COSTA RICA, March 2-11, 2009
COSTA RICA
March 2nd, 2009
A flight from LA via Phoenix and voilà, five years had passed and I was landing again in the charismatic city of San José, Costa Rica, where the altitude is 1,100 meters and where my peeps live! My arrival was epic. Not only were Jôse and Meike there, but Fiorella and Monse came unexpectedly with bowls on their heads, bunches of flowers and singing "bienvenida honeybird" with a little song and dance involving lots of noise and some fancy moves with the bowls on their heads.
Stayed at Jôse and El oso's home in Guadalupe most of the time while in the city, my Ecuadorian biologist friends who I lived with back in 2004. Their pad is a great colorful meeting place for friends & parties. Damien lives there with them, while Meike is in the house in front with her two parrots.
March 3rd, 2009
El oso and I met with Cesar ad Lopa (of the band Turbios Strepitossa) at 10am in front of Radio U . We were interviewed on "MUSICA PARA LLEVAR" with Cynthia. The interview lasted an hour and half during which we chatted about our bands, and I played some songs live on charango.
While on the air, we could not say the word "bar" nor mention or discuss any liquor. Wacky!
Then we went in Cythia's jeep to a "soda" (typical Costa Rican eatery) owned by Cesar's friend. Back at the radio station, we each recorded a three minute radio spot about our bands. Cynthia also filmed me speaking about Mara Carfagna and my song "sexy tour guide" which I then played live on guitar. It was filmed and will be part of a show about sex (like love lines) which will air on CANAL 15 in June 2009.
Then we walked to central San José and put up flyers and went by some of the club we'd soon be playing at. Bus back home to Guadalupe Centro ... The buses are all run by different private companies, therefore they charge what they want to, and run when the want to.
Show at La Chicha in central San José with Turbios Strepitossa - very cool venue - people talking and excited and happy. Good vibes from the audience, embracing la Pachamama and the BIRD!!
March 4th
Wednesday's show was in a smaller bar, Bar Rayuela, more hang out, less listening. I played first, and then Turbios Strepitossa, which meant that a few friends who came late missed the show. But we had a good time nevertheless and the owners were welcoming...one was half italian so I dedicated a song to her in Italian on guitar.
I'm starting to activate my mind and spirit again towards issues that truly matter.
Unfortunately, violence is rising here. The passing of the TLC, as those who voted "no" predicted, has not brought new jobs to the country. Young people compete for jobs in call centers. My friend's dad has to sell his owner-operated coffee farms after 50 years in the business!
March 5th
Show at Bahamas, opened by Turbios Strepitossa, followed by me with the great accompaniment by osobird on percussion and harmonica. After our show, they put on salsa music and geez louise, how great everyone danced! So Fiorella and I played fuzball.
Turbios Strepitossa can be heard at http://www.myspace.com/turbiostrepitossa
March 6th
Did yoga this morning with Rahel, lunch with Fiorella and Monsé by the U where I randomly ran into my Colombian friend Flor, which was a great surprise.
Headed to Radio U for an interview and live with Daniel on his show "fin de pendiente". He's got a blog too http://findependientemusicalimite.blogspot.com/ and has awesome taste in music, check it out!
The interview we did can be heard online at:
http://findependientemusicalimite.blogspot.com
Nighttime, from one place to another. yummy shabbat dinner with family. sleeping over at Gato and Vanessa's house.
March 7th, Saturday ... Party!
March 8th, Sunday ... a chock full of fun! I met Malitzin at 8am in front of the Mas x Menos and we headed to San Antonio Escazu. Our bus stopped before reaching there because of all the masses that were all heading to see the boyeros and oxen for the Dia Nacional del Boyero. We enjoyed breakfast with my sweet fam, who then gave us a ride beyond the traffic and up the mountain to a musician's magic house.
We marveled gazed over the city from above, and visited with Carlos (of Amounsulu) and his new band Sege, as they rehearsed their Guinean rhythms. http://www.myspace.com/segetambores
We then proceeded down the mountain to the heart of the boyero showdown .... and there were over 100 oxen in the town square! ¡Tuanis! (cool) Back in the city, we had a late lunch at Vishnu, the vegan restaurant in town, and then I headed with my charango to play in a special concert for women's day at El Cuartel, organized by Santiago's friend Luis Diego Solorzano and his daughter Selma. It took me a moment to find the place ... wandering around, and as there are no people out at night walking on the streets of San José, it was quite a challenge. I finally found the venue and the event was excellent, a smaller club with amazing acoustics and an exceptional sound system. Well, there were two monitors, which was 2 more that I had had in all the other concerts thus far! A very pleasant evening with Santiago, Jone and their basque, venezuela and tico buddies.
March 9th
Show at Teatro Sala Calle 15, a nifty theater near Teatro Nacional. Good vibes, four artists (Turbios Strepitossa, Sin nombre alguno, Cafe con Pan, & honeybird), welcoming venue with amazingly delicious empanadas. Fab turnout ... and for "don't trust the butcher", Cesar and Lopa (from Turbios) AND Victor and Roy (from Cafe con Pan) accompanied me, it was rad!
March 10th
This morning we shared a marvelous breakfast all together, prepared by Jôse, with Damien. We all sang happy birthday to Meike's dad in Hamburg. Tomorrow I fly to Guatemala.
March 11th
at the San José Juan Santamaria Airport. I left my green shaker in Costa Rica. At least I think so, I hope it's at Jose and el Oso's house and not under a chair collecting dust at Cafe Teatro Sala Calle 15! Had a nice evenin with the fam enjoying arepas and other venezuelan specialties. Now playing charango in the airport, attempting a mod to the versus of "Usain Bolt", boarding in an hour...
It's been really awesome and enjoyable and I look forward to returning with honeybird & the birdies & 3Eg0!
..............NEXT UP: GUATEMALA..............
Ah Costa Rica, from Monday March 2nd to Wednesday March 11th, a fab 9 days!! Yes, nine fine days of music, friends, tuanis times, zilch, parties, concerts, shows, sleeping on a colchón on the ground with Jôse, El Oso and Rahel. So many brilliant buddies like Jôse, El Oso, Rahel, Damién, Malitzin, José, Maike, Roy, Victor, Cesar, Lopa, Esteban, Laura, Alexander, Diego, Chino, La Chicha, Rayuela, Bahamas, El Cuartel y Sala Teatro Calle 15. Also my family . Alberto, Mabel, Vanessa y Gato el Uruguacho, Monica y Javi, y Droopy the little poodle. Two radio interviews at RADIO U, and one video interview/performance.
MOOLA NOTES:
Beautiful country of four million people and not one drop of rain on my whole stay in Costa Rica, a marvelous 30 degrees C! TUANIS! $26 airport exit tax. 1000 colones is about $2. Lunch costs approximately 1500 colones ($3), including rice, beans, platanos fritos, ensalatida, batido (jugo), y pollo el salsa (o pescado o carne...). One bus ride= appx. 200 colones (40cents), La entrada al nuestro concierto al teatro el lunes=1000 colores ($2), one bag by the Kuna in the Mercado de Artesanias=2000 colones ($4).
FOOD NOTES:
A lot of rice'n'beans are eaten here, in a "completo" plate with rice, black beans (los frijoles pueden ser molidos ... más rico) y siempre acompañado con unos platanos fritos.
Más comida especial: gallo pinto, yuca molida, yuca frita, batidos de todas frutas, guanábana (fruta), cafe con leche, cafe con pan, empanadas, chile verde, pan de MusManni, queso semiduro, y la cerveza: Imperial, Rock Ice & Pilsner.
¡QUE RICO ES CAFE CON PAN!
March 2nd, 2009
A flight from LA via Phoenix and voilà, five years had passed and I was landing again in the charismatic city of San José, Costa Rica, where the altitude is 1,100 meters and where my peeps live! My arrival was epic. Not only were Jôse and Meike there, but Fiorella and Monse came unexpectedly with bowls on their heads, bunches of flowers and singing "bienvenida honeybird" with a little song and dance involving lots of noise and some fancy moves with the bowls on their heads.
Stayed at Jôse and El oso's home in Guadalupe most of the time while in the city, my Ecuadorian biologist friends who I lived with back in 2004. Their pad is a great colorful meeting place for friends & parties. Damien lives there with them, while Meike is in the house in front with her two parrots.
March 3rd, 2009
El oso and I met with Cesar ad Lopa (of the band Turbios Strepitossa) at 10am in front of Radio U . We were interviewed on "MUSICA PARA LLEVAR" with Cynthia. The interview lasted an hour and half during which we chatted about our bands, and I played some songs live on charango.
While on the air, we could not say the word "bar" nor mention or discuss any liquor. Wacky!
Then we went in Cythia's jeep to a "soda" (typical Costa Rican eatery) owned by Cesar's friend. Back at the radio station, we each recorded a three minute radio spot about our bands. Cynthia also filmed me speaking about Mara Carfagna and my song "sexy tour guide" which I then played live on guitar. It was filmed and will be part of a show about sex (like love lines) which will air on CANAL 15 in June 2009.
Then we walked to central San José and put up flyers and went by some of the club we'd soon be playing at. Bus back home to Guadalupe Centro ... The buses are all run by different private companies, therefore they charge what they want to, and run when the want to.
Show at La Chicha in central San José with Turbios Strepitossa - very cool venue - people talking and excited and happy. Good vibes from the audience, embracing la Pachamama and the BIRD!!
March 4th
Wednesday's show was in a smaller bar, Bar Rayuela, more hang out, less listening. I played first, and then Turbios Strepitossa, which meant that a few friends who came late missed the show. But we had a good time nevertheless and the owners were welcoming...one was half italian so I dedicated a song to her in Italian on guitar.
I'm starting to activate my mind and spirit again towards issues that truly matter.
Unfortunately, violence is rising here. The passing of the TLC, as those who voted "no" predicted, has not brought new jobs to the country. Young people compete for jobs in call centers. My friend's dad has to sell his owner-operated coffee farms after 50 years in the business!
March 5th
Show at Bahamas, opened by Turbios Strepitossa, followed by me with the great accompaniment by osobird on percussion and harmonica. After our show, they put on salsa music and geez louise, how great everyone danced! So Fiorella and I played fuzball.
Turbios Strepitossa can be heard at http://www.myspace.com/turbiostrepitossa
March 6th
Did yoga this morning with Rahel, lunch with Fiorella and Monsé by the U where I randomly ran into my Colombian friend Flor, which was a great surprise.
Headed to Radio U for an interview and live with Daniel on his show "fin de pendiente". He's got a blog too http://findependientemusicalimite.blogspot.com/ and has awesome taste in music, check it out!
The interview we did can be heard online at:
http://findependientemusicalimite.blogspot.com
Nighttime, from one place to another. yummy shabbat dinner with family. sleeping over at Gato and Vanessa's house.
March 7th, Saturday ... Party!
March 8th, Sunday ... a chock full of fun! I met Malitzin at 8am in front of the Mas x Menos and we headed to San Antonio Escazu. Our bus stopped before reaching there because of all the masses that were all heading to see the boyeros and oxen for the Dia Nacional del Boyero. We enjoyed breakfast with my sweet fam, who then gave us a ride beyond the traffic and up the mountain to a musician's magic house.
We marveled gazed over the city from above, and visited with Carlos (of Amounsulu) and his new band Sege, as they rehearsed their Guinean rhythms. http://www.myspace.com/segetambores
We then proceeded down the mountain to the heart of the boyero showdown .... and there were over 100 oxen in the town square! ¡Tuanis! (cool) Back in the city, we had a late lunch at Vishnu, the vegan restaurant in town, and then I headed with my charango to play in a special concert for women's day at El Cuartel, organized by Santiago's friend Luis Diego Solorzano and his daughter Selma. It took me a moment to find the place ... wandering around, and as there are no people out at night walking on the streets of San José, it was quite a challenge. I finally found the venue and the event was excellent, a smaller club with amazing acoustics and an exceptional sound system. Well, there were two monitors, which was 2 more that I had had in all the other concerts thus far! A very pleasant evening with Santiago, Jone and their basque, venezuela and tico buddies.
March 9th
Show at Teatro Sala Calle 15, a nifty theater near Teatro Nacional. Good vibes, four artists (Turbios Strepitossa, Sin nombre alguno, Cafe con Pan, & honeybird), welcoming venue with amazingly delicious empanadas. Fab turnout ... and for "don't trust the butcher", Cesar and Lopa (from Turbios) AND Victor and Roy (from Cafe con Pan) accompanied me, it was rad!
March 10th
This morning we shared a marvelous breakfast all together, prepared by Jôse, with Damien. We all sang happy birthday to Meike's dad in Hamburg. Tomorrow I fly to Guatemala.
March 11th
at the San José Juan Santamaria Airport. I left my green shaker in Costa Rica. At least I think so, I hope it's at Jose and el Oso's house and not under a chair collecting dust at Cafe Teatro Sala Calle 15! Had a nice evenin with the fam enjoying arepas and other venezuelan specialties. Now playing charango in the airport, attempting a mod to the versus of "Usain Bolt", boarding in an hour...
It's been really awesome and enjoyable and I look forward to returning with honeybird & the birdies & 3Eg0!
..............NEXT UP: GUATEMALA..............
Ah Costa Rica, from Monday March 2nd to Wednesday March 11th, a fab 9 days!! Yes, nine fine days of music, friends, tuanis times, zilch, parties, concerts, shows, sleeping on a colchón on the ground with Jôse, El Oso and Rahel. So many brilliant buddies like Jôse, El Oso, Rahel, Damién, Malitzin, José, Maike, Roy, Victor, Cesar, Lopa, Esteban, Laura, Alexander, Diego, Chino, La Chicha, Rayuela, Bahamas, El Cuartel y Sala Teatro Calle 15. Also my family . Alberto, Mabel, Vanessa y Gato el Uruguacho, Monica y Javi, y Droopy the little poodle. Two radio interviews at RADIO U, and one video interview/performance.
MOOLA NOTES:
Beautiful country of four million people and not one drop of rain on my whole stay in Costa Rica, a marvelous 30 degrees C! TUANIS! $26 airport exit tax. 1000 colones is about $2. Lunch costs approximately 1500 colones ($3), including rice, beans, platanos fritos, ensalatida, batido (jugo), y pollo el salsa (o pescado o carne...). One bus ride= appx. 200 colones (40cents), La entrada al nuestro concierto al teatro el lunes=1000 colores ($2), one bag by the Kuna in the Mercado de Artesanias=2000 colones ($4).
FOOD NOTES:
A lot of rice'n'beans are eaten here, in a "completo" plate with rice, black beans (los frijoles pueden ser molidos ... más rico) y siempre acompañado con unos platanos fritos.
Más comida especial: gallo pinto, yuca molida, yuca frita, batidos de todas frutas, guanábana (fruta), cafe con leche, cafe con pan, empanadas, chile verde, pan de MusManni, queso semiduro, y la cerveza: Imperial, Rock Ice & Pilsner.
¡QUE RICO ES CAFE CON PAN!
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