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NewsParadise From Ojochal, Post Costa Rica and Beyond April 2008 Updates from the Osa 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 Lima 5 closed on Sunday and Monday. solve the problems of the nation. Hammerhead Sharks 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 Chile 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 coconut 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 Guatemala, 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. coconuts. 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 Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil, but community every Saturday from 6 -1. Paving from Quepos 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, Parrita, 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.