader…..this is the time of year that many of our restaurants close for a period of time to allow their staff much earned vacation time – lucky for us they don’t close all at the same time – but it’s a good idea to check before you go…….Sept. 15^th is Costa Rica Independence Day – hope you get to see the parade thru Quepos with many marching bands, floats, & children in costume – don’t forget the camera –it’s a proud day for Costa Ricans and lots of fun to watch……….we would like to thank Jeff Anderson for our Heliconia regalis cover shot –what  a beautiful flower – later this month check out our It’s Wonderful World of Plants article by Donna Porter for more on Heliconia – a very interesting plant…………… Sept. 5^th the Barefoot Church on the Beach begins–more info is available in the Community Bulletin Board toward the back ……when visiting our advertisers please mention that you found them in Quepolandia ………..and we hope you enjoy your stay with us  and come back soon………ciao………P

Filed under: Pat Cheek, Qué Pasa en Quepos on September 3rd, 2010
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Bienvendio/Welcome -We are happy to have you visiting our corner of Paradise and reading Quepolandia . This is our “Green Season” so watch out for those afternoon showers as they can sometimes be quite heavy…..but even with a little rain you are sure to still have a great time…remember the insect repellent as we do have a few mosquitoes flying about – it also helps to take extra Vit B…………..Aug. 15^th is Costa Rica’s Mother’s Day and it is a big event (as it should be!) so if you’re a Mom  from somewhere else– go ahead and celebrate twice this year – some of the restaurants are sure to have a special menu on that day…. ….speaking of Mother’s Day…we thought this great cover photo of Mono Titi “Moms” and their little ones was very fitting….thanks to Joshua Horn that snapped this shot while visiting in Manuel Antonio at Jungle Creek Vacation Rental …….now the World Cup has come to an end – we trade “futbol” for “football” but you don’t have to worry – if you need a sports fix you’ll find big screen TV’s at several drinking establishments in town….whatever you choose to do….have fun, stay dry – be safe and come back soon…….ciao….P

Filed under: Pat Cheek, Qué Pasa en Quepos on August 4th, 2010
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Bienvendio/Welcome to our beautiful corner of Paradise- blue blue skies- beautiful green trees and plants and maybe a little rain – but then it is “Green Season”…….so enjoy everything you do while visiting Quepos/Manuel Antonio & all of Costa Rica….and we have lots for you to do! Try flying thru the air on a zip line, rafting a rushing river, repelling down a waterfall, horseback riding on one of our beautiful beaches, snorkeling/diving, or parasailing – you name we have it for an exciting vacation —or—just relax on the beach or at the pool with a cool drink and watch the birds and monkeys play – visit with our advertisers and hear the stories of the locals -  we guarantee you won’t be bored…..and when you get  hungry rest assured that we have the finest restaurants with the freshest food to delight everyone in your group. Enjoy our Pura Vida life style – relax and stay awhile……we hope that you have found Quepolandia helpful and enjoyable – we would like to thank David for the great Marlin picture which makes our cover this month- and check our website for other wonderful photos sent in by our readers…………on June 1^st Mother Nature hit this area hard with high sustained winds & rain—toppling many of our beautiful trees, knocking out power/telephone – damaging homes and businesses- & closing the Manuel Antonio National Park for a week – we would like to thank everyone from government agency to the general local population that pitched in to clean us up and get us back in business………………so enjoy your stay and come back soon……………caio………….P

Filed under: Pat Cheek, Qué Pasa en Quepos on July 2nd, 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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Bienvenidos/Welcome to Quepolandia! We are happy that you have come to visit. We have a wonderful community – an exotic combination of x-pats and locals, who with our visitors, gives us a very international atmosphere. On a bus ride to the beach or out to dinner you could possibly hear 5 or 6 different languages and we all try to live with the Pura Vida attitude that is Costa Rica. Here it is May and as usual with the passing of Samana Santa (Easter) our rains have come back…..the beginning of “Green Season”..sounds so much nicer than “rainy season” right? We are happy to be greening up and cooling off….there won’t be enough rain to dampen your spirits or plans for your vacation so get out there and have some FUN!..try a few tours………explore our beautiful Paradise and have a great time…..when visiting our advertisers please let them know you found them in Quepolandia because without them we are “nada”… we would like to welcome Dra. Candy back to Quepos…with her is Linea Vital DE C.R. Emergency Medical – open 24/7 to help with your medical needs …call: 2777-6868….. we would like to thank our friend Myla for our beautiful cover shot & wish she hadn’t moved “up North”….we would like to welcome 2 new guest writers…Anita Kiesel of Indiana & David Seyhun of LA..check out their stories later in the month…..…please enjoy yourselves have a super time at our beach but remember the ocean is  powerful & we want you safe – so take care and pay attention to the riptide—if you are here on the 31^st – Memorial Day – don’t miss Papa & Harry’s 8^th Annual Memorial Day Pig Roast at Pueblo Real – Damas – starts about 1pm with music by Robbie & Live Wire  ……..so that’s about it…..caio for now…………………P

Filed under: Pat Cheek, Qué Pasa en Quepos on May 2nd, 2010
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Bienvenidos/Welcome to our beautiful tropical Paradise..we are happy to have you visiting…….wishing everyone a Happy Easter and a safe Semana Santa (Costa Rica’s Holiday for Easter that begins on the Thurs. before Easter through the holiday) It is a time when many Ticos come to visit their beautiful Manuel Antonio Beach & Park so if the road to the beach is crowded take it easy & enjoy the scenery during these few days…………..CR has new laws concerning driving so be sure everyone in the car fastens their seat belt, be careful how much you have to drink & drive defensively……………..congrats to Janet Brent of Kingston, Ontario Canada and frequent visitor to MA for the great sloth photo on our cover………..as you are visiting our advertisers please let them know you found them in Quepolandia…..where the finest restaurants advertise –we have great places to eat so enjoy…its hard to single one out but if you’re looking for  special ambiance for a special evening we know you will enjoy Kapi Kapi as we did recently- delicious ! & while there see the beautiful Global Gypsy Collection of jewelry by Suzan Crane. Don’t miss our drinking establishments with plenty of cold beer for these HOT days..& our advertisers can also hook you up with fishing, canopy tours, white water rafting, horseback riding …..just to name a few of our fun tours…………….we would also like to mention our GUEST CHEF this month – Tracy Maue of La Hacienda Restaurant – watch for her recipe later this month – she will also have a terrific Easter Menu at La Hacienda….hope you hear good music, taste wonderful food & good drinks and have a terrific time while you are here to enjoy our part of Paradise… stay in touch at www.quepolandia.com ……hasta luego…………P

Our small community was saddened over the past Feb-Mar when we suffered the loss of our friends; Claire, Janet and Travis. Each of them was special to us – each gone far too soon in their life and will be missed by friends & family.

Filed under: Pat Cheek, Qué Pasa en Quepos on April 2nd, 2010
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