by Matt Casseday

Every year at about this time, I begin to understand why hair grows inside the nose. On the surface, few things are more unattractive than visible nostril hairs. How many times have you ever heard a woman say, ”I fell for that man as soon as I saw all those adorable strands of hair curling from his nostrils”? Likely never, unless she lived in the part of the world where she could only appear in public wearing a burqa. But here in Costa Rica, as we reach the latter days of the dry season, I appreciate my nose hairs for the function they perform, namely as a filter that keeps dust and dirt out of the nasal passages. When I ride my bicycle in and out of Quepos over several kilometers of unpaved road, I thank that little follicle forest within each nostril that enables me to breathe with confidence (confidence that I won´t end up in the emergency room with an oxygen mask strapped to my face). Dust is a daily reality at this time of year, and after 15 years of living here, I have come to accept its inevitability; like death and potholes, it will always be with us. (more…)

Filed under: Crazy From the Heat, Matt Casseday on April 8th, 2010
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These Horoscopes are meant to be fun and enjoyed. They should not be taken too seriously.

ARIES - March 21-April 19

Happy Birthday you gorgeous Ram! Not only are you HOT this month, you are also oh so clever. You will invent a night light in the shape of a chess piece, which you will smartly name “Nighty Knight”! Let’s hope it goes over well, you could use the money! Invest in yourself and silver since you most likely can’t afford gold, and the dollar is in the toilet.

CELEBRITY ARIES: Julia Styles

IDEAL JOB: Donut Hole Cutter

TAURUS

This month you will become incensed at the thought that you missed out on all the fun during the 60’s and 70’s and will change your name to “Sunflower”. That is SO Taurus of you! Focus on variety this month, give the chocolate lobster tail a try and accept love and sugar graciously. Sweet baby Sweet!

CELEBRITY TAURUS: Eva Peron

IDEAL JOB: Ripened Fruit Checker

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Filed under: Cosmic Confetti, Horoscopes on April 4th, 2010
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En esta fecha se conmemora el día en que Juan Santamaría quemó el llamado Mesón de Guerra, acto que permitió a los costarricenses vencer a los filibusteros de William Walker y quedarse con la ciudad de Rivas en su poder.

Se conoce con el nombre de Batalla de Rivas a una batalla que se dio durante la Guerra de 1856, entre las fuerzas del ejército de Costa Rica, dirigidas personalmente por el Presidente Juan Rafael Mora Porras, y el ejército filibustero estadounidense dirigido por William Walker, en la ciudad de Rivas, Nicaragua. (more…)

Filed under: Academia D'Amore, Tico Talk on April 4th, 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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By Pia Martin, DVM

Right after his surgery

Titi monkeys (saimiri oerstedii citrinellus) are small but very intelligent and dexterous.  They are unique to the Manuel Antonio area.

Last august, some kids were visiting Playa El Rey in the National Park and found a very young monkey on the ground, he was hurt and couldn’t move. They felt sorry for the little guy and carefully picked him up and put him in a box. They took him to MINAET not knowing what else to do. MINAET brought him to us. The little titi was about 6 months old and had a very serious fracture in his arm and another in his clavicle. He could have fallen from a very tall tree just when he was learning to move on his own.

These kids saved his life; he would have been eaten by a predator or would have died alone of hunger.

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Filed under: Kids Saving the Rainforest, María Pía Martín on April 2nd, 2010
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Complete el asocie  y encuentre  las ocho razones por las cuales debemos hacer ejercicio y practicar deportes en nuestra vida cotidiana.

1. Ayuda a controlar el peso: (  )   mejora su postura corporal, devuelve tono a sus músculos, la ropa se le ve mejor, le da un aspecto más bonito y saludable a su piel.

2. Moldea su cuerpo: (  ) si padece insomnio o alteraciones del sueño es importante que haga alguna actividad física de intensidad suave o moderada que le ayude a relajarse y a cansarse.

3. Lo mantiene en forma: (  ) si es constante no sólo perderá el peso que le sobra, sino que activará su metabolismo, lo  que hará consumir más energía durante todo el día.

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Filed under: Academia D'Amore, Tico Talk on March 19th, 2010
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By Katreena

Life at the beach here in Manuel Antonio is magical. An oasis that transcends one into a timeless state of relaxation and peace. Truly a tranquil paradise comprised of natural beauty, amazing wildlife, and the soothing sounds of the ocean’s waves. Nature creates the perfect setting for relaxation as the tropical breezes melts away your stress and worries from everyday life.

It is a wonderful feeling to witness the magic of this beach and its effect on people. How fortunate to actually see people literally transform into a joyous carefree ZEN state. There are so many happy people here. People come to the beach for different reasons, but leave with the same feeling that they have experienced something very beautiful and special. Smiles are beaming as a person proclaims: “Wow…This really is picture postcard perfect!!!.”

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Filed under: Katreena, Life's a Beach on March 11th, 2010
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