Cheese, Balloons and Jaboticabas

Discovering new traditions, fruits and plants is a passion of mine.  Since moving to Costa Rica, I have had the opportunity to do all three and it seems like just when you think there is nothing new, some new tradition, fruit or plant is introduced to me.

Yesterday, for example while driving to our friend's place we noticed yellow and white balloons everywhere in town.  At first, we thought the balloons were for a wedding, but as we went from one side of town to the other, we realized the abundance of balloons and other decorations had to be related to a religious festival.  As it turns out, the balloons were to welcome a saint that is transported through all the neighborhoods with a large procession of people singing behind it.  

We have made some wonderful new expat and Tico friends.  Today, we were invited by our friends Julio and Yesenia to go to Los Angeles over near San Ramon to buy the "best cheese" in the area.  We were not dissapointed.  We arrived at a small roadside store and began our adventure by ordering some great cafes con leche.  Our friend, Julio, them asked the owner to warm us up a package of corn tortillas.  One minute later we were enjoying great cheese wrapped in tortila with our coffee.  I remarked that it might seem crazy that we drove an hour to indulge in a corn tortilla with white cheese, but it was well worth it.

After our cheese and coffee break we headed back through the town of San Ramon and stopped in at a family owned nursery.  Julio has known the owners for years, and kindly invited us for a tour of the nursery and farm.  They even allowed us to raid their Jaboticaba (like a Brazilian grape) trees.  The fruits were new to me, but I quickly became well acquainted with them after trying a few.  They reminded me of eating concord grapes. The tree is fascinating since the fruit grows directly on the bark, almost like someone glued dark purple balls to the stalk.  The proprietor makes wine as well from them.  She gifted us a bottle of wine in the making to place in our closet for another two months and then it should be ready to drink.  

Another wonderful surprise was seeing her variety of rabbits that she raises and the rare turquoise jade plant that is flourishing at her property.  The plant produces a spectacular flower that can only be appreciated in person.

After spending an hour with the family at the nursery, we purchased a couple of Jaboticaba trees and headed to Palmares to eat at a great restaurant.

As we arrived home, I remarked to my hubby how fortunate we are to have made friends with Julio who is equally passionate about all the plants and fruits of his homeland and his willingness to show us his homeland.