Works in progress, where I share what I'm working on and what I'm thinking about, and also show my Instagram feed.
Thursday morning we visited the El Toledo Coffee Farm and learned about this organic and sustainable farming on a small family acreage, where coffee plants grow shaded by trees bearing bananas, tangerines and other fruits. We had a delicious lunch following the tour.
coffee drying in the sun. The fruit that surrounds the bean tastes like a raisin after its sugars have concentrated.
Spending a quiet morning and midday close to the house, we drove into San Jose before rush hour began, parked next to the Cultural Center and walked to a nearby restaurant, Chubbs, to relax and enjoy an early dinner. Joe and Paul were ready to hang out in a sports bar, and while we didn't find the one Joe had found in Fodor's, our waitress said she used to work there and Chubbs was better!
Cheri watches as Joe fills glasses at Chubbs
Once people began arriving, the reception went well. Many students attended, as did artists Isidro con Wong and Rafael Angel Garcia . There were many friendly conversations about art-making and travel.
Judith and her gold leaf pieces
Katrina with her work
paintings on paper
Atenas central plaza
Atenas is a small village on the historic oxcart trail, where people transported coffee beans.
Katrina and Cheri stroll through the central plaza
Cathedral on central plaza
Imperial is the national brew
Crater at Volcan Poas
The next day, Elisa again met us at the house to lead us to the Poas Volcano, a beautiful mountain where we walked to see the crater and saw and smelled the vapors emerging from below. Then we hiked to the lake that has filled another crater and had a good hike back to the visitors center.
Lake-filled crater on Volcan Poas surrounded by blooming plants
Katrina and Judith making their way along the trail on Volcan Poas
Lunch after hiking; casados con pollo
ice cream under the almond tree at Helados de Sorbetera. I had coconut and it was fabulous.
On Monday, Elisa met us at the house to lead us to the gallery where we would drop off and display our work. I rode with her and she pointed out sights along the way. At the gallery, we met Juan Diego Roldan, the director. He was really pleased with the quality and variety of our work. The gallery space is modest, but located in the lobby of a building where many language and cultural classes are held. I was pleased to hear that the exhibit would be used as a teaching tool in English classes, and that seemed a fitting way to extend our gallery's mission of outreach and education far beyond its walls.
Judith entering the Cultural Center before the opening reception
That day we also met two of the artists who will be coming to Omaha in June. Lorena admired our work as we unpacked it all. Martha met us later and came back to the house, where she and Elisa prepared a lovely dinner for us all.
After we had all our work unwrapped, we went to lunch at a nearby restaurant known for its ceviche. It was the best I'd ever had. The local fish, corvina, is a firm, white-fleshed fish, a type of bass, according to my Lonely Planet phrasebook and dictionary. With limes, red onions, avacado and cilantro, the ceviche was a refreshing light meal in itself. We added a shared plate of garlicky sautéed shrimp and rice to make sure we were all quite full.
We then went to the studio of well-known artist Isidro con Wong, where we saw his paintings and fabulous sculptures. The son of a farmer and cattleman, con Wong uses imagery of the Brahma bull often in his work.
Isidro con Wong chats with Martha Espinoza about a work in progress.
In Isidro con Wong's warehouse studio
In Isidro con Wong's warehouse studio
In Isidro con Wong's warehouse studio
After a rather harrowing drive in the dark back to Atenas where motorcycles dart between trucks and people stand in between lanes where traffic is slowed trying to sell snacks. Elisa and Martha roasted chickens, made pico de gallo and guacamole, black beans served with warm corn tortillas. Sitting around the table sharing stories, good food and wine was a delightful way to close out this busy day.
