MARDI GRAS IN LATIN AMERICA.

MARDI GRAS IN LATIN AMERICA.

The big hype around here right now, is the "Carnival". Everyone is talking about it. Why not blog about it?  It is well known that the greatest parties in the world, comes to life in Latin America. No need to travel to Brazil or Louisiana to take part in the best pre-lent activities. It will be all happening right here, in some parts of Panama City. These annual carnival festivities are always set to begin each year, in the four days prior to Ash Wednesday. To my surprise, we are talking four consecutive days of observed Statutory Holidays, and was advised that banks, schools, and stores are all closed, including gas stations. It is when all work and seriousness comes to a stop. No kidding....Four days of partying, that will go on with the same fashion and abandon as Rio de Janeiro and New Orleans!  Parades, music, dance, chanting and drinking. Yes, it will  go on until  the wee hours of Ash Wednesday morning......
Here in Coronado Bay, where we are spending part of the winter, we were told to get ready and  stock up, for that period of time. Although we are only one hour away, some Panamanians from the City, will be flocking here, to their beach vacation condos,  just to get away from it all. We have already had a taste of how they enjoy their free time on the weekends since our arrival here  We definitely experienced more noise, latino music and more people around the pools and beaches on week ends. They sure know how to have fun. They dance, sing all night long, to then return to the big city on Sunday evening. 

It's been a while since I have reflected about Mardi Gras celebrations. Home as a child, I remember winter carnivals, which probably coincided with pre lenten activities. Actually, carnivals took birth in France, in the medieval Aira. The word carnival comes from Latin, "carnelevarium" that means remove meat. Of course.... "meat" in Spanish or Latin is "carne". Carne/Carnival. It is a vegetarian unfriendly custom to remove meat from ones diet until Easter.  Makes sense to me . A long time ago, ( did I just show my age?) for whom remembers, it was our religious custom to remove meats and only have fish, during the penitential season, prior to Easter. 
Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, also known as shrove Tuesday, is all about giving it all, before lent. In the 1700's it was custom, to slaughter the fatten cow, eat and be merry. Custom to eat all the fat that was left in the pantry before lent. 
For myself, having spent a few nights in New Orleans, I have absolutely no desire to be in the middle of the celebrating crowds of Panama, Brazil or NewOrleans on this night.  A little too much for me.
Mardi Gras is finally here, and in Coronado Bay, it was more quiet than expected. We will be joining the locals, expats, nomads and snow birds like us, to fireworks on the beach tonight, compliments of a firebug from Manitoba Canada. Who would of known?
Sorry, I have no photos to share on this blog. I guess, I will have to take out the camera and get something going for my next blog. Will it be birds? Trees? Will see.

Happy Mardi Gras!

PURA VIDA!

 PURA VIDA!

Well, our extended stay in beautiful Costa Rica has just expired. Although our  visit was pretty well limited to the region of Guanacaste, it sure was a great introduction to this small rugged rain forested Central American Country with coastlines on both Pacific and Caribbean side. Costa Rica is known for its black sand beaches, volcanoes and biodiversity. Roughly a quarter of this country is protected. Of all its five National Parks, we only got to visit Palo Verde and it is in our near future plans, to visit all of them on our next visit. Our stay here, was more than pleasant. On our arrival here, right at the very end of the rain season, I was pleasantly surprised to see all its lushed greenery. As I look today, two months later, the surrounding mountains have sure changed to its dry season colours of browns and yellows. Although the grounds here of our condo are manually watered by the gardener, some of the trees on this beautiful property are slowly becoming leafless. The condominium complex we are in, is very well designed, multiple little Spaniard villas of all sizes and shapes, blending together in its own unique way,  perfectly perched on a mountains edge, overlooking Coco Bay. Everywhere you look, is "eye candy". Flowers, palms, cascading pools, exotic birds, a vacationers tropical paradise. For those with a roof top or baconny unit, every sunsets brings a well mixed palette of fire colours. For us on ground level, the later afternoons, would bring a parade of swallows, swooping and skimming the water's surface of the pristine pool, just a few feet from our door. As the sun was getting ready to set, other little birds of paradise, would come to the edge of the whirl pool, to actually duck in and bathe. A pure delight to watch. As for the evenings it would bring my favourite sounds, crickets, waves crashing from the adjescent bay, a sonata of pure summer sounds. As for the mornings, other then the cry of the white winged doves, were the Howler Monkeys, parakeets, making their own presence heard. As early as five in the morning the sunrise would bring the sounds of human life. Ground keepers, gardeners, pool cleaners and the night security guards doing their final rounds. As you layed in bed, you could sometimes hear them chattering in Spanish. They all seem happy to be there, living the "Pura, Vida". 

For us, the beach was a short five minute walk down the hill, shopping, an other twenty to thirty minutes or so further.  The little town of Coco Beach offered many amenities. A large and most modern grocery store, restaurants that became bars at night time, a casino, lots of coffee and Tico souvenir shops, a pharmacy, spas and an abundance of touring companies, plus much more. Last but not least, what I immensely enjoyed, was the fresh organic fruits and vegetables locally grown, taking in extra exercise by getting around by foot, and above all, the people. Everyone, Ticos, Expats, visitors, all so kind, friendly and relaxed.  No wonder,  life expectancy here is ninety years of age. I am now leaving Costa Rica feeling great and rejuvenated. Pura Vida!  Viva Costa Rica!

Here, are my favourite photos collected, enjoy!