Search Results for: Panama

How did Panama get its name?

Theories abound about how Panama got its name.  Some believe that it was named after a tree known as the Panama tree (Sterculia apetala).  Another theory is that the first settlers arrived in August, when butterflies are abundant and that the name means “many butterflies” in an indigenous language.  The most believed version is that a fishing village and beach were called Panama, which meant “an abundance of fish,”  It was discovered by the Spanish, while they explored the area in 1515, and stopped in this small fishing village.  The official definition, approved by the Ministry of Education, is that Panama means “abundance of fish, trees and butterflies.”  However, there are some that believe the name means “distant or far away” which stems from the word “bannaba” in the Kuna Language.  Today it is officially known as the Republic of Panama.

Where is Panama located?

Panama is located in Central America.  It is an “S” shaped isthmus that connects north and south America and separates the Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean Sea) from the Pacific Ocean (Gulf of Panama).  Its unique coastlines run east and west, rather than north and south.  Panama is the only place on earth where you can see the sun rise over the Pacific and set on the Atlantic.  It is also a place where, if you hike up to the highest peak, you can see both coasts on a clear day.  Panama is also blessed with no hurricanes or earthquakes, a rarity in this area.  Panama lies in between Costa Rica and Colombia.  It has a year round tropical climate, with high humidity.  This tropical environment supports an abundance of plants and jungles.  About 40 percent of Panama is wooded.  Subsistence farming is the way of life of Panamanians, from the northeastern jungles to the southwestern grasslands.   They grow mainly corn, beans, sugarcane, coffee and tubers.  There are also large banana plantations, in the swamp areas near Costa Rica.

A Brief History of Panama

The first humans that lived in Panama are believed to have arrived there around 11,000 B.C. By 2,500 B.C., the indigenous people were making pottery, and trading with others as far north as Mexico, and as far south as Peru.  The original native American tribes were, the Cocle and Cuevas people.  The Spanish were the first Europeans to arrive, in 1501.  As is typical after colonization, most of the native people died from diseases brought in by the Europeans, for which they had no immunity.  The Spanish also enslaved the native people and when they did not have enough people left, they started importing slaves from Africa.

In 1513, Vasca de Balboa made his famous trek from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, across the isthmus of Panama.  This trip was a critical turning point for Panama, in becoming a major trading center.  This was a short cut, saving ships from having to travel all the way around the cape.  For years, goods brought to the shores of Panama, trekked across the land and were put on ships bound for Spain.  It was, however, a dangerous road, nicknamed the “Camino de Cruces” or “Road of the Crosses”, due to all the people who died along the way.  Spain ruled over Panama for nearly 300 years, until Panama left the Spanish Empire and became part of Columbia.

In 1903 Colombia and Panama had a disagreement about the United States building a canal across Panama.  With the support of the USA, Panama broke away from Columbia and declared their independence on Nov 3, 1903.  There are three days celebrated each year in Panama:  November 3-5.  It begins with Separation Day, then Flag Day and ending with Colon’ Day, celebrated for when the citizens of Colon’ averted a march on Panama City by the Colombian Army.  They also celebrate their independence from Spain on November 28, each year.

The famous Panama Canal was completed in 1914 and Panama remained a US territory until 1979, when they took total control over the canal on December 31, 1999.  The canal is an artificial waterway that connects two oceans.  It was widened to allow the larger ships to pass.  The widening project was completed in June of 2016.  The canal accounts for 1/3^rd of Panamas GDP, as tolls are paid for the ships to cross.  The lowest toll was $.36  and was paid by Richard Halliburton who swam through the canal in 1928.  Today, the average fee is $54,000 for shipping vessels.  The canal has been named one of the seven wonders of the modern world.

Panama has suffered, like many countries, with dictators that did not have the people’s best interest at heart.  One such dictator was Manuel Noriega, who spent many years in US custody on drug trafficking charges.  He was then extradited to France where he spent a seven year imprisonment for money laundering.  In 2011, France extradited him back to Panama where he was incarcerated for crimes committed during his rule and where he ultimately died.  Panama has since had fair elections and even elected their first woman president in 1999.

Today Panama is on a great path of prosperity with tourism, and banking. They have excellent tax incentives for foreign investment and for Americans who want to call Panama their home.

Panama Culture

The population of Panama is a mix of creoles, mestizos, European immigrants, Africans and indigenous Indians.  It is a popular place for Americans to retire. There is also a small Chinese population.  The total population is nearly 4,000,000.  About 85 percent of the population is Roman Catholic, while traditional beliefs have been maintained among the native Americans.  The most important ritual celebrated is Carnaval, for which the capital closes down for five days, before Ash Wednesday.

The currency is the US dollar and the official language is Spanish, although many speak English and indigenous languages as well.  Panama is also famous for its traditional dress. Women wear the pollera, which is a blouse and long skirt.  It is formed by multicolored cloth and intricate embroidery.  Panama celebrates Pollera Day each July 22.   The men wear a white long sleeved shirt called a camisilla, black long pants and a straw hat with black lines.  A small bag hangs on the left side of the body and black and white shoes are worn to complete the outfit.  These costumes are worn during Carnaval, folklore events and town festivities.  Their costumes have received international praise, mainly due to the pollera’s complex design.

Why Visit Panama

Panama City is the capital city and where most of the population resides.  It is famous for its ultra-modern skyline.  Panama has become important for banking and insurance.  It is known as the financial hub of Latin America.  Aside from the tall modern buildings, Panama City also has a historic old quarter that is four avenues wide and completely filled with charm.   It is called Casca Veijo and is protected by UNESCO.  The old Quarter has narrow brick roads and grand old colonial houses with stunning pastel facades.  It is a wonderful place to enjoy dinner and drinks.  Panama City is also the only metropolis that boasts a tropical rainforest within the city limits.  The Natural Metropolitan Park is a draw for nature lovers.

Panama, having two coasts and 500 rivers, along with jungles and rain forests, makes the country an adventure traveler’s dream.  Water sports of every imaginable type are found here.  Turquoise water and golden beaches are also a huge draw, as is the canal  itself.  Home to all sorts of wildlife, there are 125 animal species found there that are found nowhere else in the world.  Panama is also a birdwatcher’s paradise, with over 900 species.  One of the most sought after birds, the harpy eagle, can weigh up to 20 lbs. and is the national bird of Panama.

Panamanian Cuisine

Panamanian cuisine is as diverse as its population.  Each ethnic group brings its own blend of spices, recipes, ingredients and cooking methods.  The cuisine is generally a fusion of Latin, Afro-Caribbean, Asian and indigenous cultures.  Along both coasts, the diet consists mainly of coconut, seafood, root vegetables and tropical fruits.  Inland, the communities are based on agriculture, so they enjoy mainly root vegetables, plus, beans and rice and fruits.  Livestock, such as cows, chickens and pigs are also commonly eaten.  Corn is a staple ingredient but not too many greens are consumed.  However, they do use a cousin to cilantro, in their national dish called, sancocho.  Beer is popular all over the country.  Generally speaking, the cuisine is somewhat mild, except for a few spicy dishes on the Caribbean side.

So let’s enjoy a Panamanian meal:

The Menu

Starter

Ceviche de Corvina (White Sea Bass Ceviche)

Main Dish

Sancocho (Traditional Chicken Soup)

Dessert

Cocadas (Coconut Cookies)

We set the scene with the colors of the flag; red white and blue.  We placed orchids of purple and white, as that is the national flower of Panama, with over 1200 varieties.  A ship was added to represent the very important Panama Canal and a piggy bank to represent the financial haven Panama has become.  A butterfly represented the land of butterflies.  We included a cart of coffee, as it is an important crop and also a Panama hat (that are actually made in Ecuador) but made famous in Panama.

We began our meal with buen provencho, which means bon-appetit in Spanish.  Our starter course was an amazing white sea bass ceviche.  The dish was made with fresh white sea bass and shrimp. It also had celery, which added a wonderful texture. The fish was “cooked” in lemon juice.  It was served with chips and saltine crackers and was an immediate hit.

The main course was sancocho which in Spanish means, “to parboil.”  It is a popular dish in many Latin countries, although each country adds its own interpretation.  This sancocho is made with chicken and root vegetables, such as yam or yucca.  It is the flavoring of culantro that makes this Panamanian dish unique.  Culantro,tastes similar to cilantro, but is a bit stronger.  Ultimately, this is a hearty chicken soup that is known to cure whatever ails you, (especially a hangover.)  We loved it!

For dessert, we had delicious coconut cookies, called cocades.  They are similar to a macaroon, except they are made with sweetened, condensed milk, instead of eggs.  They were perfect with a cup of Panamanian coffee, for which they are now famous.  They grow a particular type, called Geisha that originally came from Ethiopia but has been growing very well in Panama.  This coffee lacks the bitter or sour notes and sells for about $40/lb.  You can pick some up here if you would like to try it.

After dinner, we decided to go for a dance lesson.  Panamanians love to gather together and dance.  Punto panmeño is considered to be the most elegant and beautiful of dances.

Until next time,

Warmest regards,

Darlene

Ecuador, in Spanish means “equator” and the name was given because it runs straight across the northern part of the country. Ecuador is the second smallest country in South America and one of only two that does not border Brazil. Her neighbors are Colombia to the north and Peru to the east and south. Her western border is on the Pacific Ocean and she holds the amazing treasure of the Galapagos Islands, 600 miles off the coast. Ecuador gained independence from Spain in 1822 and became part of Gran Colombia, then gained full independence in 1830. The capital city of Quito is the oldest in all of South America and is renowned for its well preserved 17th century, colonial architecture. Ecuador’s Quito became the very first UNESCO world Heritage site because of this.

The country is beautiful, with breathtaking topography and has two mountain ranges that split the nation into three basic regions; Coastal, Andean and Amazonian. The official language is Spanish but Quichua, an Incan language, is spoken by the indigenous population along with 13 other native languages. Ecuador’s largest ethnic group (65 percent) is mestizo, a mix of Andalusian and Castilian Spaniards. Twenty five percent of the population are Amerindian and the balance are Caucasians of Spanish or other European descents and Afro-Ecuadorians. Ninety five percent of the people are Roman Catholic, which is the official religion of Ecuador. However, freedom of religion is part of the country’s constitution. Speaking of the constitution, Ecuador was the first country (in 2008) to declare that “nature” has constitutional rights.

Ecuador has many active volcanos, one of the greatest densities in the world. She is home to incredible mountain peaks, with 10 that are over 16,000 feet in altitude. Mount Chibrorazo is the highest in Ecuador, at 20,565 feet. This peak, because the earth is not a perfect sphere and bulges at the equator, gets the prize for the furthest point from the center of the earth and the closest to the sun. Another interesting statistic is that at the equator, there are twelve hours of daylight and twelve hours of night, every single day of the year. No daylight savings time is necessary in Ecuador. Her rich, volcanic soil makes for wonderful plant life. There are 25,000 species of plants present in the country, which represents about 10 percent of all known plant species in the world. They estimate 4100 species of orchids grow there, including the world’s smallest, measuring only 2.1 mm wide. The bark of the cinchona tree was used to develop the first drug to prevent and treat malaria, called Quinine. Of course, with all this wonderful plant life, comes all sorts of species of birds; over 1600 species call Ecuador home. They also have the world’s highest diversity of hummingbirds.

Ecuador’s main exports are bananas, coffee, cocoa, flowers (especially beautiful roses, which is also their national flower), fish (tuna), shrimp, balsa wood and petroleum. Nearly 60 percent of the world’s high grade “fine cocoa,” is produced around the coastal city of Guayaquil, making it the world’s capital of this sweet goodness. Guayaquil is a port city, considered to be the economic center of Ecuador and the launching point for those destined to the Galapagos Islands. Here you will find people in the parks, feeding, not pigeons but iguanas. You will see iguanas everywhere; on the grass, in the trees, on the curbs, on the walls, literally everywhere. It takes a little getting used to as they are so prehistoric looking and some can be quite large. It is said, the sea iguana’s head was the model for the movie “Godzilla.”

The currency in Ecuador is the US Dollar. Previously it was the Sucre. In 1999 the country went through a massive devaluation of their currency paired with hyper-inflation. The move to the dollar was swift and has worked well so far for the Ecuadorian economy. The government has made massive investments in education and infrastructure which has improved life, especially for the poor. Ecuador is always at the top of the list as a retirement destination. It is inexpensive to live there, they have a pretty good health care system (ranking number 20 in the world) and they respect Ancestral medicine, which is very important to the indigenous population. They honor the elderly with nice discounts. They are also known as one of the friendliest countries, as anyone, from any country can visit for up to 90 days without a visa.

One place that I must mention is called Vilcabamba, also known as the “Valley of Longevity” or the “Lost Garden of Eden.” It is a valley that lies about 5000 feet above sea level, with rich volcanic soil and crystal clear water from the Andeans. This valley is known to be one of four places in the world with the highest number of citizens who have lived past the century mark, some living even as long as 135 years. The secret, they claim, aside from the beauty that simply penetrates the soul, is the water. Other factors may be that they use no pesticides or chemicals and have only have one electro-magnetic field, which is a cell tower. The valley has become a destination for tourists looking for the fountain of youth.

When it comes to tourist destinations, the Galapagos Islands are on many a bucket list. Famous for its unique wildlife, like the blue-footed boobies, with their famous mating dance, frigates, with their crimson, red ballooning chest, giant tortoises, resembling ET, land and sea iguanas, and sea lions that frolic with divers. The Galapagos is also where Charles Darwin studied the origin of species and formed his theory of evolution. There is a Charles Darwin Research Center on the island of Santa Cruz, home to many species of tortoises, which included Lonesome George, the last of his subspecies, who died in 2012 at over 100 years old, with no offspring.

To see all that the Galapagos has to offer, you can either stay at a hotel on one of the four inhabited islands and take day trips to other islands or lodge on a ship and travel the islands that way. Even our beloved author, Zane Grey, made it a point to visit the Galapagos on his yacht called Fisherman One. His travels there in 1924, were to be a scientific expedition, along with fishing but inspired his book called “Tales of Fishing Virgin Seas.” Here is a beautiful, colorized picture of his yacht, just off Eden Island in the Galapagos that is part of our Zane Grey collection.

As we look into the cuisine of this beautiful country Ecuador, we see it is shaped by the various regions, which all have the influence of Spain and the indigenous people. Potatoes, maize, plantains and yucca or cassava are staples. Seafood is obviously abundant in the coastal regions and meat is more prevalent in the mountain and highland regions. One interesting thing they eat there is guinea pig. They call it cuy and it’s considered a delicacy. I understand it is quite good but for me, I had a pet guinea pig named Ginger and don’t think I could do it. Then again, I have chickens and yes, I eat chicken, so ….. maybe?

Let’s eat Ecuadorian:

Menu
Starter
Ceviche de Camarones (Shrimp ceviche)

Soup
Encebollado de Pescado (Fish soup with onion and tomato curtido)

Main
Llapingachos (Ecuadorian stuffed potato patties)
Served with Salsa de Mani and Aji Criollo (Peanut sauce and a salsa)

Dessert
Come Y Bebe (Drinkable tropical fruit salad)

We set the table in the colors of Ecuador’s flag; yellow, red and blue. We decorated with pictures of their wondrous creatures, like iguanas and blue footed boobies. We put on our Panama hats. Yes, Panama hats originated in Ecuador. The finest are made in a town called Montecristo. We then put on some Marimba music that the Afro-Ecuadorians made famous. In fact, music played an important role in the ancient Andean peoples’ lives. Archeologists have discovered all sorts of musical instruments in ancient tombs. Music is still very important in the lives of the people today. They say Ecuadorians also learn to dance when they learn to walk.

We began our meal with a toast, “salud” (cheers) and “buen provecho” (enjoy your meal). Our first course was an unbelievable shrimp ceviche, which we ate continental style. Ceviche is popular all over but especially in the coastal region. It is made with ketchup in it, sometimes mustard too. It was awesome and we paired it with a nice, cold “cerveza” (beer). The ceviche was served with a very thinly sliced, fried green banana which provided a lovely crunch to the ceviche.

Next was a fish soup, topped with pickled onion and tomato salsa and garnished with avocado and lime wedges. This is a very popular dish and for good reason, it has wonderful flavors, great broth and is even considered a hangover cure, if need be. It is served with toasted corn nuts, another popular snack in Ecuador. It was stupendous.

For the main course we enjoyed Llapingachos. These are potato patties, stuffed with cheese then topped with a peanut sauce and more of that delicious pickled onion and tomato salsa. Plus, we added aji criollo; a wonderful salsa made with chili, cilantro and onion; a must have condiment, found on all Ecuadorian tables. The patties were served with avocado slices, a fried egg and grilled chorizo. This could be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch or dinner. By the way, in Ecuador, lunch is the big meal of the day, eaten around 2:00 pm and followed by a siesta (nap).

For dessert we served a drinkable, tropical fruit salad. Fruit drinks are ubiquitous in Ecuador and this easy and light fruit drink was the perfect ending to our outstanding meal.

As we leave this beautiful, diverse country called Ecuador, I leave you with a few Ecuadorian proverbs:
Anger of the mind is poison to the soul.
Hands that give, also receive.
The strong forgive, the weak remember.

Until next week,
Warmest regards,
Darlene

“Rich Coast” is what Costa Rica means in Spanish and the name given by early explorers looking for gold. As it turns out, Costa Rica was not rich in gold but rich in many other ways. She is a tropical country located in Central America. Having borders on both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, her neighbors are Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. Costa Rica gained independence from Spain in 1821 as part of the Mexican Empire. The majority of the population is mestizo, a mix of European, mainly Spanish and other descents. The balance are native Indians, indigenous to the area. Spanish is the official language, although English is commonly spoken. Roman Catholic is the official religion with many others practiced as well, as they endorse an open tolerance policy in the country. Costa Rica abolished their military in 1949, after a brief civil war, becoming the first, of only a few sovereign nations, without a standing army.

“My country is your country”, was the first thing our taxi driver said to us upon our arrival. We flew into the capital city of San Jose for a fishing expedition on the Caribbean side. The people of Costa Rica are called Ticos or Ticas, depending upon their gender. While we waited for our plane we enjoyed some bocas (appetizers) and a cerveza (Imperial, the local brew.) We then boarded a small prop plane and flew to our lodge, located in the jungle near the small village of Barra del Parismina. This is where our adventure would begin.

The lodge was nestled amongst every type of palm variety imaginable. Bougainvillea’s, hibiscus and orchids (their national flower) in all the colors of the rainbow, abounded. The sound of the jungle was amazing; birds chirping and humming, cicadas singing us their welcoming tune. This small country, at only 20,000 square miles, has five percent of the world’s bio-diversity; the most, based on size, of any other country in the world.

Howler monkeys were our five a.m. wakeup call to start off our day. Soon a potful of aromatic (and robust) Costa Rican coffee was delivered to our door. Coffee is a major export of Costa Rica and there are many different, gourmet brews of coffee produced there. From the mid 19th century, decorated ox carts called “carretas”, were used to haul the coffee beans from the central valley over the mountains to the Pacific coast. This journey would take 10 to 15 days. The carreta was ornately decorated as a matter of regional pride. Each cart would create a unique song, produced from the metal ring hitting the wheel’s hubnut, as it bounced along the muddy trails. The decorated carreta, although a fading art form today, is considered Costa Rica’s national symbol.

We came to Costa Rica for the fishing, known to be a phenomenal exploration. On our first outing, we glided down the jungle rivers and then headed out into the Caribbean Sea. We fished for snook and tarpon, however the waters were ripe with bull sharks. Our guide’s keen navigational skills, while heading in and out through the mouth of the river to the Caribbean, were duly noted. He told us stories along the way of the many fatalities befalling those that did not respect just how treacherous the river can be. This certainly added an interesting level of excitement to our adventure which was well worth it, we caught behemoth tarpon, many snook and some very interesting river fish.

The sun rises and sets at the same time in Costa Rica, 365 days a year, due to its proximity to the equator. The lodge provided these beautifully crafted rocking chairs, made locally, of wood and leather that were set out on the veranda for enjoying the sunset. (We loved them so much we had to ship a couple home.) After fishing, we relaxed on the veranda and shared stories with the other guests. All at once, an awesome thunderstorm developed and ripped across the grounds. The staff seemed to take this in stride, as trade winds and heavy rainfall are common on the Caribbean side of the country. In fact, the mountains receive almost 200 inches of rain per year.

On our last night at the lodge, we feasted on grilled snook, that we had caught that day while surf casting. The snook was served with their famous black beans and rice, along with a delightful hearts of palm salad. Our meal was superb.

The trip so far, was everything we imagined it to be and more. We had such an incredible time, we decided to change our plans and extend our stay. To complete the journey, we wanted to fish and explore the Pacific side of Costa Rica. The lodge graciously made our arrangements to stay at a beautiful resort and for the prop plane that would take us there.

The plane ride over the country was something to behold. There is always a unique perspective gained while seeing a country from the air. The land is so lush and breathtakingly beautiful. Flying over the middle of the country we saw many volcanoes, some of which are still active, producing earthquakes in the regions. We also noticed plantations of bananas, coffee and sugarcane. (Costa Rica is the second largest exporter of bananas after Ecuador.) Each of the villages had a cleared, green patch for soccer, or futbol, as it is called in Spanish. It is their national sport. Of course, the cities have many soccer fields as well and we were told that even if you are not watching the game, you know if the national team has scored based on the honking of horns and shouts heard in the streets.

The plane landed on a dirt strip, no airport or building or anything of the sort was there. The pilot unloaded our luggage and said someone would come to pick us up. We wandered around a bit, and then sat on our luggage for a good 45 minutes, as we started to get a little concerned. We could see a small road in the distance and decided to head that way and see if we could find a phone somewhere. We came upon a very small village of about a dozen houses. Chickens and pigs lined the roads looking for grub and happy children played among them. Thankfully we found someone who informed us, that the only phone in town was at the blue house down the road. Just about the time we arrived at the blue house, a jeep came honking its horn looking for us. It was our ride to the resort.

After about a 45 minute jeep ride through the verdant jungle on dirt roads, we arrived at the most beautiful resort, located right on the shore of the Pacific Ocean. Our room was not quite ready, so we enjoyed a lunch of arroz con pollo (chicken and rice) with potato chips. This dish is commonly served throughout the country. It is full of all sorts of vegetables as well, so it’s a well-rounded dish that is sometimes served with French fries instead of potato chips. On the tables everywhere in Costa Rica you will find a bottle of Linzano salsa. It is interesting salsa and not easy to describe. It’s not spicy but has a unique flavor that grows on you and you find yourself putting it on everything and missing it dearly when you return home. It is not easily found outside of Costa Rica, so be sure to stock up while you are there!

During lunch, my husband inquired about a fishing boat for the next day. Much to our dismay, we learned there was a fishing tournament going on and there were no boats to be found locally. They told us there is one small, 18 foot, Boston Whaler, located in a town called Tamarindo, about a three hour cab ride away. I would have been more than happy to chill at this beautiful oasis for a few days, but that was not to be. Off we went in the cab to Tamarindo.

The hotel was small and nothing like the resort we left behind, but it would do. We planned to explore the town in the afternoon and my husband would be able to fish in the Pacific the next day. There are many expats living in Costa Rica from the United States and elsewhere. We met several while we were out exploring and it is easy to see their attraction to this place. The country is stunningly beautiful and the people are so friendly. Everywhere we went, we encountered a greeting. They would say “Pura Vida”, meaning “pure life”, a way to express how they felt about this country.

My husband left early the next morning for his fishing expedition and the boat picked him up right on the beach in front of our hotel. He could write a book just on the fishing trip that day, but suffice it to say in just three short hours he hooked up 26 and caught 13 billfish: mostly sailfish but some marlin, with double, triple and even quadruple hook ups. Of course he didn’t get them all to the boat. (It is the ones that get away that make the best fishing stories.) Costa Rica has a catch and release policy to ensure that sport fishing remains one of its best tourist attractions. It was one of his best fishing days ever; a memory for a lifetime!

Tourism has taken over as the number one source of economic wealth for Costa Rica. It is easy to see why. Eco-tourism was pioneered there, with many ways to experience the flourishing, tropical country, ripe with adventure and wonderful, welcoming people. What’s not to love?

We headed back to the capital city of San Jose and we ended our trip with lunch at a local restaurant. We ordered a popular meal called “casado”, which means “marriage” in Spanish. The meal was served on a banana leaf. It was rice, black beans, roast pork, a salad of cabbage, tomatoes and onions, with a light citrus dressing and a fried plantain.

The cuisine in Costa Rica is well balanced and hearty. It is not spicy, as one might think, but very tasty. Rice and beans are part of every meal. For breakfast, the rice and beans are mixed together in a dish called “gallo pinto” or “spotted rooster.” Often the dish is made with leftovers from the night before and served with eggs, fresh cheese and a fried plantain.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are found everywhere, as well as freshly baked pastries to enjoy with your coffee. You will also see the locals with a machete whacking off the top of a green coconut and inserting a straw into it for a refreshing drink. Ceviche is another one of the country’s most popular dishes, usually made with fresh sea bass or tilapia. On both coasts you will find a wide variety of seafood, such as calamari, crab and lobster. Seafood is sometimes substituted for pork or chicken in casado.

So let’s eat Tico Style:

The Menu
Starter
Ceviche

Soup
Sopa Negra (Black Bean Soup)

Main Course
Arroz Con Pollo (Rice with Chicken)

Served with

Ensalada de Palmita  Hearts of Palm Salad

Dessert
Tres Leches (Cake made of three types of milk)

We set the table using the colors of the Costa Rican flag, which are red white and blue. We had a few souvenirs from our trip, which we added to our table as well. One decoration was a rose made from tarpon scales and another, a beautiful, hand crafted wooden bowl and of course coffee beans. In Costa Rica, time is known as Tico time, or “la hora tica”, as Costa Ricans are habitually late by about 30 minutes. This is customary and never considered rude. It sets the tone for their easy-going ways.

We began the meal with a delicious ceviche, made with fresh tilapia and served in avocado bowls. It was scrumptious. They use a secret ingredient in their ceviche, ginger-ale, for just the right balance of sweet and sour. An Imperal cerveza was the perfect complement.

Next, we had a black bean soup, called sopa negra. The garnishes of sour cream, avocado, radish and hard-boiled egg, made this soup exceptional.

The main course, arroz con pollo, was prepared in the manner it came to us in Costa Rica, with potato chips, mixed in for a little added crunch. We accompanied it with an outstanding, hearts of palm, salad.

For dessert, we chose the national dessert, called tres leches. It is a delicious cake that is served wet, as it is made with three types of milk and covered with whipped cream. A hot cup of Costa Rican coffee added a soothing warmth as we reminisced about our fantastic trip to this beautiful, tropical paradise, called Costa Rica.

We sat back in our rocking chairs and toasted to “Pura Vida.” Muchas gracias Costa Rica!

Until next week,
Warmest regards
Darlene