By Jack Ewing

Portalón

I used to think of geology as the study of rocks and geologists as scientists who sit in laboratories looking at rocks with a magnifying glass.  Sound boring? I used to think so until found out how much geological events have influenced my life. One day I got interested enough to dig a little deeper and found that geology, rather than being boring can be fascinating, especially when we consider how much certain geological features of the region around Dominical have affected the way that the area has developed. I am referring primarily to coastal ridge, that small mountain range that parallels the coast from the Savegre River to the Térraba River. In the not too distant past — less then 100,000 years ago — a collision between two tectonic plates caused the earth’s crust to buckle and jut up 300 to 500 meters in the air. This probably wasn’t a cataclysmic event that took place one afternoon. It was more like a series of relatively small collisions that took place over several thousand years. Nevertheless, in geological terms we can consider that it happened in the blink of an eye.

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Filed under: Jack Ewing, Nature Stories on May 26th, 2010
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By Katreena

Life at Escondida Beach here in Manuel Antonio is magical. It is unique, special and free to all who wish to encounter such a magnificent paradise.

Whether looking up in the trees to see daily monkey crossings or down at the sand at iguanas or colorful crabs, the same magical experience is shared by all. Clear indications of this wonderfully enriching experience are smiles of joy and happiness. And of course, everyone running to get their camera to take photos to capture the moment.
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Filed under: Katreena, Life's a Beach on May 26th, 2010
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By Bruce Zabov

When it comes to creating salsas, it’s a cook’s opportunity to let the imagination run free, and to be as imaginative and creative as you like. Let your own food preferences be a guide and you can’t make a bad choice!

For myself, I’m fond of the clear, light, clear taste of cold cucumbers, and the fresh brightness of ripe pineapples and mangoes and they often appear in salads here. And if you like certain fruits and vegetables in salads, you will probably enjoy them in a fresh salsa, too.
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Filed under: Bruce Zabov, Cooking Corner on May 22nd, 2010
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Filed under: Luciano, Potty Time on May 21st, 2010
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My name is Trevor. I am a volunteer animal rehabilitator working with Kid’s Saving the Rainforest’s veterinarian, Pia, performing rescue, rehab and release techniques for the many sick, abandoned or injured animals that come into the clinic everyday. More recently however, I’ve also taken on the title ‘tour-guide’. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, Kid’s Saving the Rain Forest now has a tour! I know what you’re thinking, “Oh, great, another tour in Quepos/Manuel Antonio…”. Well I’m here to tell you that this tour is a little different than the average tour you might find around here.

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Filed under: Kids Saving the Rainforest on May 21st, 2010
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By David Seyhun

So about three month’s ago, I decided I’m going to Quepos for a nice extended stay.  There’s nothing going on in the states and some years before I had visited the area and told myself I’d be back to do more exploring.  So here I am, with my dog  Apollo.

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Filed under: Guest Writer on May 21st, 2010
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By Donna Porter

While the flower has typically been the part of the plant that receives the most recognition, admiration and glory, I would like to take this opportunity to sing praise and pay homage to the precious and incredible… leaf.  Yes, those little products of nature that block gutters, disrupt pool pumps and cause unsightly messes around your homes.  Superficially, they appear to be such an oh-so-simple creation of nature, but, in reality, they perform highly complex chemical processes that serve a multitude of important and amazing functions.  A plant’s foliage conducts a variety of feats while coloring and cloaking a good percentage of our world a beautiful green, and to understand it, or to at least be aware of its complexities, is to truly appreciate it.  It may play second fiddle to the flower, but its significance to life on earth, alone, elevates it high above. Between its epidermal layers, intricate and essential processes occur.  Processes such as photosynthesis – a  natural phenomena that could be defined as something nearing… miraculous.

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Filed under: Donna Porter, It's a Wonderful World of Plants on May 20th, 2010
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