Adios Costa Rica

Jeff's last blog from Costa Rica

It's Friday night and I leave in the morning to head back home.  It's sad to be saying goodbye.  Yesterday we got up in the morning and started a small fire in the oven in order to bring up the heat slowly to prevent cracking.  While that was burning we took a trip to a Tilapia not far from San Marcos.  The farm, consisting of three tanks, was built buy its owner after he took a class from the National Institute of Learning.  It's doing a good job of providing money for the family and they have plans to expand it.  The whole thing is run with running water from a streem and requires no power to operate.  While the women and kids we playing with fish in one of the tanks I went off with the owner and with no english from him, to go with my extremely limited spanish., he was able to explain how it was built and how it operates, including regulating the water flow to the tanks.

Nancys San Marcos driving technique

Fish ready for Market

Once the rest caught up they enjoyed some time sliding down the waterfall.  We then were treated to a snack before going back.  Everyone here, no matter what they have, will feed you.

Ana and the dog have the same expression

Once back at the oven we increased the strenght of the fire to get the oven hotter.  Meanwhile I went though all of the baking equipment with Laura and Christina and explained how they're used.  I then taught them a very simple bread recipe.  In order to compensate for the extremely warm temperatures I cut my usual amount of yeast by 1/3 and it still rose way too fast.  They'll have to experiment to see what works.

We baked the bread but not having a strong first heating of the oven or a proper door, it all cooled down too fast and we finished it in the electric oven ion the guest house.  It was late but it sure made a great snack!!

Today, after I a feast for lunch ( ask me about the spaghetti sauce some time)  I was given some very nice home made gifts by the Perez Famiy.  There was a sad goodbye and we took a cab back to Quesada where I will once again sleep on a salon floor before heading to the airport.  More blogs will come soon as Nancy stays behind two more weeks to teach the art of bread crafting.