Costa Rica redefines the adage of man versus nature. The elements seem to greatly favour the triumph of vegetation, and human intervention must be undertaken with much resolve and dedication. Fenceposts, for example, are staked as segmented tree trunks, but quickly turn back into trees.The roads here are the most… textured I have witnessed to date. They appear as though assaulted by an ongoing series of highly localized meteor showers. Some roads are defined more by the absence of vegetation than the presence of asphalt. Curving and winding through this highly mountenous region at inclines impractical (and illegal) in snowy countries, two lanes often merge into one, making passing vehicles a challenge, as if the roads weren´t challenging enough on their own.The edges of most roads, when paved, resemble a pie crust. There is no curb or sidewalk, and people walk and bike on the road as well, vehicles swerving politely around them. A common cycling style involves placing one hand on the handlebars, while the other holds up an umbrella. The effect of water on the roads is visible. In effect, they are quickly eroaded.

Today was our most eventful day to date. We awoke at five thirty a.m. in the Refugio Nacional Silvestre Curú, in our own private cabina overlooking the Gulf of Nicoya. Curú is a wildlife preserve in the Southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, itself located in the nothwest part of Coasta Rica.

After a brief survey of the beach, we sat to watch the sunrise. The vista was dotted with small islands and our beach curved outwards to form uniquely shaped peninsulas on either side. At a distance, we could observe the hazy mountenous ridges of the coast from which we came. We had arrived the day before via Paquera, via Jaco, which we left by bus to Puntaneras to take a ferry across the gulf. In Paquera, we me Luís Scutt, of Curú travel – a small service he runs out of his livingroom/office/porch. Luís organizes day trips to the Park followed by snorkeling at Isla Tortuga (Turtle Island) — all for $25/person + $5 for the snorkeling gear.

We opted to stay overnight inside the park (an even more affordable option) and set out in the morning for Tortuga, as sunset was only two hours away by 3:30pm. Instead of paying a taxi driver, we paid Luís to chauffeur us, since we were cutting into his profits by not taking the full package. We crossed the bridge from Luís’ his porch, over the small bog which fed the fruit-bearing Carambola (aka starfruit) tree at the side of the house, to his new white European-made compact pick-up.

Thirty minutes later, we passed throught the gate of the refuge. The 4×4 was soon flanked by lethargic cattle of the bony, humpbacked, off-white variety. Moments later, we’d sight teeny tiny deer grazing in the meadows created by passed deforestation, as well as our first white-nosed coatis. The coati, a member of the raccoon family, have an upturned snout which they use to forrage the forrest floor, short, yet agile legs and an extemely long, faintly ringed tail which sticks straight up in the air when it is looking for food. Equally agile on the ground as in the trees, the coati has adapted marvelously.

After a few minutes, the transport stopped completely, and Luís directed us to look by the side of the road, which was garrissoned by small orange and blue crabs which were quick to dart back into their sand burrows at the slightest gesture on our part.

The park administration belied its name, consisting of a collection of farm equipment at all stages of thier lifecycle, and a group of shacks: some on stilts, some on concrete slab, one on the dirt directly, and all wood-pannelled. Luís bid us farewell and we were shown to our cabina, which is where our story began, but much would happen still before we would sleep in it. Continue reading ‘the Refugio Nacional Silvestre Curú’

We’ve landed in Costa Rica. It is really beautiful here. The clouds form almost at ground level. It is the tail end of the rain season. Everything is in bloom. The bananas and plantain are not ripe, but oranges, papayas and coconuts abound.

Although the country is small, the roads wind and go up and down, so time between cities is a little longer than anticipated. We got a cab from the airport to the gringo town of Jaco, which was a two hour drive at a reasonable price. The driver was very nice. We stopped at a bridge to peer over its side and see corocodiles lying in the river bed, while water buffalo grazed nearby (if I were a water buffalo, I would’ve kept a greater distance, but these buffalo looked good at their jobs).

I’m totally shocked to see what we might consider houseplants growing in the street. bushes consist of exotic wildflowers and ferns. Where, along our streets, there would be trees, here there are cactii. I imagine it makes it more difficult to lock your bicycle.

Our hotel is on the beach, which is too dark to see right now. I’am real excited. about tomorrow.

Thank you so much to everyone that made it out to our marriage celebration. We are off tomorrow morning for Costa Rica and will have photos to share with you of our wedding and honeymoon then.

Much love,

Sanaz & Andrew

For those of you coming in a day early or staying a day later, I would recommend, if you are even one tenth as passionate about art as I am, that you check out the TIAF this weekend.

Here is a link to their website: www.tiafair.com

Continue reading ‘Toronto International Art Fair’

We went to take a look at our rings on Monday. Caspian Jewelery, part of the Yonge & Steeles Iranian Network is designing producing rings to our specifications. I’ve gone with a simple, yet unique 6mm wide band made of solid platinum. The side edge is thick and square to its flat, top surface, sand blasted to a matte surface, and the interior is polished and curves to meet the side.

I must admit that when I tried it on I was taken aback by the sheer weight of this foreign object on my hand. I was sure that the simplicity of my design and the demonstrated craftsmanship would guarantee me a ring I would be happy with, and I wasn’t disappointed.
On the other hand (no pun intended), Sanaz’s jewelery did not turn out exactly as expected. Although a beautiful ring in its own right, it wasn’t right for her and not well paired with her engagement ring. Fortunately, the jeweler, being of amicable disposition, agreed to redo the ring.
We also decided at the shop to have our wedding date inscribed on the inside of the rings, and they should both be ready by the end of next week.