Lagrimas de Maria … what simple beauty!

The rains have started and the grass is turning green poco a poco.  The lagrimas de Maria (Mary’s tears) have appeared overnight and are thick and colorful.  For being just 6-8 inches tall, they make quite an impact.  (And they don’t take any care or require a green thumb!)  There are taller varieties and darker colors of lagrimas, but these light pink shorties are great!

A bed of color under foot

Today’s bounty from the féria

Not pictured: one potted orchid with a host of blossoms and one pejibaye (consumed during the photo op).

Pictured: 3 avocados, 6 tomatoes, 4 canteloupes, 10 granadillas, 3 cucumbers, 8 apples, 4 pejibayes and one large head of lettuce.

Pejibayes, tomatoes, melons, and much more for good eating!

All (except the orchid) purchased for less than $10.00.  Mmm.  Good.

Virgin Mary on the griddle

CALEXICO, Calif. (AP) – The hottest thing on the griddle at the Las Palmas restaurant these days isn’t the food—it’s the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe that a cook says she saw on the griddle.

Restaurant manager Brenda Martinez says more than 100 people have flocked to the small town of Calexico on the California-Mexico border to gaze at the likeness of the Virgin Mary since it was discovered as the griddle was being cleaned.

Among the awe-struck was a group of masked Mexican wrestlers who arrived Thursday for an exhibition at a nearby swap meet.

One, known as Mr. Tempest, says: “This is amazing. It’s a true miracle.”

Since the discovery, the griddle has been taken out of service and placed in a shrine in a storage room.

Check it out, if you don’t believe me.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D97T3NGO0&show_article=1

H1N1 (f.k.a. Swine Flu Virus) in Costa Rica

On Tuesday, President Arias and the Secretary of Health responded to the swine flu pandemic by signing an emergency health declaration giving health professionals in Costa Rica the authority to implement whatever measures necessary to prevent the spread of the virus. To date, there have been two confirmed cases and thirty-five suspected cases in Costa Rica. The medical community anticipates more cases in the coming days and weeks.

The Costa Rican government has urged people to avoid the traditional cheek kiss upon greeting one another. (Hopefully, everyone has gotten the message so no one is offended if I avoid this friendly overture.) Shaking hands is out too, unless, like Monk, you have a “wipe” handy to use immediately afterwards.

Remember: Cover your mouth if you sneeze or cough and wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol sanitizer. This holds especially true when you are out in public. The virus can live on surfaces for several hours so a grocery cart, door handle or handrail at a mall can harbor the virus left several hours earlier by an infected person.

This is a global issue. Hopefully, the dire predictions will not materialize and the virus will cease to be a threat very quickly.

Vladmir Horowitz & Beethoven, a musical marriage made in heaven

Do you ever start looking at YouTube and suddenly realize hours have passed?  That’s what’s happened to me today.  Blame it all on Horowitz!  

How can anyone fail to be moved when listening to the Second Movement of Beethoven’s Pathetique?  http://tinyurl.com/dxgm2e

Passion vine … the good news and bad news!

The passion vine is colorful and beautiful, but watch out.  It will take over everything within 10 feet of its long tendrils.  Hummingbirds love the blossoms and at times the vine has fruit, much like the granadilla, but not as sweet.

Passion vine

Susan Boyle on Britain’s Got Talent …WOW!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY&feature=related

The female counterpart of Paul Potts?

Wanna move to Costa Rica?

After reading all the positive press lately about Costa Rica, doesn’t it make you just a little bit envious of those of us who are here enjoying the weather, food, health care, lifestyle, etc. on a daily basis?  You can live here too!  If you’re wondering about housing, there are some great bargains right now.  Check this out to see just a few: http://www.costaricatropicalparadiseproperties.com/Greatly_REDUCED/page_2184472.html

Thomas L. Friedman NY Times Op-ed

In his editorial today in the NY Times, Thomas Friedman applauded Costa Rica’s commitment to protecting the environment.  Although he may have been subjected to a bit of propaganda during his recent visit, Costa Rica has been making more concerted efforts to reverse and impede destruction of the environment, particularly at the beaches.  It appears that the government is working to improve its monitoring and enforcement of land use restrictions.  Hotels have been given warnings or been closed due to improper sewage treatment.  Structures illegally built or without proper permits have been removed.  It’s about time!  Hopefully, this trend will continue and the country’s precious eco-system will be preserved.  Costa Rica’s beauty, flora and fauna are unparalleled and should be carefully guarded.

Here’s a link to Mr.  Friedman’s article:  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/opinion/12friedman.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=friedman%20costa%20rica&st=cse

(Unfortunately, I must have been out when Mr. Friedman called to drop by for coffee.  Rats!  Maybe next time.  I seem to miss Mel Gibson’s calls when he’s here, too.)

Semana Santa Photos

Jesus

Prisoner

Hasn’t he suffered enough?

Barabas or Jesus?

Bearing the cross

Jesus being whipped

Robber

Robber being beaten

Robber

Pontius Pilot

Incense

Noise makers

Large crowds

An entrepeneur … selling fresh juice!

Photos taken Good Friday at the beginning of the Semana Santa procession in San Joaquín de Flores, Heredia.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)