What better way to view Costa Rica than by videos.
Take a small video tour on what it would be like driving to Puerto Jimenez, crossing suspension bridges (the last bridge collapsed a year ago, killing a few) catching Dorado and Blue Marlin in Golfito, Los Suenos and Quepos, shopping San Jose’s famous Mercado Central, having a few Imperials in a couple of bars, driving through one of Costa Rica’s party towns, Jaco, checking out one of Costa Rica’s world record sportfishing captains, white water rafting and finally, watching some of the hottest girls saltwater fishing – Enjoy!
Coffee has always played a major role in Costa Rica’s history and economy. Up until a few years ago it was Costa Rica’s #1 exported and very commercialized product. The largest growing areas are in the provinces of San José, Alajuela, Heredia, Puntarenas, and Cartago. It is grown just about everywhere in Costa Rica.
Even if I like all the commercial brands like Cafe Milagro and Britt, I really prefer the tiny low-volume farm-specific coffee producers who now keep their lots separate, and either sells just the beans and/or mills it themselves where they keep total control of the process with the best possible flavors and prices. One can still buy a kilo (2.2lbs) of coffee between 3-$6 USD. The San Jose Central Mercado has several coffee retailers that offer local prices.
Costa Rica coffee is considered some of the best in the world. It is high in caffeine, very good body, exquisite aroma and excellent acidity. With said, it is often blended with inferior varieties. Many of the US store brand coffees have a mixture of Costa Rica beans.
Costa Rica has six coffee regions, West Valley, Tarrazu, Tres Rios, Orosi, Brunca and Turrialba. The coffee is grown in varies altitudes from 2400-5500 feet and each has their signature tastes. Read more...(492 words, 2 images, estimated 1:58 mins reading time)
Last week we got two interesting emails; one “What is Chifrijo?” and the other, “I had this dish [Chifrijo] at a Sunday la feria (farmers market) it was fantastic - I had never seen it before - is this something new in Costa Rica? Surprisingly, a few days later, I read a friend’s Costa Rica Blog where he rant and raved about Chifrijo he had at some local event.
It got me thinking, when did I first see and have it?
First, Chifrijo is a portmanteau, which is a blend of two (or more) words or morphemes into one new word, chicharrones (fried pork rinds/skin) and frijoles (beans). It’s a layered dish, with rice, red beans, pork rinds, freshly chopped tomato and/or pico de gallo (fresh vegetables hot sauce), and served with fried tortilla chips; it is also served with corn tortillas and bread. The Mexicans have been serving this style of dish (with pinto and/or black beans) on a plate or in a bowl with corn or flour tortilla, since God-knows when. Costa Rica gave it their signature with the pork rinds. Since fried pork skin is just plain disgusting to many Gringos (except those of southern upbringing) the fried skin is usually substituted with fried meat and/or seafood, particularly shellfish. Read more...(748 words, 1 image, estimated 2:60 mins reading time)
Costa Rica is an expats haven, taking advantage of their world class medial & education systems, democratic government, gorgeous tropical climate, diverse economy and of course the affordable real estate.
The ones that top the list are Americans and Canadians. Currently, over 100,000 Americans and 20,000 Canadians live in Costa Rica.
Like the U.S., Canada’s baby boomers are reaching retirement, and with the depress world-wide economy, and living expenses getting higher many elderly Canadians are now looking toward Costa Rica. That scale may start to become more balanced for Canadians vs. U.S. citizens, due to some pending laws that some claim are, human rights violations against their own “elderly” citizens.
Canada’s Heartless Grandparent Scandal
Canada has announced that there are approximately “eleven million” people in Canada who are over the age of fifty. Many of these people are aging parents who want nothing more out of life than to live independently (in something as simple as a basement apartment or Granny suite) in the home of adult child “and with the grandchildren” for the balance of their lives. Read more...(547 words, 1 image, estimated 2:11 mins reading time)
Every country has it own special recipes for Ceviche and as for it originality, many boast the invention of the dish, from the Pacific coastal of the Polynesian, to the Mediterranean to the Central and South Americans. Contrary to some belief, Ceviche is not really a Costa Rica dish but its popularity has grown with the tourist trade.
The first time I had [great] Ceviche was in a little town in Baja California Sur, Todas Santos back in the early 1970s. The hacienda we lived in was surrounded by sweet lime, avocado, and mango trees. The maid at the house used sweet limes (only found in the area) to cook the Dorado (Mahi Mahi, or dolphin fish) we had caught that day. She also added sliced up onions and tomatoes to the cooking. She then served it with these mega size home made corn tortilla chips and a huge bowl of guacamole. Her secret ingredient was a few splashes of 7-up. It was to die for.
Unfortunately, Ceviche has been bastardized in the US by those guru Food Channel chefs who add their fancy garnishes and ingredients that is enough to make one turn an evil eye. Who in the hell adds Saffron or baby carrots and corn to Ceviche? Give me a break! Read more...(1723 words, 3 images, estimated 6:54 mins reading time)
What better way to view Costa Rica than by videos.
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