A new market and #58 eating Sapodilla

Our neighbors invited us to spend the weekend with them last week at their home in the mountains. On the way we stopped to check out this market, it is way bigger than our small street market. 

We were really surprised to see turtle eggs for sale, although we had learned that the government does give out a certain number of permits for harvesting turtle eggs. After our experience with the leatherback sea turtle and all we have learned about the slim chances for survival of these turtles, we were sad to see turtle eggs here (although we don't know what kind of turtle eggs they were.)The price for a dozen is $3.

We were able to try #58 on our scavenger hunt... a really delicious fruit called sapodilla.

Espiritu Santo Coffee tour

Last week we ventured out to tour a coffee co-op called Espiritu Santo. It was a beautiful day and we learned so much about coffee. This co-op represents over 2500 individual family farms. 

Each of the kids got to plant a coffee plant. (After a little instruction on how to dig a hole with a shovel from Dad)

Ethan says: I really liked planting the coffee plants and I really liked the coffee also! 

Outside a typical old fashion Costa Rican home... We were able to grind beans and then drink coffee from those grounds. Maddie and Josh said it reminded them of Conner Prairie. 

Below is the traditional way to drink Costa Rican coffee. We have been served coffee this way here in peoples homes. 

The Coffee beans were ripe for harvest so we were able to pick some beans. It was hard work.

We learned that all coffee in Costa Rica has to be picked by hand and that pickers get $2 per basket of coffee beans (You can see the basket below with Ethan) A full basket weighs over 15 pounds, a really good picker can fill 10 baskets a day... but after 15 minutes and all working together, we didn't even have the basket 1/4 full. 

We learned about Peaberry coffee and why it is so sought after and about the difference between light, medium and and dark roast.

Happy New Years!

We rang in the New Year at a party hosted by some friends we have made here in Costa Rica, the Little family. They had an open mic type celebration with lots of awesome music and food! 

Tradition in Costa Rica for New Years, is that at midnight everyone sets off fireworks....everyone! We watched as the entire city celebrated from our friends balcony. It was awesome to see the non stop fireworks all over the city below. 

On New Years Day we took a walk up to a beautiful view point overlooking Costa Rica....

Joshua's Bird Brain Blog

Joshua has started a blog documenting his birding adventures! You can check it out at:
joshuasbirdblog.blogspot.com
Enjoy! 

The Resplendent Quetzal

Soon after arriving in Costa Rica we noticed that everywhere we looked we saw beautiful painted pictures of a bird called a quetzal and as the boys grew in their love for birds, we began a quest to spot this very allusive creature. We have hiked and traveled and searched.... (those of you have visited us have searched with us...) Finally, yesterday - the 30th of December, we visited a town around an hour and a half from our home and we saw the quetzal. Not just one, but over 10 of these amazing birds, male and female. They did not disappoint - they are even more beautiful than we had hoped! Below are some of the pictures Joshua captured of the quetzal. 

Dad pointing out a quetzal to Maddie

Maddie gets a close look...

The female

The male

Joshua... our bird photographer

#60 Childrens Musuem of Costa Rica

On December 28th we paid a long overdue visit to #60 on our scavenger hunt... the Children's Museum of Costa Rica. This building used to be the capital city's jail and was transformed into a wonderful place filled with fun and laughter! 

How many different ways did the kids dress up?

Pirates

Clowns

A monk

Traditional indigenous mask

astronaut

cowgirl

Egyptian mummies

Dinosaurs

We also loved the Costa Rica specific displays like this one about three of the main volcanoes... We have been to each of these! 

An awesome chess game...

And shopping at Walmart!