Monte Azul

NEW HIKING TRAIL AT MONTE AZUL

2012-03-01T16:36:00.003-06:00

The hiking trail system at Monte Azul was developed during construction of the studio and casitas almost 6 years ago. Over the years the hiking trail system has been expanded and updated to include the organic coffee plantation, organic greenhouse and the new animal barn for the goats and chickens.

One of the more popular attractions on our trails is the large waterfall at the far end of the property. The Valley Trail, Forest Edge Trail and Cacique Trail all make their way to this waterfall. The water runs all year and the surrounding area is magical. The cool mist, the sound of the water and the birds, with dappled sunlight makes for a ethereal spot to sit and relax. It also provides a fantastic backdrop for a photo.

Many guests have asked us what is above the falls and it we have ever been to this upper part of the falls. A few years ago when my friend Chris was visiting from California, she and I became adventurous and scaled the mountainside just to the left of the waterfall, despite the fact that she had recently had back surgery. It was an almost vertical climb and not one that could be descended. We eventually had to find a different way down. This route to the upper falls would not work for our guests.

I am happy to say that we now have a short trail just off the Cacique Trail that allows you to reach the upper section of this fall. The trail drops you at the base of another fall above you. There is a beautiful pool to take a dip and a rock ledge that allows you to sit at the top of the lower waterfall. I have attached a few photos of Carlos and I enjoying this upper area.

As I was sitting there I was wondering how to develop a trail that can get you above this upper waterfall so that others may enjoy it. I will keep you posted.

BABY BIRDS BABY BIRDS

2012-02-22T16:09:00.003-06:00

A few days ago Carlos and I decided to take a break and walk a few of the more than 4 kilometers of trails at Monte Azul. It is always interesting to see what is out there and this day did not disappoint. We had just started our walk on the River Trail and decide to spend some time relaxing on a big rock new one of several swimming holes along the river. It is always relaxing and rejuvenating to sit by the river and just think about nothing even if for just a few minutes.

On our way back up to the River Trail I spotted a strange mass on a leaf. At first I thought that it was a large fungus. It was about 3 inches in diameter and was attached to a large vertically hanging leaf.

Upon closer inspection I realized that it was a bird’s nest. And there were 2 very young fuzzy baby birds inside. They still did not have their eyes open. I have never seen such a nest in such a precarious location or constructed in such a manner. The opening of the nest was just slightly angled off of vertical. The 2 occupants seemed to be enjoying the nest and hopefully you will enjoy these photos. I am not sure what type of birds they are but I am guessing by the look of nest and size of the babies that it some type of hummingbird.

I am constantly amazed at how diverse and surprising the rainforest can be. It is nice to be able to simply walk into it and see what awaits. Come take a walk at Monte Azul and discover something new.

NEW DESSERT INTRODUCED AT CAFÉ BLUE

2012-02-11T13:23:00.002-06:00

A new dessert is now featured at Café Blue at Monte Azul. It is a Limòn Mesino Cheese Pie. The pie consists of a cookie crumble crust of galletas Maria and butter. Galletas Maria is a very famous cookie in Costa Rica, the equivalent of Graham crackers or Nilla wafers in the USA. The body of the pie is a mixture of homemade goat ricotta, cream cheese, whipped cream and the delicious limôn mesino. Limòn mesino is a large, bright green fruit that doesn’t have seeds. It is similar to a Key Lime but much larger and juicier. It is very easy to grow in the tropics and fruits at an early age and small tree size. Monte Azul has several of these trees and their fruit inspired the creation of this dessert.

The Limòn Mesino Cheese Pie has been a big hit at Café Blue. Last week it was served to a group of 11 from our neighbor’s at Cloudbridge. I am happy to say that all of the plates came back to the kitchen empty. Here are a few photos of Andy and Esteban plating the dessert for our guests. Perhaps you could be the next guest to sample our latest dessert.

THE CHICKENS HAVE LANDED

2012-01-10T16:02:00.004-06:00

The holidays are behind us now and with their passing remains a new flock of chickens at Monte Azul. In early December, we purchased a flock of 20 egg laying hens. I believe that they are of the breed Rhode Island Red but I am not certain. Here in Costa Rica they are simply gallinas rojas or red chickens.

We bought 20 of them because through my chicken research I read that 20 is the maximum number that you can have in a flock without experiencing. It seems that there really is a pecking order in a flock of chickens and if there are more than 20 chickens, they cannot keep this order straight. You end up with a lot of stress and fights.

We are very excited about our chickens. They are fascinating creatures. At first they were timid and were getting accustomed to their new environment. Now they recognize people and are very friendly. They like to sit on your lap, get on your shoulder and even rest on the top of your head. You can hand feed them too. We are testing what they do and do not like to eat, in addition to the standard chicken feed. My philosophy is that if you have animals you have to have animal treats. Mustard greens are a favorite and the chickens go crazy for it whereas parsley is a no go. If you have seen the Monte Azul Facebook page you may know that Carlos has branded me the chicken wrangler and a friend today called me the Chicken Whisperer.

Since we purchased young hens, we will need to wait 5-6 months before they start laying eggs. This puts the egg count down at end April, at the earliest. I am confident that our hens will be overachievers and start laying eggs in record speed. I will let you know when we get that first egg.

LAND CRAB

2011-12-09T13:56:00.005-06:00

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to spot a crab on the road from Café Blue to the studio. It was another of those instances where you just stumble upon something. I find these instances unexpected, interesting and enjoyable. Like most people, I do not usually associate crabs with the rainforest. We tend to think of these creatures as coastal dwellers. But there she was walking along the edge of the road at 3,000+ feet above sea level with the coast an hour away.

I am rather confident that the crab is a female because she was carrying a lot of babies. The babies were mostly hidden on her underside but several were taking a ride on her back. When she stopped several of the babies scattered. I was lucky enough to have been carrying my camera and took a few good shots of the mother and the babies. She was approximately 4 inches wide and the babies were ½ inch wide.

The last time that we saw a land crab at Monte Azul was when we were building the studio in 2006. One night Carlos kept hearing a strange clicking noise. When he went to investigate the noise was a crab that managed to get between the wall and a sheet of plexiglass. It was trying to get out of this situation and kept hitting its front arms on the plexiglass. I guess you just never know when or where you may run into a land crab.

GOATS GALORE!

2011-12-01T14:45:00.002-06:00

We are happy to announce that Monte Azul’s herd of goats has moved into their new home. As I have out lined in previous entries, this new goat house has been under construction for months. And like many new homes, the goats moved in before it was completed. There are still a few items that need to be finished but the goats do not seem to mind.

Shortly after the adult goats moved into the new abode, the new baby goats arrived. It has been quite bountiful. Over a week’s time, 12 baby goats were born. The final tally is 9 boys and 3 girls. They are adorable. They are now running and jumping and climbing up on everything, even people. We have imprinted them on humans from the first few hours from birth to ensure that they are friendly and like human interaction.

Our hotel guests have loved visiting, petting and playing with the new arrivals. Our guests have also enjoyed the fresh chevre, feta, mozzarella and yogurt that we make using the bounty of goat’s milk that we now have on hand. Goat camembert is on the works too. I will let you know how it turns out in approximately 2 months.

SLOTH SITING

2011-11-22T14:37:00.002-06:00

Today on our early morning walk, we spotted a sloth up in a guarumo tree at the edge of the road. Sloths really like guarumo trees because they produce a delicious tasting fruit – to sloths, that is. People like these trees because their branches and leaves are very open which makes spotting a sloth much easier. High in this tree was a three-toed sloth feasting on the guarumo fruit. She was quite large for a sloth and looked a bit precarious climbing way out on some of the thin outer branches of this tree.

As some of you might remember, earlier this year in March, we released on our property a three-toed sloth that was rescued by our friends at Cloudbridge reserve. This sloth had been rescued from a house in Rivas. I was wondering if this might be the same sloth or if it was the one that Carlos rescued and released in June 2010. Or, maybe it is the one I spotted in May 2008.

We will never know which sloth it is because it is impossible for us to identify them as individuals. We are just happy to see sloths thriving at Monte Azul.

BATH DAY

2011-11-16T09:45:00.001-06:00

Today was a bath day for all 6 dogs at Monte Azul: Cookie, Scooter, Paco, Hunter, Cha Cha and Delilah. Needless to say none of them enjoyed it. There were varying degrees of struggling but Cookie won the prize for being the worst participant. This was Cookie’s 1^st bath in the 5 1/2 years that she has been at Monte Azul.

Cookie has always been a bit skittish around water. She hates to get her feet wet and will never get in the creeks or mud puddles. If she sees you pick up a garden hose, she runs in the opposite direction because she knows water comes out of it. She fought me the entire time. I knew that she was going to be a problem so I saved her for last. By the time I was done with Cookie, I was soaked from my neck to my feet.

The work was worth it though. All the dogs are clean and fresh smelling, at least for a day.

KATYDID

2011-11-10T10:18:00.001-06:00

The other day when I was walking through Café Blue I spotted what I thought was a small bird on the floor. I went over to investigate and to my surprise it was not a bird but a katydid. This was no ordinary katydid but the largest katydid that I have ever seen. She was approximately 4” long and 1 ½” tall.

She slowing walked across the dining room floor and climbed up one of the dining chairs. When I was taking her photo I watched her watching me. She slowly turned her head to keep an eye on what I was doing as I moved around her. It was easy to see her watching me because she has large yellow eyes.

In Costa Rica, katydids are called Esperanzas which translates to hope. They are considered very good luck. With a katydid this large living at Monte Azul, we should have a lot of good luck coming our way.

OUR FIRST PALM TREE

2011-10-29T10:15:00.001-06:00

Five years ago when we first started construction at Monte Azul, one of our first tree planted was a palm tree. It was placed in the parking area in front of the lecheria. Over the years the palm has continued to flourish. This year it has started to fruit. In early June the first large branch of seeds unfolded from the main trunk. Over a period or weeks the seed branch continued to grow and develop.

About a month later another seed branch unfolded with one more unfolding a month after that. Each branch continues to grow. The first seeds are turning red and have started to drop. The seeds quickly took root in the soil below the tree and have become seedlings. We have moved the first of these to the greenhouse and are now cultivating small palm trees.

The palm tree with the seed branches hanging on the trunk are quite beautiful especially at night when they are illuminated. It has been fun to see this process unfold. I have just discovered that the palm tree in front of Casita Amarilla is about to open its first seed branch. It appears that these palm trees are very happy with the weather conditions at Monte Azul.

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF GUARUMOS

2011-10-11T13:51:00.001-06:00

What is a guarumo you might ask? It is a type of tree that is found in tropical zones. It is also known as the Trumpet Tree or scientifically Crecopia. There are 5 species of this tree in Costa Rica. They are all very similar with varying sized leaves, fruits and form of branching.

One of its fascinating traits is that it has a symbiotic relationship with a specific type of ant. These ants live in the hollow parts of the tree and voraciously defend the tree against predators. Walk up to a guarumo and knock on the tree trunk 3-4 times and an army of ants will appears within seconds. Don’t touch the tree because these ants can bite.

The ants also guard the tree against other invasive foliage, a common occurrence in a rain forest. The ants make sure that vines and other plants do not wrap around the tree. I tied a vine around the trunk and the ants immediately attacked it. Voracious biting and eating the piece of vine until it fell off.

The trees are helpful to the forest and other animals too. Guarumos are the first tress to appear in recovering or regenerating forest and can quickly reach their full height or 60-70 feet in just 5-7 years. They have a life span of only 20-30 years during which time they provide the first shade for the slower growing tropical hardwoods. During their short lifetime, they produce a fruit that is enjoyed by a wide variety of birds and mammals. Because of their open growth form, it is not unusual to see sloths, monkeys and birds in these trees.

The leaves of this tree can be quite impressive. Some leaves exceed 3 feet across. They have medicinal purposes and can be used as scouring pads because of their rough durable texture.

The trees on the edges of open areas also have the ability to lean out towards the sunlight. To help stabilize themselves, they send out roots at the base of the trunk to grab the soil and keep them from toppling. From experience, I can attest that this can be a bit dangerous along roads. A few weeks ago, when I was driving one of the “leaning guarumos” broke the passenger side mirror off our car as I was driving. I didn’t realize that the tree was leaning that far out and got a bit too close.

For more information on these trees, check out this website: http://cloudbridge.org/trees/cecropia_polyphlebia.html.

THE NEWEST ARRIVAL AT MONTE AZUL

2011-09-30T14:07:00.002-06:00

Last week when our construction crew arrived at work, they told me that they have a surprise. They handed me a bag and told me to be careful. I assumed that they wouldn’t really give me anything “that” dangerous but you never know what other people perceive as dangerous. I willingly took the bag and looked inside. Inside the bag was a turtle.

On their way to work through Chimirol they had spotted a turtle in the middle of the road. This is the main road that runs up the Chirripo Valley. The road is very curvy and can be quite dangerous to an unsuspecting and slow moving turtle. The workers, Cristian and Gerardo, stopped and picked up him. They thought that Monte Azul would be a much friendlier place to reside than along the busy road so they found a travelling bag and put him in the car for his short journey to his new home.

When the turtle was taken out of the bag he was quite feisty. He has a very formidable front tooth that could easily do damage to a finger. He was approximately 8” long from the front to the back of his shell. We set him down on the ground, took a few photos to commemorate his arrival and then watched as he headed towards the creek at the bottom of the hill. He could move quite fast. I hope to see him again one day.

ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN AT MONTE AZUL…

2011-09-24T11:37:00.001-06:00

…AND USUALLY DOES! Last week we had our latest Artist in Residence at Monte Azul, Andrés Cañas. Andrés is a Costa Rican sculptor that lives in San Jose. He has been here several times before and has planned an art installation for Monte Azul using the rocks that are found everywhere on the property.

One his 2^nd day at the farm he went out on a rock finding excursion with Paolo, our waiter/barber/bread maker/house painter and heavy lifter…. They took the 1973 Toyota Landcruiser and headed up the valley trail bordering the Chirripó River. They had not been out for long when Carlos and I received a call from them asking for “a little help.”

While driving up the valley, they had apparently gotten a bit too close to the edge of the trail that dropped off into the creek. It was impossible to see this creek because it was covered by plants and forest growth. With all the rain the terrain was very wet and the weight of the car caused the creek’s bank to give way, taking the car with it. So Carlos and I tried to help get the car out but with the wet conditions it really needed much more assistance than Carlos and I ever could provide. We had the enormous fear that the car would tip over and then we would never be able to get it upright, especially since it was full of heavy rocks that had been collected for Andrés’ project.

The next day, our maintenance and kitchen staffs, with the help of a winch, chainsaw, brute force and a little ingenuity were able to free the Toyota from the mud and get it back on the road. It’s worth mentioning that before the heroic liberation, our other car got stuck trying to reach the first one. This car had to be saved first for the simple reason that it was just in the way.

There is always something happening at Monte Azul and you never know what it might be. This event didn’t slow Andrés down though. Like a true Costa Rican, he shook himself off, took it in stride and immediately got back to work on his installation without another thought.

I have attached a sneak peak of this work, any guesses as to what it might be?

INDEPENDENCE DAY

2011-09-15T15:41:00.005-06:00

September 15 is Independence Day in Costa Rica. In 1821, Costa Rica, along with El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua (the 5 provinces that formed the Central American Federation) gained independence from Spain. Freedom was declared in Guatemala and began to spread. The news did not arrive in Costa Rica until almost 1 month later – October 13th. Even after the news arrived, Costa Rica did not officially receive its own independence until after a peaceful meeting with the Spanish army on October 29, 1821. However, September 15th is the official Independence Day.

The night before on the 14^th, there is the tradition of the Parade of Lanterns, Desfiles de Faroles. This tradition began in Guatemala the evening of September 14th and can be attributed to Dolores Bedoya who ran through the streets of a small town in Guatemala carrying a lantern or farole and shouting “Viva la patria” “Viva la libertad”. She was spreading the news of this independence and calling her fellow townspeople and countrymen to join her in the streets. Lanterns were used because none of these cities or towns had electricity at the time.

This tradition of parading through the streets has been carried out year after year in every small town and city in Costa Rica to reconfirm and declare the continued freedom from foreign rule. However, it was in 1953 that the tradition was officially moved to the local schools and the starting time of 6 PM began.

Children are the centerpiece of the celebration. Children learn to make the faroles in school and at home using all types of materials. The designs can range from simple boxes with Costa Rican designs to elaborate houses with intricate details. All of them include a candle for illumination. For instructions on how to make a simple farol, visit:

http://www.museocostarica.go.cr/en_en/recreo/farol-de-carreta.html

The festival includes traditional dances the parade of the lanterns and the singing of the national anthem. Like all Costa Rican festivals, there is music and lots of food that is made and sold by the local women including the traditional tamales. If you are ever in Costa Rica on September 14th, I urge you to attend one of these celebrations. Like everywhere in this country, all people are welcome. Independence Day here is not just about Costa Rica’s independence from Spain but also about people being free everywhere in the world – Viva la patria, viva la libertad!

LA GRANJA CONTINUES

2011-09-12T12:27:00.003-06:00

The construction of the new animal barn, La Granja in Spanish, continues. The construction has been delayed by a few obstacles. First there was/is the rain. As the foundations for the support posts were excavated, they quickly filled with rain.. Every morning began with bailing water out of the holes so that the concrete footings could be poured. There are 32 of these foundation holes so it was a slow process.

The next obstacle was the lack of electricity on site. At first the construction relied on hand tools and lots of manual labor. This was not a real problem because the vertical posts are wood. When we started the roof beams it quickly became a problem The roof beams are thick metal. The cordless drill didn’t stand a chance against the thick steel beams. The drill lost its charge after just a few screw holes. So, we brought in a mini generator to construct the roof. In just a few days the beams were up and the metal roof was installed. We are no longer at the mercy of the rains.

We are now beginning the interior spaces. We will begin by dividing the space into separate animal areas. The first to be built will be for the adult and baby goats. I will keep you posted as the progress continues.

RAPPELLING OR ROCK CLIMBING ANYONE?

2011-09-04T16:47:00.003-06:00

Last week when I was working in the studio it started to rain. I didn’t think anything of it. After all it is the rainy season in Costa Rica and it rains in the afternoon. Then, Carlos called me from Café Blue to see if I was OK. Apparently down at Café Blue which is only 300 meters away, quite a storm was in progress. Not only was it pouring but there were also very high winds. Usually when it rains, no matter how hard, the rain comes straight down.

At Café Blue, the winds were gusting, limbs were falling off the trees, chairs were tipping over in the restaurant, glasses were being blown off the tables and crashing onto the stone floor, and a large tree behind the restaurant fell over taking several shrubs, vines and bromeliads with it. All of this while very little rain and no winds were blowing at the studio. Then, across from Café Blue a large wall of vegetation fell from the cliff. This cliff is totally vertical and over the years all types of plants have grown onto this vertical face of rock including trees, vines, flowers, orchids and shrubs. No rock was ever visible.

The wind from this storm loosened the wall of plants and it detached from the rock in one big sheet of twisted plants and roots and fell to the ground, all in one single motion. The result is a perfectly clean rock face of approximately 120 feet tall.

Even before the cleanup of the vegetation began, which included Carlos in his best clothes dragging logs in the rain and Cristobal chopping away with his machete, ideas about setting up rock climbing and rappelling activities began. Adrian the hotel manager was immediately on the phone calling experts to make a site visit while Carlos was emailing a well known rappelling company near Arenal. One of the exciting things about living in Costa Rica is that you never know what will happen and where it will lead you. I will keep you posted on when you can expect to experience rock climbing and rappelling at Monte Azul. Or we may just light it up with pretty lights at night instead.

LA GRANJA BEGINS

2011-08-19T10:00:00.003-06:00

This week the back hoe arrived at the site of the new animal barn – La Granja in Spanish. The area needed to be leveled slightly so that we can begin construction of the barn. The site was chosen for its proximity to the open pastures that existed at Monte Azul from its previous life as a dairy farm. The site is at the top of the hill near the coffee plantation.

A new barn was needed to house our ever growing family of goats. We currently have 11 goats. However, 6 of the females are pregnant and expecting to give birth in mid November. Since 4 of the goats have had twins previously, there is the potential for 10 new goats. Goats usually give birth to a single kid in their first pregnancy and twins thereafter.

Any way you count it, our current goat facilities are just not adequate. Hence, a new barn is in the works. It is large enough house more than just goats too. I won’t let you know all of the animals that we planned for these new facilities but I will keep you posted of the progress. There is a deadline. The goats are going to give birth whether we are finished or not, so we need to keep moving forward.

A WALK IN THE FOREST

2011-06-23T13:48:00.000-06:00

I few days ago Carlos and I went for a short walk along the River Edge trail here at Monte Azul. We were scouting for the perfect location to build a river viewing platform. Along the way we spotted several interesting plants and views. I thought that I might share just a few of them. The orchids show are endemic to this area only and have a sweet smell - an uncommon trait in orchids.

We did find that perfect spot for our viewing platform. We hope to start building it in the next few months and have it ready by December. It will be a fantastic spot to relax by the river, read a book, watch the birds and other wildlife or have lunch from Café Blue

I will be sure to keep you posted as we progress with this project.

CAN YOU SPOT THE SNAKE?

2011-06-18T16:07:00.000-06:00

This week I received a call from our hotel manger Adrian saying that a big snake had been spotted along the road by our groundskeeper Cristobal. All of Monte Azul’s employees know that whenever an animal is spotted that I want to see it, if possible. Our property is full of animals but it usually takes a trained eye and being in the right place at the right time to see them. That and sitting still and patiently waiting for things to walk by.

After receiving this call, I immediately ran down to the area where this snake was spotted. When I got there, Carlos, Melissa, Alvaro and 2 visiting artists, Karla Solano and Luis Diego Ramos, were already on the scene. Everyone was looking up. I looked up and couldn’t see anything. I was expecting a “big” snake. After having everyone give me instructions on where to look, I finally spotted the snake. It was a the very top of the tree, long and thin like a tree branch. It didn’t help that I was looking up into the sun but after a few moments I located it.

I had brought my camera and started taking a few photos. I did not hold out much hope of getting a good shot but thought that I would give it a try any way. I was really surprised that some of them turned out. Here are a few of the photos I took. In the first one, can you tell which part is a branch and which part is the snake? I still don’t see how Cristobal was able to spot this snake, especially since he was in his car driving down the road when he saw it. I guess it just takes experience and living here your entire life. Maybe one day I will be able spot forest creatures this easily and call others to come look.

ANOTHER GOAT?

2011-06-10T18:46:00.000-06:00

As a result of our ever growing goat herd and our goal to continuously improve our sustainable practices, we have turned our focus on the goat’s house. We currently have 10 goats and are preparing for the next breeding season. Our facilities cannot support any more goats. With 6 goats old enough for breeding this season we need to expand our housing for this year’s new arrivals.

This week Carlos, Asdrubel (our goat herder) and I went to see a farmer in Quebradas that has more than 40 goats. He invited us to visit his farm and see his operation first hand. It was a very informative visit. We got many great ideas about how to build our new goat facilities. He has raised platforms to house and feed the goats. There is also a special platform for milking. The goats are trained that when he opens the pen's gate and calls the goat, she runs out and jumps up on the platform ready to be milked.

This facility didn’t house just goats. He also had a place for dairy cows, pigs, chickens, ducks and pigeons. There were also guinea hens. These birds are fascinating to watch. They have large bodies with short necks and small white heads. They roam around the yard looking for insects.

Part of this animal barn included a pen for the yound kids - 6 month olds. There were about 12 of them. Each one was as adorable as the next. As much as I try to be a true farmer, my emotions sometimes get the best of me. I fell in love with each of the kids. There was one that was especially cute. Long story short, Carlos was just as touched by these baby goats as I was and he bought her before I knew what was happening.

Her name is Cachita. She was named Cachita because she has only 1 horn and it is very small. Cacho is Costa Rican slang for horn. So her name means little horn. Cachita’s markings of black, white and tan make her especially adorable. Here are a few photos of the newest member of the Monte Azul family. She makes goat #11.

SOLAR WATER HEATER INSTALLED AT MONTE AZUL

2011-06-02T15:18:00.000-06:00

Monte Azul continues its mission of sustainability. We are always looking at ways to improve our use of resources and reduce, reuse and recycle. On May 12, 2011, we installed the first solar water heater on the roof of the studio. This is solar water heater was installed by a company in San Jose call Solray. The system consists of a series of heat collection tubes, a storage tank and a monitor.

The array of heat collection tubes is approximately 6 feet long and 7 feet wide. These tubes are specifically designed to maximize the suns energy and heat the water inside the the tubes. As the water in the tubes is heated, it rises and flows into the storage tank that is located above the tubes. The storage tank holds 300 liters (79 gallons). If there are several days of no or little sun, the system has a back up electric heating element in the tank. This coil slowly heats the water up to a desired temperature.

There is also a digital monitor the lets you know the temperature of the water in the tank at any given time. The water temperature has been fluctuating between 50 -70 degrees Celsius (122-158 degree Fahrenheit) depending on usage and amount of sunshine. This temperature range is definitely hot enough to take a shower.

It has been 3 weeks since the unit has been installed and it is working very well. We will test it for 3 months and make sure that it continues to work properly. We also want to check and see how much money we are saving by eliminating the traditional electrical tank water heater. We goal is to eventually replace all our electric water heaters with solar water heaters. I will let you know in a few months how we are doing and the actual savings in electric usage we experience.

THE GREENHOUSE GETS A VISITOR

2011-05-24T11:21:00.000-06:00

Monte Azul’s greenhouse and gardens have been producing a bounty of organic vegetables, herbs and fruits lately. Our chefs at Café Blue have also been quite productive in turning this bounty into delicious, fresh, organic, seasonal dishes for our guests who are quite happy.

We have even developed a “Salad Safari” where the guests can hike to the greenhouse and pick their own lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and other fresh items. They then hike back to Café Blue where our chefs turn these items into a delicious salad. Our guests really seem to enjoy this experience. This was the result that we hoped for when we began experimenting with the greenhouse and gardens a few years ago.

One result that we didn’t anticipate was the abundance of wildlife that also enjoys the harvest. The greenhouse has attracted rabbits, squirrels, armadillos, coati mundis, birds , lizards and butterflies. Our goats have also broken into the garden for a meal or two. It has attracted predators that prey on these creatures too.

A few weeks ago one of these predators made and appearance inside the greenhouse. This visitor was an 8+ foot long boa constrictor. It was a beautiful snake that was sunning itself in the heat of the day. It looked like it had had a meal recently. There was a distinct bulk in the body a few feet behind its head.

The gardeners carefully removed the snake from the greenhouse. We then took several photos before sending it on its way down the hillside. Maybe we will see it again someday.

MY, MY, MY DELILAH

2011-05-01T16:55:00.000-06:00

Tom Jones might have sung about his love for the woman Delilah but here at Monte Azul, we sing for our Delilah - Dog #5. Yes, we have adopted another dog. This little girl was living on the street in San Isidro in front of the restaurant Delji. Unlike the other dogs that we have rescued, Delilah was not starving. She looked sad enough and cute enough to get restaurant patrons to feed her as she begged for scraps. She was however, in a sad state. Her white fur was matted from dirt, cement, burrs, and stickers. She also was covered in fleas and ticks.

At the end of our meal as we got ready to depart, Carlos looked at me and said that he was going to go get the car and pull it up to the restaurant. I was supposed to coax the dog over to me with food then pick her up and put her in the car. I wasn´t sure if she would let me get that close or pick her up but before I knew it we were all in the car on the way to the veterinarian.

At the veterinarian´s office, Delilah was cleaned up, given a haircut and received all the necessary shots. She has been at home at the studio for a few weeks now and has completely won over our hearts. She has also become the leader of the pack and keeps the other 4 dogs in line.

So much for our limit of 3 dogs. Maybe it was suppose to be no more that 3 inside dogs. We should have been more specific.

ANTEATER SITING

2011-04-18T14:52:00.000-06:00

This afternoon when walking along the path to the studio we had an anteater siting. Approximately 100 feet before the studio there is an old rotting tree stump. As you cross the small creek and start up the stairs, it is easy to spot. Today, enjoying a big meal of termites that live in this tree stump was an anteater. Luckily, this tree stump is close enough to the studio to go get the camera and return.

As we took his photo, he simply worked his way around the stump, always on guard, but not willing to leave such an abundant meal. He is so cute that you just want to pick him up and squeeze him. He looks like a soft stuffed animal. But beware. His front nails are very sharp and a force to be reckoned with. One slash of these claws and he can kill small predators. It is not uncommon for anteaters to kill dogs that get too close.

This is the second siting of an anteater in a week. Late last week he was spotted crossing the road between the casitas and the studio. We are assuming that it is the same anteater. We hope to have many more sitings of him in the future.

GREENHOUSE REVISITED

2011-04-11T14:20:00.000-06:00

As a follow up to my blog earlier this year, I am happy to announce that the Monte Azul organic greenhouse has been completed. The new structure´s construction was finished in mid January. Since that time we have been busy preparing the planting beds, starting seedlings and watching the plants grow.

The planting beds are now on the ground instead or raised beds. We have even found a use for the empty wine bottles from Café Blue. We invert these bottles and bury the neck in the ground. In a row, these bottles become a permanent, weather resistant border that we fill with soil. Our hotel guests really seem to like this wine bottle idea.

The plants are all doing extremely well. Our cooks at Café Blue are very pleased with the produce that is again available to them from the Monte Azul greenhouses. Thes guests seem to love the fresh organic produce as well. Some organic produce in the greenhouse includes 4 types of lettuce, 2 types of argula, sweet peppers, hot peppers, basil, thyme, rosemary, parsley, cilantro, celery, tomatoes, and various types of onions. We are also experimenting with Belgium endive, shallots, soybeans and bok choi.

The green house also includes our coffee bean drying area and earthworm composting area. We had our neighbor, Wilberth, the local earthworm expert and Swiss cheese maker, come over and give us all a workshop on how to use the earthworms for composting. He was kind enough to bring us a big bucket of worms to get us started. These worms seem to really love the organic waste from Café Blue.

The only problem we have experienced so far with the new greenhouse is that is is already too small. We have it filled and want to plant more things. We have already started looking at plans to build a second greenhouse. I will keep you posted.

The 4th DOG ARRIVES AT MONTE AZUL

2011-04-04T11:34:00.000-06:00

For years we have been able to hold the line at 3 dogs at Monte Azul. A month ago Carlos and I have stepped over this line and have adopted a 4^th dog. Up to this point we had been able to limit our canine family to 3: 1 inside and 2 outside. Tyler was always the “top dog” in the group and received all of the pampering and comforts of indoor living. When she died in August of 2007, she was quickly followed by Scooter a few weeks later. Scooter appeared in the road one day near the cafetal. He was a cute chubby 6 week old puppy in need of a home. How could we not take him in? He became the new 3^rd dog.

In March 2010, Shadow died unexpectedly. A few weeks later Paco appeared in the road frail, emaciated and in need of a home. Paco became the new 3^rd dog and took over the inside dog space with Cookie and Scooter being outside. All was right in the Monte Azul dog universe, 3 dogs, just the way it was supposed to be.

Jump to March 2011. Things changed. We received a call from our neighbor that there were hunters on our property. In addition to Monte Azul’s anti-hunting position, hunting is illegal in Costa Rica, anywhere, anytime, any animal. Our workers quickly went into action to confront these hunters. We found them, took their information, contacted he local authorities and told them to leave our property which they did.

However, they left their dog behind. The dog was out in the forest during the "arrest" of the 2 hunters. We captured the dog and were surprised at his condition. He was very thin, old, covered in fleas, visible cataracts in both eyes and battle scars all over his body. We did our usual routine and took him right to the veterinarian for an examination. We named him Hunter, based upon his previous occupation.

It has been several weeks now and Hunter has gained weight, no longer has worms, fleas or mite nests in his ears. Because of his age, he is now the 2^nd inside dog and 4th dog in total. He is a very gentle dog and has made himself quite at home in the studio. He is now retired and enjoys sleeping in the chair during the day and in a soft bed at night. Hunter and Paco love to play between naps. Here are a few photos of Hunter in the studio.

My only concern is that we have crossed the “3 dogs only” line. Who knows where this dog family end?

NEWEST RESIDENT – A THREE-TOED SLOTH

2011-03-28T19:49:00.000-06:00

Monte Azul is very pleased to announce the arrival of another three-toed sloth to the property. Our friends at Cloud Bridge Reserve were called upon to rescue a sloth from a house in Rivas last week. The sloth appeared in a residential area with no forest in the immediate vicinity for the sloth to call home.

Cloud Bridge Reserve is located up the Chirripo Valley (http://cloudbridgereserve.wordpress.com/) at a much higher elevation than Monte Azul. Since three-toed sloths do not thrive in these higher elevations, the folks at Cloud Bridge brought him/her to Monte Azul. He /she was released into the primary rain forest just above Café Blue. We are very pleased to have another sloth on our property.

This new sloth will join the previous three-toed sloth rescued by Carlos in June 2010. This sloth was found near San Isidro. The neighbors had noticed that the sloth was crossing a very busy road once per week. Because a sloth’s metabolism is so slow, they only defecate once per week. They climb down to the ground, “do their business” and then climb back into the tree tops. This particular sloth had recently decided that the best place to defecate was on the other side of this dangerous road. The neighbors were very worried that this sloth would be hit by a car and were looking for a safe home for him/her. So Carlos brought him home and we released him/her in the primary rain forest near the studio.

I know that ther is also one other sloth on the property. In May 2008, our gardener spotted a sloth in the trees on the southern edge of the property. This was the first such sighting in the area in 10 years. Everyone at Monte Azul and the area was very excited. The forest regeneration work that the area was doing was bringing back and supporting the native sloths.

I have attached a few photos of these welcomed residents. If we spot them again, I will be sure and let you know.

RACE TO CHIRRIPO

2011-03-06T13:50:00.000-06:00

On February 26,2011, the 23^rd International Cross Country Race to Chirripo was held. Chirripo is the highest peak in Costa Rica and it is a once in a life time event for most people who climb this mountain. From the park entrance, at approximately 4,400 feet above sea level, it is an 8-9 hour hike to the base camp at 11,000+ feet followed by another 3-4 hour hike to reach the summit at 12,350 feet above sea level. Most hikers spend the night at base camp and reach the summit the following morning.

For the competitors in the Carerra Chirripo it is a bit different. These runners come from all over the world to challenge themselves and other competitors in this grueling race, and grueling it is. It is a total of 34 km (23 miles). The 17 km uphill is all about your lung capacity and conditioning as the air gets thinner and thinner. The 17 km downhill is all about the punishment on your knees and ankles. The winner of the race makes this brutal journey in approximately 3 hours, 15 minutes. Incredible! Even more incredible is that there has never been winner of this event from outside of Costa Rica.

This year there were 225 participants. This included Monte Azul’s Andy Cardenas. Andy is the head cook at Café Blue. In his spare time, he is also a porter for hikers to Chirripo. Andy will run the visitor’s possessions to the base camp in the morning and then return to Café Blue to cook lunch and dinner for hotel guests that same day.

Monte Azul is very proud to have sponsored Andy this year and are pleased to announce that Andy finished 33^rd with a time of 4 hours, 15 minutes.

For more information about this race go to www.carrerachirripo.com. Or if you want to attempt the climb on your own, Monte Azul can arrange a luxury package for you including porter service.

AN UNUSUAL DELAY

2011-02-13T10:08:00.000-06:00

This week Carlos and I were fortunate enough to make a trip to the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica for a little time away from the day-to-day business of Monte Azul. We headed to Tortuga Lodge in Tortuguero. Even though Costa Rica is a small country, traveling from one location to another can be time consuming. The driving time from Monte Azul to Tortuguero on the northern Caribbean coast would be around 9 hours.

To significantly reduce this travel time, we decided to do what many travelers in Costa Rica do and take a puddle jumper. Our plan consisted of driving to the Quepos airport which is approximately 1 ½ hours away and flying to San Jose and then onto Tortuguero. There are 2 small airlines in Costa Rica that fly to the many small regional airports. These airlines are Nature Air and Sansa. The flights are very short in duration ranging from 20-30 minutes.

On our way back home, we flew from Tortuguero to San Jose which took 22 minutes. The Tortuguero Airport is little more than a landing strip that runs parallel between the Tortuguero River and the Atlantic Ocean, literally steps from either and lined with palm trees. We took a 2 minute boat ride from Tortuga Lodge to get to the plane. We stood with 6 or 7 other people on the tarmac watching the plane arrive. Then quickly boarded and took off within minutes. It was like something out of a movie.

We arrived in San Jose and had a short layover before heading onto Quepos. After they announce that they were ready to board and started out to the plane we were stopped by an official. Our flight would be delayed for a few minutes. It seemed that a large iguana had made his way out onto the tarmac and was being rescued. The large fire truck made its way out into the tropical sun and 2 firemen emerged to capture the wayward iguana.

The iguana was quickly in the hands of the firemen. The rescuer walked over to the group of us so that we could get a closer look and the iguana, pet him and take a few photos. The iguana didn’t seem to mind the attention. As we boarded the plane and took off, we could see the iguana being taken to the park across the street and released.

As we flew away there was a sense of amazement that it wasn’t about meeting a flight schedule but more about the safety and well being of the iguana. I am sure that everyone on that plane will remember him for a long time. I know that I will. I have attached a photo of this iguana and the fire truck used to remove him from danger.

SANTA LUCIA SPRINGS ETERNAL

2011-01-31T10:24:00.000-06:00

Summer has arrived in Costa Rica as it does every year. It begins at the end of November and runs through end April. With the dry season come the tourists from all over the world. Many come from Europe and North America seeking a respite from the cold winter. Not only do the visitors get to bask in the warm sunshine and blue skies but they also get to experience the bounty of summer flowers that emerge as the rains come to an end.

It is amazing how many flowers bloom in the dry part of the year. They are everywhere you look. One of the most conspicuous and plentiful is Santa Lucia. It is one of the first summer flowers to emerge and signals to the country that the heavy rains of October and early November have come to an end.

Santa Lucia seems to bloom great numbers overnight. One day it is nowhere to be seen and the next day it is everywhere. It grows n fields, hillsides, along the roads, anywhere that there is plenty of sunshine. Alone it is a pretty little periwinkle colored flower atop a weed-like plant. But in numbers it becomes spectacular. It turns entire pastures into beautiful blue ocean meadows.

Santa Lucia also has a secret. Costa Rica tradition says that if you pick a flower and place it in your wallet, you will always have money. Some say that it only works with the white Sana Lucia flowers which are in smaller numbers. Either way, there are plenty of both colors at Monte Azul so why take a chance. Pick a flower of each color put it in your wallet. This way you will be assured of having enough money for your return visit to Costa Rica.

ANOTHER GIFT FROM HENRY

2011-01-26T10:54:00.000-06:00

Once again we have had the opportunity to host San Francisco artist Henry Jackson as an Artist in Residence at Monte Azul. Henry was at Monte Azul from January 6 to 18, 2011. This is Henry’s 3^rd time to Monte Azul and we were very happy to see him again. From his previous stays, Henry has produced some fantastic works that were inspired by the sights and sounds of our tropical rain forest.

In January 2009, Henry produced his now famous monkey monotypes. One of these monotypes is featured on the front label of Monte Azul’s Quick Monkey brand organic coffee. The February 2011 Edition of Food & Wine Magazine has an article about Monte Azul and features one of Henry´s monkey monotypes. http://www.monteazulcr.com/media/winefeb2011.pdf

He also produced a monotype of our goat, Heidi, which was a gift to me. This monotype is now framed and hanging in the studio as part of the Monte Azul Collection. Heidi has been immortalized and is admired by all of our visitors (see attached photo).

During his latest stay, Henry produced a extraordinary body of work titled the Selva Series (Jungle Series). Each print is a combination of oil paint, ink, stabilo, cold wax and graphite on paper. At the end of his residency, we were fortunate to have a gallery exhibition introducing these works. This exhibition was attended by several Trustees of the San Francisco Zoo. Attached is a preview photo of one of these works. To see these works, visit the www.monteazulcr.com

For me personally, the highlight of Henry’s trip was the gift that he made for me. This is a mixed media print of a cupcake and Twizzlers licorice. Henry knows me and my sweet tooth all too well. I have attached a photo of this wonderful gift. I am looking forward to getting it framed and adding it to our collection. Thanks again, Henry!

NEW GREENHOUSE RISES FROM THE RUINS

2011-01-09T19:34:00.000-06:00

For the last few years Monte Azul has been tending an organic greenhouse. This greenhouse was erected about 2.5 years ago on the hill high above Cafe Blue. It was very rustic. The support posts were simply tree trunks and the roof was thick plastic. It had raised beds made out of lumber mill scraps and tree trunks with black plastic liners. It is the typical construction for a back yard greenhouse in Costa Rica.

This rustic greenhouse has served its purpose for our experiments on growing fruits and vegetables in this location. There are many micro climates and some things do really well and others just wither and die. No matter what we tried we cannot get big tomatoes to grow. The cherry tomatoes do extremely well but their larger beefy cousins do nothing.

Lettuce, herbs, peppers, beans, beets, carrots, cucumbers are some of the other things that have done very well. So well in fact that we are in a race to harvest the vegetables before the armadillos, pizotes, squirrels and rabbits get to it. Many guests at Cafe Blue have enjoyed the organic bounty that has come from his ramshackle structure.

Like most things in Costa Rica, this greenhouse has taken a beating from the weather. The rain and sun have slowly eaten away at the wooden structure. A large tree fell and destroyed a corner of the structure. Then the planting beds starting collapsing one by one. It was time to do something drastic.

Now that it the dry season, we are removing the old greenhouse and building a new permanent greenhouse made from PVC pipe, metal and a special greenhouse fabric. This new greenhouse will be built to last. It will have planting beds that are on the ground, an earthworm composting area and a coffee drying area. We are very excited. I will post an update with photos when it the structure has been completed and when we expect to serve these fresh organic vegetables at Cafe Blue..

ESCUELA CHIMIROL GRADUATION

2010-12-26T10:59:00.000-06:00

As a follow up to the graduation ceremony at the Canaan High School, Carlo and I attended the graduation ceremony at the Chimirol Grade School on Saturday, December 18th. Asdrubel, our animal wrangler, invited us because his son, Anthony, was graduating.

In Costa Rica, students attend grade school, escuela, through 6^th grade. Since there is no middle school in Costa Rica, the next step is high school, colegio. To commemorate this big step, there is a graduation ceremony. It is just as well attended as that for high school. Although unlike the high school event, this one started on time.

The event was very festive with music, songs, dancing and lots of applause and even more photos being taken. In addition to graduating from 6^th grade, you also graduate from kindergarten. These little kids are so cute in their uniforms and sashes – see photo.

It was great to see everyone and to see the neighbor’s kids graduating. In addition to Anthony, there was Leandro our hotel manager’s nephew. Leandro has helped me with my Spanish and I have helped him with his English. There was also Jimmy and Helen, our 2^nd cook Gilberto’s kids that graduated. In total, there were 17 graduates from Escuela Chimirol for 2010.

Good luck to all of them in high school in February 2011.

GRADUATION IN CANAAN

2010-12-19T16:05:00.000-06:00

Friday night was the Canaan High School’s graduation ceremony. Carlos and I attended because Daniela Martinez Chavez was a member of the graduating class. Daniela is the oldest daughter for Cecilia and Cristobal, our housekeeping manager and landscaping/maintenance manger. The ceremony took place in the community center in Canaan. And like most Costa Rican events, it started late. The event was scheduled to start at 5 PM. Carlos and I arrived at 5:20 PM knowing that is would not start on time. At 5:45 PM the person with the audio equipment arrived and the event began a bit after 6 PM.

The ceremony was a bit different than that in the USA. The cap and gown formality was non-existent. Instead, it was a much more relaxed and spirited event. Students, teachers and parents were cheering for everyone. Perhaps this is possible because of the small numbers. There were only 36 graduates: 24 girls and 12 boys. The girls far outnumber the boys because this area remains a rural community and many boys still leave school to work on the family farm raising coffee or cattle.

In my opinion, the academic program in Costa Rica is much more demanding than in the USA. American students would probably have a very hard time. High school begins at 7^th grade and lasts for 5 years. The students go to class 5 days per week from 7 AM to 4:30 PM. They take 9 to 11 classes per term. Classes are very small and individual attention is highly prized. Perhaps this is the reason that a small country like Costa Rica has a higher literacy rate than the USA.

There is also much less competition. Everyone will succeed. The awards were not so much for highest grade point average or athlete of the year but “friendliest, most responsible, highest integrity, most creative, and fewest absences” were a few of the awards presented.

We are very happy for Daniela and her Class of 2010. Daniela is planning on attending University in 2011 to study pharmacology. Good luck to Daniela and her classmates. Here are a few photos of the event. In the photo of Daniela and her friends, she is 2^nd from the left.

THE MONKEYS ARE AT IT AGAIN

2010-11-23T04:43:00.000-06:00

In recent days our family of white face capuchin monkeys has been quite rowdy. Monkeys are usually quite vocal but lately there is something in the air that is making them more vocal than usual. Is it the full moon, the coming of summer, or maybe mating season? We are not quite sure but something is making them more active than usual.

They are also appearing in new locations on the property. Over the years they have developed a routine that seemed to be a very large loop. They would start out in the early morning at the studio and then work their way down the hill side to Café Blue and continue around the hill and up to the top of the hill near Casa Palo Alto to return to the studio around lunch time. They would make another loop and be at the studio late afternoon and then disappear to settle down for the night.

Lately, they are everywhere. They are behind the studio, crossing the road near the Café Blue parking lot, behind the restaurant, near the casitas, etc. It is a lot more interesting. I can be walking the path down to the Lecheria and suddenly hear the calls of monkeys overhead. It is usually a warning for the others that an intruder is approaching. And believe me when I say they think of humans as intruders. The family of monkeys definitely thinks that this is their land and we are invading their territory.

We have always been very careful to keep our distance. As cute and funny as they are, they are still wild animals. We make sure that our hotel guests do not feed them. We are having a hard enough time keeping them away from our food as it is. We used to store all our fruits and vegetables on a shelf just outside the Café Blue kitchen door. We have now had to move all the food inside because the monkeys were stealing it,. Last week when I came out the door, a monkey had an entire pineapple in his hand eating it right in front of me. His reaction when he saw me was to take one more bite and then drop it to the ground.

The cas fruit tree at Adrian’s house across the street is currently fruiting. I love cas. It makes a great fruit drink. The challenge has been to get the fruit before the monkeys do. In one afternoon, all the fruit was gone, or more accurately, partially eaten and on the graound. Monkeys are not frugal eaters. Instead of eating an entire fruit and then taking another until they are full, a monkey will take one bite of every fruit and throw the rest on the ground.

Now don’t get me wrong. I love the monkeys. I love seeing them every day and watching their “antics”. No matter how stressful or tiring a day I am having seeing the monkeys always makes me stop and smile. They always seem to be having such a good time, even when fighting over something. And there always seems to be some sort of squabble over something.

Over the years we have seen our family of monkeys grow from 6 members to 14. If it is mating season which is causing the recent bout of unusual activity, maybe the family will soon be larger. I will keep you posted.

LECHERIA: THE SAGA CONTINUES

2010-11-16T21:30:00.000-06:00

When Carlos and I bought Monte Azul 5 years ago, the property was a used from grazing a small herd of dairy cows. Past and old metal gate at the end of a short very rough and rocky road stood 1 building: La Lecheria. Lecheria translates to dairy. Telling anyone that we bought a dairy would not conjure up the impression of what really existed on the property. The Lecheria was simply a roof with makeshift walls where the cows were milked by hand. It had a toilet, 1 exposed light bulb, a feeding trough and a small locking storage area.

Over the last 5 years the Lecheria has been transformed into many things for many uses. First came the storage shed/shelter. I moved to the farm alone in July of 2006 to begin construction. To guard all of the construction materials and equipment, the Lecheria became a storage building. Since there were no other structures on the property, it also became my home. I set up a tent at one end of the storage room. It had a TV, mini frig , toaster oven and outdoor shower. It was rustic yet comfortable.

Camping has never been very appealing to me and camping for months needed to end. So, part of the Lecheria was converted to new living quarters for me and Carlos when he arrived on the weekends. The result was a fantastic little house with the luxuries of an indoor sink, toilet and gas stove. It was a major step up in the world.

A few months later, Carlos and I moved into the studio. The Lecheria became another storage room for a short period before being converted into the Café Blue kitchen and dining room. Where cows used to eat and be milked, hotel guests were now being served 4 course dinners.

When the new Café Blue opened in early 2009, the Lecheria was converted into a paint studio for Alvaro Gomez. Since Alvaro was not a Monte Azul constantly, the space also doubled as a “catchall” storage space. It was interesting to see some of the things that shared the space with him while painting: mattresses, tile saws, extra furniture, horse saddles, etc.

We have recently moved Alvaro to a larger space which left the Lecheria vacant once again. But like a Phoenix, the Lecheria continues to rise from the ashes with new life. Currently, it is undergoing a remodel that will transform it into an office for Carlos. When it is completed, I will post a photo of the new space.

It is amazing how versatile and useful the Lecheria has been over the years. However, we often joke that the amount of money that we have spent upgrading, transforming and remodeling this space, we could have built several new structures. The Lecheria is probably the most expensive part of the Monte Azul project yet is still an amalgam of parts and pieces held together with glue, tape and a lot of hope. Maybe one of these days we will tear it to the ground and start over. Or, we will simply continue to transform it into another use. Long Live the Lecheria!

RAIN, RAIN, RAIn

2010-11-06T19:30:00.000-06:00

What would a rainforest be without rain? I am not sure what the answer to this question is but it is not something that I have to worry about any time soon. It has been quite a rainy year in Costa Rica. To date we have had 225 inches of rain or more than 18 feet. Compare this to the 18 inches per year that I was used to in California.

I love the rain. It is what keeps everything fresh, green and alive. Here in Costa Rica the rain usually comes in big bursts. The mornings are usually bright sunny blue skies and as the day passes the clouds build up and let loose with a torrent in the afternoon. It might rain for an hour and stop. It is not like California rain where it is a light mist or sprinkle for days on end.

The rainy season in Costa Rica starts around mid April and gradually builds to its culmination in October. The month of October is known for being the rainiest month of the year and as a result corresponds to the lowest point for the tourist season. In fact, many hotels and tourist operations close for the month of October. By mid November the rains have tapered off and it might only rain once or twice a week through April. This is the high tourist season.

In July 2009 we installed a rain gauge at Café Blue to monitor the rain fall. October of this shows 28 inches of rain which was a bit more than the 22 inches in October 2009. We thought that the rains would begin to taper off but have been hit with a major storm this week. In the first 6 days of November we have had 18 inches of rain. There is a major storm system in the Caribbean that is affecting our weather.

Luckily the rain is a part of life in Costa Rica and I wouldn’t have it any other way. You just have to always remember to take an umbrella with you everywhere you go.

HALLOWEEN = BIG GOAT DAY

2010-11-01T15:15:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was Halloween. This holiday doesn't mean much in Costa Rica but for Monte Azul it was a big day for baby goats. We had a total of 4 babies born. It started with a call from Asdrubel, our goat herder. He called to say that Betty had just had a baby boy. I quickly went up to the goat pen and discovered that Betty had just had another kid. This time it was a girl. We watched her clean the babies off and then moved them to a clean dry enclosure. While we were marveling at the new arrives and how cute they were, Asdrubel’s wife yelled that Maria had just started giving birth.

Within a few minutes, Maria had given birth to a baby girl. Over the 2+ years that we have had goats I had seen the babies minutes after being born but had never witnessed the actual event. This changed yesterday. I actually saw the baby come out. It was quite a sight. About 10 minutes after Maria’s first kid was born, came the 2^nd one. This one is also a girl.

Because the babies were born on Halloween, we thought names of witches would be appropriate. But, the names had to be of fun, happy witches. So their names are Endora (Betty’s kid) , Samantha and Serena (Maria’s twin kids). You may know these names from the popular TV show Bewitched.

I have attached a few photos. The first being of Betty’s 2 kids, Endora and Boy #7. They are about 1 hour old. The second photo is of Maria’s first kid, Samantha. The final photo is of Maria’s 2^nd kid, Serena. She is only seconds old. If anyone would like to see the photo of Samantha ½ inside and ½ outside of Maria during the actual birth, let me know.

All 4 newborns are doing really well today along with the other kid born on Friday, the 29^th. Our score card now reads GIRLS 3, BOYS 2. I will keep you posted of their progress and what happens with Debbie’s pregnancy.

BABY GOAT SEASON ARRIVES

2010-10-29T16:43:00.000-06:00

I am very happy to announce that we had our first baby goat of the season today. Heidi gave birth to a baby boy around 5:30 AM. He is doing very well and being taken care of by his mother as you can see in the attached photo. He is only 3 hours old in this photo. This is Heidi’s second birth. She had a male kid in March 2010 but he only survived 1 day. This kid looks much healthier.

Waiting in the wings of the maternity ward are Betty, Maria and Debbie. Betty is due any day now with the others to follow in intervals. We have learned a lot over the last 2 ½ years of raising goats. We are attempting to space the births out this season so that the milk production will last through the tourist season. Last season, the milk production began in March just about the time that “high tourist season” was ending. Not very smart of us. I am gearing up for making goat cheese, yogurt and soap.

I have also included a photo of Shakira who was born in February 2010. She is looking over the fence and trying to see what is going on with the new baby. Shakira is too young to have babies. She will have to wait until next year.

I will keep you posted on the upcoming births as they happen. Let’s all keep our fingers crossed for female babies.

WATER + ELECTRICITY: YIKES!

2010-10-18T13:32:00.000-06:00

As Americans, we take hot water for granted. Hot water is heated in a hidden location and comes out of every faucet in the house. No one gives a second thought about a hot shower in the US. In Costa Rica can be a very different story. Hot water is a luxury, especially out in the country. It is not installed in most homes more than a few years old and if there is hot water, it is only in the shower. Who needs hot water in the kitchen or bathroom sinks? Hotel ads will list hot water as a major selling point.

The source of hot water is also very different. The use of a huge hot water tank where water is constantly heated and sits in a tank is almost non-existent in homes here. If there is a tank it is very small. Instead the water is heated at the point of use, sort of like the Insta-hot faucets in the US, and I use the phrase “sort of” loosely. A common source of hot water for showers comes from water heaters that are built directly into the shower head. These can be purchased at every hardware store. The frightening part is that these shower head heaters

are electrically wired there as well. This wiring is usually visible.

For those of us that have always been warned of the dangers of mixing electricity and water, this can be quite intimidating. Stepping into a shower with exposed wires overhead that are connected to the shower head takes a great deal of courage the first time.

To make matters worse, once you turn the water on and discover that the water isn’t getting hot, you notice the sliding switch on the showerhead. There are just symbols that are not apparent which direction is for “ON” or “HOT”. If you are really brave, you will attempt to slide this switch. Don’t do it! I think this is just a dirty trick to see if you are dumb enough to touch it. I have been shocked more than once. So you suffer through it and take a cold shower.

I cannot tell you how many times that I have taken this cold shower thinking that these showerhead water heaters are just useless pieces of "$#(%&". Then a contractor friend of mine told me the secret. The secret is that you just barely turn the water on. Like most Americans, I assumed that the farther you turned the water knob, the hotter it would get. This is the standard for American homes and hotels. Not so for these instant heater showerheads. The lower the water is turned on, the hotter the water will get. Makes no sense to me but now that I know the secret, these showerheads do work quite well.

I do still have some reservations about all the wires overhead but have learned to deal with it. However, every once it a while I still see a set up that frightens me, like the shower that was in Carlos’ grandmothers house. Not only are the shower head wires exposed, but to get the heating unit to work, you have to turn on the “circuit breaker”. This device is not in another part of the house in a nice little metal box but on the wall right there in the shower! And, its wires are exposed as well. You can even see the metal connections. It looks like one of those switches that they used in the movie Frankenstein. You know, the one with the big lever you have to flip 180 degrees - the one that brought life to the monster. It is one of those things you just have to see to believe. So, I have attached a photo of this contraption. So don’t be afraid to step into this web of wires and take a nice hot shower after all, what is the worst that can happen?

THERE’S A NEW BRIDGE IN TOWN

2010-10-10T14:00:00.000-06:00

It has been a very rainy year in Costa Rica and sometimes things happen when it rains. In early August there was storm and the “thing” that happened was that the small bridge over the Chucuyo River collapsed. For some reason the river changed course slightly and the footing on the Monte Azul side of the river was washed away. The bridge fell into the river. This was a homemade 1 lane bridge made out of a semi trailer chassis with thin metal panels laid on top. It was never meant to carry heavy or wide vehicles. In fact, I have always admired the sign that someone put up advising drivers to use caution (see photo). The sign says “PUENTE SOLO PARA CARRO PEQUENO” which translates to “bridge only for small car”. The most interesting thing about this sign is that it is nailed to a tree on the far side of the bridge. You cannot see or read this sign until after you have crossed it, hopefully not in a large heavy car or truck.

Luckily, the metal pieces of the bridge did not get washed away but were salvaged from the river using a backhoe and some cable. Normally, one would think that the municipality would be in charge of repairing this bridge. This would eventually happen if you were willing to wait that long. There are 5 houses on the other side with no other outlet for cars. The occupants of these houses had to walk an extra mile using another similar homemade bridge to get to the same place of the fallen bridge.

In early September there was an attempt to build a new bridge using some metal beams from a neighboring community. Unfortunately, these beams were too short. In addition to undermining the old bridge’s footing, the river also decided to take away about 3 meters of shoreline.

Last week the neighbors were at it again. This time it was cutting up scrap pieces of metal and soldering them to the old bridge’s under carriage. This was the chassis of a semi trailer. The crew welded additional 2x4 beams to the ends to make it long enough to span the new distance. Next came the back hoe to drop this structure into place. The most interesting part is the bridge decking. It is simply a local tree that has been cut down and milled into planks that are placed on the metal carriage. These are not nailed, screwed , bolted or fastened to the structure in any way.

The final touch was for safety. A hand rail was placed on each side of the new bridge. This is thick wire cable that has been fastened to trees at both ends. The result: a new foot bridge. No more cars crossing this one. It is only 2.5 feet wide. I have walked this bridge. It is a bit intimidating the first time but definitely an adventure.

I really admire the ingenuity, tenacity and resourcefulness of the people of Costa Rica and especially in the countryside. There is no waiting for the municipality or the government to do something. If you want it done, call the neighbors and it will get done. I love living in a small community in the country.

FLOWERING PLANT UPDATE

2010-10-02T15:06:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago I wrote an entry about a flowering shrub on the farm that no one seems to be able to identify. In this blog entry I wrote that the plant blooms in July and August. Well, this plant proved me wrong. Another plant on the hiking path near the greenhouse has just bloomed and it is now the beginning of October. We had no idea that this plant existed until it bloomed. As I said before, the plant is very nondescript. I have attached a photo of the plant and its flowers. As you can see from the photo, the plant simply blends into the tropical foliage. You only notice it when the spectacular flowers appear.

Who knows how many other plants like this are out there at Monte Azul waiting to bloom. If you have any idea what the name of this plant is, please let me know.

SYMPHONY COMES TO CHIMIROL

2010-09-19T16:13:00.000-06:00

September 15th was Independence Day in Costa Rica. As part of the celebration this year, Chimirol had its annual town festival. Most every town in Costa Rica has an annual festival or some sort. In the past, the Chimirol festival was held in February, the middle of summer, so as to minimize the effects of rain. This year was the first time the Chimirol Festival, Civicas Festivas, was held in September.

The festival start on Monday, September 13^th and ran for 7 days with various activities throughout the week including the usual bingo, desfile de faroles (see blog entry from Sept 2009 for more information), dances, karaoke, food, and the community horseback ride.

This year there were 2 very special events. On Monday and Tuesday, the Museo de Oro (Gold Museum) from San Jose brought a traveling exhibition to Chimirol. It was very informative and well attended.

On Thursday night the Music School in San Isidro bought their Youth Symphony to Chimirol. The symphony consisted of approximately 40 children ranging in age from 7 to 17 years old. This is the first time a symphony concert has been held in Chimirol. The concert took place in the covered open gymnasium at the grade school. Despite the rain falling, it was standing room only. I think that every one that lives in Chimirol attended.

The first half of the concert was the full symphony playing classical numbers as well as show tunes and movie themes such as the theme from the Godfather. The second half of the concert was a smaller group of older students as a jazz ensemble playing traditional Costa Rica songs, salsa, cumbia and latin jazz selections.

It was a magical night sitting in country side with the rainforest and Rio Chirripo just steps away listening to a symphony concert. Everyone seemed to have a great time and was talking about the the Music School coming back next year.

I have included a few photos of the concert. These photos were taken by Hai Zhang from New York. Hai has returned to Monte Azul this week for the 2^nd part of his Artist in Residence. He is here continuing work on a long-term project with Monte Azul.

CAN YOU IDENTIFY THIS PLANT?

2010-09-08T20:06:00.000-06:00

There is a plant at the farm that no one seems to know its name or anything else. There are several of them around Café Blue, the Casitas and the front gate. They are nondescript plants that fade into the mix of all the other greenery. They look like large shrubs with thick dark green leaves and woody stems. They are slow growing and the older leaves and woody parts are covered in moss and other plants. The plant never drops it s leaves and the new growth is cleaner and brighter than the older leaves. They tend to grow in the shade of all the plants that surround them. The leaves are about 4 inches long.

When the plant flowers it burst out of the shadows in a profuse and magnificent show of white and lavender blooms. These flowers are big and gorgeous. The center of the flower is 4 white petals, each about 1 inch long. The stamens are very long, about 3-4 inches, and go from white to lavender anthers. The flowers do not smell.

The buds form and begin to bloom around mid July and last through the end of August. The buds do not all bloom at the same time but new buds open as others start to drop their petals and stamens. Another interesting fact is that the plants on the property do not all bloom every year. The plant behind Café Blue bloomed in 2007 and has not bloomed again. The year it bloomed, the plant produced 1 large seed pod that was tear drop shaped. It was about 5 inches long and very hard. After months of watching it, it finally fell from the tree. We opened it up and tried to propagate the seeds but none of the seeds grew.

Last year a plant near the gate bloomed but did not bloom this year. Instead, this year a large plant between Casita Naranja and Casita Celeste bloomed. This is a very interesting plant that we will continue to keep watching and attempting to unlock some of its secrets. It also teaches us that there is a world of plant and animal life in the rain forest that still remains a secret.

If anyone has any guess as to the name of this plant or any other information, we would love to hear your thoughts

UMBRAL EN COLORES

2010-08-31T12:00:00.000-06:00

Alvaro Gomez Ulloa is a master printmaker that has become a master painter. He began his career as an artist printmaking on paper and then moved to painting on canvas. He says that his first love is print making and working with paper. His new series of limited edtion screen prints that were inaugurated at the National Gallery in San Jose this August combines his painting technique and his love of printmaking on paper.

The idea began over a year ago when Carlos Rojas suggested that Alvaro start thinking about a way to produce a screen print that represents his style of painting. Carlos had the idea that he could combine the techniques of painting, screen printing and montotyping into a series of works.

The process began with Alvaro painting the flowers in his usual technique onto acetate instead of canvas. The difference being that every color used would be on a different piece of acetate. When these various layers are stacked, the same effect as in his paintings would be generated. When he was done, there was a set of 5 acetates or films.

This is when I took over and developed the screens for screen printing. The first film was black and I printed this on paper in the usual screen printing technique. I then handed the works back over to Alvaro who began the long process of monotyping. Alvaro took each piece and individually made a monotype print over the first black color. This monotprint was in irredescent golds pewters and silvers.

Alvaro then returned the prints to me and I completed the screen printing of the last 4 colors. We produced 3 different color editions: red, blue and ochre. The final editions are:

Umbral en rojo (Threshold in Red) Edition of 8
Umbral en azul (Threshold in Blue) Edition of 8
Umbral en siena (Threshold in Sienna) Edition of 8

Each print is 61 x 44 cm on paper that measures 78 x 59 cm. The price is $575. We are very excited about this new mixed media work that Alvaro has developed. If you are interested in purchasing one of these works, contact Carlos at carlos@monteazulcr.com.

To see other available works from Alvaro Gomez, go to:http://www.monteazulcr.com/en/fineart/representedartists/1/AlvaroGomez

COOKIE SMILING

2010-08-23T09:22:00.000-06:00

Cookie has now been a part of Monte Azul for 4 years. Shortly after I moved to the farm full-time, Cookie came into our lives. I had moved to the farm July 1, 2006 with our dogs Tyler and Shadow. Carlos was still living in Cartago and running the gallery space there during the week and coming down to the farm on weekends.

The third week of July Carlos was at the farm and he need to make a few phone calls. At the time there we no phones in the area and cell phones wouldn’t work in the mountains. To make a call you had to go to the public phone at the local pulperia. On one of these trips, we saw this skinny puppy eating from the garbage in front of the pulperia Soda Cindy. She was small and funny looking. Attached is a photo of her first day at Monte Azul.

Carlos realized that a number that he needed to call was not in the car and that we needed to go back to the farm to get it. During this trip, I got a bag of dog food to take to the puppy. When we returned to the pulperia, the sad puppy was still there so I began my attempt to feed her. She wasn’t scared at all. I guess that hunger overrides fear. When Carlos got off the phone he saw me feeding the dog and said ”put her in the car” This was all I need to hear. She was quickly in the car and on the way to her new home.

Cookie has grown up and is a very happy, silly, lovable dog. She is a little bit crazy but is good natured. She loves to go for walks. It was this week that I was walking the dogs up the hill when I decided to try a short cut straight up the hill through the forest instead of the long loop on the road. The heavy rains had created a new creek down the hillside and I wanted to explore it. The 3 dogs were happy to follow. I had my camera with me and got this photo of Cookie. It is now my favorite photo of her. It shows the excitement and joy that she seems to have in everything that she does.

I am happy that we picked her up that day and hope that she is with us for a very long time.

Alvaro Gomez: El Jardinero

2010-08-17T16:37:00.000-06:00

This month at the National Gallery in the Museo de los Ninos, Sala VIII, we are proud to represent Alvaro in his first show at the museum. The show includes a series of magnificent acrylic paintings on canvas as well as wood block monoprints and a new series for monoprint screen prints (more info on this series to come). All of these works were created at Monte Azul in 2010 and represent his passion for color, flowers, water and nature.

The Opening Reception was on August 11, 2010 and was attended by art collectors, magazine and newspaper editors, photographers, artists, friends, and family to name but a few. The event was very successful and enjoyed by everyone. These are a few photos of those in attendance.

Alvaro is part of the Monte Azul family and has been since its inception in Costa Rica. Almost ten years ago when Carlos was running his art gallery in San Francisco, California, he did an internet search for Costa Rican artists. One of the artists that “popped up” was Alvaro Gomez Ulloa. Alvaro is from Cartago, the same city that Carlos’ family originates. Through emails, Carlos got to know more about Alvaro and his work which eventually lead to Carlos selling Alvaro’s work in California. At the time Alvaro was a professor at the University of Costa Rica teaching printmaking. Alvaro was trained in printmaking and is considered a master printmaker.

By the time Carlos and I made our first trip together to Costa Rica in July 2003, Alvaro had begun working with oils and acrylics on canvas. We met Alvaro in his home studio on that trip and immediately fell in love with his paintings. On the spot, we bought 2 prints and one of his first oils on plywood paintings.

Over the years, Alvaro has developed and refined his painting technique, always pushing his limits, ideas and techniques to create remarkable works whether in printmaking or painting. The new series of paintings are in El Jardinero series (The Gardener). Alvaro is truly a gardener (in fact, he actually uses a watering can on the canvas), developing, nurturing and growing his ideas and talents. Alvaro is an integral part of Monte Azul and we are very proud to have Alvaro as part of our family.

We are also looking forward to his next idea.

For more information on Alvaro and his recent series of works, got to:

http://www.monteazulcr.com/en/fineart

http://www.monteazulcr.com/en/fineart/representedartists/1/AlvaroGomez/

LUXEMBOURG YEAH!

2010-08-06T07:50:00.000-06:00

July 2010 has been a very interesting month at Monte Azul. We have had our first guests from Luxembourgh. I had heard of Luxembourgh but didn't really know much about it other than it being a small country in central Europe surrounded by Belgium, Germany and France. It was interesting to talk to the couple, Gian Luca and Xenia, and learn about their country. There are only approximately 500,000 citizens in Luxembourgh, far fewer than live in San Francisco, CA (750,000). There are many similarities between our countries: lots of mountains, lots of small country towns, one big city.... The big difference being the weather - tropical climate verses 4 distinct season with snowy winter cold being very dominate. This is great if you like skiing.

For some reason the rarity for me to meet people from such a small country made me realize that this is one of the added benefits of living at Monte Azul and having a boutique hotel. The world comes to my door. I never have to leave home.

It has been joked about a lot that I don't cross the bridge and the Rio Chirripo Pacifico at Monte Azul very often. Perhaps, this is one of the reasons. I have the good fortune to have interesting people from all over the world come visit our hotel. I get to meet these wonderful people and find out about their lives and countries. In return, I get to show them the wonders of the tropical rain forest, my home. I see them have breakfast at Cafe Blue while watching the monkeys, hear about their trips to the thermal baths, the cheese tour, and Cloud Bridge Forest Preserve, see photos of them at our waterfall and all the birds and plants that they took during their daily activities. It also reminds me of how lucky I am to live in such a magical place.

In addition to our guests from Luxembourgh, July included guests from Brazil, Spain, France, Mexico, Panama, Denmark, Switzerland, England, other parts of Costa Rica, Canada, and the USA: San Diego, Houston, Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, Santa Fe, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Miami and Lewiston, Maine. All of these places are also interesting to learn about especially from an insiders perspective.

I am looking forward to seeing who will arrive next and where they will come from. Who knows, I may never have to leave Monte Azul.

For more information on Luxembourgh, go to :

http://go.hrw.com/atlas/norm_htm/luxmborg.htm

OUR LATEST DOGS

2010-07-25T08:56:00.000-06:00

Do you like dogs as much as we do? If so, you will enjoy our latest screen prints that feature our 3 newest pets: GRRR…, ARF and BOW WOW.

15+ years ago Carlos made coasters in a ceramics class that featured these loveable dogs. Over the years they somehow ended up packed in a box and “lost” for a decade or more. After he moved out of his apartment in San Francisco I was organizing his stuff and came across them. If anyone has ever seen how Carlos packs, you will know that everything needed to be repacked. But that is a whole other story.

Anyway, I had the idea to frame these coasters and hang them in our kitchen. Everyone that saw them commented on them and wanted to know if they were for sale or if there were other sets for sale. Unfortunately, these original coasters are not for sale and never will be.

Now we are at Monte Azul and the coasters are again hanging in the our kitchen. Guests still ask if they are for sale. Here at Monte Azul, we tell guests that every wall is a gallery wall yet I kept having to tell the hotel guests that they are not for sale. I think that Carlos would sell them but I say no.

So, I think that I have fixed this issue. We have taken Carlos’ images and turned them into limited edition screen prints. Each image is an edition of 20. The printed image size is 4.75 x 5 inches on paper sized 16 x 11.5 inches. Each prints costs $48. If you are interested in adopting any of these prints, just send me an email and we can start the adoption process.

The Story of Upe

2010-07-11T16:20:00.000-06:00

This is a story of something that happened to me during one of my early trips to Costa Rica. I think about it every now and then and wanted to share it with everyone. It was November 2004 and Sherry, Rob and I were on one of our property hunting expeditions to Costa Rica. This is long before Carlos and I ever moved to Costa Rica and long before I had any ability to speak or understand Spanish. Carlos, who usually came on these trips and was the designated interpreter, did not come on this trip because it was a busy season at his art gallery in California.

So three non Spanish speaking city dwellers ventured into the southern zone of Costa Rica in search of a property to call Monte Azul. We had met a real estate agent on a previous trip, Mike was his name. I use the term real estate agent loosely. The real estate system in Costa Rica is very different from the USA and this topic could be an entire book by itself.

Anyway, what it came down to was Mike worked for a guy who knew people wanting to sell their property. It was his job to escort interested buyers out to the property and see if there was any interest. Most of these properties were way off the main roads with no phones, no electricity and sometimes rather treacherous roads or other encounters. Making arrangements for an appointment was impossible since most owners did not have landline phones and cell phones didn't work in this part of the country at the time.

It was a bright sunny morning and we met Mike at the local pulperia to go see a large property at the top of a hill, which actually turned out to be a mountain. Mike said that we needed to go early before it rained. The road would be impassible if it started to rain. The property was in Punta Mala approximately 6 kilometers (4 miles) up the hill from the coastal highway. We had looked at other properties on this road but had never gone beyond the 3 kilometer marker. The road started out with a slight grade with good compacted gravel. At about the 4 kilometer mark, it changed completely. It was now nothing but red clay; slick, wet, rutted, squishy red clay that was getting steeper and steeper. Most Americans would not even consider this a road. We were in Mike's car and he was driving never showing any nervousness or fear. There came a point when we just couldn't make it any further and so Mike pulled over and said that we need to walk the rest of the way. It was supposedly just around the corner.

So we all piled out and started to walk up this incline of slick wet, rutted, squishy red clay. Then, we arrived at the gate and breathed a group sigh of relief. We looked around and marveled at the scenery. The views were magnificent. Further up the hill and to the north and south was nothing but primary rain forest. Directly west was an open unobstructed view of the Pacific Ocean.

The property was more than 90 hectares (225 acres). A small percent was pasture land and the rest old growth rain forest. It was my job on the trip to write down all the statistics and information about each property along with the positives and negatives and any other pertinent or unique information. It is hard to remember one property from another after seeing a few of them and there is never any "sales sheet" from a realtor. We needed some way to remember and to discuss what we had seen with Carlos later.

So we went through the gate and Mike started calling "Upe!, Upe!, Upe!" so I wrote in my notes, Upe's Farm. From now on this property would be referred to as Upe's Finca. Finca is Spanish for farm. I was being a bit uppity with my Spanish title for the property. Other significant notations were, positives: size, price, views, good building sites, primary rain forest and negatives: bad road, no immediate water source, no electricity, no phones and no means of getting phones or electricity anytime soon. Upe wasn't home so we toured the vicinity around the house. Then it started to rain and Mike said that we had to leave immediately. We hurried down the road to the car and survived the 6 kilometer white-knuckle drive, or should I say slip n slide, down the hill.

When we returned to our base camp, a little motel along the southern coast highway, we were happy to see Carlos' mom, dad and aunt waiting for us. They had most graciously offered to come down to the southern zone and help with our property search and act as translators and maybe even negotiators. They asked us about the properties that we had seen and so I pulled out my notebook and start going over the information that we had gathered during the previous days that we had been in the area on this trip.

I got to the information on Upe's Finca and Carlos' dad, also named Carlos, got this really strange look on his face and and asked what I had said. I told him that I had named it Upe's Finca because that was the name of the owner. I didn't know his last name because Mike hadn't known it and we never met him. I was very proud of myself for remembering his name and made sure that Carlos' dad knew that. The strange look on his face turned to a very large grin and then non-stop, belly wrenching laughter. I had no idea how this could be so funny.

Carlos' mom and aunt, Ana and Laura, were also laughing by now. When they calmed down a bit, Carlos explained to me that upe is not a name but and expression that is used when when approaching someone's house to see if they are home. It is the equivalent to "hello, anybody home?" I quickly realized my error and my pride of remembering the owner's name evaporated.

For years, Carlos' dad would see me and ask about my friend Upe and how he was doing. Always with that big grin on his face and reminding me of my lack of skills when it came to the Spanish language. Last week, years after the incident, Carlos can back from a trip from San Jose with a gift. It was the tee shirt that I am wearing in the photo that says UPE!. The small writing says: "interjection used to find out if there is someone at home or in any other private place." I love this tee shirt and the fond memories it brings back of my short time visiting Upe's Finca and the visual I get of the big grin Carlos' dad always got on his face when he talked about my dear friend Upe. I am certain Carlos' dad is up there somewhere laughing at me wearing this tee shirt wishing he had given it to me himself.

Mead Brown - Costa Rica Vacation Rentals

2010-01-17T17:32:00.000-06:00

Love nature, food and art? Monte Azul is perfect for you.

This past weekend I re-charged at Monte Azul Boutique Hotel + Center for Art & Design near Chirripo, the tallest mountain in Costa Rica at 12,228 feet (as a frame of reference, Mt. Rainier in Washington state is 14,441 feet). Fishing and swimming in the really cold and beautiful river, hiking and seeing many species of birds, the community dance on Saturday night, amazing meals in the organic Cafe Blue, a really comfortable and thoughtfully designed casita decorated with world-class art, and goat cheese from the resident herd were all highlights.

I give Monte Azul my absolute highest recommendation. The 125-acre nature preserve is perfect for those who are delighted by nature (many species of birds are spotted here; monkeys, too!). The river with huge boulders and difficult to catch fish, lush trees, vines, orchids, bromeliads, the ethereal light, cloud forest, rainforest and all the jungle sounds make this an idyllic place for connecting with nature, resting, reading, thinking and hiking.

Casita Amarilla was my comfortable home for the weekend

All of the casitas have first-class original art, really comfortable beds and bed linens, a spa-like bath with watery Italian tile and hand-made soap, a kitchenette perfect for brewing a cup of the organic coffee grown on the preserve, plush robes and lots of light. Each casita is situated for maximum privacy. I left my windows and doors open for most of my stay for the full effect of being in nature. No worries about creepy crawlies here!
The staff at Cafe Blue–led by Sherry Lee West–lovingly, artfully and professionally prepared and served some of the best food I’ve had the pleasure of tasting in Costa Rica. Much of it was grown, raised or made on site. Randy, the many-talented visionary-host-owner (there are 3) of Monte Azul, made the goat cheese served with fruit and a glass of wine in my casita just after arrival. Randy also made a pumpkin pie that rivals any made by my grandmothers! The bar in Cafe Blue is a “must see”; much of it is a beautiful work of art created by Alvaro Gomez. Cheese-making in the Swiss style with a local family is one of many offered activities. This is on the list of “to experience” for my next visit!

The light, trees, orchids and bromeliads all combine for maximum lushness

Carlos Rojas Jara is another of Monte Azul’s visionary owners with many talents. He’s an artist and host with something interesting to say about many topics. His Monte Azul creation delights one’s senses of smell, taste and sight.

Cafe Blue at Monte Azul features locally-produced, organic food perfectly prepared and attentively served

The climate at Monte Azul is perfect for me (I’m from the Pacific Northwest of the U.S.); it’s considerably cooler than Jaco, Los Suenos Resort, Manuel Antonio, Dominical, Tamarindo and other popular beaches along the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. The topography, scenery, flora and fauna are all quite different, too. A perfect vacation for someone visiting Costa Rica for a week or more would be to stay at one of the beaches mentioned and then at Monte Azul. It’s about 2 to 2.5 hours from Manuel Antonio, 1 to 1.5 from Dominical and 3 from San Jose.
Activities in the immediate area of Monte Azul include whitewater rafting, horseback riding, cooking lessons, cheese-making lessons, yoga and massage, hiking, birding, trekking, swimming and fishing in the river (I did both and found the really cold water invigorating; the current is swift and the fish are impossible to catch, but what a way to spend an afternoon!).
For families or small groups, the newly completed Villa Palo Alto is a really special place to spend a week. The contemporary design fits perfectly into the land; the 1,100 square foot great room opens to a magnificent view of the valley with the rain forests and cloud forests above and beyond. The home is filled with art from some of the most talented artists active today. (The owners have art galleries in New York City and San Francisco and Monte Azul has a an artist in residence program.)
I could go on and on. The bottom line is that Monte Azul provides all the comfort in a stunningly beautiful setting that anyone who loves art, food, nature and life needs to create memorable experiences they’ll remember for a lifetime. I hope to make this my home away from home, with a retreat to the mountains every couple of months. It’s that special and that restorative.
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From the Monte Azul Team: Please be sure to visit MeadBrown.com. They have been great friends and wonderful business partners.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 28th, 2009 at 10:07 am and is filed under Costa Rica Travel, Luxury Travel, Luxury Villa Vacation Rentals, Uncategorized, tourism, vacations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Breakfast comes with free show from monkeys

2009-12-22T10:49:00.000-06:00

(This article appeared in thestatesman.com on Saturday, December 19th)

SAN ISIDRO, Costa Rica Breakfast at Monte Azul, a small ecolodge outside San Isidro, comes with a show: monkeys.

I nibble fried plantains as a rowdy gang (or troop, or cartload, if you'd rather) of capuchin monkeys swings down the hillside across the path.

They're after their own breakfast: bananas, hung here for them by the owners of this mountain hideway, which is as much about art and social responsibility as it is about a comfortable bed.

Drama, inevitably, breaks out.

One white-faced capuchin monkey has grabbed another and is dangling it precariously from a branch. My husband, Chris, and I are traveling with another couple, Charlie and Sara McCabe of Austin. We all pause, mid-mouthful.

"Don't drop the monkey!" Sara calls out helpfully.

Monkey No. 1 disregards Sara. Monkey No. 2 crashes through a few branches before latching onto a vine 15 feet below and bellowing its displeasure.

We humans are more polite at our breakfast table. Vacations will do that to you, and I've slept well in our chic little cabana, with its own private garden (pineapples and exotic heliotropes growing right there!) and a roaring river just yards away.

Monte Azul, which opened in December 2008, is situated on a 125-acre private nature preserve. Each cabana is decorated with handmade furniture made from salvaged wood and art created by visiting artists. We wash with homemade soap, eat greens grown in the garden and sip coffee from a sustainable, two-acre onsite plot. The lodge even plants a tree for everyone who stays here.

"It really is about working with the community," says co-owner Carlos Rojas. "Everything is done from the ground up, by us."

The lodge sponsors a village soccer team and started a recycling program in the community. The goal is a zero carbon footprint — and an appreciation for art and artists.

You even can sign up to take classes. I'm tempted by the cheesemaking course myself, but offerings include print screening, soapmaking and a slew of others.

We don't have time today, though. Our plans include a hike to a nearby waterfall and an afternoon at the Talamanca Mountain Thermal Baths up the hill. There's a little roadside bar, too, perched on a rocky outcropping, where you can sip Imperial beer on a deck overlooking the river canyon.

When all else fails, I'm content to sit on the porch of our cabana, trying to spot as many of the 240 species of birds that live in this rain forest as I can.

The monkey show is over. It's time to get moving.

By Pamela LeBlanc

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Updated: 11:53 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009

pleblanc@statesman.com; 445-3994

The complete article can be found at the following link:
http://www.statesman.com/life/travel/breakfast-at-ecolodge-comes-with-free-show-from-134010.html

Birdwatching in Cost Rica at Monte Azul

2009-12-22T09:09:00.000-06:00

Starting in October of 2007, Monte Azul hired birding experts, Noel Ureña and Luis Sánchez Arguedasto to perform a year-long study of the bird population on our 125 acre Nature Preserve.

The property includes over 1200 meters of riverfront plus many creeks and streams. The variable topography ranges in elevation from 950 to over 1200 meters. Our diversity of habitats include riparian zones, primary, secondary and recovering rainforest, organic shade-grown coffee plantations and open fields. In all, Monte Azul was discovered to possess an astonishing number of avian inhabitants, from endemic species to passing migratory birds.

Our current count is of 229 species. These species are categorized under 41 family groups, among which are found 38 species of latitudinal migrants, 186 resident species and two species whose populations include both resident and migratory categories. As a result of our field observations within the Monte Azul Nature Preserve, 141 species are considered abundant, 67 as common and 18 less common.

Among outstanding observations are the facts that all five species of Honeycreepers reported in Costa Rica are found at Monte Azul, as are 23 species of Hummingbirds. Particularly exceptional are the presence of birds considered difficult to spot by even the most experienced bird watcher, such as the Turquoise Cotinga (Cotinga ridwayi) and the White Crested Coquette, both of which are relatively quite easy to spot at Monte Azul, especially among certain species of fig and guabas. Since the study was presented to Monte Azul in October of 2008, three additional species have been added to the Checklist.

To learn more about birding at Monte Azul, please visit the website link:

www.monteazulcr.com/www/en/communityandenvironment/birds

2010 Monte Azul Harvest - Quick Monkey Coffee

2009-12-21T07:39:00.000-06:00

With the 2009-2010 coffee harvest well on it's way, Monte Azul, along with our neighbors, begins a long and complex process of hand-picking, sorting, drying and a multi-step procedure prior to roasting. Our own brand, which we call 'Quick Monkey', is of the Altura Veranero variety, a high quality mountain grown coffee known for rich flavors and moderate yields.

As a shade grown variety, our coffee farm is designed to prevent erosion and loss of valuable topsoil. By planting nitrogen fixing trees such as Poró and combining them with native and fruit trees, the coffee plantation at Monte Azul actually provides habitat for native species of orchids and other plants, mammals, birds, reptiles and wildlife.

Savor our delicious, rich, dark roasted coffee named after one of our favorite inhabitants of the forest, and inspired by one of our talented fine artist's, Henry Jackson's, monotypes.

Weekend with the Artist - Federico Herrero

2009-12-21T07:06:00.000-06:00

MACA, Monte Azul Contemporary Art, is pleased to announce the award of Artist in Residence at Monte Azul to Federico Herrero.

MACA invites curators Silvia Karman Cubiñá, Executive Director and head curator of the Bass Museum of Art in Miami, and Mark Coetzee, independent curator, artist and writer to host a private and casual discussion at our facilities in Costa Rica.

Limited to five couples or 10 people, MACA invites collectors to participate in a special event that includes a private visit with the artist at his studio, two nights at Monte Azul boutique hotel located in Costa Rica’s new Center for Contemporary Art and Design, a private cocktail reception with the curators and the artist, a dinner in honor of the artist and guest curators, with a private and casual “living room” presentation and talk about the artist’s work and currents in the contemporary art world. The trip includes options for horseback riding, spa treatments and museum and gallery visits.

FEDERICO HERRERO

Federico Herrero (b. 1978) is arguable Costa Rica’s most notable artist of our time. Invited twice to the Venice Biennale, (awarded Best Young Artist in 2001, invited to exhibit in 2009), Herrero’s work was displayed in the Latin American pavilion, which for the first time in the Biennale’s history was located in the central armory.

Herrero’s work is greatly inspired by the city of San José. Known for chaos and congestion, this improbable patchwork of urban is disarray is also dynamic and industrious, inhabited by a young population whose median age is only 27. Herrero’s understanding of his surroundings extends beyond the sensorial elegance found within the disorder of the city.

A keen understanding of how the perception of color is affected by light and energy allows apparently disparate fields of color to coexist on his canvasses. Voids of exposed gesso, with densely worked acrylic paint, oil paint, ball point doodles and random spray paint seem like a recipe for disaster, however, the apparent disarray and random placement is finely orchestrated and held together with the same youthful optimism of his home city. However, this is only one of the many layers of a work that goes beyond interpretation of a landscape and in fact, delivers a fantastical awareness or reality of its own.

Herrero places “eyes”, white circles with black centers, throughout his paintings. In effect, the paintings take on a existence on their own terms, returning the viewer’s gaze in a game of who’s watching whom as well as blurring the line that separate the material world from the realm of the imagination. Within the color field, shapes and voids, Herrero often introduces creatures that he calls Martians, adding yet another dimension.

Federico Herrero lives and works in San Jose, Costa Rica. He graduated from Pratt Institute in New York in 1998. In the past few years he has exhibited his work in prestigious international institutions such as the Watari Museum of Contemporary Art, Japan; Centro Cultural Conde Duque, Spain; First Prague Biennial, Czech Republic; Musee d’art moderne de la ville de Paris, France; and the Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan, among many others, as well as various art fairs and biennials including Art Basel, Venice Biennale, Seville Biennial, Aichi World Expo in Nagoya, Japan.

MARK COETZEE

“Art has the capacity to help us understand our place in the world: our cultural past reflects how we have impacted the world that surrounds us, and the present challenges us to consider how we wish to impact the future through the traditions, cultural activities and customs we surround ourselves with now.

Art does not allow us to simply accept the status quo but demands that we be aware of our actions, aesthetic traditions and ethical practices. It also asks us to think carefully on such complex issues as what it means to be both human and responsibly human.”

Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, Mark Coetzee has established himself as a prominent force in the international art scene. A respected artist, prolific writer, recognized art historian, and curator, Coetzee's career has included distinguished positions as Director of the Rubell Family Collection (RFC) in Miami for eight years, the position of adjunct curator at the Palm Springs Art Museum in California and was also a lecturer in critical theory, art criticism and contemporary art practice at the New World School of the Arts (NSWA), as well as of co-director of the Honors Program.

In December 2008, Puma.Creative partnered with the Rubell Family Collection to support the exhibition “30 Americans.” He has been an adjunct curator and faculty member at a variety of institutions and most recently a prestigious invitation to represent the Zeitz Foundation (www.thelongrun.org) as the organization’s fine art Specialist.

SILVIA KARMAN CUBIÑÁ

“The role of the curator is to present, interpret, facilitate, mediate (but not too much), but most importantly, to make the experience of viewing an exhibition engaging, even fun. I think exhibitions should also provoke, delight, challenge, and sometimes infuriate, if necessary. The curator and the space are less important than the art. The curator's responsibility I think is to know when to stand back and let the art do its job.”

Ms. Cubiñá is the Founding Director of The Moore Space (since 2002), an internationally recognized contemporary art exhibition space in Miami, founded by collectors Rosa de la Cruz and Craig Robins. Prior to running The Moore Space, Ms. Cubiñá served as an independent Curator and held the position of Adjunct Curator at INOVA, the Institute of Visual Arts, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Previously, she held positions at The Mexican Museum in San Francisco and the Cuban Museum of Art in Miami. At The Moore Space, Ms. Cubiñá organized exhibition projects with artists and organized numerous group exhibitions. In 2007, she presented the landmark exhibition French Kissing in the USA, a group of works by emerging French artists. She has lectured extensively internationally, and has participated in numerous grant panels and award selection committees. Most recently she served as a juror to the Guggenheim Museum's prestigious Hugo Boss Award 2006. In 2007, she was a finalist for the Walter Hopps Award for Curatorial Achievement, and was one of only ten fellows at the Center for Curatorial Leadership program in New York, a well-respected training program for museum curators.

PRELIMINARY EVENT OUTLINE

THURSDAY, 25 February 2010

Option to meet the artist at his studio in San José for those arriving the day before.

Transportation to hotel in San José and dinner.

FRIDAY, 26 February 2010

Arrive at Monte Azul. Welcome reception and orientation.

Free afternoon to relax.

Evening dinner at our restaurant either individually or at one seating for all.

We could possible split guests at tables with the curators and artists.

SATURDAY, 27 February 2010.

Monte Azul offers individual or group recreation with each guest selecting, for example, from the following:

Monotyping workshop

Screen-printing Workshop

Horseback riding

Guided hiking

Cheese-making workshop

Guided bird-watching, etc…

The afternoon is open with an option for Spa treatments.

Early evening we meet at Casa Palo Alto for cocktails, followed by Mark’s suggested casual presentation with the curators and the artist.

Dinner is served at Casa Palo Alto and followed by desert and live music (folk guitar) and after dinner drinks.

SUNDAY, 28 February 2010.

Farewell breakfast and return to San José or other destinations.

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

Leigh Ann Coultier, selected by Condé Nast Traveler as the top Costa Rica luxury travel expert nine years (2000 - 2009) in a row will individually tailor the entire trip for each client, door-to-door, to include possible extension to beaches, etc., by client request.

Long Run Destinations - Monte Azul

2009-12-19T16:45:00.000-06:00

I am writing this to you about the important work of the Zeitz Foundation and the launch of their Long Run initiative.

The Zeitz Foundation (www.zeitzfoundation.org) was founded in 2008 by Jochen Zeitz, CEO and Chairman of PUMA, the global Sportlifestyle company. Mr. Zeitz founded the organization with the intention of promoting long term environmental and social sustainability through the balance of conservation, community, culture and commerce in privately managed areas.

This past month saw the global launch of The Long Run, a Zeitz initiative which attempts to affect global change in the way people live in conjunction with the environment (www.thelongrun.com). The project was conceived as a platform for long run change and to raise awareness about humans and nature living as one.

As one of the objectives, the Foundation works towards supporting and growing and alliance of Long Run Destinations across the world that exemplify best sustainable practices.

If is with great pride that we announce that Monte Azul Hotel and Center for Art and Design was selected as one of 9 businesses globally to be founding Long Run Destinations. (http://thelongrun.com/destinations/index)

Monte Azul is a product of the founding partners’ passion for the arts, belief in the need to protect our natural environment, and desire to make a positive impact on our local community.

Located in the village of Chimirol, in the mountains and rainforest of Southern Costa Rica, Monte Azul Nature Preserve, Monte Azul Contemporary Art (MACA) and Monte Azul Boutique Hotel promote art creation, exhibition and collection, while raising awareness for protecting our natural environment.

Costa Rica, 5th Cleanest Country in the World

2009-11-10T20:11:00.000-06:00

Costa Rica has been ranked the 5th cleanest country in the world in a study conducted by scientists at Yale and Columbia Universites. The study, called the Environmental Performance Index (EPI), ranked 149 countries on 25 indicators tracked acrossed 6 established policy indicators: Environmental Health, Air Pollution, Water Resources, Bio-diversity and Habitat, Productive Natural Resources, and Climate Change.

The study's results were published in Forbes Magazine. According to the magazine, the robust ecotourist industry forms the base of Costa Rica's economy, an economy that that benefits from public and private initiatives to protect biodiversity, prevent deforestation and promote reforestation.

The 4 countries that out ranked Costa Rica are: Switzerland, Sweden, Norway and Finland. The only other countries in the Western Hemisphere to make the Top 20 were Colombia (#9) and Canada (#12). The United States came in at #39.

Costa Rica currently has an initiave to become a carbon neutral country by the year 2021. So look out Switzerland! Costa Rica is on the move.

The complete EPI report can be found at http://www.epi.yale.edu/

Monte Azul to Quepos:New and Improved

2009-10-10T14:56:00.000-06:00

I am very happy to announce that the trip from Monte Azul to Quepos, the gate way to Manuel Antonio, is now only 1:40. Last week Carlos and I took a trip to Manuel Antonio to look at a project and were quite shocked at the short time that it took to get there. The 42 kilometers from Dominical to Quepos has been a notorious stretch of road that could take 3 hours. It was slow-going on a dusty gravel road full of enormous holes and rickety 1 lane bridges. By the time you reached the end of this stretch your body felt tired, battered and dusty.

The Costa Rican government had been talking about improving this stretch of road for years. Everyone was skeptical. The hold up was the fact that so many bridges needed to built because of all the small rivers flowing to the ocean. Construction of these bridges began about 2 years ago. After the bridges were completed, the road would be raised, widened and paved, connecting all these bridges. The completion date was to be December 2009. Everyone laughed at this date, including me.

Then, we took this route to Manuel Antonio and were shocked. We left Monte Azul and arrived at Domiical in about 1 hour. This road was improved 2 years ago. We then turned north towards Quepos. The road is still gravel for the first 10 minutes then the new pavement started. Carlos and I looked at each other in disbelief. It is fantastic. The road is wide, smooth and marked with road lines and stripes. Less than 40 minutes later we were in Quepos feeling great. No more teeth-rattling potholes stretching for miles. No more dust clouds from the cars and trucks in front of and behind you. No more treacherous turns or sudden drops. No more ancient 1 lane bridges.

I am confident that the road will be completely finished by December 2009 as scheduled which will make the trip even shorter. It is an end of an era. An era that I am very glad to see go. We can now get to and from Manuel Antonio easily and quickly. And our hotel guests can come and go to the central coast easily and quickly as well.

Monte Azul New York

2009-10-03T08:16:00.000-06:00

Monte Azul Contemporary Art is proud to show works in New York City.

Structured around the Artist in Residency Program, Monte Azul Contemporary Art (MACA) features work at Monte Azul Costa Rica, Monte Azul Boutique Hotel, and Monte Azul New York, our Gramercy Park gallery.

If you are interseted in any of the works produced at any Monte Azul venue, please contact us at info@monteazulcr.com

The above photo features works by our dear friend, and accomplished artist, Henry Jackson.

Everyone Returns to Monte Azul...

2009-09-30T12:49:00.000-06:00

Even the animals.

Since we began construction at Monte Azul in June 2006, we have seen a lot of people come and go. The one thing that we always here is "I will definitley be back" We have found this to be true with our friends, family, artists and hotel guests. Now it has happened with animals too.

In July of 2006 we bought our first 2 horses, Taquilla and Grillo. They have been 2 great work horses and trail horses for our guests. At times they seemed to be more like big dogs than horses. The follow you around and beg for food, especially Grillo. In 2007 we added Marcel and earlier this year we added Moon Pie to our family of tour horses.

Unfortunately, Grillo didn't much care for the new family additions and started to misbehave a bit. He is a farm work horse and needed much more individual attention than we could give him. He became a bit "roudy " and needed an experienced horse rider to handle him. So we made a trade with his original owner for an easier going horse much better suited to Monte Azul's needs and those of our guests. The new horse is Rayo.

Grillo is much happier being in a "one horse show". Or so we thought. Two weeks after the horse trade, Carlos and I were walking up to the road and passed the horse pasture. There stood Grillo in the road waiting for us. He had come back to Monte Azul to visit his old friends and perhaps get a snack. The amazing part is that his original home is 5+ kilometers (3.5 miles) up the valley. He traveled through 2 towns ansd made several turns to get to Monte Azul. It appears that horses, or at least Grillo, have a keen sense of direction.

Grillo stayed the afternoon visiting and eating several bananas and guavas before returning to his original owner. It is always nice to see old friends and have people and animals return to Monte Azul. I look forward to all of our new and old frieneds coming back whether they be man or beast.

Here is a picture of Grillo with his riding outfit from 2009 and a picture of him wandering through the studio construction site looking for snacks in 2006.

The Vultures Have Landed

2009-09-22T10:28:00.000-06:00

In the last few weeks the vultures have taken up roost in the trees at Casa Palo Alto. A group of these large birds has decided that the trees on the hill just above Casa Palo Alto are a great place to spend the day resting, drying their feathers and taking in the sights and smells of Monte Azul and Chimirol.

Although they look like something from an Alfred Hitchcock movie, these birds are quite interesting. In Spanish they are called Zopilotes or Gallinazo, both very exotic sounding names. These birds belong to the Family Catharditae. They are very large, about 25" long and are often mistaken for hawks as they soar in search of carrion. You can only identify them by sight. They do not have any vocalizations.

They have a highly developed sense of smell which they use to locate their food. Other genera of vultures can locate carrion by sight not smell. Casa Palo Alto is a great place to roost if you rely on smells. The breezes come up the mountainside and carry with it the smell of potential meals. Smells that are completely undetectable by humans and can be miles away.

It is relaxing and mesmerizing to just sit on the terrace at Casa Palo Alto watching these grand and beautiful birds come and go, congregate in the trees and jostle for the best branch. The zopliotes are just one of 240 sepcies of birds that have been indentified at Monte Azul.

For more information, check out these links.

http://www.govisitcostarica.co.cr/travelinfo/photoLg.asp?phID=35

http://www.1-costaricalink.com/costa_rica_information/vultures.htm

Desfiles de Faroles – The Parade of Lanterns

2009-09-15T13:52:00.000-06:00

September 15, 2009 marks the 188th anniversary of Independence Day in Costa Rica. In 1821, Costa Rica, along with El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua (the 5 provinces that formed the Central American Federation) gained independence from Spain. Freedom was declared in Guatemala and began to spread. The news did not arrive in Costa Rica until almost 1 month later – October 13th. Even after the news arrived, Costa Rica did not officially receive its own independence until after a peaceful meeting with the Spanish army on October 29, 1821. However, September 15th is the official Independence Day.

The tradition of the faroles began in Guatemala the evening of September 14th and can be attributed to Dolores Bedoya who ran through the streets of a small town in Guatemala carrying a lantern or farol and shouting “Viva la patria” “Viva la libertad”. She was spreading the news of this independence and calling her fellow townspeople and countrymen to join her in the streets. Lanterns were used because none of these cities or towns had electricity at the time.

This tradition of parading through the streets has been carried out year after year in every small town and city in Costa Rica to reconfirm and declare the continued freedom from foreign rule. However, it was in 1953 that the tradition was officially moved to the local schools and the starting time of 6 PM began.

Children are the centerpiece of the celebration. Children learn to make the faroles in school and at home using all types of materials. The designs can range from simple boxes with Costa Rican designs to elaborate houses with intricate details. All of them include a candle for illumination. For instructions on how to make a simple farol, visit:

http://www.museocostarica.go.cr/en_en/recreo/farol-de-carreta.html

The festival includes traditional dances, the parade of the lanterns and the singing of the national anthem. Like all Costa Rican festivals, there is music and lots of food that is made and sold by the local women including the traditional tamales. If you are ever in Costa Rica on September 14th, I urge you to attend one of these celebrations. I was lucky enough this year to receive one of the faroles as a gift which wuill become part of Monte Azul's permanent art collection. It is a large farol featuring 2 oxen and an ox cart with cut outs of Costa Rica's national icons: a Guanacaste tree (national tree), a yiguirro (national bird), a Guaria Morada (the national orchid) and the Costa Rican flag.

Like everywhere in this country, all people are welcome. Independence Day here is not just about Costa Rica’s independence from Spain but also about people being free everywhere in the world – Viva la patria! Viva la libertad!

Feet or Meters?

2009-09-09T19:35:00.000-06:00

The answer is both - there is third option no one warned me about… I’ll get to that in a moment. It is necessary to learn and become comfortable with both the metric system and the old standard of miles, yards, feet, inches, pounds, ounces, gallons, quarts and pints. For a US citizen, the later is second nature but the metric system unfortunately is not on the same level of familiarity. I can remember when the metric system was first marketed to the American public by the US government. I was in 7th grade and it was introduced to us in school. There was a concerted effort to incorporate it into all our classes and eventually our daily lives. It was the new standard and would have to be learned – there was no choice. The old system was going to be archaic and we couldn’t take the chance of being left behind. My mother and aunt even came to school and took a class to learn this new system. As an aside, this still hasn’t happened.

30+ years later, the US is still in the same place, trying to learn the system. It is true that there are places where the metric system is the standard, such as the sciences and manufacturing. However, in our day to day lives it is our old friend the foot, pound and gallon that prevail. Yes, we pay “lip service” to the metric system. We put the # of liters on a gallon of milk or on a 20 oz. bottle of Diet Coke but no one ever goes to the supermarket and orders ½ kilo of hamburger. The only example of a metric only item that I can think of is the 2 liter bottle of soda. I am not sure how this item slipped into our lives unnoticed.

Having a background in the sciences, I know the metric system. It is easy to learn and understand and a very standardized unit of measurement across all units: weight, volume and length. The problem for me in Costa Rica has been 2 fold: conversion and knowing which system to use.

The conversion issue is simply one of math. No one wants to have to divide by a number with 2 decimal places especially without a calculator. The trick is to carry around a calculator. It is a dead give away that you are a foreigner. But then, so is my overall appearance. There aren’t a lot of natives that are 6’3” (or should I say 1.91 meters) blonde and blue eyed.

Anyway, the need to convert from metric to the US system is really one of value. We are paying 540 colones for a liter of gas. How does this compare to the US and what we are used to paying? Is it expensive or cheap? It turns out to be $3.50/gallon – YIKES! This is worse than California. The day to day conversion is easy. Soon, I hope to just know the relative value and will not have to “do the math”. I must admit that I use online conversion sites when I am at home. This site is good:

http://www.worldwidemetric.com/metcal.htm

The other issue is know which system to use. This has been a big factor in designing and building a house here. I designed the building the old fashioned way using drafting paper, a ruler and a pencil. It was all done in feet. Then, the plan was turned over to engineers to convert it to a plan that could b e approved by the College of Engineers. This was done in meters. This was easy enough.

The problems started to arise when purchasing materials for the house. The type of material determines the unit of measurement. Electric wire is sold in meters, nails are sold by the kilo but the sizes are in inches, plywood is sold in 4’x8’ sheets, pipe diameters are in inches but the lengths are in meters, metal columns have metric length and width but the thickness is in inches. It is all just a guessing game. You just have to learn what measurement goes with which item. And if some of the metric measurements seem strange, they are most likely simply a conversion from feet. For example, a sheet of drywall is 122 cm x 244 cm. This is simply a 4’x8’ sheet. Kitchen cabinet widths are also conversions from inches. That 92cm cabinet is a 36” cabinet.

Just when you think you have it all figured out, there is another unit of measurement – the vara. This is an old unit of measurement that is still used for wood lengths. A vara is approximately 84 cm or about 2.8 feet. A standard unit of length when ordering wood is 4 varas - or somewhere between 11 and 12 feet. This is a hold over from when theSpaniards ruled Costa Rica. For more infor checkout:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsolete_Spanish_and_Portuguese_units_of_measurement#Vara
The other interesting thing regarding wood measurements is the dimensions. Wood is sold in standard US sizes such as a 2x4. In the US this 2x4 is actually 1.5” x 3.5”. In Costa Rica, the actual dimension is 2” x 4”. This makes a big difference when constructing a building. And for a cost per unit comparison, the Costa Rican 2x4 is 52% more wood than the US equivalent. Now I am getting just too complicated. Bring a calculator and good luck.

Paper or Plastic? How About Neither

2009-09-01T17:12:00.000-06:00

Living in a country that prides itself on being eco-friendly, it is nice to see that a long standing non-green tradition in Costa Rica has begun to change. Historically, Costa Rica never had the decades of paper bags and then the option of paper or plastic when shopping. Pre mid-1980s, shoppers usually brought their own bags or the items purchased were wrapped in paper at your local pulperia to take home. Then, came the advent of the ubiquitous plastic bag.

Like the rest of the world, Costa Ricans quickly embraced this inexpensive plastic option. Soon everything was put into plastic bags: groceries, a bag of nails at the hardware store, laundry, a gallon of paint (paint cans in Costa Rica do not include handles for some unknown reason) a single can of soda, take-out food, etc. Costa Ricans instantly learned to put things in bags and tie them up. Buy a can of Coke at a pulperia and they put it in a small plastic bag, securely tied, with a straw in it.

Data released by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 2001 on U.S. plastic bag, sack, and wrap consumption, estimated somewhere between 500 billion and a trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year (an impossible number to visualize).

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/09/0902_030902_plasticbags.html

One unique thing about the use of these plastic bags is what I call the Coast Rican Knot. This is one of those knots that I have never seen or experienced anywhere else but here. This “knotting” was one of those things that you didn’t think about until it was done. I kept telling myself that I would remember to ask the clerk not to tie the bags but it was always too late by the time I thought of it. I was usually in the car or at home facing the insidious knots. You are probably thinking “what is the big deal, just untie it”. I cannot tell you how many times that I struggled to get these knots untied. It is not your typical knot but some secret Costa Rican knot passed down through the generations. Is it one of those things learned from childhood? Does being able to untie one of these knots as an adult prove that you are really Costa Rican? Are all extranjeros (foreigners) doomed to rip the bags to shreds or cut the knots out in order to open these bags?

I cursed these knots constantly. It was a real challenge trying to get one of these knots undone when the bag contains very hot roasted chicken or a bag of nuts. You couldn’t simply tear the bag open without the contents spilling out. I would be fighting with a knot when Carlos, my Costa Rican partner, would walk up and undo the knot with ease. He would give me that smirky smile and say that I must have loosened it for him. He knew that I would never be able to master these knots. The secret to these knots is still safely hidden within his brain and fingers and he has yet to reveal this Costa Rican secret.

But I digress. My solution to this dilemma of the Costa Rican Knot and the use of plastic bags has been to take my own cloth bags whenever I shop. Not only does this solve the “unknotting” issue but it is much more eco-friendly. No more plastic bags for me or Monte Azul.

I am happy to see that so many other people here are rejecting these plastic bags as well and embracing a greener option. The last time I took the bus from San Isidro to San Jose I witnessed a dialog between a passenger and store clerk that is becoming more and more common place. At the midway point of the trip the bus makes a pit stop and everyone gets off and buys a snack. The woman in line in front of me bought a soda and 2 bags of chips, The clerk proceeded to put the soda in one plastic bag and the chips in the other. She quickly stopped him, politely admonished him for being wasteful, smiled and carried her purchases away without a bag.

As time goes by, I see this scene being played out more often and see more and more people bringing their own reusable bags with them. Once again, Costa Ricans are embracing the protection of the naturaleza one reusable bag at a time.

Costa Rica - Working Towards Carbon Neutrality

2009-08-29T15:13:00.000-06:00

Costa Rica is racing to become the world’s first carbon neutral nation. In order to reach this lofty goal by its target date of 2021, Costa Rica must reduce its fossil fuel combustion and offset what cannot be eliminated with carbon sequestration, such as through the planting of trees or the scrubbing of industrial emissions.

The bid for carbon neutrality is not only a platform for global environmental leadership but a shrewd investment in the nation’s own economic future as the world’s standard-bearer of eco-tourism.

A significant source of Costa Rican oil combustion is in the production of electricity in its Moín oil-burning facilities in the region of Limón. The table below shows the estimated breakdown of electrical power sources in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica

Power Source Percentage

Hydroelectric 81%

Oil 8%

Wind 8%

Geothermal 3%

Solar 0%

Here is the link to this article:

www.soldeosa.com/editorial/07-01-2009-nocarbon.html

Costa Rica Photo of the Week

2009-08-29T14:13:00.000-06:00

Resident artist, Hai Zhang, snapped this photo on his recent 2 week residency at Monte Azul.

Hai will be returning to Monte Azul in March 2010 to complete his project, "Waiting for the Rain".

info@monteazulcr.com/www/en/fineart

Monte Azul Artist Creates Unique Fashions

2009-08-29T14:06:00.000-06:00

Monte Azul and Costa Rica artist, Karla Solano, has taken here fantastic mixed media work and created a one of a kind fashion item - The Beso Boot.

Please e-mail inquiries:

info@monteazulcr.com

Your Costa Rica Vacation: You Don't Have to Rough It (Part II)

2009-08-29T13:58:00.000-06:00

You don't have to rough it while enjoying the mountains and rainforest of Costa Rica.

When staying at Casa Palo Alto, Costa Rica's premier vacation rental, enjoy the spa like bathroom, a full sized bath tub and shower.

Enjoy your day in the rainforest, horseback riding, jumping off the waterfalls, or just sitting by the pool. When the day is done, come back to your suite and pamper yourself.

Visit our website at:

www.monteazulcr.com

Sleep Well on Your Next Vacation

2009-08-29T12:30:00.000-06:00

Guests at Monte Azul Boutique Hotel in Costa Rica often claim that they “haven’t slept this well in a long time.” Our lively breakfast discussions usually include explanations ranging from the the soothing white noise of the nearby Chrripo River, the quiet of our remote river valley, the high thread count sheets and comfortable mattress, and general exhaustion after a full day of hiking, horseback riding, zip lining, etc.

A recent article in the New York Times offers another suggestion for consideration: temperature. The article (link attached) suggests the optimal sleeping temperature for the average person is between 60 - 68 degrees F. As it turns out, that is the temperature every night, year round at Monte Azul.

Despite our proximity to the equator (8 degrees north) and location in the Costa Rica Rainforest, Monte Azul Hotel is situated at an altitude of 3,500 ft above sea level. As such, we benefit from cooler, mild temperatures that range from 60 - 80 degrees year round. Typically, guests wear sweaters/sweatshirts in the early morning and evenings, and shorts or pants and t-shirts during the day.

That contrasts dramatically with the low lands, where temperatures can approach a sweltering 100 degrees F during the day, and a very uncomfortable 80+ at night.

If your vacation includes the beaches of Costa Rica, consider a night or two at Monte Azul before heading home, to ensure you are well rested.

www.nytimes.com/2009/08/04/health/04real.html

2009-08-28T07:27:00.000-06:00

Come Stay at Casa Palo Alto, Costa Rica's finest mountain vacation rental.

Cafe Blue at Monte Azul serves the finest cuisine in Southern Costa Rica and the Chef is available for in home food preperation.

visit us on line: www.monteazulcr.com/www/en/hotel/lodging/casapaloalto

Your Costa Rica Vacation: You Don't Have to Rough It (Part I)

2009-08-28T07:03:00.000-06:00

Monte Azul Hotel, while secluded in the mountains and rainforest of southern Costa Rica, does offer hi-tech comforts.

Until 3 years ago, there were no telephone lines in our valley. Today, our telephone lines are complemented by high speed internet access through our Wi-Fi network in every suite, Cobalt Bar, and Cafe Blue.

So while your blackberry isn't yet likely to get your 3G downloads, turn on your wi-fi function and you can stay in touch with the office, family and friends. Don't worry, we won't tell anyone you have full connectivity.

Please see the attached link to the local English language news source, Tico Times.

www.ticotimes.net/business.htm

Monte Azul Artist - Karla Solano

2009-08-13T10:16:00.000-06:00

Karla Solano is a member of a new generation of Costa Rican artists who have challenged a relatively conservative art scene in their own country, while coming of age with the arrival of digital media.

Vicky Pérez, Director of TEOR/éTica gallery (a not-for-profit gallery in the center of San José known for it’s innovative programming) describes Solano’s work: “The territory in Karla Solano's work is the human body, particularly her own. For a long period she used x-rays as a means of metaphorically analyzing the image of her self.” For the past decade the artist continually produces innovative and provocative works based on images of her own body.

Solano has exhibited large scale public works at the biennales in Sao Paulo, Havana and Shanghai, in which she wraps a building or a room with images of her own body. On a smaller scale, Karla Solano produces a series of photographs ingeniously combined with painting on canvas. “Beso”, featured above, is a seductive and playful image of her lips in the form of a kiss. The scale of the lips and the textures of the image, as well as the canvas, invite viewers to explore the abstracted shapes and contours. The tension between the media, the gestures and the colors create compositions that are challenging as well as beautiful.

In another group as part of her latest body of work, Solano explores photography in three dimensional formats. “Wraps”, what she calls the sculptural pieces, confront the viewer like an alien being. However, the familiarity of the skin tones and textures, with glimpses of gestural hands and her curly red hair suggest a kinship and warmth that ultimately invites the viewer to relate on a more familiar level.

Monte Azul is proud the show this artist’s truly innovative works at

our sites in Costa Rica and New York.

Costa Rica Photo of the Week

2009-08-13T08:26:00.000-06:00

At Monte Azul we find all sorts of strange and new creatures. Recently I snapped a picture of a Walking Stick which Carlos found and proceeded to let walk up his arm. Completely benign, their defences are obvious...look like the bush or tree you are sitting on and your prey and predators won't see you. Creepy and cool.

Local Cheese Artisans supply Cafe Blue

2009-08-12T18:25:00.000-06:00

Monte Azul strives to promote local products and fortunately, we are located in an area with bountiful and varied options. One of the most treasured are the Swiss style cheeses, homemade less than a mile from Monte Azul, and produced in the rural tradition of the Swiss Alps.

Katia and Wilberth, born and raised here in the Chirripó Valley, learned the technique from a Swiss cheese maker who later invited the couple to Switzerland where they trained in traditional cheese making methods with farmers in the Alps. The couple has brought to “The Switzerland of Central America”, as Costa Rica is known in the region, delicious and unique versions of those cheeses. In Switzerland the cheese had no name, so to keep the tradition, Katia and Wilbur insist on leaving their savory cheeses nameless.

The family farm produces milk from organically raised dairy cows. Wilbur is in charge of producing the milk for the cheese, while Katia is in charge of the cheese production. Young or aged, the cheese will delight the strictest fromageophile. Paired with a local desert liquor, we serve a desert entrée featuring these cheeses that may tempt you to skip the rest of dinner.

Guests at Monte Azul are privileged to participate in the cheese making process as one of the workshops we offer in collaboration with the family. In fact, it has been one of our guests’ favorites by far!

Update: Our very own Randy Langendorfer has embarked on the cheese making adventure. He continues to learn Wilberth and Katia's techniques and is exploring with Mazzerella, Ricotta, Swiss, and Chevre.

Come Hike Mt. Chirripo

2009-08-12T16:38:00.000-06:00

Chirripó is the highest mountain in Costa Rica, and is one of the largest national parks in the country. Just 15 minutes up the road from Hotel Monte Azul, Chirripo National Park protects a number of important ecosystems on the Costa Rican Pacific slope.

Locals and tourists from around the world travel to our region to hike the mountain with the goal of reaching the summit, Cerro Chirripó at 3,800 meters (12,533 ft). Starting from the town of San Gerardo de Rivas, it is a 34 Km (21 mile) journey to the summit, and usually is a 3 or 4 day trip for the experienced hiker and fit vacationer.

In March each year, the river valley hosts the annual Cerro Chirripó Race. Locals and international runners alike, make the the trip to our community for the annual race to the top and back. The winners time is usually under 4 hours.

The week long party that precedes the race is worth seeing. All the restaurants come out to show their stuff, there are daily football games (soccer), events for children, evening discos, fireworks, and general merry making.

As you plan your next trip to the summit of Chirripó, consider Monte Azul for your lodging needs. We are a luxury boutique hotel just a 15 minute drive from the entrance to the Chirripó trail. Hike Mt. Chirripo on your next vacation.

For more about the national park, please visit the following link:

www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/chirripo_national_park

www.monteazulcr.com

Wine Notes - Casilleros Del Diablo Cabernet

2009-08-12T07:26:00.000-06:00

Cafe Blue at Monte Azul has spent the last year trying to find the perfect wines to match our seasonal menu. Most recently, we have been pleased with what we have found at the highly respected Chilean producer, Concha y Toro.

Most notable in the lineup is the Cabernet Sauvignons, that have been described as “versatile” and “flavorsome,” and “affordable”, everything we have come to expect from Chilean Cab.

Please visit the wine makers website for more about the wines.

www.conchaytorowines.com/wines/diablo.html

Ileana Moya - Monte Azul Artist

2009-08-11T08:43:00.000-06:00

As part of an ambitious project designed to bring the process of making art into the daily lives of people, four artists have organized to present a workshop open to the public, each with a different social context.

Ileana Moya heads a program dealing with migration and how migrations affect individuals and ultimately society as a whole, and its effect on the natural environment. “We move fluidly from place to place, from one emotion to the next, from one though to the next, without considering our personal story or history.”

Ms. Moya guides participants through their own life journeys, as they craft handmade papers using personal items, fragments of clothing and various discards into a work of art, ultimately as portraits of the individual’s migration.

Sponsored by the prestigious Museums of the Central Bank, Ms. Moya presents her workshop on August 22, 2009 in San José, Costa Rica.

Please contact the artist directly at ilimm2002@yahoo.com.

Monte Azul Offers Complete Design Services

2009-08-11T08:30:00.000-06:00

With a growing line of new furniture pieces, Monte Azul Design (MAD) offers the Costa Rican and international markets simple, comfortable, contemporary designs. Skillfully crafted, each piece is personally approved by the owners. One of the owners, Rolando Mora, is a master woodworker and himself oversees to the construction of each piece. This is possible because at MAD we would rather remain a small shop and retain the exquisite quality we demand of ourselves, rather than risk the compromises that impersonal mass-construction often invites.

Every piece is built on site at Monte Azul. Hotel guests and furniture clients are welcome to tour the woodshop and meet the staff. MAD is also a builder of quality wooden doors, window frames, and designs and builds kitchens and baths. Using sustainable methods, MAD guarantees personalized service, at a very reasonable and surprisingly affordable price. We stand firmly by our motto: Quality: We use only the best materials. Service. We listen to you and we keep our promises.

Costa Rica: 2742 5222

New York: 646 478 7038

Paulina Ortiz - Her Unique and Powerful Art

2009-08-11T08:26:00.000-06:00

Paulina Ortiz is considered a fiber artist to some, a sculptor to others and a conceptual artist to yet others. Ortiz’s works seem to inhabit multiple domains: ancient, contemporary, organic, structural.

The raw beauty may at times seem aggressive, contained only by her masterful architecturally or biologically inspired compositions. “Her creations with vegetal elements appear like screaming wounded nature, yet beautiful,” says Pilar Tobon, textile art sculptor and critic, President of Women in Textile Art Organization.

Ortiz’s work may also have a shamanistic air to them, with mysterious shapes and symbols interwoven with natural elements of bright colors contrasting with earth tones and textures. Their timeless structures are simple and powerful, distilled shapes with an iconic presence that seduce and enchant, often alluding to ceremonies of antiquity. Weaving both literally and figuratively, Ortiz does indeed approach each piece as a ceremony: the collecting of the fiber and materials, the exacting process to prepare them, and the contemplative, intellectual and spiritual process of shaping their ultimate manifestations.

As pertinent to the prehistoric drawings at Gabillou Cave in the French Dordogne or the majestic garments of Montezuma, Paulina Ortiz’s works speak to the contemporary collector as timely testaments to our own era where humanity’s relationship to nature has never been more relevant. On an aesthetic level, Ortiz manages a bravado of balanced tension between the rudimentary, almost crude materials and the elegant compositions and sophisticated color palette. They are a poetic embodiment of the inseparable relationship between culture and nature.

More recently, Paulina Ortiz has produced an exciting new body of work incorporating computerized lighting on large scale installations, an example pictured below.

Works are currently available for viewing in Costa Rica and New York. To arrange a viewing or for additional information, please contact us at info@monteazulcr.com or by calling 646 478 7038.

Movies for Trash!

2009-08-11T08:16:00.000-06:00

The village of Chimirol,which translates to “Loyal Friend” in Cabecar, the indigenous local language, is dedicated to recycling and sustainability. From zero recycling about a year ago, to doubling the amount recycled every two months, Chimirol has become a model community in the region.

The local community council is furthering efforts through education in the local schools and parents are responding favorably. One idea inspired by a visitor to Monte Azul is to show movies for children and young adults in the community center. None of the children we have encountered in the village has ever been to a movie theater. The idea is to offer movies and take advantage of the time to present short public service videos on sustainability and recycling. The price of admission would be a bag of recyclable trash per person.

Monte Azul offers a romantic dinner for two at Café Blue to the lucky winner in the recycling draw. Anyone depositing directly at our scheduled collection dates automatically qualifies.

Any donated DVDs would be greatly appreciated. The community council is also seeking donations for the projector, estimated at $800. Those interested in contributing, please contact Adrian Alvarado at adrian@monteazulcr.com.

Henry Jackson Exhibition

2009-08-11T08:11:00.000-06:00

MACA featured an exhibition of Henry Jackson´s exquisite new works from his Residency at Monte Azul earlier this year. Offering new, pivotal pieces without straying from his particular technique, Jackson nonetheless offered collectors and others who know his work, a new direction. The artist attributes this fresh direction directly to his experience at Monte Azul. In his own words: I found myself lost in shapes and colors that constantly yielded new thoughts and ideas. These are truly spiritual grounds for creativity and new awakenings. To say that I felt spoiled would be an understatement.

As an artist, I look for things and places that bring me inward in thought and feeling. My experiences at Monte Azul with both plants and animals, gave me a deeper understanding and appreciation for my own exploration into the figure and newly found abstraction.

Typically, I don't approach landscape "literally" in my work, but while at Monte Azul, I couldn't help but want to open up the possibility of utilizing all that was before me. Much of it got lost in my senses, rather than wanting to capture and depict such wildlife, I found myself dwarfed in it's enormity. I simply just stood back and took in, or better yet, became one with it. Such an experience stays with one's self long after leaving Monte Azul.

My work has always been based in memory, resulting in a natural intuitive response. The memories I have collected of Monte Azul will yield me quite a bit of work for some time, and I feel fortunate because of it.

To me, Monte Azul represents the beginning of creation - the cultivating of things - both newness and renewal. It is what making art is all about.

The works are currently available for viewing in San Francisco, please contact us at info@monteazulcr.com or by calling 646 478 7038.

Costa Rica Photo of the Week

2009-08-11T08:07:00.000-06:00

Our goat, Maria, snarfing fresh guavas!

When not devouring unseemly quantities of these local fruits, Maria provides Monte Azul guests with fresh milk, yogurt and cheese (all organic, of course). Thank you, Maria!