Cost Rica Journal Entry 1

We returned to San Ramon on Thursday afternoon. I again hung out at Marta’s while Sergio and Viviana shopped for a huge party being held on Friday evening. It was just a "family gathering" with about 40 expected. It had been planned to help me celebrate my 51st birthday, which had passed on Sunday, unannounced to my hosts in La Guacima. Viviana even made me a cake. It and all the other food brought in was delicious. Since only about 25 people showed, food and beverages remained. So, beginning about 10am Saturday, those living nearby started showing up for another round. This party was actually more enjoyable since I could more easily visit with people while not fighting to understand Spanish over the din of music.

It turned out to be an all-dayer with a brief excursion to another of Hernando’s (Sergio’s father) fincas. He wanted me to see his vaca favorita (favorite cow). Sergio and the children went down to the rearing area to pick some mangos, while I visited with Xavier Moraga, one of two uncles involved in his business. Besides making the wooden frames for the souvenirs, Xavier is a beekeeper. Discussing the impact of Africanized bees and varoa mites on Costa Rica’s honey industry was both informative and enjoyable. The food gone, the party finally broke up as the sun was setting.

Gerardo Herrera, a botanist at the University of Costa Rica was one of the guests at Friday’s party. He returned early Saturday to have a look at the rearing operations. When we arrived, Jose and Luis (Sergio’s uncle and partner) were busy transferring Morpho larvae from one sleeved plant into another. Production of living material for export is up at this time of year since many butterfly exhibitions in Europe and North America shut down during the winter months. Many more plants were supporting larvae now, double-sleeved to minimize parasitism, also up at this time of year. The pupae raised for export are kept in a small lab down here, away from those that are purchased for souvenir production.

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