Uy Uy Uy Bajura!

I didn't go to Cartago, but instead went back to Santa Cruz over the weekend to visit my friends in Guaitil and to see the famous January festivities. There is no doubt in my mind, Guanacastecans do like to party hard!

The Santa Cruz Festivities go for five days during the second week of January. People here party the entire day from Friday to Tuesday, literally! On Saturday, we arrived at 8:00 p.m. and stayed up all night till 6:00 a.m. Almost every plaza and park was used for food and bar stands, rides, dance halls, and also to buy all kinds of things including shoes, clothing, Costa Rican and Nicaraguan handcrafts and forniture, and much more. I could not believe how big this was, much bigger than in San Jose.

During the day, one of the most interesting things were the Marimbas. Block after block there were Marimba groups in every corner, people dancing to the Guanacastecan rythm, and singers performing their best tunes. Around them there were candy sellers, offering rosquillas, papaya candy, tanela bread (white corn biscotti stuffed with chees and sugar) and cajetas de coco (coconut fodge with a deep caramel flavor). I stuffed myself with candy and tamales for three days, and now I need to see the dentist, but is was all worth doing!

At 5:00 a.m. sharp, there is La Diana (video). After an entire night of partying, and for some since early the day before, people gather around the Central Park to start a procession on the streets downtown. The Cimarrona plays laud music, people perform their best Guancastecan screem Uip Uip Uip!!! and there are fireworks. The intention, of course, is to keep on with the party and wake up everyone else in the process.

  

Guanacaste is also known for its festivities showcasing traditional-colonial-time music and dance. During local festivities, there are arenas open for shows. There, you can see dances in traditional dresses, and the "corridas de toros a la tica", Bull running Tico style. There are bull riding contests and other related games with bulls. True, not fun for the animal to be teased, but in the least they go back to the "corrales" alive as there is no killing involved (except for the occasional bad accident bull riders are exposed too).

Guanacaste is a great destination because there are mountains, volcanoes, beaches, wild life. Also, many strong local traditions are still alive, and people are great! I think I could move in here one day, right in between Tamarindo and Santa Cruz. I picture building an old style house, with a big corredor, hammacas, fruit trees, some farm animals and a cup of good coffee.... so tempting!

There is a very popular Costa Rican song called Caña Dulce (video) where the dream is to have a beautiful home, a good love, and a sweet simple life. Deep inside, I think this is something many of us want.