Meet Up Event: USA 4th of July Picnic!

Yes, Uncle Sam will be walking around the picnic grounds, and the University of Costa Rica band will play John Phillip Sousa marches with a latin beat...how could you miss it? Join 3,000 other American ex-pats from all over Costa Rica on this special day!

Date: Sunday, July 4, 2010, 8 am to 1 pm. We will arrive about 9 am and stay till about noon.

Meet Up: 7:45 a.m. at Cafe Delicious for carpooling/caravaning. Look for Kathy and Alan.

Place: Cerverceria Picnic Grounds, west of San Jose, near the Intel Bridge east of the airport, just off the autopista.

Cost: $5 US or 2,500 c ... Exact Change is best! MUST SHOW COPY US PASSPORT (or ID for non-US citizen immediate family members), plus pay for parking/shuttle bus (about $4 per car). Parking is run by an independent organization.

Expect: Free with admission -- hot dogs, beer, soda, water, bagels, coffee, US Flag Raising Ceremony at 10 am, US Embassy/Ambassador Welcome Speech, not-for-profit groups displaying info, US absentee voter registration, go to http://www.americancolonycr.com/ for more info. Lots of shady areas, nice grounds.

Meet Up Event: More World Cup Soccer!

Sharon and Rick said they had so much fun last time, that they'll be doing it again Saturday, and you are welcome to come and watch the game!

Date: This Saturday, June 26, 2010
Place: Bocadito's Bar and Restaurant, San Ramon
Meet Up: 12 noon, World Cup game starts at 12:30 pm, does it really matter who is playing?
Expect: Lots of cheering, bocas about 2500 c, beer about 900 c
Look for: Sharon and Rick Rochester, 8706-5708, no RSVP necessary
Directions: Main Street in to end, make left, pass Emergency Room at SR Hospital, look for liquor store on the next corner on right, park on street, Bocadito's is on Emergency Room Street right next to corner liquor store.
Questions: mingo425@yahoo.com

RSVP Event: Horseback Riding to the Waterfall!

Ok, horse lovers, we have a ride for you! We'll go out to Bajo LaPaz for a four-hour adventure: 1-1/2 hour ride to the waterfall, 1 hour for a snack and exploring, 1-1/2 hour ride back. Here are the details:

Date: Friday, June 25, 2010

Time: Meet for carpooling at Cafe Delicious at 8 am, drive to Bajo LaPaz, ride 9 am-1 pm, back to Cafe D by 2 pm.

Place: Nacho's Ranch, Bajo LaPaz

Cost: 10,000 c

Bring: Your own water and snack, light jacket/poncho, wear boots or tennis shoes, long pants, a towel if you plan to get up close and personal with the waterfall, camera

Expect: Gentle horses and a good guide

RSVP: A MUST, no later than Monday, June 21, 5 pm so we can let Nacho know. If you RSVP to this event, please do not disappoint, as your horse will be saddled and waiting for you! RSVP kbellhfpasco@aol.com

RSVP Event: Citizen Security, Part II

Those of us who attended the first meeting about Expat Security in Costa Rica know that it set the stage for some good changes...now meet some folks who are already working on making expats safer in other communities here. Be on hand when representatives from Escazu and Dominical share their info. An Embassy rep will also be with us. Thanks to Mike Styles and the SBA for doing this follow up so promptly!

Date: Thursday, June 24, 2010
Time: 2 pm
Place: Jose Figueres Cultural Center, San Ramon
Program: Representatives from Escazu, Dominical and US Embassy, Info and Q&A
Cost: Free
RSVP: mike@styles.com RSVP IS IMPORTANT FOR ROOM SET UP.
Directions: Main Street In from the mall, continue until you see Perimercado on the far right-hand corner. Park on the street, walk left, Church on your left-hand side. Cultural center is on your right.

Meet Up Event: Walkabout Alajuela!

Ready for some great Tex-Mex food and shopping? It's time for a run to Alajuela, a city that has some very interesting sights and stores!

Date: Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Meet Up: 8 am SHARP at Cafe Delicious, San Ramon, for carpooling (please give driver 1,500 c for gas and parking fee). No need to RSVP. Look for Kathy Bell.
Expect: Free time for shopping in small groups from 9 am to 11:30 am, meet back at Jalapeno's Tex-Mex for lunch (ususally under 5,000 c), then walk around the corner to the Good Light Used Books; leave for San Ramon around 1:30 pm, arrive about 2:30 pm. You'll even get a copy of a map so you don't get lost!!!!

Meet Up Event: Stitch, B*tch and Books!

Hey there, readers! How about a book exchange at our regular Thursday Morning S&B group? You don't need to be an S&Ber to attend -- in fact, we'd be glad to see your smiling face! Just bring five books you don't want back, and go home with five others....

Date: Thursday, June 17, 2010
Time: 10:00 am
Place: Cafe Delicious, San Ramon
Look For: All the Gringas in the middle of the room! No RSVP necessary.
Expect: Coffee, breakfast and/or pastries if you like, or just come to exchange books....
Bring: Five good books you don't mind putting into permanent circulation (hopefully not all by James Patterson or it will be a very curious book exchange!)
Directions: Main Street In past mall to the first stop sign, go left about six blocks, Cafe Delicious is on the corner on the left.

Meet Up Event: England vs. USA World Cup

Be ye Brit or be ye Yank? Whatever ye be, come on down to watch the World Cup Game!

Date: This Saturday, June 12, 2010

Place: Bocadito's Bar and Restaurant, San Ramon

Meet Up: 12 noon, England vs. USA World Cup game starts at 12:30 pm

Expect: Lots of cheering, bocas about 2500 c, beer about 900 c

Look for: Sharon and Rick Rochester, 8706-5708, no RSVP necessary

Directions: Main Street in to end, make left, pass Emergency Room at SR Hospital, look for liquor store on the next corner on right, park on street, Bocadito's is on Emergency Room Street right next to corner liquor store.

Meet Up Event: Walkabout San Jose

I need to go to San Jose to have a CAJA paper stamped near the National Theatre, so I thought we might make it an outing....If you have wanted to take the bus to San Jose, but did not want to do it by yourself, you may want to take a quick trip with us this Friday...read on!

Event: San Jose Walkabout
Date: Friday, June 4
Meet Up: 8 am SHARP at the Directo Bus Station in San Ramon
Expect: One hour bus ride to SJ (r/t less than 2,000 c), 500 c for shared cab to National Theatre area, explore this area of San Jose including craft market and possibly Asian food market or central market, lunch at a soda long the way, cab back to bus station at 1 pm (500 c for shared cab unless you have walked all the way to Escazu!) and take the next bus back to SR, arriving between 2 and 3 pm. Depending on the number of people, we may split into small groups.
Directions: Main Street past the San Ramon Mall to the second stop sign. Make a left and go up four blocks or so; the Directo bus station is on the right. If you see Kuko's Bar you have gone too far. Park on the street near the bus station.
IMPORTANT: Buy two tickets to SJ when you arrive at the Bus Station in San Ramon so you do not have to wait on line to buy a return ticket in SJ. DO NOT WEAR LOTS OF JEWELRY, no need to take chances. Don't forget comfortable shoes and an umbrella!
No need to RSVP but if you have any questions, please email me at kbellhfpasco@aol.com .