Last Day of Festival de Vida

When I got there the ropers from the nearby agricultural
university were doing roping trick – very good!
Festival de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica

FlashBack, the gringo oldies rock band played for two hours, 1-3 – Then others but I’m gone.
Festival de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica

The original benefactor of the food festival.
Festival de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica

You paid 3,000 Colones (about $5) and got to sample 20 different international food entries & vote on the best.
Festival de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica

Individuals & restaurants donated small portions of food to taste.
Festival de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica

For more photos of food and other vendors, see my gallery 2018 Festival de Vida

“American Experience” in the Malls

Cell Phone Snap, Food Court, Multiplaza Mall, Escazu, Costa Rica

I’ve been here almost 6 months and haven’t been in a Mall until yesterday and again today. I did not shop in malls in the states, so why here? They are too expensive in the states, but you should see the prices here! Out of sight! But the rich (both Tico and Expat) who want the “American Experience,” love these malls, mostly near San Jose. The above Multiplaza Mall is in Escazu, a wealthy suburb of San Jose where our American Ambassador’s home is located. Yesterday I checked out International Mall in Alajuela near the airport. It is older and smaller, but only until November when the new one being built next door will be larger than Escazu’s Multiplaza AND claims it will be the largest mall in Central America with 300+ stores! 

Since I am not buying the $100 Levis or the $44 Columbia brand cap I liked, why did I go? Partly out of curiosity and partly to check out the multi-screen theaters in both malls, so Anthony and I can go see Jurassic Park next Tuesday. We want a 3-D with English sound track and Spanish subtitles. Their phones are recordings in Spanish. Scratch that! The websites are almost as difficult to follow. So I go talk to live people! Alajuela had only Spanish soundtracks during the day with their only English one at 9 PM – not for us old men! The Escazu theater staff told me today that the 1:25 afternoon 3-D show is in English with Spanish subtitles – just right for us. (Maybe a little help on learning Spanish through subtitles!) And we get a bonus! It is in a “DBOX” theater, meaning the seats will move, shake, vibrate or whatever with the movie, like Disney World! You will get a report Tuesday night. And the price of a ticket is about $8, meaning movies aren’t as overpriced as clothing, etc. 
So, you see, we don’t do without all the modern science things here! Plus I now have a new baby lizard in my living room and he mostly stays on the wall near the ceiling above the outside windows, waiting for insects! Wonder if they live in the Mall?
A Baby Lizard on wall by crown molding in my living room.
Sorry about bad photo, but I wouldn’t turn light on because it would scare him off.
In fact I tried getting closer and he scurried off! Costa Rica Insect Control!  🙂

International Pizza Party

Urs Entertains with his Harmonica! Jean Pierre on the left. 

One of the couples from Canada organized a pizza party tonight for residents of Hacienda La Jacaranda and 18 came to eat 10 large pizzas delivered from La Finca. Plus drinks and other foods were brought by residents. We got better acquainted,  had fun, and were well fed! We all chipped in to pay for the pizza. We used the “Rancho” or covered patio by the pool with a BBQ grill we will use for the next party.

Urs from Switzerland played his harmonica and there was lots of talking and a birthday party planned for Friday week, Friday the 13th! Gary will grill pork chops with all else potluck. The young Tico couple living here will bring the birthday cake, “something better than Tres Leches Cake.” They both work for Marriotts in opposite directions from Atenas, their halfway point. A Spanish couple (from Spain) who couldn’t make it tonight both work, him with a Spanish construction company building a dam nearby on Rio Tarcoles. Another couple has a two year old and he and his Mom came tonight. There is at least one more younger couple and some others more mature who are still working. The rest of us are retired. Me and an African American lawyer from Chicago are the only ones from the states. The others are from Canada, Spain, Switzerland, and a few I’m not sure about. Quite an interesting gang! At least 4 units are “snowbirds” who will leave in April.

The Pizza is Gone! But the Party Continues!