Christmas time

Christmas time in Costa Rica is a feeling in the air and a different way to perceive days and nights.

The Alisios Winds appear at the end of November or in early December, they are one of the signs for Christmas. The end of the rainy season is another sign because we know that we are close to it when the mornings are sunny and there are beautiful sunsets every afternoon.

The tico spirit of Christmas stars after September 15, when we remove all the patriotic things and stores put all the Christmas items in their windows.

People wait anxiously the “Aguinaldo” that is a  payment for a year of hard work. The money is usually use to buy presents and food for Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Food is special too for that days. Ticos like to eat tamales and Christmas cake and drink Rompope to celebrate Christmas but also like to eat chicharrones and drink guarito at the end of the year.

Christmas is also a time to share with people who do not have anything, so I invite everyone to make a difference in someone else life, for example giving time and a present to poor children or food and clothes to people in the street. That beautiful gesture is going to make you feel the real Christmas feeling.

Water problems in the world

Nowadays water problems are common in different places around the world. Some countries have serious problems because of the drought which cause months without enough water to refill the underground wells, it affects the water supply for different communities and for the agricultural sector. Also thousands of animals and people suffering thirst and with less food like vegetables and fruits because the lack of water.

Other places have too much rain that affects their soils. The ground is saturated with water and the drainage capacity is low, causing floods and crop problems (because the roots rot and the plant dies).

In Costa Rica we have both situations, in the Atlantic side we have to much rain all year round, which cause floods and people lose their houses and farmers lose crops. In Quepos and Parrita rain comes from May to November causing floods but also helping farmers to grow rice in the rainy season and watermelon and melon in the dry season.

In the other hand we have Guanacaste, this province has troubles with water supply, because in the rainy season there are a lot of rain but for few hours and then many days without rain. This situation affect the wells, that cannot be fill as they should, and that is why people last year and this year grow less rice and also less melon and watermelon because of the lack of water.

Properties with lakes, rivers or wells are very expensive right now, and they are going to be a treasure in the future because of the water resource.

Countries like Costa Rica are very conscious about natural resources like water, flora and fauna and we should be a good example for the world to be followed.