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NewsParadise From Ojochal, Post and Beyond April 2008

Updates from the

here have been several changes in Tour area in the past three months. We’ve seen the addition of another grocery store in Uvita along with the governments, NGO’s and institutes of opening of two bank branches (Banco crime investigations. National and Banco de Costa Rica). The Also, according to La Nacion, Hospital de Osa has recently opened Costa Rica’s Public debt has had a along the Costanera and seems to have spectacular reduction over the last 5 increased their ambulance fleet. We years, from 60% of the GDP to 43% anxiously saw one racing toward Ojochal in 2007. The lower debt arises from Does Pam catch a sail- last week only to find out they were a combination of factors, including heading to Joel Yoder’s roadside baked production growth, lower interest rates, fish? Find out on Page 8 goods stand. and restricted government spending. The delightful Shelagh Duncan The impact of the lower public debt has and her husband Bruce have opened resulted in lower interest rates on loans their shop, Royal Palm Interiors, at for housing, as well as increasing the the entrance to Ojochal. The plaza is government’s ability to invest more on Inside this issue also home to Maryanne’s successful roads, schools, and hospitals. The image clothing boutique, “Samoa”, Dr. Ellen’s of a healthier economy continues to Updates from the Osa 1 chiropractic office and Rhonda’s holistic attract foreign investment. Restaurant Review 2 healthcare business. We’ve heard she The Costa Rica Confidence gives excellent massages. Also, an Index –0.0 to 3.0 range– for the Pejibaye 2 extensive furniture store has opened government has increased from 2.36 Road Improvements 3 up in Uvita with a wide assortment of in August 2007 to 2.55 in March 2008, the highest point since January 2003. Telecom in Costa Rica 3 outdoor and indoor furniture as well as a selection of mattresses. A new coffee The index is the average of a general Green Leaf Arts 4 shop has opened next to Crocodive, evaluation of the government regarding Costa Ballena Beaches 4 Cafesito. We haven’t checked it out yet whether or not it discriminates among but the story on the street is that they sectors, is efficient in public spending, Isla del Coco 5 make their own delicious breads and are its officials are honest, and it is able to Lost Treasure of 5 closed on Sunday and Monday. solve the problems of the nation. Hammerhead 6 The recent news about Costa Rica includes: the Latin Business New Neighbors 7 Chronicle of March 2008 reported that [email protected] Tour Pictures 8 the Latin Security Index has identified Costa Rica as the safest country in News from Pacific Lots 9 Latin America followed closely by Letter from the Mayor 9 and Uruguay . The Latin Security Index Thank You Note 9 measures the danger level in Latin America based on homicide rates as well as other factors affecting corporate security and the safety of foreign business executives. The ratings are based on official numbers from public security secretariats, local politics, Traffic Jam in Costa Rica Paradise Post

years, Tilapias el Pavon is a popular as dinner and close on Fridays during spot for locals and visitors. Considering the green season. The meal is very filling its virtually hidden location it’s quite and costs about $6. a testament to its appeal and to our They do on occasion serve telegraph. chicken as an option. We did not have a Your visit starts with the chance to try it since it was not available charming Manuel asking if you would on either of our visits but I trust it would prefer that his nephew catch your dinner be delicious as well. or if you’d like to fish for it yourself; in Across the street is Cascadas el which case he’ll hand you a rod and Pavon that is a popular swimming spot send you on down to the tilapia ponds. at the base of a waterfall. After lunch you’re welcome to park in their lot and f you’re looking for a menu with lots On our visits we chose the lazy way and walk down. Iof options then Talapias el Pavon is sat in the shade sipping our cervezas not for you. If fresh and tasty tilapia while awaiting our catch. makes your mouth water you won’t be They offer either fried fillets of disappointed. Just a few miles south fish or they will also fry the entire fish of Ojochal, watch for the sign along (for the less squeamish). The tilapia the highway on your left just before a dish includes white rice with small bits bridge. Take the left and follow the road of red pepper, boiled yucca, crisp and as it traverses the river and head inland salty fried plantains and a side salad toward the mountains. You’ll find the with chopped tomatoes reminiscent of restaurant on your right about 4 miles those from our summer garden in New up the road England. Tilapias el Pavon serves wine Owned and operated by the and beer along with sodas and juices. Moro Vargus family for the past 5 They are typically open for lunch as well

Pejibaye it has been cultivated and distributed Sopa de Pejibaye Recipe (Palm Fruit by Indians from ancient times and is so Soup) commonly naturalized that its natural 10-12 pejibayes By Tricia Stapleton boundaries are obscure. It is not as 3 cups chicken stock ejibaye , a relative of the coconut, common anywhere else in Central 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil Pis one of Costa Rica’s most unusual America as Costa Rica, though it is fairly 3 cups milk treats. Pejibayes, also known as peach abundant in Nicaragua, Honduras and 1 onion chopped palms because of the way they grow in , and has long been grown in 3 cloves garlic chopped or pressed clusters on palm trees, are like miniature commercial plots in Panama to furnish 1 red, yellow or green sweet pepper. . The part that you eat would fruits for local markets. salt and fresh ground black pepper to correspond to the fibrous husk, while Undamaged, raw fruits kept in taste the hard pejibaye seed, when cracked good condition in a dry atmosphere with open, reveals a thin layer of bitter white good air circulation store well. Roughly Wash and boil the pejibayes until soft meat around a hollow core. The bright handled and bruised fruits ferment in (about 45 minutes). Remove from the orange or red pejibayes are delicious only 3 to 4 days. The cooked fruits, as water, and when cool enough to handle, boiled in salted water, then peeled, commonly marketed, can be held for peel and core them. Puree the pejibayes halved and pitted and eaten alone, with 5 or 6 days. In refrigerated storage at with the chicken stock. mayonnaise or any other favorite dipping 35.6° to 41°F (2°-5°C), uncooked fruits Sauté the onion, garlic, and sauce. You’ll see them sold in markets can be kept for 6 weeks with a minimum pepper in the oil until the onions are here in the south pacific zone usually of dehydration or spoilage. clear, then combine all the ingredients in starting in April. Their flavor is difficult to a stock pot and simmer for another 5-10 describe. They are not sweet, but more minutes. a combination of chestnut and pumpkin with a thick, fibrous texture. You can buy Coming soon to Uvita – Starting May 10 a racimo (bunch) of raw pejibayes and a new feria/market will be taking place boil them up for parties, or you can buy every Saturday at Rincon de Uvita the them in markets fresh from the boiling new soccer/sports complex in central water to eat as you please. Uvita. With a great mix of local farmers, This useful palm is apparently artisans and lively entertainment this indigenous to Amazonian areas of will be a great place to connect with the , , Peru and Brazil, but community every Saturday from 6 -1. Paving from to Dominical to Start Soon Paradise Post onavi, the National Council of Roads rerouting the highway around the towns Cin Costa Rica, has reported that the of Quepos, Hatillo and Matapalo. They paving contracts are completed and have also been busy constructing seven paving of the stretch between Quepos new bridges along the route, replacing and Dominical is expected to begin the old single lane bridges in Paquita, in September, 2008. Pedro Castro, , Hatillo, Matapalo, Tres Rios, deputy minister of Public Works, says Sevegre and Portalon. We are happy the contracts call for an asphalt layer of to say nearly all of these bridges are 10 centimeters thick (3.9 inches). The nearing completion. new stretch will be four lanes in some Travel time from Ojochal areas and two lanes in others, allowing to Quepos and Manuel Antonio will passing zones at various places along be cut from nearly three hours to the way. Each lane will be 3.65 meters about an hour. The road bed is being New bridge nearly complete in San Buenas wide (12 feet) and each side of the road constructed to handle heavy truck traffic will have a 5 foot shoulder as well. in anticipation of the rerouting of north This is the final section of the south truck traffic along the coastal Costanera Sur to be completed, a 222 route. This will alleviate much of the kilometer project connecting Barranca, truck traffic in the central valley of San and Palmar Norte, Osa. Jose and along the mountain route Two companies have been working 2, Cartago to San Isidro Del General, for the past 18 months widening the known as the “path of death”. The new road, laying the gravel road bed and road will allow heavy traffic to follow the constructing sewers, drains, bridges coastal route north, south, cutting travel and culverts. These same two firms time and avoiding the high mountain were tasked with widening, grading passes found on the current route of the and straightening the road as well as Pan American highway. New bridge taking form next to old one lane bridge in Parrita

Current Telecom Situation in Costa Rica oreigners are often surprised to learn Costa Rica and 001 is the country code both landline, ADSL and cellular wireless Fhow advanced the telecom network to call the US from Costa Rica. Costa modems. Cellular wireless services is in Costa Rica. Rica has a 911 emergency network, cost about $16 USD per month. ADSL All internet traffic goes through much like the US. Costa Rica is very runs $19 USD per month for speeds of the state owned monopoly, Instituto technically savvy, with nearly 80% of 256kBs/128kBs. A variety of services Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE). all software development companies are available, topping out at 4096kBs At this point ICE still has a monopoly operating in Latin America located here. down and 768kBs up speed, at a cost of on landline, cellular and most data Cellular phone service through $169 USD per month. Fiber Optic cable transmission in Costa Rica but the ICE runs about $8 USD per month for spans the country though it is not readily telecom arena is due to open up to unlimited in-country calling. Pay phones available for use yet. Point to multi point international competition when the are widely available and with the use of microwave is in use via the Central recent ratification of CAFTA (Central a ICE phone card available throughout American Microwave system and Costa American Free Trade Agreement) is put the country you can call the US for about Rica has two intelsat satellites and two into full force. 15 cents per minute. VoiP telephone submarine cables. Cable Tica and Amnet Presently Costa Rica has one services are also widely available using offer cable internet services. of the highest numbers of phones Skype, Vonage and other providers. Most Costa Rica has 13 television per capita of any country in Latin cell service is offered on a GSM system stations as well as wide availability to America as well as a high percentage and Costa Rica has been able to skip services like Direct TV and cable TV. You of internet access. With the recent much of the generation of wire line can still watch your favorite stations passing of CAFTA, ICE released millions services, opting to build out their cellular in English in of new cell phone and wireless internet network instead. Costa Rica, numbers. Costa Rica recently added a Internet usage in Costa with full new digit to all phone numbers within Rica was available to about 27% of access to the country, you must now dial a 2 after the population as of August 2007 channels like the area code (506) to call a land line but that number is increasing very ESPN and number and an 8 before the number for rapidly. Nearly 1.8 million users now the major US a cell phone. 011 is the country code for have online access. Assess is through networks. Paradise Post Green Leaf Arts & Artesania

reen Leaf Arts & Artesania has a surprising assortment of beautiful pieces in what Gdeceivingly looks to be a small shop. They offer a great selection of quality local art and indigenous crafts. The shop has been in the Ventana Plaza in Ojochal for the past 3 years and is owned by Kumari Lefebvre, orginally from Montreal. Green Leaf carries wood products made from exotic, recycled local woods of various sizes from small vases to large bowls. They also have original paintings by Costa Rican artists and intriguing hand crafted masks. They carry works by the Guamy, Malaku as well as the Boruca tribes. In addition, Green Leaf offers a variety of beautiful handmade jewelry as well as the best selection of books, CDs and maps in the area. Items from Green Leaf make great gifts as well as beautiful additions to any home décor. The next time you’re in the area be sure to stop in.

The Beaches of Costa Ballena

currents here is an overview of the most It’s ideal for kayaking and swimming. visited and most beautiful beaches of Here it is common to see fishermen Costa Ballena (Whale Coast). going about their daily chores. It offers a Playa Dominical is known for great opportunity to purchase fresh fish. being one of the best places to surf Playa Ventanas is a beautiful in the world. It’s the only beach with beach with rock formations and huge restaurants and hotels alongside. Due caves that can be explored during low to its strong currents and undertow, it tide. It has a small bay, perfect for is the only beach that has lifeguards on swimming. It’s accessed via a lovely duty. flower lined path and a few colones allow Playa Dominicalito is accessed you to park at the casita off the road. via the entrance before the restaurant Playa Tortuga is accessible “La Parcela”. It’s a rocky beach worn by during low tide and consists of gray the current to resemble a volcanic lava sand ideal for long walks enriched by flow. It has calm waters and beautiful panoramic views of the Osa Peninsula. scenery. The beach is part of the Térraba river Playa Hermosa offers miles of mouth, and during September and fine sand bordered by an old shaded October different species of marine coastal pathway. The current is calmer turtles go there to lay their eggs. There than other beaches. are strong currents which make it Playa Uvita is situated North dangerous from swimming. of Ballena Park. It’s one of the most Some of these beaches are part of the National Park system and require Playa Hermosa beautiful beaches in the region extending almost 9 miles long offering a small fee which goes toward providing he beaches of Costa Ballena the chance to walk around the illustrious and maintaining sanitary services. Your T(Dominical to Ojochal) are some “whale tail” (or “Tómbolo” in Spanish), ticket is valid for same day visits to the of the most beautiful in the country. which can be seen only during low tide. other beaches in the National Park It’s an area where the rainforest and Playa Arco is a small lost system. mountains nearly extend to the coast paradise of waterfalls, wildlife and and sands range from chocolate brown soft sands, ideal for those in search of to cinnamon beige. This stretch of tranquility. It is only accessible through land is a principal location for surfing, the right hand side of Playa Ballena at sportfishing, whale watching, swimming low tide. and beach strolling. During low tide Playa Ballena is located in the Tòmbolo, a striking rock formation which heart of Ballena Marine National Park, is perfectly shaped like a whale’s tail, where it is often possible to walk for can be seen between Playas Hermosa miles upon its endless beaches without and Uvita. spotting another person. Small and large with huge Playa Piñuelas has calm waters Playa Ventanas waves and protected coves with light and marine caves that form a small bay. photo by Georg Kiechle Isla del Coco National Park Paradise Post ered by a Spanish explorer in 1526. ftentimes compared to the Gala- sharks in the world are consistently Shortly thereafter explorers and pirates pagos , Isla del Coco is a reported there. Encounters with dozens O used the as a place to stop on National Park over 300 miles off the if not hundreds of these and other large their journey to restock on food and southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica. It’s animals are nearly certain in every dive. fresh water. Ships’ names are carved been designated as a UNESCO World has called it the most into the rocks on the North Eastern part Heritage site and is currently ranked 7th beautiful island in the world. of the island lending credibility to a his- behind Mount Everest and the Amazon The island was formed by the tory of intrigue and plunder. According River on New7Wonders’ list of the top same tectonic interaction that has cre- to legend, from the 17th to mid-19th non man-made Wonders of the World. ated the Galapagos archipelago. It’s centuries, such bandits as William Davis, Isla del Coco (also called Cocos summit is 2000 feet above sea level and William Thompson, and “Bloody Sword” Island) has a land mass of 24 square it’s blanketed in dense forest with steep Bonito buried treasures on Cocos. Any- miles. It’s dominated by dense, one who unearths Thompson’s lush tropical rainforests, much Lima Booty will have to make like those seen in Costa Rica’s space in their safety deposit south Pacific mainland rainfor- box for the gold and silver bars, ests. However, the island lacks church artifacts, and solid-gold the high levels of diversity seen in Virgin Mary statue (see story mainland forests because of its below). The history of Isla del isolation. Coco and the prospect of dis- The island is home to covering hidden treasure have three endemic birds and many fueled explorers and imagina- also roost and nest on tions for centuries. More than this island. Great blue herons, 500 booty pursuing expedi- green herons, and peregrine tions have failed and Robert falcons can also be found on the Louis Stevenson’s in certain seasons. As on Island was inspired by the lore. many isolated islands, there are Permission to enter Co- no native . The only cos Island National Park must mammals on the island, which include cliffs framing the perimeter. The island is be granted by the park service (admis- deer, goats, rats, cats and pigs, were also covered with more than 200 spec- sion is $15, 506-2283-0022). There are introduced by explorers. On their return tacular waterfalls, some spilling directly no overnight accommodations on the voyages, these animal populations into the ocean. island and camping is strictly prohibited. provided a useful meat source for the Only several hundred visitors To get there most tourists use the ser- hungry seamen. take the relatively costly voyage to Cocos vices of a tour company. Forbes Traveler in August of Island annually, either by cruise or char- To cast your vote for the next 2007 named Isla del Coco one of the top tered yacht, and a significant portion of New 7 Wonders of Nature check out 10 dive spots in the world and the PADI them come to use this natural laboratory www.new7wonders.com . Winners will network ranked #6. Some for scientific endeavors. be announced in 2010. of the largest schools of hammerhead Isla del Cocos was first discov-

The Great Treasure of Lima piracy, convicted, and hung -- all except he most famous Cocos hoard of all sail around with the treasure stowed for Thompson and his first mate, who Tis the “Great Treasure of Lima.” In aboard his ship the Mary Dear, until the agreed to lead their captors to the stolen 1820, as José de San Martín advanced political situation improved. At the time it goods if their lives were spared. Soon on Lima, the Spanish Viceroy realized he was worth between $12 and $60 million after they stepped on Cocos under an had better remove the stores of gold and and was too great a temptation to armed guard they escaped into the silver under his command. Officials of Thompson and his men. Out of sight of jungle and were never found. According the Spanish churches in the city agreed land, they cut the throats of the Viceroy’s to some versions of the story, the pair about their ecclesiastical riches, which appointed guard, tossed their bodies were later picked up by a whaler and included a solid-gold, gem-encrusted, overboard, and made haste to Cocos, taken to Puntarenas where the mate life-size image of the Virgin Mary. where they duly buried the treasure. contracted yellow fever and died. William Figuring that hiding this wealth Thompson and his crew decided Thompson seems to have anywhere near Lima would be foolish, to split up until things simmered down, vanished shortly the Viceroy entrusted it to William then meet to divvy up the spoils. But thereafter, and there Thompson a British sea captain, a not long after leaving Cocos, the Mary is no indication that known and respected trader. The Dear was picked up by a Spanish man- he ever returned to Viceroy’s plan was to have Thompson of-war. The crew was put on trial for Cocos Island. Paradise Post Hammerheads can grow to to sunlight, a feature shared by pigs 20 feet long and can weigh as much and humans. Tanning occurs when a as 1,000 pounds. They have a spiral hammerhead is in shallow waters or shaped intestinal valve which means close to the surface for long periods. that food will pass through the intestines It may be hard to believe but at a remarkably slow pace. This in May 2007 scientists discovered that makes it impossible for hammerhead hammerhead sharks can reproduce sharks to eat often, and their growth asexually through a rare method known rate is therefore very slow. They save as parthenogenesis, as they have the energy by not swimming around a lot. ability to fertilize their own eggs. At first hen I was in the sixth grade my Hammerheads are the most negatively the announcement was considered Wteacher asked me to write a report buoyant of sharks. The liver of a skeptically, since a female can on my favorite animal. Don’t ask why is filled with oil store sperm inside her for months, even but I didn’t write about my beloved cat, that has a lower density than water. years, but it was confirmed throughDNA the popular dog, polar bear or tiger. I This provides enough buoyancy for the testing that the pup lacked any paternal wrote my paper about the hammerhead hammerhead to float in the water rather DNA. This is the first documented case shark. Perhaps I was an odd child but than swim. They often look very gracious of any shark doing this. the hammerhead (not just any shark) when they float around, slowly scanning Hammerheads are considered has always intrigued me. Is it the way the bottom for food. dangerous but are normally not they silently glide in the depths of the Hammerheads can sometimes aggressive toward humans, in fact most ocean to sneak up on prey? Maybe it’s form schools that contain up to 500 incidents with humans are probably the way they look at you from a couple individuals, which is very unusual for defensive after the shark was surprised of very odd angles. Whatever sharks. They only school during the day or frightened. Few attacks have been the reason, 30 years later I’m and always spend the nights separated recorded but I wouldn’t recommend doing my second report on the from each other. There seems to be an sneaking up on one and yelling “boo”. hammerhead shark. I hope it will established order of dominance in be slightly better written. every school, where the “rank” of Hammerhead sharks are each individual hammerhead The found in warm tropical and subtropical shark is determined by size, waters along continental shelves and age and sex. coastlines all over the world. They seem Hammerheads Hammerhead to prefer staying in regions which have pinnacles or sea mounts which reach Shark from great depths practically to the water’s surface. Which could explain why they collect around Isla del Coco. All hammerheads have a eat skates, projection, like a flattened hammer, on stingrays, squid, each side of the head with eyes and octopus, fish (sardines, nostrils at the tips of the extension. herring, tarpon, jacks, grouper, The wide-set eyes give them a better flatfish), crustaceans and on visual range than other sharks. The occasion other hammerhead hammer-shaped head also gives these sharks. They are particularly sharks larger nasal tracts, increasing the found of rays and will use the chance of finding a particle in the water “hammer” to pin the ray down while by at least 10 times as much as other eating the wings bite by bite but don’t ‘classical’ sharks. Like all sharks they hold it against them. have echolocation sensory pores and The average lifespan is 20-30 the hammerhead’s are distributed over years. Reproduction occurs once a year “Those who dwell a wider area allowing them to sweep for and can produce as many as 55 pups. among the beauties prey more effectively. These sharks have Once the pups are born the parents do been able to detect an electrical signal not stay with them and they are left to and mysteries of the of half a billionth of a volt which allows fend for themselves. earth are never alone or them to detect, among other things, the A couple of interesting electrical fields created by prey animals. facts about hammerheads include; weary of life.” Rachel Latest research also shows that these hammerheads are one of the few Carson sharks can make use of the earth’s creatures in the animal kingdom to magnetic field during their migrations. acquire a tan from prolonged exposure Welcome to the Neighborhood e’d like to welcome Craig and Sue to our community. Craig is a graduate of the WUniversity of Massachusetts - Amherst and is an Assistant Vice President with American International Group (AIG) in Boston having had various responsibilities over the last ten years. Susan is a graduate of both the University of “Friendship im- Rhode Island and the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and is a proves happiness, pharmacist providing consulting services to several nursing home and abates misery, facilities in Southeastern, MA, Cape Cod and Nantucket. by doubling our Craig and Sue both grew up in Western Massachusetts and joys, and dividing later moved the Boston area for both educational and career pursuits. They our grief.” reside in Plymouth, MA with their three year old yellow Labrador retriever, -- Joseph Addison Fenway (hmm, do you think they’re Red Sox fans?). Their interests include travel, the outdoors, exercise and most importantly being near the ocean. They love the beach and wish they could snorkel and play golf a lot more than they do. Craig and Sue immediately fell in love with Costa Rica and are looking very forward to their future trips to take in more of it’s beauty, culture and most importantly, meet and spend time with their new neighbors. They can’t wait to take it all in.

largest Fraternal Benefit Society in the the financial services industry. She country, with nearly 3000 advisors and spent the past 15 years at General more than 2.5 million members. Before Electric, with 10 of those at GE Asset moving into financial services, Dave Management, where she held a number enjoyed a successful 14-year career as of positions, including Six Sigma a player, coach, and general manager Leader, Global Compliance Leader and in the European Professional Basketball most recently, Vice President of Client League, coaching in Spanish, French, Investment Management Services. Her and Dutch. Currently, Dave serves on responsibilities included all client facing the LIFE Foundation Board and GAMA’s interactions, ensuring delivery of the Executive Management Cabinet. Dave highest levels of service. e’d also like to welcome Dave is also an active member of LIMRA’s Dave and Erica are planning Wand Erica. Dave has been the Distribution Leader’s Round Table. Dave on retiring to Ojochal within the next Senior Vice President of Career Sales, is a graduate of Penn State University, few years and living out the next forty Long Term Care Division, for Genworth where he was captain of the basketball years together with lots of relaxation and Financial since December 2004. He team. In addition, Dave completed the sunshine. They can’t imagine a healthier joined the financial services industry Advanced Management Program of place to live, ... in a more peaceful in 1990 with Lutheran Brotherhood, the Wharton School at the University of setting! where he worked for 12 years. Starting Pennsylvania. off as an agent, and then General Agent, Dave was elected Chairman of Erica is SVP, and Head If you’d like to contact a new LB’s General Agent Advisory Council, of Relationship Management and owner or would like to be and after consecutive years leading Client Services at ING Investment introduced in an upcoming the Garden State Agency to Agency Management. In her role, Erica newsletter please contact us at of the Year honors, was inducted into brings together all of the elements [email protected] Lutheran Brotherhood’s Hall of Fame. of relationship management, as well As the Executive Vice President and as the operational aspects of client Chief Marketing Officer from 1998- service, in order to provide clients with 2002, LB experienced it’s three best seamless coordination throughout sales years ever, and merged with Aid the organization. Erica recently joined Association for Lutherans, forming the ING after 22 years experience in April 2008 Tour pictures

“I advise anyone traveling to CR to do so with a tour guide (we would have missed the most beautiful and impres- sive things if it hadn’t been for Steve).” ur April property tour was great. Not at the progress on the bridges as we The Oonly did we get to spend some drove down the Pacific coast. The new Southern region quality time with new friends and bridge in Parrita has beams laid and continues to honor neighbors, but the trip overall was just the bridge in San Buenas, south of Tres the three story plain fun. On this trip we elected to Rios, is nearly ready for pavement. We height restriction supply two girls’ orphanages in San tracked further progress on the new on all building and Isidro del General much needed sewing international airport, visited a few tougher zoning supplies and were very happy with the weeks ago by an international aviation requirements than tour group’s generosity (see note from committee who gave the progress a elsewhere in the country. As always Rhonda below). resounding two thumbs up. we’re meticulous about obtaining On our tour some of the couples We were also impressed all permits and carefully preserving in the group elected to sport fish out of with the number of new houses the environment (see a note from Quepos so we put them on our favorite going up in our developments. The the Mayor below). In fact, several boat. They boated a 250 pound black most recent count shows 77 custom developments have recently been shut marlin, about a half dozen sail fish homes in the design phase or under down due to environmental violations. and a nice catch of . All construction. That’s a lot of houses The area has successfully avoided the were let go unharmed except enough going up at once but each one looks over-development, high rises, septic tuna to feed our group. The Chef at more impressive than the last one. If issues, water shortages and billboard Villa Rio Mar prepared the tuna three you haven’t yet seen the new DVD we proliferation plaguing Guanacaste ways, appetizers of tuna carpaccio have recently released, you can request and the Nicoya Peninsula as well as with wasabi, diced pieces of tuna in a one by visiting www.pacificlots.com/ the central coastal region around sesame ginger marinate and a main DVDsignup.html. Jaco. Come see why the Southern Pacific course of tuna rolled in sesame seeds We’ve again been invited to the region is getting so much press and and lightly braised. Total cost per plate Ultimate Event, held by International attention before everyone else discovers of $5.00 including vegetable and potato Living at Cancun, at the end of it first. Once the new international feeding 12 of us for $60. How can you May. For information about this event, airport is opened, prices will never be beat it? Our next tour is scheduled for see http://www.internationalliving. this low. July 12th-21st. com/events/upcoming_events/wealth_ We were pleasantly surprised building_and_protection/ueiii/(promo)/ to see the new Hospital De Osa now event. [email protected] open for business. We also marveled 305-295-0137

Steve and Kristina, MUNICIPALITY OF OSA OFFICE OF THE MAYOR I would like to thank you and your group for being so generous

MUNOSA-2007 in your donations for the older girls orphanages. There were so I, Jorge Alberto Cole de Leon, in my position of Mayor of the many beautiful fabrics. Patterns Municipality of Osa indicate that in review of municipal registers from are hard to come by, so that was our Taxation office and others, Ventana Del Pacifico SA and associated great also. The sewing tools are corporations are up to date with payment of all municipal taxes and that they have complied with all requirements in their existing developments much needed too, as it is hard found in the County of Osa. Furthermore, they have always maintained to produce a set for each of the a good relation with this municipality. girls. The more that we have, the more we can teach them at Therefore, this municipality will extend building permits for any of these one time. I just want you to developments as long as the specific projects complies with all existing legislations know that I appreciate all of the trouble that you went to to bring Sincerely, these things. Your generosity and concern for these girls touched Alberto Cole de Leon our hearts. It is good to know

Mayor of Osa that people not even living in this country care as much as we do. CC: Archive Rhonda Bulkley