Semana Santa

I thought I "woke up dead" this morning. There was not a sound to be heard except for the birds singing and the macaws squawking. It's Good Friday and Costarricans take this entire week VERY seriously. I've blogged about Semana Santa and how people in Costa Rica respect it with their many cultural customs. In the good ole days, EVERYTHING shut down and was closed. Now, not so much. Old timers still respect the traditions of prayer beginning on Wednesday. No cooking, no driving, no t.v., just praying and being with family. No school all week and government offices closed on Wednesday until after Semana Santa.
I live by one of the busiest highways in Costa Rica and not one semi-truck has passed this solemn Friday. Barely any cars except for a few with surfboards on top. All this week I have seen cars passing loaded down with all kinds of items from mattresses, coolers, chairs, to just about anything you can think of for family gatherings and camping. This is a time for families to come together. It is also a very spiritual time. No alcohol sold anywhere in Costa Rica right now, legally.

The song today, The Old Rugged Cross, is dedicated to my mother. I can still remember her like it was yesterday, her sitting at our piano in the "guest livingroom",,, singing and playing this song so beautifully, by heart. It was one of her favorites. She would have loved Brad Paisley's rendition of this old gospel tune.

This is my favorite time of year. It is so peaceful and quiet.
Let us pray ...

Image: I took this photo of in front of our Catholic church this morning.
There are a ton of powerlines since ICE is in the background but I tried photoshopping them out.

Semana Santa Saturday, Pre-Easter Day

I am almost embarrassed to show my face around here since I've been lacking in posting for such a long time. It was a post made by my virtual blog friend, Jen - A New Life in Costa Rica, that prompted this impromptu post. Read it here. Jen and her family live in a totally different area in Costa Rica and I love to read about their travels and experiences "up on the mountain". Thanks Jen for the kick in the pants to get off my duff and post something!

I have been steady working (four months now, everyday except weekends when I work alone) on my house doing repairs and general maintenance. In some respects, we have moved mountains by accomplishing some of these long awaiting projects. The big load of rocks that were delivered has maybe changed my yard permanently. So many rocks!! I used most to build a dranaje (water drain for kitchen and wash water) and more rocks were used for the moat dug around my house to direct the rain AWAY from my house. When we have a hard rain, it comes right in my front door! We have gone over my house up and down and around more than once doing all the details to fix some of the problems. That and generally making things look all new and fresh again. The weather here is hard on a house. My house is two-story so some of the work required scaffolding. It's been a bear all the way and it's still not over, close to being done but not yet.

I love this time of year and have blogged about Semana Santa/Easter many times now. It's my favorite time of year because of the reverance this country pays to this holiday. It's a time for families to come together and "old time" Costarricans respect the traditions of generations passed. Some traditions are no driving during this time. I love that because the traffic in front of my house is (was) almost non-existent. (Yesterday was very quiet) No semi-truck/trailers barrelling down the mountain using their jake-brake. Love that!! I haven't seen the CR buses, just tourist buses and an Imperial truck moving today (restock time)....
No alcohol is sold in the WHOLE COUNTRY after midnight on Wednesday until today. LOVE THAT! Of course, it promotes people to overstock on booze and probably drink way more than they normally would but it does promote PEACE and reverence for these holy days. I can't remember if they sell alcohol on Easter Sunday or not?...

In years passed, I have seen droves of people walk past my house on **The Walk for Jesus. Maybe it is tomorrow, I can't remember but I do want photos! It is amazing. They walk all over the country but the main pilgrimage is to Basilica in Cartago. So many beautiful people make this journey for Christ. I love that too!

This is the most special time of year in Costa Rica besides Christmas. I hope that I will turn my focus back to my blog and bring you photos of the life here. Last month marked my 8th year of owning my home here. It is remarkable how time has slipped away and it seems like just yesterday I was experiencing it all for the first time.


Happy Easter to you ALL!!
P E A C E

This is one of the last shots with my telephoto before it had to go to the shop to be UNSEALED and cleaned of the fungus growing inside (see dots in the sky on photo). Fungus growth is never-ending, living in the tropics. I get my lens back next Thursday, thank you Marcos for making this happen and taking my lens to S.J.
**CORRECTION: My Ticopedia, Marcos, told me when I asked when was the big Walk for Jesus, he said, the weekend of August 2nd. This week, the little neighborhood walks are for Mary.

Church on Sunday

I think this church is near Esparza.
This week, I hope everyone participates in "random acts of kindness".
We have 'Semana Santa' this coming week here in Costa Rica.

link: http://www.costaricapages.com/blog/travel/semana-santa-208/574

Church on Sunday

This is the Catholic Church in Jaco. Most of the time, it is so crowded that people spill outside the door. Today, being Palm Sunday, they had a full house. As everyone was leaving, they each carried a palm frond wrapped around a candle. This week of Semana Santa is taken very seriously by most Costa Ricans. Most businesses are closed and no alcohol is sold after midnight on Wednesday. It is a time for family and a time for prayer. They often go door to door praying in front of each other's homes. I don't see it much here but in most towns, people set up a prayer spot outside of their home with a replica of Jesus on the cross and a candle burning. A most spiritual time. One in which the traditional Costa Ricans do not watch t.v., drive a car, drink alcohol, eat red meat or do practically anything except worship with family and friends. Of course, tradition has pretty much gone by the wayside with modern Tico families and they head for the beach.

IN FULL FORCE

The Cavalry has arrived in Jaco. I circled around Jaco today and no, I didn't see any policemen on horseback (good idea, though) but they were VERY PRESENT. I, for one, am happy to see re-enforcements arrive.
Just their presence makes me feel safer.

They bring in this one mobile unit (photo) for different occasions and set it up at different locations. This Semana Santa, they are in the heart of Jaco strip. The "Downtown" part. Usually, they set up near the "red zone", north of town, but the bars will be closed tonight at midnight. I didn't see the Paddie wagon they bring. The last "sting", they hid it out of town until they made their "sweep". I just hear all this stuff, I don't do the bar scene here in Hookerville. I DO KNOW, YOU don't want to go in the Paddie wagon! That would mean a trip to Puntarenas Prison. Scary.


Isn't the little Keystone Cop car CUTE!!
One day I'll share my story of how "The Force" inside the "808" cop car (a police car just like in photo) probably saved my life. Some people criticize the police as all being corrupt but personally, I love the boys in blue. They are my heroes.

Thunder rolls outside and I've already had two mini-outages (I have battery back-up). I don't like the surges. I think "the rains" are coming. When it rains, it pours in my windows. Off to batton down the hatches.

Hoping and Praying

As disturbing as it is, I posted the photo of Robyn on my blog yesterday to let others know SOMETHING needs to be done to STOP this form of terrorism here. The officials pretty much shrug their shoulders as if there is nothing that can be done about it. We don't have a local newspaper, per se, so most break-ins aren't even publicized. It's all word of mouth. Also, Gringos are usually the target of these crimes. NO ONE does anything! It is as if we live in a law-less society here because NOTHING is enforced. Do you know that they don't even prosecute thieves for items they stole under $484? It is considered a misdemeanor. It has gotten way past ridiculous. The attitude is "each to their own", pretty much - protect yourself or accept the consequences. Problem is, you can have a fence and they cut through it, you can have bars on your windows and they pry them apart, you can have guard dogs but they poison them. You practically have to live in a fortress and even then, they grab you as you are entering or leaving!

Robyn and Henry are lovely people and I am hoping this turns into something positive that will heighten the awareness of crime in this area to the extent that REINFORCEMENT is sent! Do we have to form our own "police force"? Look here to see what was written in this week's Tico Times about Costa Rica's escalation of crime.

Semana Santa is coming and most Gringos know THAT is the time to lock everything down and guard your property. That is no way to live and if things don't turn around soon, Costa Rica will be robbed of their own biggest CASH COW, tourism.

Postcript: Most people are not aware that the Police (Fuerza Publica) have no authority to investigate a crime. They only report it to the OIJ (Organization of Judicial Investigation) for them to do the investigation. They are totally separate like the FBI and the CIA USE TO BE in the U.S. Get the picture?
And by the way, we have FOUR different law enforcements here. The Fuerza Publica, they are like police for the people. The Transito, they monitor and ticket the traffic/vehicles. OIJ, they do investigations for ALL crimes (totally undermanned and underfunded). AND NOW IN JACO, we have the Tourist Police.
Post postscript: I forgot one: MINAE - The Ministry of Environment and Energy enforce the laws to protect the animals and the environment (also undermanned and underfunded).
No further comments.

Easter Sunday

Go here for Good Friday in Cartago. Semana Santa is taken very seriously here in Costa Rica.

link - http://pmorg.net/gallery/2008/2008gf/txt.html

One Dry Winter

Some of you that live here will recognize this as the gator pond near the stilt houses in Hermosa. Next to "the tree" where everyone surfs. This photo was taken at the beginning of March when the spoonbills were feeding in the pond. I bought a book on Costa Rica birds but gave it away to a guide so I really don't know what kind of birds these are but they were there and happily feeding.
Now, it's so dry the ground is cracking. Similar to my yard except I have brown grass. We had a quick rainstorm last night (out of the blue) so maybe the birds will be back. A few Ticos have told me that the little rains will come right after Semana Santa. I can't wait! I spend hours daily, dragging the hose around my yard watering and trying to keep my plants alive lately.

I haven't seen the residing gator for awhile. Wonder where he goes off to when it's so dry? He's really a crocodile. Not many gators here.
I found this photo from Dec. 2006 of "the croc" that usually lives at the pond. He just lies around with his mouth open, waiting for a bite to eat. He's been there a few years so I hope he will be back soon.

You can click onto photo to enlarge.

Dry Country

This is what Max X Menos and other stores that sell alcohol will look like for the next few days. No alcohol is sold. The displays are covered with cardboard or plastic and "officially" sealed.
Those that plan to drink stocked-up before this past Thursday. Actually, they over-buy and typically, over-drink.

I just love Semana Santa here in Costa Rica. It is a very peaceful time.