Sunday, March 2, 2014

Jazz On The Beach

Last night a bunch of folks we have met here at the condos walked down the beach to another condo complex that was having a "Jazz On The Beach" evening.   This is the beginning of a movement to "upgrade" the image of Jaco. 

Club Del Mar














It was a very nice setting out in the yard.
Crowd Gathering
There ended up being well over a hundred people there.
All Good Seats

The Outdoor Bar
Our dentist showed up--he is the guy in blue.
Alonso
Our table was having a good time.
Part of Our Group
It was right at sunset which turned out to be very pretty---again.
Sunset

The band was called the Scott Quintet.
Scott Quintet

I guess "Scott" made the fifth member of he quintet. He was the singer but just the band played most of the time.
I think everyone had a good time.  I know Gail and I did. 
A Good Time
And afterwards we walked home on the beach with just the lights of the moon and the stars--and maybe a condo here and there.

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Miscellaneous 2

Here are a few more pictures that did not fit into any blog topic.

The entire town of Jaco is centered on the beach.  They have only a small area that has a life guard on duty.  However, there is a roaming rescue unit that is present a lot of the time.
Beach Rescue
There are some real artisans down here.  This wood carver had some exquisite pieces.  There were all sizes and many of them were painted in bright colors.
Wood Carver
Philodendron grow wild here and the leaves are as big as your head.
Philodendron
I am not sure what this plant is--Agave, Aloe Vera, or just a cactus--but it sure is healthy.
Healthy
The other night we went to a little restaurant just down the street.  It is called Rancho Santanna.  They have really good food.  Here is a page from their menu.
As you can see, the first item on the menu is "Rice with Octopus" for 3900 colones.  You can also get rice with squid for the same price.  The most expensive items on the menu are the 12oz Ribeye and the 12oz Strip Loin(?).   To convert colones to dollars, you just multiply by 2.  The ribeye would cost $18 but the rice with octopus would only be $7.80.

There is a very exclusive and expensive hotel at the top of this mountain called Villa Collitas.  It has a fabulous panoramic view.












You can see the bay to the north.
And Jaco to the south.
There is a fabulous infinity pool.
Although we haven't made it yet in the evening, people go there just to watch the sunset.

Surfers are everywhere here.  One of the activities is Yoga on a surfboard.

Yoga Boarding




















I am sure it is very relaxing.

The trash around town, in many places, is put in containers that are above ground.  This keeps animals from getting into it.
Trash
Although predominately Catholic, there are many other religions represented here also.  This is the Jewish Synagogue here.
Synagogue

There is a fruit here called Guanabana.  It is 10,000 times stronger than chemotherapy in killing cancer cells.  If you Google it, you will be amazed at what all this fruit does.   Here is a link to read all about it (you will have to cut and paste this into your browser URL)--

http://www.assatashakur.org/forum/afrikan-wholistic-health/43184-cancer-healing-tree-guanabana-sour-sop.html

Since we found out about it, Gail and I have been adding it to our daily smoothie.  It is sweet and tastes a little like a combination of peach and pineapple.  The fruit is pretty big, about the size of a watermelon, and costs between $10 to $16 for just one.  The white containers in the cooler in the picture are full of the Guanabana fruit.  They cost $2 each.
Guanabana

I measure my blood pressure daily and was taking medicine to keep it lower.  I have not taken any blood pressure medicine since coming here and it is lower than any time since I began measuring it. 
I am not saying this is the reason but it really is worth checking out.