29 March 2010 * Alajuela
My day began before dawn at Don Taco's Cabinas in Santa Elena and ended a yawning 16 hours later at the Melrost B&B in Alejuela. Our rental car had to be returned to Adobe by 11:00, so we were up early, packed, fed and off down the long, dusty, bumpy road to the lowlands.
Along the way, Tara and Tessa discussed possibilities for our next vacation: Thailand? Europe? Caribbean? Both agreed it would definitely not be South America or Africa. I bit my tongue...I'd love to visit Africa, a small village in Senegal to learn dzembe and African dance...... yeah.... like that'll happen!
Eventually, the rocks and dust turned into pavement and we wound our way eastward. Tara became car-sick, but hid it from me, while Tessa slept. The GPS guided me flawlessly to the Banco Nacional in Alajuela, where we were greeted by armed guards as we passed one-by-one through double sliding bullet-proof glass doors. We changed money, filled the tank, returned the car and chanced upon a wonderful little place to spend our last night in Costa Rica, the Melrost B&B. Barnaby picked us up in the Melrost minivan and delivered us to our room.
Later, Barnaby took us to the Seniors & Senioritas Exotic Wood Factory. Here, ten or more different kinds of native wood are carefully aged for 13 years before being cut and fashioned into an amazing variety of things: monkeys, sharks, drums, chess sets, dice, cups, bowls, necklaces, earrings, place mats, chests, belts, purses, cutting boards, wine bottle stoppers, coasters, canes...
Our factory tour guide showed us the wood storage area, the raw pieces, the sorting, polishing, laser engraving and drilling. Nothing is wasted--even the smallest bits of wood are ground and polished into beads. The work is mostly done by under-privileged single mothers, who are able to earn a living wage, with childcare provided while they work.
We learned that the exotic trees are now protected in Costa Rica and cutting them without permit is punishable by imprisonment for 5-10 years. This factory has a large stockpile of aged wood, 10-30+ years old, so they have no immediate need to obtain more. But when they do, trees must be planted for every tree harvested.
One tree in particular, the Guanacaste, is carefully protected, as it's the national tree. There are several large pieces of this wood there, and they're being transformed into incredible works of art by the resident sculptor. I marveled at his creations: a mare and foal nuzzling together, a giant sloth, an Ox, an otter with fish, and ironwood shark. His masterpiece so far is called the Hand of God. From a massive stump, he has carved large fingers supporting a profusion of life: fish, lizards, leaves, birds, mollusks, and many other creatures flow from the wood.
Too bad I didn't have my camera!
 |
| Our cabina at Don Taco's in Monteverde. |
Along the way, Tara and Tessa discussed possibilities for our next vacation: Thailand? Europe? Caribbean? Both agreed it would definitely not be South America or Africa. I bit my tongue...I'd love to visit Africa, a small village in Senegal to learn dzembe and African dance...... yeah.... like that'll happen!
Eventually, the rocks and dust turned into pavement and we wound our way eastward. Tara became car-sick, but hid it from me, while Tessa slept. The GPS guided me flawlessly to the Banco Nacional in Alajuela, where we were greeted by armed guards as we passed one-by-one through double sliding bullet-proof glass doors. We changed money, filled the tank, returned the car and chanced upon a wonderful little place to spend our last night in Costa Rica, the Melrost B&B. Barnaby picked us up in the Melrost minivan and delivered us to our room.
 |
| Our suite at the Melrost B & B in Alajuela. |
Later, Barnaby took us to the Seniors & Senioritas Exotic Wood Factory. Here, ten or more different kinds of native wood are carefully aged for 13 years before being cut and fashioned into an amazing variety of things: monkeys, sharks, drums, chess sets, dice, cups, bowls, necklaces, earrings, place mats, chests, belts, purses, cutting boards, wine bottle stoppers, coasters, canes...
Our factory tour guide showed us the wood storage area, the raw pieces, the sorting, polishing, laser engraving and drilling. Nothing is wasted--even the smallest bits of wood are ground and polished into beads. The work is mostly done by under-privileged single mothers, who are able to earn a living wage, with childcare provided while they work.
We learned that the exotic trees are now protected in Costa Rica and cutting them without permit is punishable by imprisonment for 5-10 years. This factory has a large stockpile of aged wood, 10-30+ years old, so they have no immediate need to obtain more. But when they do, trees must be planted for every tree harvested.
One tree in particular, the Guanacaste, is carefully protected, as it's the national tree. There are several large pieces of this wood there, and they're being transformed into incredible works of art by the resident sculptor. I marveled at his creations: a mare and foal nuzzling together, a giant sloth, an Ox, an otter with fish, and ironwood shark. His masterpiece so far is called the Hand of God. From a massive stump, he has carved large fingers supporting a profusion of life: fish, lizards, leaves, birds, mollusks, and many other creatures flow from the wood.
Too bad I didn't have my camera!
posted by nerdondo at 8:52 PM
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