It is an undeniable fact that the kitchen is the heart of the home. Many of our homes have an open-plan layout so the kitchen is a visible part of the living area. We can make the kitchen less noticeable so it blends in with the appearance of the rest of the living area, or it can become a feature.
Mixed material countertop
A seamless, linear kitchen design is modern, clean and very appealing in a minimalist space. The cabinets and appliances form a wall to visually blend into your larger living area. Your cabinets and countertop will be sleek, spare, and perfectly co-ordinated.
If however you want your kitchen to be a separate entity with its own personality, then there are many creative opportunities available to you including cabinetry, appliances, lighting, bar stools, and especially the counter tops.
By Benn Gilmour
We are now in what are traditionally our wettest months here on the Pacific Coast where heavy rains & flooded rivers cause an abundance of trees, branches and other debris to make their way down the rivers and out into the Ocean creating huge areas of weed & floating debris along our current lines. Any fisherman will tell you that this means only one thing, a super-highway for DORADO!
AWESOME DORADO ACTION OFFSHORE!
Nice Bull Dorado
Floating debris creates the perfect Dorado fishing environment and anglers should find some excellent sport during offshore trips. On a day charter during the peak of last year’s rains, we caught 18 Dorado up to 50lbs aboard the GOOD DAY! At one point we hooked 6 good sized Dorado at the same time, carnage is an understatement with rods, lines & jumping fish everywhere but our guests had a blast catching these hard fighting, excellent eating fish!
SUSHI ANYONE!?
Tuna Time
Our Yellow Fin Tuna fishing has been fantastic this year and should continue over the coming months as water temperatures remain cool. Our Tuna fishing has to be experienced to be believed!
Hundreds of Spinner Dolphins, diving birds and Tuna busting the surface as they hunt down their prey. Picture an airborne Flying Fish with a hungry Tuna in hot pursuit, jumping clean out of the water behind it. Discovery Channel material for sure but a common sight for a Captain in Quepos! We are so lucky to witness the wonders of the ocean play out before our eyes.
We catch many Tuna in the 40-80lb range, plenty over 100lb and there are a few HUGE 200lb-300lb Tuna caught off Quepos every year also.
Aside from the Tuna & Dorado action there will be Blue Marlin and Sailfish offshore as well as some excellent ‘deep drop’ bottom fishing for Snapper and Grouper. Inshore boats will be in search of Roosterfish, Snook, Snapper, Mackerel, Jacks & more and a half day inshore trip can be a great option during the rainy season with trips ending at lunchtime.
Ing Juan Pablo Aguero, TCA forestry engineer giving talk to students at Villa Nueva Elementary School
Field Trips are Fun!
While many visitors and locals are aware of the wonderful reforestation efforts of many organizations in our area and around the country, other important conservation efforts sometimes go unnoticed. Besides our habitat reforestation program, the Titi Conservation Alliance has also focused its efforts on Environmental Education at the elementary school level for many years. So far this year, fourth and fifth grade students at Villa Nueva and Sabalo elementary schools have received talks on topics such as biodiversity, scarlet macaws and the importance of water resources.
Field trip to Hacienda Baru National Wildlife Refuge
In June, students from Los Delfines elementary school participated in an awesome field trip, first visiting the Hacienda Baru National Wildlife Refuge in the morning then heading up to the hills above Dominical to visit the Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary. The kids enjoyed touring both centers and had a great lunch afterwards. Of course many local students also participate in our tree plantings often held to celebrate important dates such as Earth Day and Tree Day. In August, we celebrated National Park Day with tree plantings in Naranjito and Tocori, both communities located within the Rio Naranjo Biological Corridor. Education of our young people is an essential part of creating a sustainable future for our area.
The long awaited, ever useful, always insight DOUBLE MONTH edition of Quepolandia is always a blast for those businesses and companies who are gearing up for a few slow and sleepy months in our rainy season…. NOT SO MUCH FOR MARINA PEZ VELA as packing in all the news, events, activities and developments at the project requires a weekly edition rather than bimonthly one! That said, and without further fanfare, here is some insight into what’s going on at MPV during September and October to add to your calendars and busy schedules!
BANCO PROMERICA AT MARINA PEZ VELA IS OPEN
This is huge news for the marina and for our local community. This location is a full service branch and is open until 7 pm Monday – Friday and until 2 pm on Saturdays. This is the ONLY bank in Quepos open after 5pm and is a great way to combine a sunset, dinner or some shopping/errands at the plaza and take advantage of your banking needs.
SEPTEMBER 15TH, COSTA RICA’S INDEPENDENCE DAY
Whether you were born and raised here, are an expat enjoying paradise, or a tourist just here on vacation, there is NOTHING like sharing in the pride of Costa Rican Independence Day. Costa Rica’s Independence Day is such a special time where local schools, communities and families celebrate the pride which is such intrinsic to this nation and its wonderful people. The Marina has always looked to compliment and support the civic activities and traditions which our local Municipality and schools coordinate on these events. This year’s 15th falls in on a Friday so plan on coming by MPV for a weekend full of faroles, typical food, dances, and events celebrating this amazing country and its heritage.
This month there are seven new verbs. Fill the boxes with the conjugations of the verbs in present tense…
Remember that I chose those 70 verbs based on the frequency of use, the importance of complexity and the pattern of conjugation… Every month I will give you seven flashcards to feel! Go to my website and compare your fillings with mine: http://www.oscostarica.com/printable-spanish-flashcards/
Hello, and welcome to your monthly article from me, your faithful KSTR spokeskid. This month I have some good news and some bad news!
A few days ago, I had a chance to interview a 9-year-old girl named Karma, who moved here with her mom specifically for KSTR. Karma’s mom, Kerri, is the new Volunteer Coordinator for the organization. I was able to ask Karma a few questions about herself and why she moved here, and what she intends to do with KSTR.
Karma & Lexi
And, as we all know, I’m getting old. (Back pains and everything!). I’m also going to be moving soon which means, unfortunately, I will have to step-down as spokeskid for KSTR. Now now, try and hold back your tears. You won’t be left spokeskid-less! Karma is going to take over and honestly, she’ll probably do a better job than I have!
Still, I’m going to miss working as spokeskid. It’s been a long ride, but a fun one nonetheless. I enjoyed writing articles, doing radio shows, visiting the sanctuary, educating kids around the world, and everything else that was part of my job! People would even recognize my name from the articles on occasion. But I have no doubt everything will be in good hands once I leave.
Now, without further-a-do, here are a few of the questions I asked Karma and the answers she gave me!
Bienvenidos…Welcome to the Rainforest…green season has arrived. So enjoy the peace of it and the greenness it provides. Our mornings are normally beautiful the rain comes later in the day so get moving early and maybe an afternoon nap (guilt free in the rain haha). Our restaurants and tour companies are in full swing to make your stay here unforgettable and without the crowds more enjoyable. We recommend calling ahead to our fine restaurants beforehand because some will be closing for a quick holiday for themselves and staff. Always love this time of year being from the US I always look forward to the start of the NFL season. Catch all the games at Hawg ‘n’ Bill at the beach, Sancho’s and Byblos on the mountain, or Double Hook at the marina.
Costa Rica celebrates their 196th year of Independence on Sept. 15. Quepos will be having its parade with children in traditional costumes, floats and festive marching bands. So if you are in the area come celebrate with a country that truly appreciates their Independence…. Pura Vida!
Halloween is coming so get your costumes ready for fright night in the jungle. Marina Pez Vela will be having its annual Halloween bash as well as many bar and restaurants in the area.
We want to thank Manuel Cabalceta from Manuel’s Tours for the great tree frog cover. We also want to welcome our new advertisers Casa de Amor, DHL, Hari OM, and Premier Wine and Food Company. Also, Paul Gerace, who has been our source for a number of great covers, has 2 new books of photographs.
September/October is a double issue here at Quepolandia so we will be back to guide you in November. We hope you enjoy our magazine and it helps guide you through this enchanting paradise we call home. You can always follow and share us here or at facebook.com/quepolandia. We appreciate and welcome your comments. Happy Independence Day Costa Rica!!!
The Titi Conservation Alliance was started in 2001 by a group of business owners within the tourist industry based around Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica. Recognizing the need for conservation of their natural environment to maintain prosperity of the local economy, this group of entrepreneurs began the Titi Conservation Alliance with the mission of promoting sustainable development and conserving the biodiversity of Manuel Antonio. The organization’s work has been essential for the preservation of the endangered Titi monkey.
The mono tití, or the grey crowned red-backed squirrel monkey (Saimiri oerstedii citrinellus), is the smallest primate in Costa Rica. This subspecies is only found in and around Quepos/Manuel Antonio National Park on the Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica. They have been listed as Critically Endangered by IUCN Red List since 1996. According to a study in 2006 by the University of Florida anthropologist Sue Boinski, approximately 1,500 individuals of this subspecies and 4,000 individuals of the species on the whole, remained in the area at that time. That’s down from a population estimated at 200,000 in 1983!
Music lovers and certainly most musicians, whether they are singers or sidemen or drummers, love and value our songwriters. I give them all respect and thank them for educating us and for telling our stories and history. And for giving me something to play along to… They enunciate the dreams and hopes and fears and sorrows and happiness we all go through, and they help us realize we are not alone in those feelings. It’s impossible to say where the first snippet of a melody came from—maybe it was inspired by a lone and anonymous bird singing away up in a tree. Or from a chorus of frogs croaking after a rain, or the sound of coyotes talking to each other over a valley. When you put that most personal of instruments, the human voice, on top of a melody—you’ve got a song.
The ebb and flow of the ocean, moon phases, and our days to nights it seems as if everything around us has a rhythm and a tempo. The world works in patterns as does energy, ying and yang, and the seasons. As humans why are many of us not in touch with our own natural cycles? How many among us let someone else set the rhythm of our lives and why? I spend much of my time observing people trying to understand them because nothing is more fascinating to me. As a body worker I have learned that tension lies not just in our flesh, but in the mind, heart, and soul as well. It is my job, if I am the best at what I do, to be able to understand peoples’ actions and behaviors and how that incorporates into their chosen lifestyle. I must physically feel as well as sense which parts of a body needs more or less work. A quality professional massage in itself has rhythm and tempo changes, high pressures and lows. This can only be possible with the ability to listen and to respond accordingly.
When bananas become old and mushy, they are perfect for this recipe. You will love how quickly and easily these loaves are prepared.
Makes two 8 X 4 inch pans.
Ingredients
6 tablespoons of soft butter
1 cup of sugar
2 eggs
2 large ripe bananas
2 teaspoons of vanilla
2 cups of flour
1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 1/2 cups of chocolate chips
Directions
Prepare the pans and preheat the oven to 350 F (197 C)
Cream the butter and the sugar, add eggs, continue to blend while adding vanilla and bananas. Mix together dry ingredients before incorporating them into the batter. Lastly add the chocolate chips and pour into prepared pans.
Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the middle of the loaf.
How do we share our homes with our four legged friends?
By Shelagh Duncan
We love our homes: we want them to be stylish and comfortable, inviting and cosy. We love our pets too, and as they are very much a part of our lives we incorporate things into our homes to make them more comfortable. They are a part of our family after all!
However, these particular family members can be a little more work than usual. They don’t pick up after themselves and can be messy eaters. They often shed and are not too good at wiping their feet after a walk. They also think they are actually human so like to enjoy the furniture as much as we do!
That’s all fine, but they do add a considerable amount of extra wear and tear to our furniture and homes. So, looking for ways to help minimise this impact can be challenging. Tiles are the perfect solution for all floor areas, and microfiber upholstery fabric for our sofa and chairs. This about the best thing to use on furniture in our climate anyway. A good quality, thick microfiber will stand up to a great deal of use—and misuse, especially from heavier dogs with big claws. It cleans up very easily and can be vacuumed and brushed to look good as new. There are solid-colour microfiber fabrics, but now we also have many great textures and prints available in the same type of fabric. If your pet arrives after the sofa, one easy solution is to add a pet blanket over the chairs or sofas they like to sleep on. These are easily washed and will reduce stains and fur build-up on your sofa—and you! Or…. you can give them their own bed. This can be something to fit style-wise into your own interior, a trendy designer bed, or be practical and creative like incorporating it into a coffee or end table. The latter pure inspiration for those who may be short on space but big on design!
This month there are seven new verbs. Fill the boxes with the conjugations of the verbs in present tense…
Remember that I chose those 70 verbs based on the frequency of use, the importance of complexity and the pattern of conjugation… Every month I will give you seven flashcards to feel! Go to my website and compare your fillings with mine: oscostarica.com/printable-spanish-flashcards/.
Hello my dear readers! I am back, yet again, with another article. Last month, I spent a few weeks traveling around Central America, visiting Guatemala (More like Guatebueno!), Belize, and Honduras. While each place was beautiful in its own way, I did feel a longing for a comfort that I had allowed myself to be used to: clean water! As shocking as it is, in many places there is not a fresh and constant supply of water that you can drink…even in places with lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and ocean all around. We had to drink only out of water bottles and spend much more money than we usually would on water…and don’t get me started on the plastic waste. And that was only for a few weeks! So, this is your reminder about how lucky we are in Costa Rica, that clean water mustn’t be taken for granted!
My sister and me under a 400 year old ceiba tree in Tikal, Guatemala
And while we’re talking about things that we need every day in life that we shouldn’t take for granted, let’s talk about air! Or what gives us the clean and fresh air we breathe, trees! It’s rainy season in the rainforest, and this time of year is great for KSTR because it’s when we get to plant trees. This year, we have a new challenge: reforesting 94,000 trees! KSTR was donated 117 hectares to reforest a teak farm. So far this year, we have planted 2,950 trees (not including our July effort), and we will keep going until the rainy season stops. If you have saplings to donate or can provide transport so that we can plant, email me at spokeskid@kstr.org for more information. If you can’t make it to one of our plantings and would like to plant trees yourselves, below are some great tips!
By Shelagh Duncan
Music lovers and certainly most musicians, whether they are singers or sidemen or drummers, love and value our songwriters. I give them all respect and thank them for educating us and for telling our stories and history. And for giving me something to play along to… They enunciate the dreams and hopes and fears and sorrows and happiness we all go through, and they help us realize we are not alone in those feelings. It’s impossible to say where the first snippet of a melody came from—maybe it was inspired by a lone and anonymous bird singing away up in a tree. Or from a chorus of frogs croaking after a rain, or the sound of coyotes talking to each other over a valley. When you put that most personal of instruments, the human voice, on top of a melody—you’ve got a song.
When bananas become old and mushy, they are perfect for this recipe. You will love how quickly and easily these loaves are prepared.
