Guide to Quepos & Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica - Quepolandia

My Evil Twin Tomás

By Matt Casseday

My given name is Matthew, but for better than 20 years I have also been known as Mateo, the Spanish equivalent of Matthew. In my early years here, like many wishing to reinvent themselves in one way or another, I sought to be called only by my new Spanish name. I became Mateo—to my wife, kids, friends and acquaintances of all nationalities. Over time, I have introduced myself as ‘Mateo’ to countless people. Most remember my name, but for some unexplainable reason, there are a number of Costa Ricans who upon seeing me a second time, call me ‘Tomás’. It is not as if this has happened one or two times—indeed, it occurs with such startling frequency, that it makes me wonder why I am never misremembered as ‘Marco’ or ‘Miguel’, or another name that begins at least with the same letter as mine.

Filed under: Crazy From the Heat, Matt Casseday on December 14th, 2011
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Tree Mining, Cardboard Boxes, & Poison Sawdust

By Jack Ewing

Gmelina arborea leaves

Carpenters, builders and sawmill operators love it; chicken and pig farmers hate it; and environmentalists have mixed feelings about it. I have heard people say that the gmelina tree (Gmelina arborea) is a plague that should be eradicated from the face of the earth, yet others believe that it is a miracle tree with great potential for the recuperation of ecosystems and the environment. Regardless of what you believe about the gmelina tree – native to southeast Asia – the story of how it got to the Americas and how Costa Rica came to plant 25,000 hectares of it, is a fascinating tale.

Filed under: Jack Ewing, Nature and Local History Stories on December 14th, 2011
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Fishing Report – December 2011

Well, what can be said for the month of November for fishing in Quepos, Costa Rica, as well as the fishing in most of the waters of Costa Rica “RAIN”!! On the upside with December upon us the rain should be subsiding. We still have almost nightly showers and a few daytime mists. With all that, there is light at the end of our rainy season and the beginning of our beautiful sunny days ahead.

Our fishing season looks to be very promising this year already! Since the beginning of November, Dorado (Mahi, Mahi) have been running 8 to 12 miles out from shore. Boats have been catching 15 to 30 pounders. Compared to last year’s numbers the Dorado seem to be on Vacation. The Sailfish have been on the rise. Quepos boats have been catching anywhere from 1 to 6 Sailfish offshore approximately 30 to 40 miles out.

With the rain letting up and the rivers and streams slowing down with run off waters subsiding, our oceans should be starting to clear up from all the silt. Once the silt settles the inshore fishing should be picking back up. Especially the Rooster Fish, Cobera, Snapper and others will be biting again.

With December here, the Papagayo winds will be arriving. What that means to our fishing is the Sailfish and Marlin will be moving south towards Quepos to Panama. The winds cause a lack of oxygen pushing the Sailfish and Marlin to travel towards the center and Southern parts of Costa Rica.

Personally, I’m looking forward to a great season of fishing!! We wish all you fishermen out there the best of luck. We at Tropical Waters Sport Fishing support catch and release to keep the fish population up for future generations to come.

“LETS GO FISHING”

Captain Jon Anderson “Fastrak” www.quepostropicalwaterssportfishing.com

2777-7314

Filed under: Captain Jon Anderson, Fishing Report on December 8th, 2011
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Cosmic Confetti’s Horoscopes – December 2011

These Horoscopes are meant to be fun and enjoyed. They should not be taken too seriously.

SAGITTARIUS - November 22-December 21

Don’t forget your towel today. I usually find I’m less likely to forget things if I wrap them around my head. Everyone has their own mnemonic tricks though.

RULING GEMSTONE: TURQUOISE

CAPRICORN - December 22-January 19

You will get one of those pre mixed salads in a new high tech bag that “breathes”. Or in this case, wheezes.

RULING GEMSTONE: GARNET

Filed under: Cosmic Confetti, Horoscopes on December 5th, 2011
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¿Qué Pasa en Quepos? – December 2011

Bienvenidos/Welcome to our beautiful slice of Paradise……….with the holidays in Costa Rica you are in for a great time– enjoy the festivities! If you are looking for the traditional Christmas Dinner then you are in luck! Several of our wonderful restaurants will be pulling out all the stops for a great meal…El Gran Escape always a winner plus many others…check for reservation information & be sure to let them know you heard about them in Quepolandia………..there will also be BIG New Year’s Eve celebrations in downtown Quepos as well as a extravaganza New Year’s Eve buffet & entertainment at El Gran Escape…. Gaia(with special entertainment) and Barba Roja, with live music at Dos Locos- all have big plans for the night so check their ads for details…………..our rains have slowed and the sun is back so enjoy our great tours..spend a day fishing with Tropical Waters Sport Fishing or Luna Tours, flying thru the rainforest with Canopy Safari or Titi Canopy, or white water rafting with Quepoa Expeditons- whatever tour you take or restaurant you try we doubt you will be disappointed…so enjoy your visit and have a Happy Holiday and a wonderful New Year………follow us online here and come back soon…….ciao…..

Filed under: Qué Pasa en Quepos on December 2nd, 2011
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More than Sustainable

By Jack Ewing

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines the word “sustainable” as: “of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or seriously damaged.” The word has been in use for a long time, at least since 1727 according to Merriam-Webster. In recent years, with increased interest in our environment and concern over the rate of depletion of our natural resources, the word has come into popular usage. Information about how to live sustainably is readily available, as are products for sustainable ways of doing things. Energy efficiency is of utmost importance followed by water efficiency, social responsibility, general environmental friendliness and others.

In environmental terms being sustainable means that we don’t use resources faster than they can be reproduced. Our actions do not cause the environment to deteriorate. If we are sustainable we can continue to do things in the same manner indefinitely and the environment will remain pretty much the same. The word doesn’t necessarily mean that the environment is in great shape; it only means that it is not getting any worse.

Filed under: Jack Ewing, Nature and Local History Stories on December 1st, 2011
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Marantaceae – One Shady Family

By Donna Porter

Allow me to introduce you to one of the shadiest families I know of – the Marantaceae Family. They love dark, damp, hummusy places….. but, are actually a fine and honorable group of plants that have even been known to pray. These bold beauties exult and thrive in the shade, where their colors are more pronounced, rich and vibrant. There simply could not be a lovelier selection of shade- loving plants than those that are found in the Marantaceae Family. It is commonly known as the Prayer Plant Family due to the fact that a few of the species of this family (mainly Maranta leuconeura, commonly called “Prayer Plant”) rolls together its leaf edges and slants upward, like praying hands, in response to darkness. This lengthwise cupping of the leaf is made possible due to a specialized joint on the leaf’s petiole (seen at the base of the leaf) called the pulvinus. The pulvinus allows this movement in the leaf and also makes for easy identification of this family.