where I've been lately

I have not really been hiding, or neglecting to take photos of what's been going on in my life, but what HAS happened, is that someone here turned me on to MySpace a while back, and I opened an account. Because it is super quick and easy, and better for multiple images and mutli-media, I have been increasingly putting my stuff out on that, and have been doing a bit more writing out there, as well.
So, at this time, I would like to refer you to that page: www.myspace.com/ronicher
I will still be putting photos and things out here as well, especially the things that are about purchasing a finca (farm) and of course, whatever else suits me at the time. But, I don't feel like doing the same thing in two places, so to truly stay "in the loop", if you want to do that, you might want to bookmark the myspace page as well as this one!

Boquete

I can see why people think this place is like Orosi. It is a flat valley floor surrounded by coffee covered hills. A little lower in altitude, it is larger, has more people and is more "developed", both culturally and economically. The restaurants were good, and the costs were lower in general than in Costa Rica. Food cost about the same, except imported items, which were about the same as you'd find them for in the US (here in CR, they are almost double) Cars were a lot less, gas was cheaper, but land values were through the roof. It was pleasant there, and I met some nice people, and had some good conversations. I arrived in time for the night ushering in the day of Panama's independance, and it was a major party scene, with tons of people and children of all ages dressed in traditional costume to demonstrate dances in many styles. One interesting thing was the tembliques, the hair ornaments that the girls wore. The moms and older girls made them from beads on wires, and they were individually pinned into the girl's hair in an arrangement of complicated textures and designs. I made friends with the mother and grandmother of these two, who gifted me with a temblique for my own hair, and told me that making the tembliques for the two girls (aged 5 and 8) costumes took about three weeks.

Bocas del Toros

If I had never been to Caye Caulker in Belize, I would have liked this place. I thought Caulker did it better. Better food, better organized, better tours, better reefs, just better. A nice beach town with some old architecture, Bocas was totally geared to tourism, it even had a small airport with three airlines flying out of it. Expensive, hot, humid, and the food was really overpriced and not very good. I got a $15 room in the center of town, because my only other option was to share a dorm room in a hostel (not an option). After the worst ceviche I've ever had (it was not only overpriced, it was SALTY!) and a weak margarita, I went home in disgust, not hearing anything dance-able on the street. The next morning, I bought my air ticket OFF the island and then went to take a boat and snorkel tour. This was pretty good - we went to two snorkeling spots, saw some dolphins frolicking went to an ocean beach to get battered by the waves some. Being out on the water was great, and the snorkeling in the first location was decent. The second location was cloudy and not much to see. They took us to lunch at this place that was overpriced and the food was barely edible. I over paid for boiled veggies, that were supposed to be in a garlic sauce.
The red frog beach, our final stop on this day tour, was neat, because we walked across the island at a narrow place, and even saw some red frogs. I think the kids drugged them, to try and earn some pennies.

so why rush off to Panama?

As a guest in Costa Rica, you have a visa good for 90 days. Then, to remain in the country, you need to step out for 72 hours. The easiest way to do this is to go visit the neighboing countries of Panama or Nicaragua. I was curious about Panama, especially the Boquete area, which many travellers had told me about, and also about the Bocas del Toro area, which is supposed to be a nice beach town. When Linda said she would be going with her son Eli, I decided to join them. We decided to take busses through the country, to see a part of the country we haven't seen before. We went from Paraiso (the next town) to Turrialba, to Siquirres, to Puerto Limon. We missed a few quick connections, and realized we weren't going to make it to the border before they closed at 5:00, so we decided to head for Bri Bri for the night. Puerto Limon and Bri Bri were not exactly my favorite places. By 4:00 we were in Bri Bri, which had exactly two restaurants and almost nothing else. We got up early, and got the bus to the border in Sixaola, where you walk across a bridge into Panama. Eli is pictured on the bridge as we began the journey. From there, we took a taxi to a boat dock, where a water taxi service leaves 3 times a day for Bocas del Toro, an island in the Carribean very close to the mainland. En route, we saw some wildlife, and a couple of guys in the handmade dugout canoes.

a gringo thanksgiving

I wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving in my new home. Last year, undecided, I had dinner in a restaurant with a couple of other travellers, and some dried cranberries. I was pretty clear I didn't want to do that again, but I didn't have any invitations. So I decided, hey, I have a house, I can have something here!, and started inviting people. Then Ed and Lidia invited me. At that time, I only had three confirmed people, so I asked if I could bring them. Yes. Then I check back, and the list of confirmed had grown to about 14. Oops. Don't know if I can bring THAT many, and one person has a schedule conflict, she has to work in the morning. ED & Lidia's was to start at 11:00. I had timed out mine for the afternoon. We had a great time, and had everything. I made sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, tofu turkey (kindof like a funny shaped stuffing) cranberry chutney and apple pie. People brought the real turkey, salad, a pumpkin pie, ice cream, whipped cream, fruit jello mold, stuffing, stuffed platanos, gravy and things to drink. Everything was delicious, and we all had a good time. I forgot to take photos, but the biggest blessing was my friend Rosario, who stayed to help clean up - this was great, because I needed to pack because I would be leaving early the next morning for Panama.

"halloween" in Orosi

In Costa Rica, they don't really celebrate Halloween, technically, it is still mostly seen as a "pagan devil holiday" that this Catholic country does not recognize. However, with the influence of so many gringos (and their children) in this culture, Halloween is gaining in awareness and popularity. You can find decorations, costumes and Halloween cards in some of the malls. And, the country has officially moved the 2nd of November to October 31st.

Sorry, that IS worded a little strangely. The 2nd of November doesn't really have a holiday name, per se, (or if it does, I have not seen or heard it!) but it is celebrated here as a holiday acknowledging national traditions, and the way it is celebrated includes parades and parties, with traditional costumes and masks playing a big part. Some are those oversized papier mache puppet head masks mounted on those metal frames that make the person wearing it appear 10 feet tall. Earlier in the week, the province capital's museum gallery was hosting an exhibition of masks with information about the tradition. Parades are really big here - they happen for many holidays and everyone gets involved. Ad-hoc or real bands from the schools have adult "guest" members, the smallest kids are all dressed up, and "perform" something choreographed simply, (this parade featured them waving their right arms together, then left arms together in a sweeping motion in time with the music) and there is also usually a group of men on horseback, loosely costumed like caballeros (cowboys). OK, some had hats. To begin most parades, Jesus (one of the church statues) is hauled in a brightly painted oxcart by a trussed up pair of oxen. (Bless this mess?) After this parade, which went around a four square block area, with all the people walking alongside and behind, there was a fireworks show, and then traditional foods were sold in a pavillion in the local school yard to benefit the school. These foods included beans and rice, arroz con leche (aka rice pudding), chicken in rice, pork and rice, the ever-present chayote, and some kind of grilled dead animal on a stick. Costa Rican cuisine leaves something to be desired. Maybe its "imagination"?

No trick or treating at present, although I offered to my girlfriend's son, that if he came to my house in a costume, I would give him candies - and perhaps the gringos with kids have Halloween parties (who else remembers bobbing for apples?), but this culture has pinatas at every kid's party, (Smack a box on a string hard enough, and the candies rain down on you!) so trick or treating would pale by comparison. I just put on some eye makeup, had a brownie and a cup of tea, and watched a "scarey" movie at home.

too much cuteness to resist!

What else would you get when you put gorgeous little girls together with puppies?

Magaly brought her daughters over the other day to play with the puppies. I quickly took advantage of the photo op!



These puppies desperately NEED to find homes! They are in that "into everything" stage, and I am chasing them out of the garden and feeling like the wicked witch of the west. As I write this, the male is sleeping on the doormat after spending the last half hour chewing it to bits.

the birthday party for Sigifredo and Margoth

My landlord/housemate Sigifredo turned 50 on the 6th of October, and a good friend Margoth turned 44 on the 5th. (She gave me a 50th party at her house last year) I decided to throw a combined party for the two of them to celebrate the occasion.
Shopped, cooked, cleaned, borrowed chairs and coffee maker and somehow over 30 people managed to fit in my house. Sigifredo invited friends, neighbors and family, and some of my friends came as well. At the last minute, he hired a local singer who dressed in Mariachi but sang all kinds of things (ballads, pop songs, ranchera, happy birthday) and everyone seemed to have a good time.
Pictured are Dona Emilse (Sigifredo's mother) Sharon, the singer, and other family members;



Linda and her son Eli;

Nano faking it with the guitar;






Herman in the mariachi hat, with wife Deborah and son Elian;









Dona Luz, Viviana and Fran,













and Sigifredo and Margoth with the cake. We tried to put 94 candles over two cakes, and almost burned the place down - the candles caught really quickly, and as we sang cumpleanos feliz, Margoth is sprinkling the cake with her drink to quench the fire!

more on the trout farm

There are about 6 primitive buildings on the property: two chicken houses, three cabins and a rancho (a kitchen and dining area). There is also a little kitchen area that services the trout farm. A Tico day trip is to go to a trout farm, catch some trout, and cook them there for a family picnic. The yellow building is on the adjacent property. It is the only neighbor you can see.

All of the buildings here have electricity, water to them and concrete floors or foundations. The buildings could be easily updated into cabinas that are welcoming, and beautiful. Some of the materials, like the cana (a type of bamboo) and roofing could be reused. All the buildings have nice views.

There is also a large cleared area close to the front where I would want to build a large guest facility/meeting space with a professional kitchen. I can't wait to go back again, and walk over the entire property, to learn exactly where all the boundaries are, and to start thinking about where I will plant what.

The last orchid and the Cachi finca

Here is the last of the completed paintings. (for now) When last pictured, this one had only a few spots, and lacked some details.

My neighbor Francesco knew about a couple of fincas (farms) for sale in the town he grew up in, Cachi. Located in the Orosi Valley, Cachi is about 15 minutes from Orosi by car, and has the dam where water is stored for use by the electric company. This looks like a big lake on the valley floor.

Cachi is a small town, quiet and slow. The area that skirts off to one side, is the barrio (neighborhood) called Penas Blanca (there should be a tilde over the n). It winds through a narrow canyon, is bordered by two rivers, and has hills surrounding for privacy and a few views across the valley.

I have always liked the tranquility of this area, and have posted photos earlier where my friend Bill has his finca. I went to see this one farm which has its own water, much of which is routed into ponds for farming trout. They are very healthy, swimming around together in their circles. This farm has 7.5 acres, and five primitive buildings which could easily be updated. Electricity and telephone are also there. It is a really beautiful place, with enough space to do everything I would want.

The owner is an older gentleman, who has taken very good care of the place. He also grows orchids, and has an impressive collection. The one pictured here is a late bloomer, as the season has been over since April. The sale includes all the orchids growing on the property. I am not sure, but I think a tractor is also included. The orchids alone on the US market would fetch several thousand.

This property is very fairly priced at $75K, and I am looking for a partner/investor who wants to co-own it and help me with the tourism and re-forestation projects.

update on the painting progress

These are the latest paintings that I am working on.

The ones you have seen before, that are further down, are shown here now completed.

There are now a total of 7 finished, and and three in progress.

I have decided I will do a show of them in the province capital, Cartago, once I get them framed.

Still not sure if I want to sell them, (not ready to let them go yet) and, besides, I would have to charge too much.

another finca in La Flor

La Flor is this really pretty little town up pretty high overlooking Cachi. Past Birrisito on the road to Turrialba (for those of you with maps), it boasts a small, nice community, cool fresh air, and awesome crumbly black volcanic soil.



This property is about 17,000 meters (a little over 4 acres if I did the math right) and is currently planted in tomatoes, which are being harvested. It also has a little funky wood house (translated, this means electric and water already on the property), a couple of orange orchards, and a private road that goes down half the property.



The property is a gentle grade, with a couple of areas further down the mountain that would be good building sites. (thats a little unusual in these parts too, many things are "supervertical"). It is also priced affordably. I am thinking really hard about this one. I could live on premises in the funky house while I build. From the top, the view, looking left, then right, the house and a view of almost the whole finca from the top.

Jessie and the puppies

This is SO wierd, this little white, brown and black terrier dog named Camilla belonging to my landlord had two puppies. Jessie wasn't involved in any way (we suspect the little macho mini doberman down the street!) but here are the babies pictured with her, at about 4 weeks.

where are we?

Here is a photo that my neighbor Jordan Holtam took from the air over Orosi.
I marked a few things on it in Photoshop, and the X is the football field, which is the center of any town, even if it isn't exactly geographically. Most of the green hills surrounding the town are planted in coffee, which are shaded by fruit trees.
The coffee grown here is incredible. I wasn't much of a coffee drinker before, but now, its every morning.