La Negrita” , The ​Black ​Virgin ​of Costa Rica! - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #3

A  few weeks ago the "brothers" were back in town. My brother, Russell, was in CR for one month to attend the EF International Language Spanish Immersion School in Tamarindo, Costa Rica. After class he came down to Grecia to spend some time with us. Lavanson's brother Charles, who lives in Jaco Costa Rica, also came up to Grecia so we could all hang out together.

We were all sitting around one afternoon, (we also had a rental car in our possession) and someone said "let's go somewhere" so we up and drove to Cartago. 

We started the trip about 1pm in the afternoon, which really wasn't such a good idea, because it takes about 1 hr 30 mins to get there, which meant that we weren't going to avoid the rush hour traffic on the way home AND we would be driving home after dark. In Costa Rica most expats try their best to be off the road when it gets dark, especially if you are not used to driving here. This is because most roads and even the auto pista (the Costa Rica version of a freeway) are nothing like the roads and freeways in the states and because "doing so can be rather challenging. Quite often, it is pitch-black, there are no markings on the road, no guardrails, and no signs directing you to your destination. In the rainy season this can be even more dangerous. Depending on where you go, there might be no road surface, no bridges, or wide open precipices to fall into." This is not a hard and fast rule, but something to consider. 

Anyway, off we went. 

Cartago is about 16 miles east of the capital, San José. It is at an elevation of about some 4,707 ft, at the base of the Irazú Volcano. Cartago is the capital of Cartago province, and was the capital of Costa Rica from 1574 to 1824.

Our first stop was to the ruins.

The ruins of the Santiago Apóstol church in Cartago's central park, known as "Plaza Mayor".

me

Several churches have existed on this site since 1575. 

Russell

I'm thinking the church was NEVER meant to be. 😏

The first building was damaged in 1630 by an earthquake, and was demolished in 1656, when a new one began to be built, which was finished and consecrated in 1662. This second structure had two chapels, one used for praying and the other one for funerals, and both were safeguarded by the local townspeople. In 1718 the then old and deteriorated church was heavily damaged by another earthquake, leading to repairs. In 1756 another earthquake damaged the church, forcing further repairs. It was finally destroyed on September 2, 1841, by the San Antolín earthquake. In 1870 the last attempt to rebuild the church was started. The new parish was built and designed with a Romanesque style, the only one found in Costa Rica. The construction was halted for thirty years, and was restarted again in 1903 or 1904, before being completely canceled in 1910, after the Santa Mónica earthquake. So, they are not ruins in the strictest sense, since the church was never actually completed. 

Today it is a tourist destination, used as a public park, with occasional masses and was declared a "Historic Relic" on August 25, 1982.

Russell, Lavanson Charles

Next on to the Retro Cafe for a bite to eat.

Finally, making our way to the basilica. 

La Negrita, Costa Rica’s most sacred Holy Relic​ ​also known as the Black Madonna, the Black Virgin or the Black Stone, it is a small, black rock which appears to emanate the image of the Virgin Mary​ and is ​known for its healing powers, it draws an annual pilgrimage ​on ​August 2 ​to ​one of the most famous church’s in Central America, The Basilica of Los Angeles​. ​ All Costa Rican’s celebrate this unique holiday​ and ​ thousands of Costa Ricans make the journey to celebrate ​La Negrita​ ​the Patron Saint​ including the president of Costa Rica.

Legend has it that in Costa Rica, the Black Madonna statue was discovered by a Costa Rican girl in 1635, who was looking for firewood. Upon finding the statue, shaped like a doll, on top of a stone, she brought it home and when she awoke the next morning it was gone. Returning to the stone, there was statue. This, according to legend happened three times. In some telling, the little girl told the residing priest, Father Baltazar de Grado, and the same thing happened to the priest as well. Since then the legends have grown, and persisted.

La Negrita became the Patron Saint of Costa Rica in the year 1824 and was visited by the late Pope John Paul II in 1983.​ ​Because of this event that they called a ‘miracle’, a church was built around the boulder where the little Juana first found La Negrita.​ ​The stone statue she found it is now kept in a backroom in the basilica and is revered as a sacred relic and Holy symbol of inspiration for all Tico’s, and visited daily throughout the year by locals and visitors alike.

It became the Patron Saint of Costa Rica in the year 1824 and was visited by the late Pope John Paul II in 1983.

We made it to the church but when we looked up, we noticed how late it was getting (now around 5pm). No way to make it home now before dark. A light rain had begun to fall and the streets of Cartago were already showing signs of rush hour.  So we decided to come back another time to see La Negrita. We headed for the gas station and then began the long journey home. We missed our exit on 3 occasions and arrived home around 8pm (total distance 44 miles). 

Definitely worth going but next time...we go early!!

Here's our video below

Day Trip to Cartago, Costa Rica from Devon on Vimeo.

Blooms at Barons - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #3

On Tuesday we had our monthly womens meeting in Atenas at the beautiful Barons Resort. 

Atenas is the capital city of the canton of Atenas in the province of Alajuela in Costa Rica. 

I think in miles Atenas is only about 12 miles from Grecia but as is quite the norm in Costa Rica you follow a rather circuitous route to get there which doubles the mileage. A beautiful drive nonetheless. 

I have some video and more info to share with you re the resort.

It wins my stamp of approval!!!

I highly recommend it for folks looking for a beautiful place to stay in the Central Valley!!

If you have questions you can contact them directly at +506 7202 7156 and 

from the US 213-973-1173 

You can check out the resort below

Another Beautiful Resort in the CR Central Valley from Devon on Vimeo.

When the Power Goes Out - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #3

On Saturday morning we woke up at 5:15 am - Got out of bed and 5 mins later the power went out! Am I surprised? Hmmm Not any more. No rhyme or reason (to us anyway), but whatcha gonna do?? 

Well...you can take this time to go hang your shirts out on the line in the beautiful morning sun to "air out" (in spite of less rain this season - a small dehumidifier and several Damp Rids in the closet - clothes can still get a moldy odor especially if you don't wear them a lot) 

Power was out about 2 hours.

Round 2 - On Sunday Lavanson was out hanging more shirts and I noticed that he still has his "Yuroz" shirt! 

A walk down memory lane --

Yuri Yuroz is one of our favorite painters. We met him in person in San Francisco back in 2001 and have loved his work ever since. He even painted on the back of our T-shirts. Unfortunately, I do not know where mine is but Lavanson has kept up with his and it's still in good shape. Maybe we need to frame it! Framing is pretty reasonable here!

Yuroz is an internationally celebrated narrative painter / sculptor of Armenian descent and he was the official artist for the 35th Annual Grammy Awards (2017) for National Academy of Recording Arts and Science. 

I have several of his serigraphs.

Our Interview with The Black Expat - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #3

One of our goals for this site is to motivate and provide information to black people who are considering making a move to a new country -- so we were extremely honored to have been asked to share our journey to Costa Rica in feature interview with The Black Expat!

The Black Expat, is a digital platform that focuses on the experiences of black expatriates/immigrants and international living.

You can Check out our interview here

If you haven't visited their site please jump on over and check them out. They have lots of helpful information as well as videos and interviews with people who have made the move! Enjoy!

A Conversation w/Dr Carmen Hutchinson Miller Pt3 - What about us?

Video Pt 3- Conclusion
How much do Afro-Costa Ricans really know about the struggle of African-Americans?

“We didn’t want anybody telling us anything about Africa, much less calling us Africans. In hating Africa and in hating the Africans, we ended up hating ourselves, without even realizing it. Because you can’t hate the roots of a tree and not hate the tree. You can’t hate your origin and not end up hating yourself. You can’t hate Africa and not hate yourself.”

-Malcolm X

Below Story Source  Why Our African Identity Matters By Dwayne Wong (Omowale)

One of the challenges that people of African descent continue to face from the days of slavery is the question of identity.

Many of us still struggle with what we perceive to be conflicting national and ethnic identities. This is especially true in America where our historical experiences create what W.E.B. Du Bois described as a “double consciousness.” African Americans are a people that were ripped from the African continent and most still know very little about their African roots, so many African Americans simply do not see themselves as Africans. Yet, centuries of discrimination and being treated as second-class citizens has also taught African Americans that they still are not fully American either. In fact, the history of African Americans up until the present has largely been a history of struggling to be accepted by America.

photo credit source 

 This was largely done by design. The slave masters stripped Africans of their names, their languages, their culture and customs, and of their history. Not only this, but Africa has always been depicted as a negative place filled with savages and cannibals. Generations of African people living in the Americas only knew of Africa as the “Dark Continent.” Pro-slavery propaganda insisted that it was actually a benefit for an African to be taken away from their African homeland and this was a view even some Africans came to accept. 

We are the only group of people that came to the Americas by force. 
We did not leave Africa in search of a better life or in search of the American Dream. If anything, we actually lost a better standard of living by being taken to America.When the plague was devastating Europe, civilizations such as Mali and Songhai were thriving in Africa. Today we still view Africa as a “Dark Continent” which is filled with misery, poverty, and starvation. 

Secondly, we have the richest and most diverse background of any other ethnic group in the Americas. When we look at our historical roots we can trace them to various kingdoms such as Songhai, Mali, Asante, Dahomey, Kongo, Benin, Oyo, Futa Jallon and Kuba. Most African people in the Americas have a basic understanding of slavery and what that entailed, but our history is much more complex than that.

Finally, the term African is a term that connects African Americans to a global community of people of African descent that are connected by a common history and a common experience. Whether you are Jamaican, Guyanese, Trinidadian, Ghanaian, Nigerian, or Kenyan you have felt the sting of British colonialism. Haitians, Martiniquans, Senegalese, and Guineans have all felt the sting of French colonialism. Brazilians, Angolans, and Mozambicans have all suffered through Portuguese colonialism. And just about every group of African people in the world has experienced American racism in one form or another. The experiences may differ, but all people of African descent have been victimized by racism and oppression in one form or another.
I think one of the reasons why so many African people living in the United States and the Caribbean do not like thinking of themselves as African is because of the collective ignorance that many of us still have about our African roots and why those roots are important.

When the education system is geared mostly towards European history and culture, and the media depictions of Africa are still largely negative and misinformed, it’s easy to understand why many people of African descent would look at their own ancestral roots negatively.

Read the entire article here

"What about us?" My conversation with Dr Miller below

A Conversation with Dr Carmen Hutchinson Miller Pt3 from Devon on Vimeo.

Take Your Clothes Off - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr#2

This has been a surprising "change of season" - that's all I can say!!

We have seen critters and bugs that we never saw before. 

Believe it -- when they talk about the biodiversity here. 

It is REAL!!

So here's the back story - For the last few weeks I've had an extremely difficult time hanging clothes on the line or even sweeping the back driveway/patio area. Every time I go out, these small little bees swarm around me. They haven't stung me or anything, but they are truly annoying. I've been searching for the hive because in the past bees have made small hives on the eves of the roof over the patio. So far I have only spotted one hive which upon thorough examination, turned out to be a dead hive. However the other day our friend Mauricio was over and he saw a HUGE hive way up in the ficus tree. Mauricio is very familiar with the insects here as he gives hiking tours through the ridges etc.

I sent our landlord, Marcelo a photo of the hive and he said he would come over that day. (I think I've said this before, but we could not ask for a better landlord!) True to his word, with a smile on his face and still dressed in his work attire, he showed up later in the afternoon. (He works in San Jose (about an hr away, and even longer in rush hour) and he drove all the way to Grecia to help us) He took a look up at the hive and told us that although, we might be able to live with the bees, they can become aggressive, so better to get rid of them right away! Looking around for something long enough to use (and finding nothing), he excused himself and went next door to his sister's house and returned with his brother in law, Carlos, a long pole with a hook on it and a can of bug spray.

Here's what happened next -- and BTW - I was told that these bees will get into your hair and as you know I have plenty of hair, so I pretty much stayed inside the whole time. Like a true pioneer -- NOT!!

Take Your Clothes Off from Devon on Vimeo.

THANKS MARCELO!!!👏👏👏

What's Mud Got To Do With It? - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr#2

A few weeks ago, 7 of us took off for a relaxing 3 day weekend trip to the hot springs in Guanacaste. Our plan was 3 days - 3 hot springs.

Believe it or not, this was my FIRST time going to a hot springs.

I had never researched the benefits, but discovered that the springs are excellent for relaxation, health, and more. Hot springs, onsens, mineral baths, spa therapy—or whatever name you want to call them—have a rich history and are cherished in many parts of the world.  

The healing powers of hot springs have been used for thousands of years and are widely accepted in Europe and Japan as natural treatment options for various common ailments. The therapeutic use of water, or balneotherapy, could be just what the doctor ordered when it comes to relieving pain, stress, skin woes and more. Scientists from Japan, Europe, the Middle East, and elsewhere have long been studying balneology (or balneotherapy), which is the “treatment of disease by bathing” and usually in waters containing minerals. 

And...it has been said that, soaking in hot springs increases your blood flow, circulation, metabolism, and absorption of essential minerals. Plus, their waters could help “treat chronic digestive diseases, constipation, diabetes, gout, and liver complaints.” 

WOW! What took me so long?

Our 1st stop - Las Hornillas Volcano Hot Springs, located at the foot of the Miravalles Volcano. The admission cost was $25 per person for an all day pass. They have several different thermal pools (plus a sauna) with varying temperatures. One pool was so HOT that no human body could possibly stand it! They finally ran some cold water in it to cool it down, but it was never cool enough for me. 

The Miravalles Volcano  -  Guanacaste Costa Rica

Miravalles has been sleeping for centuries, except for a small steam explosion in 1946. It is Costa Rica’s only live volcano where you can walk around a crater, see and feel the smoke rising out from the boiling, muddy caldrons & steam vents. This volcano is known for its sulfur springs, fumaroles and bubbling mud pots sits 6.653 feet high and is the highest peak of the Guanacaste mountains.

BENEFITS of Taking a Mud Bath: 

The benefits of bathing in volcanic mud are many and varied. They include beauty benefits such as conditioning of the hair, exfoliation and softening of the skin, an improvement in circulation, and the alleviation of some skin conditions. It’s also very relaxing, resulting in a great feeling of calm. The possible health benefits include reducing inflammation, a balancing of pH levels, and the relief of joint and muscle tension. Source

Don't miss our video below!!!

What's Mud Got To Do With It? from Devon on Vimeo.

BENEFITS of Thermal Hot Springs: 

Boosts Blood Circulation

 Reduces Stress

Promotes Sleep

 Relieves Pain Naturally

 Solves Skin Problems

Oh What A Beautiful Morning - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

I bring you good news!

These are REAL clouds LOL

Firstly - I was sitting in my living room yesterday and I looked out the window at the beautiful puffy clouds and it reminded me how beautiful the sky used to look in the city where I lived in California. Over the last 30 years the beautiful blue sky has turned to milky white by the end of the day covering the sky in clouds. Most people have gotten so used to it that they have forgotten what the sky is suppose to look like. I will leave you to your own conclusions about what you think has happened.

I just wanted to say how happy I am to be in a country where the skies are still clear and beautiful!

Also, Mornings are my favorite time!

Every morning I go outside to sweep the patio and while I am out, I remind myself how blessed we are to be living in such a beautiful place. Peaceful, Blue Skies, Birds Chirping, Dogs Barking in the distance.

I started a new garden back in December so I have been taking snapshots of the flowers as they unfold and come into bloom. And do you remember that tiny little papaya tree grown from seeds tossed into the yard? Well it is getting so tall now.

Thought I would share some of the beauty with you in the short video below. 

Good Morning from San Luis de Grecia, Costa Rica from Devon on Vimeo.

Secondly - The Aspiring Expats Facebook page has reached 1,000 LIKES and over 1,050 Followers!!

Muchas Gracias for all your support! 

BUT...The biggest news of all is.....

The presidential election

Meet Costa Rica’s 48th President, Carlos Alvarado

Carlos Alvarado, a Progressive, age 38 (the youngest president elected in Costa Rica) won in a landslide over his opponent Fabricio Alvarado. One of the main campaign issues was over Gay rights. 

"The Inter-American Court on Human Rights’ (IACHR) on January 9th ruled that all 20 countries recognizing its jurisdiction should legalize same-sex marriage. Fabricio Alvarado, an evangelical journalist and singer, attacked the decision, threatening to withdraw Costa Rica from the court."

Thank goodness he lost!!!

saving the best for last

And even more good news is that....Drum Roll please!!!

Meet Costa Rica’s Vice President, Epsy Campbell

History was made last night: Epsy Campbell, a longtime presence in the Legislative Assembly and Citizen Action Party (PAC), has become the first female Afro-descendent vice president in Costa Rican history.

Pura Vida - Life is Good

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Dinner - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

We are back from another AMAZING Dîner en Blanc Costa Rica!!!

This event keeps getting better and better! This is only the 4th year for the event here in Costa Rica, so kudos to the team- they did a FABULOUS job!! 

In between events, I keep my eyes open for all things white. Some items for the table and some for myself to wear and to accessorize with. Since I actually like white clothing, I have built up quite a little wardrobe of white clothing pieces.  And...now that this year is a wrap, I have begun my search for next year. Yesterday, Verdette picked up some tree branches that we will paint and decorate for use as a centerpiece for next year. 

Another very important component of this fun event, besides the planning, is the packing up and the bus trip to the undisclosed location. While on the bus you can see everyone with eyes glued to the windows trying to guess where we are going. Of course for the locals it is much easier--- For us...not so much!!

This year, as the bus climbed higher and higher, I think a lot of people were still wondering where we were right up until we stepped off the bus!

Instructions & Location for 2018

• Remember: Le Dîner en Blanc is all about making friends! While you wait, interact with the other guests to see who will be sitting next to you. It’ll be easier for you to get settled once you reach the event location. 

• The chosen Dîner en Blanc location will be one of the most amazing spaces in the city, so we should all be dressed elegantly! Adding a hat, a mask, or a fascinator to your ensemble is not mandatory, but is highly recommended.

• Please make sure you bring layers of clothes because temperatures will drop at night! Be prepared - but always in white! 

***

Once we returned from the event, I discovered that I have a ton of photos and videos -- so, as not to

turn this video into a full length feature film, I am splitting it into 2 videos 

Please enjoy part one and see you tomorrow (or the next day for the 2nd part)

BTW - The DJ was fantastic and we loved the music 

All the music for both videos comes from the event playlist 

Where Are We? from Devon on Vimeo.

Magic Under the Stars in Escazú - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

We had a wonderful time. Truly a magical evening. 

More to follow....

Let There Be Light! - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

Probably just coincidence

but....

The photography lights I ordered finally arrived in Grecia for pickup!

ONLY TOOK TWO MONTHS!!

~Stuck in Customs~

On Monday I sent an email to my contact, Alonso at Aeropost in Grecia 

(that's the mail forwarding company which I ordered the lights through)

I advised them that I wanted to pay the tax and get my package now because had I known it was going to take this long, I would have just paid the $46 tax in the first place instead of opting for the tax exemption 

(which we are entitled to receive each year on up to $1,000 worth of goods)

I received no response back until Wednesday when Alonso wrote me back and said

"Mrs Davon - your package is here in the store ready for pickup."

Hmm...Well...however it happened -- I am happy that they are finally here.

So...

out of time now - but - when we return from the states 

I will take them out of the box and set them up

Then -- First up -- my L O N G overdue 

Fenty Beauty Makeup Review video!

 YASS! 

I Can Stand the Rain - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

Aside from a storm brewing in the Caribbean and skirting our coastline over the next several days, I enjoy the rainy season here. As a matter of fact, I wasn't even aware that there was a storm! It was pretty rainy last Sept, Oct and Nov so I figured it was all part of the "season".

 After arriving at the beginning of the rainy season in 2016 my goal was to just get through it. The season turned out to be longer than usual and when the dry season finally came, well, it was short lived and only stayed around for a few months and it was back to rain.

Costa Rica is a very diverse country and the rain is not the same all over the country. You can go here 
for more information on Costa Rica weather by area. 

What I discovered during the much awaited dry season was that nothing much changed in our lives except that we could go out in the afternoon after 1 or 2 pm without our umbrellas and without the threat of rain. However the downside was that our yard looked like shit! Our landlord made it worse by sprinkling fertilizer on the lawn which burned big circles in our front yard! Gone was the beautiful green lawn and blooming flowers! The grass looked like straw and we had to remember to turn the sprinklers on and off. The leaves on the trees became so sparse that we found out just how close we are to our neighbors when we could see up into their yard and watch their comings and goings. The coffee plants were cut back and our view completely changed. Going into Grecia, the weather was too hot for me and I was always happy to get back up the ridge.

Oh - so THAT was the dry season!!! When the rainy season started and our yard began to look beautiful again and I could enjoy the flowers, I was a pretty happy girl.

The rain here is nothing like the chilly, windy, dark and dreary experience back in the Bay Area where you can find tons of  umbrellas tossed along the side of the street (after being blown inside out). The rain is warm (and during the 1st 1/2 of the rainy season the rain starts about 1- 2pm and lasts for an hour or so and then clears up and it's back to sunny skies) but it can be torrential and very loud with thunder and lightening. The duration of the rain increases as the rainy season progresses so in Oct and Nov there can be quite a bit of rain and it can be off and on all day and even into the night. The mornings however, are usually still quite beautiful. My only real complaint is that we have to unplug our electronics to keep from having them destroyed in a power surge and periodically the power goes off for a bit. But, I have learned to take it all in stride. Just part of living in paradise.

Pura Vida as they say!

Oh - and it probably doesn't hurt that I no longer have to go to work in the rain! 👏👏👏

Watch - A Beautiful October Day below!

I Like the Rainy Season in Costa Rica from Devon on Vimeo.

I do recommend that anyone planning to live in Costa Rica full time, explore the rainy season,
it just might not be be for everyone!

The Central Valley with San Jose enjoys the best climate in the country as the weather here has an average of 22 degrees Celsius or 72 degrees Fahrenheit and is tempered with a cool coastal breeze. In the highlands the temperature averages 13 degree Celsius, while in the lowlands or at sea level the temperature stays at around 26 degrees Celsius or 79 degrees Fahrenheit, with hot days and sultry evenings. source

Costa Rica Independence Day 2017

Costa Rica Independence Day

September 15, 1821

In 1502, Christopher Columbus landed on Costa Rican soil, claiming the so-called "rich coast" for the Spanish. Throughout the colonial period, Costa Rica was the southernmost province in the Captaincy General of Guatemala, the Central American arm of the Spanish government. On September 15, 1821, after a final Mexican victory in the Mexican War of Independence, Guatemala also declared independence on behalf of Central America. Spain accepted the declaration without a fight. In October 1821, the Independence Act arrived in Cartago to notify Costa Rica of its sudden freedom.

After a brief civil war, in 1822 Costa Rica declared allegiance to the First Mexican Empire, which collapsed shortly after in 1823. At that time, Costa Rica and the rest of Central America united to establish the Central American Federation, or the Federal States of Central America. However, due to the country's remoteness and lack of resources, the Federation showed little interest in its southern province and Costa Rica reaped few rewards from its involvement. 

In 1834, the first Chief of State, Juan Mora Fernandez, signed the Aprilia Law to withdraw Costa Rica from the Central American Federation. In 1838, the second Chief of State, Braulio Carrillo, officially declared Costa Rica a sovereign state. However, in 1842, the new General Assembly claimed that the Costa Rica was still a part of the Federation. Costa Rica's four main cities – San Jose, Heredia, Alajuela and Cartago – argued for years over whether to accept Federation membership or declare freedom. In 1848, the decision was made and Costa Rica again declared itself a sovereign nation. 

source 

Panama Jammin Video 1 - Meet the Crew

In the beginning...

Panama has a good sized expat population and is a popular relocation and retirement destination for many people. If you are considering moving abroad and settling in Central America, Panama has probably come up on the list of possibilities. And so it was with our group. Half of our group has not yet decided on a permanent location and the other half, although happily living in Grecia, had wondered about how it would be living in the Boquete or the Bocas del Toro area of Panama (as we had not visited first hand). 

After a fun and successful bus trip to Earth University, our group decided we would like to repeat the experience, and this time we would like to explore Panama!!

We met for discussion over a box of Sangria and left the details up to Jeanetta Owens Of La Terraza Guest House and La Terraza Travel to put together the perfect trip!

The Result --

An exciting fun-filled Seven Day adventure tour that took us down the Pacific Side of Costa Rica by Jaco and Manuel Antonio to Panama and back up the Caribbean Side through Puerto Viejo. All hotel accommodations and border crossing details were made for us, down to a private water taxi to take our group to and from the island of Bocas del Toro. All we had to do was show up (on time) for the bus departure at 6:00am. 

And speaking of the bus, it didn't hurt that we had Miguel the best damn driver (and dancer) EVER! 

Miguel makes the Panama trip weekly, knows all the good spots and excursions and was a load of fun! I would ride with him again, anytime!

So sit back and enjoy the ride. I will include commentary and video for highlights of our stops. 

The Panama Jammin Tour is being fine tuned and will be available for booking in the coming months.

I will let you know how you can make reservations for yourself and/or your group, so stay tuned.

In the meantime

Let's get this party started!

Please enjoy meeting our group and a portion of Day 1.

Panama Jammin - Meet the Crew from Devon on Vimeo.

Does anyone else realize that this is the FOURTH video I have done this week?

Your girl will be takin a much needed break for the next few days!!

But I'll be back with Video 2 next week

Have a Great Weekend!

What we like most and what we like least about living in Costa Rica - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

And the Number 1 Question is...
This is the final post for questions and answers this time around. Hopefully we have shed a little more light on "life in Costa Rica" from our perspective.

We will do these videos periodically when we have updates to share.

In the meantime, be sure to follow our journey and share this site with your friends and family.

If you are thinking of relocating, remember RESEARCH is key!

Check out our FAQ page and watch our videos!

The Making of the Question & Answers Videos

I hope the videos appear seamless in their final cut. During videos 1 & 2, despite the dog barks and the bug bites, we managed to record both in their entirety in one take!

That was excellent, however I think we must have celebrated a bit too soon because on the final video (below) we had a heck of a time (and we were really only discussing one question). The video required a gazillion takes and we were pretty exhausted by the end.

When it was over, it was all pretty funny, of course! (it happens that way doesn't it?)

So we decided to add in some of the outtakes for you, be sure to stick around and watch them!

disclaimer: No dogs or cats were injured or thrown into the coffee fields during the making of this video

And the Number One question is... from Devon on Vimeo.

Stay Tuned for Panama Jammin The Series!

Questions & Answers Part 2 - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

Questions & Answers Part 2

❓❓❓

Including answers to questions about -- 

can you afford to live here, work here, hair care, bugs and more!

Photo of some houses on the ridge opposite ours (El Cajon)

Our Life in Costa Rica - Q & A Pt 2 from Devon on Vimeo.

Check back for the

CONCLUSION

our Q&A Wrap Up Video

 we will share answers to our 

 two most frequently asked questions 

Questions & Answers - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

We have completed the Q & A videos!!! YAY!!!

Today's video is Part 1 of 3

of the most common questions YOU have asked us

(video 3 is a wrap up video)

*Note - the answers to the questions we discussed are based on our personal experience and knowledge since we have been in Costa Rica. Other's experiences may vary as will yours. Please be sure to do your own research and due diligence.

Now on with the show!!

Our Life in Costa Rica Q&A from Devon on Vimeo.

Stay tuned for Part Two

Escape from the Hotel California - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

Panama Jammin!

1st stop

Had to share this video for those of you who are not on Facebook.

No pink champagne on ice but...we escaped!

check out the dancers!

Escape from the Hotel California from Devon on Vimeo.

Planting Peace! - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

In this post we are not at the beach, a fancy hotel or walking across a hanging bridge...but I hope that you will take the time to read this anyway. In the end, I think what I am describing is an excellent example of the way we want our world to be. Let me know if you agree!

Visions & Values
Visions and values are two of the most important tools used by leaders or anyone involved in transforming a culture -- or the world for that matter! Visions and values provide us with a clear focus. Values provide the trust and appropriate behaviors needed for group success.

We are all truly digging the vibe, the visions and the values at EARTH University. We traveled by van with a group of expats and spent the day there last Wednesday. The university is fully self sustainable. NOTHING goes to waste. Pretty amazing!

It did not disappoint!

EARTH University is located off the beaten path (near Guácimo) and is not on the "must see" list of tourist destinations for the vast majority of travelers to Costa Rica (although 2017 is the year of Sustainable Tourism). EARTH University is a place I highly recommend!  First of all -- the grounds are GORGEOUS and secondly, visiting Earth University will give you a better understanding of the culture of the Costa Rican people. 

Their students say "First, we learn not only to have an understanding of technical knowledge but also to be understanding of people, how to get closer to others and put all we've learned into practice for those who need it. "

For a Better Tomorrow!
The students come from countries all over the world to learn conventional, as well as sustainable farming. Most of the students will return to their home countries to put what they have learned into practice. 

At EARTH University, students learn the importance of growing food locally, making use of urban greenspaces and creative farming techniques. Urban agriculture helps reduce the carbon footprint tied to food transportation and improves access to fresh fruits and vegetables. 

 Mission:

Prepare leaders with ethical values to contribute to sustainable development and to construct a prosperous and just society.

Vision:

Our actions are mission-driven to alleviate poverty, promote social justice and build a future where our communities achieve sustainable and shared prosperity

 Values:

Human development, Academic excellence, Ethical behavior, Sustainable development, Social consciousness, The Search for knowledge and Biodiversity Conservation.

Since the beginning, EARTH’s primary focus has been on sustainable agriculture. A few people, however, saw an opportunity to take that model to the next level and create a completely auto-sustainable farm that was exclusively organic. The idea was to use integrated family farms, essentially how people have been farming for centuries. This is exactly what we came to see!

Just another reason I ♡ Costa Rica!!

Take a look at our day

Field Trip to EARTH University from Devon on Vimeo.