Coffee and Ox Carts

Since my plans for the weekend got all shot to hell, I had to find something to do today. MT said he'd go on a tour if there wasn't a lot of walking so I checked out the tours offered by Costa Rica Guides which was recommended by the hotel. The Doka, Grecia, and Sarchi Tour, where we would see the Doka Coffee Plantation, a Metal Church, and the Ox-Cart Factory, seemed interesting enough and MT agreed.

Because Poas Volcano was very active and the area around it was closed, we had to take a different route up to Doka Coffee Plantation. We still got to travel part of the Pan-American Highway but we wouldn't go near the volcano so our guide took some very nice mountainous roads to get there.

Once we got to the Coffee Plantation, our guide tried to give us a tour of the coffee making process but each station already had a tour group. Our guide apparently didn't want us to wait so we learned about the roasting process. In case you are wondering light roast gets roasted 15 minutes (or 1 pop), medium roast 17 minutes (or 2 pops) and dark roast 20 minutes (or 3 pops). The dark roast really doesn't get roasted much longer than the light roast.

After the roasting lesson, we tried to learn about the harvesting process but other groups were coming out. Our guide then decided it was time for lunch.

Before we could have lunch, we got to sample Doka Coffee. We could have light or medium roast. I tried the Peaberry Medium Roast. Even though this is supposed to the best coffee in Costa Rica, I am still not a fan of coffee. It wasn't bad but I am wasn't ready go out and drink a whole cup of it.

Then we had lunch. It was traditional Costa Rican lunch buffet. Black beans and rice, salad, squash and corn vegetable medley, potato wedges, beef soup, and fried fish. This was the first time I had was brave enough try black beans and rice and I have to attempt it wasn't bad. The beans are tasteless. I probably won't ever order it by themselves but I would eat them again. Everything else was very good as well.

Once we were done eating, MT and I explored the butterfly garden. The garden was full of blue butterflies and they were quite hyper. I tried to catch one but was unsuccessful. When the butterflies are folded, they are brown with spots which makes a good camouflage in the rain forest but when they open their wings they are bright blue.

As we headed to our next stops, we drove the through the coffee fields which I honestly thought we weren't going to see. They were just beginning to flow. It was a bumpy but well worth it ride.

The next stop on our tour was supposed to be the famous Metal Church in Grecia. However because of some festival or it was Sunday, all we were able to do was literally drive by it and have the guide point it out. I was greatly disappointed that I didn't actually get to inside the church or even a decent picture of it.

After we got a glimpse of the church, we headed to Sarchi to see the World's Largest Ox-Cart. Costa Rican farmers use ox-carts in the fields to haul in their crops. This ox-cart is a tribute to the century old tradition. It was a quick photo op but we actually got to see it up close.

Next stop was the Ox-Cart Factory. Here we learned how they made ox-carts by hand yet. The factory runs on hydro-power from one water wheel and a small waterfall. The one water wheel turns the one axle that all the machines are connected to. When they need to use a machine, they just hook up a rubber belt and it turns the lathe or what ever machine they need. I had a great video of the process... or so I thought. It turned out to be just of the floor. I was quite annoyed that I didn't get a video of the old-school process. It was very ingenious. We had a little time to look around the gift shop before heading back home.

Despite not seeing the volcano and missing out on the church, it was a nice tour even if I was the youngest person on the tour. If my plans didn't change, I probably would never have seen the coffee plantation or the ox-cart factory. Many of the Costa Ricans at the office I talked to wasn't even aware of the Ox-Cart Factory. Even though I wish I could have seen waterfalls or a volcano, the Ox-Cart Factory is a hidden gem that was right up my alley. My advise if you have time to spare in San Jose, find a tour that is going to Ox-Cart Factory in Sarchi.

#6030. Drink from a coconut

On our ride to the hotel, the boss lady said that people would sell coconuts and snacks in the middle of the highway in the afternoon on the way home from work. I thought it would be cool to get a fresh coconut but I never saw one any of the times we actually took the highway... people selling chips and electronics but no coconuts.

However after MT and I went to San Jose for the afternoon, we decided to grab dinner at Bulali (or "Pinterestland" calls it) since I haven't been there yet and they had swings. I wanted to sit on the swings. 

Initially I ordered a frozen caramel Cappuccino and MT ordered coconut water. Thinking he'd get a glass of coconut water, I was quite surprised when a coconut with a straw poked through it arrived. I honestly didn't expect an actual coconut. Since I wasn't a big fan of my frozen cappuccino (or dinner for that matter, I decided to order a coconut water as well.

Honestly, I am not sure what the fuss is all about with coconut water. I don't really think it tastes very good. Yeah, it looks cool to be drinking from a coconut but I'd rather have a milkshake or something. It definitely doesn't taste like coconut. Maybe that is my problem.. I wanted it to taste like coconut. It actually kind of tastes like dirt. 

Will I get it again? Perhaps. I do like being able to poke a hole with my straw in a coconut but does the "cool" factor outweigh the taste? Maybe. Now if I'm offered an umbrella drink served in a coconut, I definitely won't say no to that.

An Afternoon in San Jose

When my plans fell apart this morning, MT came to the rescue. He and I originally were going to go to San Jose on Sunday but decided to go this afternoon instead. After setting up Uber on my phone, we headed downtown San Jose for some shopping and site seeing.

After lunch at the Chinese Place, we headed into "the market" which is a giant souvenir stand or flea market. There are two aisles with stalls selling various Costa Rican goods. Once you've seen about 6 stalls, you've seen everything they have to offer. MT was told by his wife the left side of the market was better than the right which it was. 

I was looking for a new hat for the hubby and a couple of t-shirts. MT wanted to pick up a few things for his wife that she requested. I got a hat and 4 shirts for $40. I just hope the hat fits the hubby. I should have had MT try it on. As we wandered the market, we priced out what we wanted.

I ended up getting an ox-cart that I wanted for $5 since I kept saying no and attempted to walk away. It was originally $10 or $12. 

MT get the bookmarks and birds his wife wanted. He also picked up a penis bottle opener for his sister-in-law because everyone needs one of those right???

With our wallets significantly lighter, we headed down Avenida 3. We stopped at a couple grocery stores. MT wanted to pick up a couple of things. He explained that his wife picked up sample packs or multi-packs of cookies and candies to try different things. I decided I wanted to do that since I like trying (and bringing back) local snacks and candy. In the second store, I was able to get an 8 pack of wafer cookies, a 12 pack of other cookies, a pack of coconut cookies, 2 packs of wafer straws, a mini Rolo looking thing, a Suzy-Q type snack cake, and 6 pack of mini-snowball type cakes plus a can of Dr. Pepper and a Gatorade for $10. Some of it I will, others I will bring home and share with the hubby.

Now that we were loaded down with souvenirs and groceries, I wanted to check out National Museum but MT thought I meant the National Theater. Since the Theater was nearby, we tried to get a tour but since there was a live performance there were no tours today. I was slightly disappointed but not overly disappointed since I would have rather seen the museum anyways. 

I took a few random pictures of statues though since statues are always fun. I just had to be careful that no one was going to steal my phone and run. 

As we headed down Avenida 3, the less impressed I became. It was too commercialized for me. I am used to the older European Cities with old buildings to see. Avenida 3 wasn't anything more than Costa Rica's version of Michigan Avenue or Times Square -- Restaurants and Stores make up much of Avenida 3 and many American brands. There were some local fare mixed but it was largely Americanized. The nice part though was it was blocked off from traffic for several blocks so we didn't have to deal with traffic except at intersections.

Our last stop for the afternoon was the Mercado Central or the Central Market. Unlike the first market we went to this one was much bigger. It took up a whole city block. There were pet stores, flower stores, butcher shops, cheese shops, fishmongers, Sodas or little eateries/lunch counters, plus a wide variety of stalls selling everything you could imagine from saddles and ropes to ribbons and balloons. It was very easy to get lost in it since it is a giant square perimeter with aisles branching off into the middle. Besides the congestion, there is the unique smell of all the different stalls and eateries mingling in a covered space. Once you got used to the smell. I wish we had an actual kitchen or something since it would have been fun to get a fresh chicken or fresh, with fresh vegetables, and make a meal. 

Needless to say I was not overly impressed by San Jose. I wish I could have seen some of the museums or "historical" buildings but shopping was fun too. If you are in Costa Rica and have time to spare, check out the capital city. There are supposed to cool churches and museums, I just didn't get a chance to see them today.

335. Go on an Easter Egg Hunt

I never realized how much of a deprived child I was until today at work. This was the first time I ever recall participating in an Easter Egg hunt. I took Natalie when she was like 2 or 3 to the one in Saukville and I hid a few eggs last year for Natalie, Thomas, and Jayden but I can never remember actually going on an Easter Egg hunt.

Image courtesy of Google

For a team building activity of sorts, the Operation Managers hid Plastic Easter Eggs in an empty production space and at designated times, two people from each team went to search for them. There was candy in the eggs and some even had a gift card in them. Each color egg was also worth a certain amount of points. Only the Ops Manager knew what color was worth what amount. The team with the most points would win an off-site lunch.. Free food is always a motivator.

Image courtesy of Google

The Easter Egg hunt at work was fun the first time I did it. I participated in the second round so my team mates advised me where to look (in things, under things) and the OMs gave us a few pointers (I didn't hide any IN the ceiling tiles...).  I also had a slight advantage of walking through the floor shortly beforehand coming back from break. I tried not to look but some of them were in plan sight. When we got downstairs, I snatched up all the ones in plain sight and started opening lockers and drawers. I found one in a coat pocket. Then I remembered the clue about not being in the ceiling tiles so I started checking the ceiling.. sure enough there were 2 eggs in the light fixtures. By the time I climbed down from the desk, other people figured out what I was doing. Between my partner and I we had enough points to catapulet to first place...

Image courtesy of Google

However by the time my second hunt began we back in 2nd place and I didn't fare as well the second time. The eggs were harder to find and more people knew where to look.. besides I was over looking for eggs. And all the candy was gone so we were looking for 2 gift cards and empty eggs for points.

I did come away with a bunch of candy but no gift cards. Our team ended up in second. So no lunch for us.

It was a fun way to spend a few minutes while at work. Now I can say I actually have done an Easter Egg Hunt. Who would have thought I would actually have to wait 37 years to say that and be able to say I did my first one at work???

Fox Cities Reads 2017: Stella by Starlight

This year the Fox Cities Reads book and the Fox Cities Boo Festival are 6 months apart with the book festival being held in October while Fox Cities Reads is now. The book chosen this year is Stella by Starlight by Sharon Draper. We read it for book club in March.

Stella by Starlight is set in the 1930s in rural North Carolina. Stella, a young black girl, is struggling with writing in school as well as the KKK presence in her small community. Despite hard economic times, her neighbors and her family learn the true meaning of community as they gather together when the traveling salesman drops in and pitch in as one of their own homes is lit on fire by the KKK.

It is book for the middle grades... perfect to read as a family and discuss how what Stella faces is similar or different from our own world today. Many of the issues that were illustrated in the book are still common today and are important to address. Racism, community, struggles with school, helping at home, voting rights are all things we still see in 2017.

Part of the Fox Cities Reads Campaign was several author visits in the community with Sharon Draper. She visited several area schools and talked to students about the book and writing. However, she also had two community appearances. Even though I was not feeling well, I did go to UW-Fox Valley to hear her speak since that would be my only opportunity.

Sharon Draper was an amazing speaker. She didn't talk about the book or her writing too much because she wanted time for questions and didn't want to keep us there all night. Being a fiction writer, she calls herself a professional liar which if you think about it pretty much what she is. She writes fiction to talk about reality. It is much easier to talk about today's issues from someone's else view.

Besides talking about the writing process, how she became a writer (challenged by a student), and her books, Ms. Draper had two key takeaways:
   1. Find your gift or your joy -- don't do something you're not good at if it doesn't make you happy.
   2. Talk to your parents and get there story -- this seems to be a common theme among authors this year. Don't wait until it's too late to learn your family history, how your parents met, what was school like for your parents. Have a conversation with them and write it down or record it.

Despite trying not to hack up a lung and infect everyone sitting around me, it was a very pleasant evening. I am glad I went. I really enjoyed hearing Sharon speak. Fox Cities Reads is a great program that brings the community together and hopefully I will get to read the book next year too.