July 26: Casa del Soñador and Chucarras

Dear Friends and Relatives,

What a fabulous day it has been, yet once more!  This morning, we all breakfasted together, and I had rice and beans, guacamole on toasted bread, and Costa Rican coffee, which is the best!  After that, we were on our way to Chucaras (to be explained soon), but after the first six kilometers beyond the town of Ujarrás, over Cachí Dam and beyond the turnoff to Cachí, we stopped at the unique Casa del Soñador, a wooden and bamboo cottage decorated with local woodcarver Macedonio Quesada's depictions of rural people: gossiping women, musicians and farmers, as well as religious scenes.  Quesada passed away un 1995, but his sons now use the house as a workshop, where they create and sell their woodcarvings, mostly etched into coffee-bush roots.  Alexandra bought herself and me two wood carvings which look like tree spirits emanating from the bark, and Alexandra said they reminded her of the Ents, tree spirits who aided in an effort to defeat Lord Sauron in "Lord of the Rings."  I could agree with her on that assessment.  

From there we proceeded to Chucaras, which is like a well kept secret so far.  It is comprised of two heated outdoor pools, one warmer than the other, surrounded by a beautiful garden and facing the Valle de Orosí and the volcanos in the distance.  Views were incredibly splendid, and we had the whole place to ourselves!  We read, meditated, viewed the jaw dropping scene, talked, and floated around both pools, while music was piped our way over speakers.  Chucaras is set in the midst of a coffee plantation, and we took a walk at one point in the afternoon to see the plantings, walk through a small village next to the fields of coffee beans, and hike uphill to a coffee bean processing plant.  

At Chucaras, we were offered a great lunch of chicken, rice and beans, a scrumptious salad, plantains, and very tiny diced potatoes.  Alexandra and I had a coconut pudding for dessert.  Later in the afternoon, we had coffee and a kind of palmier-like pastry which was so good.  At about 5:30 we left, as another group was arriving.  Amazingly wonderful, stress-busting day, as we watched clouds gather, disintegrate, bode rain, and then alternate with dapples of sun.  It was not a particularly cost-effective day, but, as we had the place to ourselves, we felt it was a once-in-a-lifetime treat that was worth every penny we spent on it.  A day to remember!  As of now, Alexandra has washed her hair and is vegging on the porch, and Federico is taking a shower.  Dinner soon, then perhaps a game of Scrabble?  Who knows?  As ever, Sylvia and Alexandra

Sylvia M. Venable, PhD

Instructor, German

St. John's Episcopal School

Dallas, Texas