Oktoberfest San Ramon Costa Rica - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #3

A Little History of the Oktoberfest

But the definition of “the world's most important beer festival” does not do justice to the indisputable reputation of the Oktoberfest.

Oktoberfest is the world's largest Volksfest (or "peoples' festival" in German, is a large event in Germany which usually combines a beer festival or wine festival and a traveling fun fair). Held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germanny. It is a 16 - to 18-day folk festival running from mid or late September to the first weekend in October, with more than six million people from around the world attending the event every year. 

Historic Background - Crown Prince Ludwig, later to become King Ludwig I, was married to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on 12th October 1810. The citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities held on the fields in front of the city gates to celebrate the happy royal event. 

Have I ever been to an Oktoberfest celebration? Nope! Never cared about it at all and really not that fond of German food or beer, so why bother? 

Well... because we're in Costa Rica and part of the fun is trying new things plus we enjoy going to Hacienda Vivace. So, when our new neighbors (who moved here about a month ago from the Bay Area) said they were going and offered to give us a ride, we took them up on it.

I'm really happy that we went. We had a great time. The place was packed. The music was awesome as was the food (prepared by our host Andy - who is a chef). They even had a vegetarian selection which was made with homemade rye bread. Lavanson and all the other vegetarians, were raving about it. 

Check out the video below - also I wanted you all to see Andy & Nancy's beautiful home (Hacienda Vivace) a little more close up. I've done videos of events at the house before but this time I wanted to give you a better idea of just how big and stunning, it really is.

Oktoberfest, San Ramon Costa Rica 2018 from Devon on Vimeo.

Jammin•Jammin•Jammin - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #3

Hey everyone

I have sort of been MIA the last week or so, but I have a good reason!

I've been putting together the new Facebook page as well as a brand new website for our 50+ travel group Jammin•Jammin•Jammin. 

We had such success with our Panama Jammin trip that we decided to branch out and make it an official group. The group is the brainchild of Jeanetta Owens and because she knows I love to travel, she asked me to team up with her for this new project. We are both pretty excited.

Here is the announcement from Facebook.

~~~~~~

Due to the overwhelming success of "Panama Jammin"
Welcome to our new 50+ travel group Jammin•Jammin•Jammin for the perfect mix of travel and music.

Our goal is to offer 2 trips per year.

Jeanetta Owens and I are planning the 1st trip for February 2019 - Destination Lima Peru. We have some exciting excursions and activities planned that will take you off the beaten path to enjoy the local flavor of Peru. You won't want to miss this!

You can be a member of the group NO MATTER where in the world you live and for those of you who are fortunate enough to live in Costa Rica we will offer some local trips as well.

Please LIKE & FOLLOW our page for details and updates coming soon!

In the meantime enjoy the videos and information on this page which will give you some additional information about the area.

and please check out our NEW website below

https://www.jammin-jammin-jammin.com

(the site looks great on a desktop with a wide screen but on my laptop the text needs to be adjusted. Will be working on that next - but in the meantime, I think you can get the drift)  

We'd be happy for you to join us, so let us know!

Lima video below

Our Plans to Attend the Calypso Festival (Update) - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #3

We love the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica, and we try to get over there as often as we can - which usually turns out to be -- once a year. This year we planned to attend the 5th Annual International Calypso Festival. 

La Terraza Travel put together an exciting 2 day, 2 night package which was to begin this past Saturday. 

We awoke on Saturday morning to a light rain in Grecia, but it had rained very heavily the night before. The weather alerts called it a tropical storm front. At any rate, all 14 of the participants arrived at our pick up point in Grecia, on time - bright and early - at 7:00am.

We enjoy meeting new people and we were looking forward to hanging out with some of the new folks (we had not met at least 6 of the people going). Once we arrived we heard the news about the flooding that had occurred on the Caribbean.

Ruta 32 between San Jose and Limon is closed after heavy rains battered the area on Friday night.

Once we came to terms with the fact that we wouldn't be going anywhere close to the festival that day, we regrouped and made a new plan. Our van transportation was already paid for so we would reschedule the trip. The hotel agreed to honor our reservations and allow us to change our date to 8/4.

With the new trip plans in place, several in the group decided to meet at our house for margaritas in the afternoon and later in the evening have dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, La Casa de Miguel. This trip was also a special occasion for Ernest & Elise who were visiting from North Carolina and were married in Costa Rica last year.

They had returned to celebrate their One Year Anniversary!!

Here's a little bit of our day in video

International Calypso Festival - First Try from Devon on Vimeo.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Check traffic congestion before you head to the airport or make a trip to the beach.

There are some stretches on a number of Costa Rican roads that have no cell service which means they are effectively invisible to WAZE traffic updates.

There could be 500 cars sitting perfectly still on the Guapiles Highway in the mountains of Braulio Carrillo and WAZE would show no problem because none of the phones have signal to update WAZE. 

The BIG Event - Dîner en Blanc Costa Rica 2018

Well folks, it's done and here it is!

I won't bother to tell you how DIFFICULT it is to edit 52 videos and 225 photos into a 7mins 27sec video!! Suffice it to say, I am happy this event is only once a year! 😊

Here's a little more about the event:

 “The best way to be invited is to know a member (somebody who has been a guest) of the "Secret" Dinner in White, and to benefit from their sponsorship.

Once you participate in one, you'll be invited to the next one. “On the other hand," the rules warn, "if you withdraw at the last minute, you will be permanently blacklisted.”

For those without a sponsor, there's always the possibility of signing up on the official website. But not all cities offer that alternative, and generally the number of places is limited, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Celebrating it's 30th anniversary in June (expecting 20,000 attendees), the idea, created in 1988 by Frenchman François Pasquier, who wanted to have a dinner with friends around the idea of "Bring a meal, and bring a new friend," at the Bois de Boulogne in Paris and he asked them to dress in white to identify themselves. The Diner en Blanc is now a patented concept held in 30 countries and 80 cities -- including Montreal and other cities in Canada, Bombay, Panama City, San Jose Costa Rica, Buenos Aires, Jamaica, Zagreb, Kuala Lumpur, Kenya, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Tel Aviv, Tokyo, Seoul and Bangkok (to name a few). 

There are approximately 30 cities holding events in the US.

In my opinion, this event is definitely not for everyone. You'll need a bit of "e-n-e-r-g-y". The length of time was increased this year in Costa Rica (event time 3:30pm - 11pm) adding an additional hour to the party time. 

There are a lot of younger people there (in some other cities the crowds include a more mixed age group ) however, in Costa Rica, the event is still in its infancy -- and let's face it, sometimes it takes us older (wiser/and more mature) crowd a little longer to catch on. 

The cost of the event is $39/person (which includes round trip transportation to and from the event site) .

We have always found the people to be very friendly and welcoming and you really don't need a partner to join in the dancing. I am very happy to have celebrated the Dîner en Blanc experience with the people of Costa Rica! We even made some new friends. 

Besides your white clothing, picnic basket, tablecloth and table accessories you need only bring that "young at heart" spirit"

We had a great time and look forward to 2019!

Let the Music Play, And Dance the Night Away

(pt 2 video below)
All music from the event playlist

Let The Music Play from Devon on Vimeo.

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.

Guess who's coming to dîner? Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

Next Up

Dîner en Blanc - Costa Rica

Sat March 10, 2018

Location - Secret!!! (to be revealed when we arrive at our destination)

It's almost time!!!

And the great thing about it is, we also got invited to the 30th anniversary of 
Dîner en Blanc in P A R I S.  How cool is that? I would LOVE to a be going to that soiree. They are expecting 20,000 people from 80 of the largest cities and from 30 different countries on every continent. WOW. Of course we can't go 😞 But, had I known a little earlier, I would have planned to attend --however the invitation was too short notice for us. I am looking forward to watching the video! 

So anyway, we are happy to attend our event here in Costa Rica. This year there will be 6 of us in our group, so we have increased our party total by 2 (and added 3 new people). Sadly, another couple who really wanted to attend, both passed away over the last 3 months. 

It's such an awesome event, however it seems that most of the expats we know in Costa Rica are either unfamiliar with the event or are just plain uninterested!! 

But, WE are super excited! 😁

As I did last year, I have begun the "round up" of white possibilities. We will have 3 tables together so our design will span all 3 tables. There will be more options, but this is what I can offer right now. 

Take a look

This makeshift tablecloth is white fabric from the fabric store in town with a lace overlay piece I purchased there as well. Looks pretty good to me!

We are still working on the menu. I have pre ordered a bottle of Moet & Chandon (they are once again a sponsor) and also a bottle of Wente Chardonnay (it is one of my favorites and I have not been able to find it in Costa Rica) I may add another bottle just so I can bring one home with me. We will see. 

Stay tuned for pics and video...

Life's A Beach - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

Back from the 7th Annual Blues Festival in Playa Potrero Costa Rica!
Company is all gone and I am back in my office, so time to catch you all up.

arriving at the condo

We attended the blues festival event for the 2nd year in a row. This time we traveled with a group of 7 people. We rented a 3 bedroom, 2 bath condo in Playa Potrero, right on the beach (and it was only a short 10 minute walk up the beach to the Costa Rica Sailing Center - where the festival was held). We rented the condo through VRBO (it was also listed on AirBnb). I spoke directly with the owners, who just happen to live in Pleasanton CA - very close to an old apt that I once rented. The owners were very nice and the condo sounded like the perfect choice for us.  The condo cost us about $900 for the 3 days, so we divided the cost up per bedroom. (if you want to stay there - which we may do again - the price is MUCH cheaper when there isn't a big event going on). We also hired a driver, Adrian, who we have traveled with before. He charged us $248 each way (which we divided equally among the 7 of us). The drive takes about 3 hours.

Speaking of beaches....

along the beach outside of our condo

Just about EVERYONE that I speak with wants to live on the beach in Costa Rica! The beaches here are very beautiful and there are about 300 of them along 800 miles of Costa Rica coastline. The country is surrounded by water on both sides.

This is our 5th beach excursion. Playa Potrero is nestled next to Playa Flamingo in the quiet fishing village of Potrero. Playa Potrero is tranquil and serene. This beach is located along the northwest Pacific coast of Guanacaste, surrounded by rolling hills, tropical vegetation and a diverse wildlife. There are gorgeous turquoise waters that stretch over the white sand beaches. This beach community is ideal for watching the sun set in all its glory. If you want to get away from all the hustle and bustle of modern life, Playa Potrero is the the perfect destination!

located on the beach near our condo. we had dinner here the 1st night we arrived. 
they also had live entertainment

I like the Potrero area a lot. The weather in Playa Potrero is pretty comfortable -- for a beach town (i.e a bit on the warm side for me but tolerable). The temperatures stay around the 80's and 90's during the day (cooler breezes in the evening). You will probably still need air conditioning (our condo came with air). If you want to consider living in the area (as with the other beach towns) be sure to factor in the cost of air conditioning -- Cha Ching! Generally speaking, beach towns are more expensive. The Guanacaste region also receives less rain than other parts of Costa Rica, which makes the scenery a bit dry, dusty and desert like and IMO not as pretty as it is here in the lush, green Central Valley -- but the beaches are gorgeous. Their dry season spans from November to April. It was much cooler in Potrero than it was in one of my other favorite nearby popular beach towns of Playas del Coco (about 45 minutes away by car). Coco is a more "happening" and touristy and has just about everything you can think of - even a Hard Rock Cafe - so that tells you something! 

And...We were not alone on this trip. We enjoyed the company of about 35+ other retired expats who drove up from our little town of Grecia for the blues festival. We met up for dinner on Friday at Perla's. 

During the blues festival the little town of Playa Potrero is totally packed. No vacant rooms available and the restaurants are so full that they often run out of certain foods due to the huge crowds! 

our group from Grecia @ Perlas

I have included a video below with more pictures of our stay @ Playa Potrero, the blues festival and music from the festival.  Annika Chambers, an award winning blues singer from Houston was the headliner of the show and came on stage about 10pm. The festival goes from 11am to 11pm so it is a very long day. I have also used some of the music from the festival as background music on the video. Hope you enjoy it!

But before I sign off...

Is there a DOCTOR in the house?

One of our friends, Steve, was sitting in a chair minding his own business, enjoying the music and drinking a bottle of beer, when all of a sudden...the leg broke on the chair! He went down backwards hitting his head pretty hard on the corner of the table. OUCH! After investigation by the doc, it was determined that he needed a couple of stitches. No worries though. There was a medical tent set up right behind us. Stitches were administered by the light of a few cell phones! He is fine now. 

video here

Life is a Beach! from Devon on Vimeo.

We Got the Blues! - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

Hey all  

We just returned from the 7th Annual Costa Rica Blues Festival @ the Costa Rica Sailing Center 

in Playa Potrero Cost Rica

I'll be reporting more

Just wanted to check in and let you know we're back! 

After the show - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

The Bruno Mars concert was awesome!

Three of us took the bus from Grecia to the stadium to connect with our friend Tracy (pictured in green). She booked a room near the stadium for a couple of nights and planned to see Alice in Wonderland at the Teatro Nacional the following night. We ate dinner at a pretty cool Cuban restaurant.

1:30 in the afternoon, crowds already forming

The concert was sold out and the only way we got tickets (the day before) was that they opened up some additional premium balcony seating (which was perfect for us). We were in a section with very few people. We had comfortable seating, we were under the over hang (in case of rain - no repeat of the Sting concert seats for me)

The only problem was....on the walk to the concert (the sidewalks were very crowded) and when we arrived, Tracy was without her wallet and ticket!

YES, you got it! Someone pickpocketed her on the way. So we all chipped in to buy her a $100 ticket from a scalper. I won't go into any further details on that. 

Back to the concert! 

SPECTACULAR, high energy -- one of the BEST concerts I have ever seen!

Bruno Mars - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

Girl's Trip tonight

Bruno Mars in the house!!

My Jaco Review - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

As you know,  a couple of weeks ago we went to Jaco for a few days. Although we had driven through (or near Jaco) on several occasions, we had never spent any time there.

This time we took our newbie friends (they arrived in Grecia on 8/9 with their 2 young children) and headed to Jaco for a 3 day visit. We hired a driver with an SUV to take us (the cost was $125 for all 6 of us). Pick up time was 7:30am. We hired the driver mostly because we didn't want the hassle of all of us getting our local bus to the bus station in Grecia and then riding to San Jose and transferring in San Jose to the Jaco bus, so early in the morning. We took a scenic route and stopped in Tarcoles at the crocodile bridge so that they could see the crocs and we could take a little stretch. We arrived in Jaco around 10:00am. Jaco is located on the Pacific Coast about 1 1/2 hrs from San Jose  -- and we are about 1hr and 15 mins from San Jose. It is the closest beach to us. We took the bus back (cost just under $5 each and takes about 2 hrs). The bus ride was pleasant and on time - I would have no complaints taking the bus again.

Lavanson's brother is now back from the US and living in Jaco so we were able to see his new apartment (very nice!). He has 2 bedrooms and has offered for us to stay with him on subsequent visits - which we will take him up on! He was also our guide during our stay.

We met some new friends too, David Paskowitz and his wife. They are from Oakland and have been living in Jaco for about 15 yrs. He is a musician and runs a surf school.  We have a mutual friend in the Bay Area who got us together. We were also fortunate that David's group, HotWax Alien Approved, was playing locally in town and we got a chance to see the show.

us with David and his wife, Nancy

I was not too sure about Jaco before we went, but all in all, I really liked it. I did not witness any of the crime or prostitution - which is what a lot of people think of when you mention Jaco. I am sure it is there, but just like anywhere else you go, you take precaution and stay aware of your surroundings. I found Jaco to be a very pleasant place. The food was good, people were friendly, the hotel was very nice and affordable ($120/night breakfast included - I will post the hotel video separately for those interested) oh and the shopping was plentiful (all signs that make a good place to me!) It was also easier to get US brand food in the grocery stores and also in the restaurants (which was nice for a change for us).

I give Jaco an A and would definitely go back again.

You can check out more of Jaco and my review below.

 

Jaco, Costa Rica Review from Devon on Vimeo.

Currently Listening - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

Another new friend

Met Bertie when Toni & I went shopping last Friday. She met us at the USA Furniture Mart and did the negotiating for our purchases. Then we all went to San Ramon for a wonderful lunch (while it poured down rain outside -- we enjoyed a couple of glasses of vino, some calamari, ceviche, guac and chips).
A perfect "girls" lunch! 

During the conversation I found out that she is a jazz singer (originally from CT) and sings at a little club in San Jose (CR). She and her hubby have a beautiful home near San Ramon (CR). She has sung for some wealthy aristocrats in Dubai and will be appearing in Havana in January. She is planning to charter a plane to take some of her friends to join her.

Last night at dinner (House Hunters Int house #1) my friend Mary Ellen gave me a copy of Bertie's Cd.

Listening now 

and 

WOW!!!!

Who knew?

BTW - Lovin my life - beats answering calls and talking to clients all day - sorry Arceli 😂

I'm Not A Dancin Machine - Our Life in Costa Rica Yr #2

As part of our due diligence tour for newbies, we headed over to Sarchi Sur on Sunday afternoon with Carolyn & Darryl (potential expats), Shirley (our Spanish teacher) and Charles Owens (co-owner of La Terraza) for some dancin. Viejillos is open on Sunday afternoon from 1:30 -  6pm and then on Monday night (which is when they are really packed). Sunday afternoon was crowded as well.  Sunday is family day in Costa Rica so there were many families there. Grandfathers dancing with granddaughters etc. They have a live band and serve food and drinks. The admission was $5.

We had a lot of fun!!

The only problem was...we didn't know how to do the dances they do here in Costa Rica!!

So I have vowed to learn the dances. Shirley told us that there are classes in town and she is checking schedule and pricing -- so I will report back later on that.

Here is a little info about dancing in Costa Rica.

Merengue, salsa, cumbia and dub fill Costa Rica's discos. From San Jose's nightclubs to rural dancehalls, you'll find Costa Ricans swaying their hips to these tropical rhythms. From an early age Costa Ricans learn the basic steps to the country's most popular dances making them accomplished dancers, but don't embarrassed, they'll be happy to show you their moves.

MERENGUE

Merengue is one of the most popular Latin dances in Costa Rica – it can be heard in almost every home, discotheque and radio station in the country. It has a two-step beat that features fast footwork and swaying hips. The man leads and usually holds the woman by her waist and right hand. Merengue is a tight dance where couples move within a small circle; when steps are made in any direction, they only traverse the space of a few feet. It’s easy to find somewhere to dance merengue, but to give it a whirl at home look for music from Grupo Mania, La Makina or Los Hermanos Rosario. 

Viejillos on Sunday afternoon

SALSA

Another popular local dance, salsa originated in Cuba and was influenced by mambo, Guaguanco and Afro-Caribbean beats. It blends quick steps with sensual movements in a three-step rhythm danced over a four-beat measure. As in most Latin dances, the man leads holding one or both of his partner’s hands. Experienced salsa dancers often employ complicated spins and intricate steps, which add panache to their dance. Like merengue, it is easy to find a club that plays salsa music; popular artists include Elvis Crespo, Celia Cruz and Salsa kids.

CUMBIA

Originating in Colombia, cumbia is one of Costa Rica’s favorite tropical rythyms. Drums and other percussion instruments create the pervasive cumbia beat, which plays out in a 4/4 rhythm structure of long-short-short-long. Cumbia is typically danced to the Colombian music of the same name; however, Costa Ricans make the cumbia all their own, dancing a cumbia beat to the steps of the "swing criollo." Swing criollo mixes elements of the Lindy hop and jive to create bouncing steps and small kicks that are danced in a circle of complex footwork and fancy spins. This dance style is very Costa Rican and a source of national pride. The Costa Rican song “Jugo de Pina” is one of the world’s most famous cumbia songs. Alberto Pacheco, Lucho Bermudez y Su Orquesta, Lisandro Meza and Edmundo Arias are all popular cumbia artist.  source

A snippet from Sunday

I'm Not a Dancin Machine from Devon on Vimeo.

Sting - ing in the Rain - Our Life in Costa Rica

Another exciting adventure

The Sting concert was awesome, even if it rained non stop through the entire concert for 4 hours straight, and even though they sold us these very cheap parkas

and.....

We Still Got Drenched!!!😮

this is the rain you see in the lights, NOT the special effects!

Our pricey seats were located on the soccer field, so were uncovered. We had seats right up front in row #6. People who purchased the cheaper tickets were seated in the covered section of the stadium (of course they were pretty far from the stage).

Also, there were no umbrellas allowed so I had to discard my small umbrella into the garbage before they would let me enter the concert.

Who knew!

These were definitely some important lessons we learned for the future.

No expensive seats to concerts during the rainy season ✔

Click for concert highlights below

 

Sting in Concert San Jose, Costa Rica from Devon on Vimeo.

It's my BIRTHDAY - Our Life in Costa Rica

So excited!! We are going to our 1st Sting Concert!!

Today is my birthday!

Lavanson & I will celebrate our birthdays together tomorrow night with our good friends Matt & Evelyn from Escazu. Evelyn will be celebrating her birthday as well!

Estadio Nacional
The National Stadium of Costa Rica is a multi-purpose stadium in La Sabana Park. Built in 2011 to replace the stadium erected in the 1920's, it was the first modern sport and event arena to be built in Central America. It is the biggest and most modern stadium arena in Central America. It is said that the  entire project was funded by China, a gift at a cost of $100 million.

The stadium has a capacity of 35,000 spectators, large TV screens.

Shout out to all the birthdays in April - Our Life in Costa Rica

Lots of April birthdays around here!

Saturday was Jack's birthday. He and his wife Mareena hosted a celebration at their home on El Cajon.

The duo entertained the guests with a medley of songs

Here is part of the view from their house

The houses you see in the background are of our ridge, San Luis

and here's the view of our house from their house (zoomed in quite a bit)

A snippet from Mareena & Jack's perormance

Shout out to April birthdays from Devon on Vimeo.


Happy Birthday to all of those born in the month of April

Move over cuz the best month of the year is comin up next!

The Secret Location Revealed - Dîner en Blanc Costa Rica 2017 - Our Life in Costa Rica

Upon Arrival
Our secret destination was...

Museo de los Niños - San Jose
 Children's Museum, San Jose Costa Rica
Site of 2017 Dîner en Blanc

and THIS is why I LOVE Costa Rica!!!

Unique Museum

The museum, which is situated on an isolated rise just north of downtown San Jose, is one of the premier examples demonstrating why Costa Rica is so unique compared to other Latin American countries.

Not only was the Children's Museum the first of its kind in Central America, its location in an old military prison was chosen to send a message that the future of the country would not consist of wars and political struggles, but the education and care of its children.

Additionally, by establishing the museum in what was formerly the main military fortress of San Jose, Costa Ricans have chosen to remember the lessons of the past, with such buildings serving as daily reminders of what might have been if the country remained embroiled in civil wars.

Because of its size, the former prison was particularly suited to become the Children's Museum, which boasts more than 32 exhibition rooms and numerous activities and experiences for kids both indoors and outside.

and......

Here is our video highlighting the glamorous and magical 7 hour event condensed into 8 minutes & 40 seconds

Enjoy!

Can't wait till next year!!

If you are in Costa Rica we hope you will join us 
or sign up for an event in a city near you


Email subscribers click link for video

Dîner en Blanc Costa Rica 2017 - Our life in Costa Rica from Devon on Vimeo.

Art of the Table - Our Life in Costa Rica

"The waving of the white serviette!" All Dîner en Blanc guests know that this beautiful moment signals the opening of a unique and magical dinner with amazing company. (photos not back yet, taken by drone)

Saturday night,  4 different cities from all corners of the globe waived their napkins and celebrated with their friends and neighbors! 

Cheers to Diner en Blanc - Tauranga , Dîner en Blanc - Ho Chi Minh City , Dîner en Blanc - Johannesburg, and @Dîner en Blanc - San Jose, Costa Rica 🇨🇷!" ✨

Art of the table

Crate & Barrel Sponsored a Prize For The Best Table Setting

These are photos of our table in various stages of decorating and throughout the evening

The candles would no stay lit due to the wind (note to self - "next year bring covered candle holders" The lighted balls ended up inside of the lantern to make enough light for the table

Early table prep

Lighted balls now inside the lantern

The table is not complete without the honorary Eiffel Tower

The remaining 2 photos below are a couple of neighboring tables 

There were some truly FABULOUS table designs