The Green Thing - now and then

We're "recycling" this post, having received it from a friend via email and thought it was worthwhile to share with all of you...let us know what you think about "the green thing - now and then"...

In the line at the store, the cashier told the older woman that she should bring her own grocery bag because plastic bags weren't good for the environment. The woman apologized to him and explained, "We didn't have the green thing back in my day."   

The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. The former generation did not care enough to save our environment."  

He was right, that generation didn't have the green thing in its day.
 

Back then, they returned their milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.
 
But they didn't have the green thing back in that customer's day.  

In her day, they walked up stairs, because they didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. They walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time they had to go two blocks.  

But she was right. They didn't have the green thing in her day.  

Back then, they washed the baby's diapers because they didn't have the throw-away kind. They dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts - wind and solar power really did dry the clothes.  Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.  

But that old lady is right; they didn't have the green thing back in her day.

Back then, they had one TV, or radio, in the house - not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief, not a screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen, they blended and stirred by hand because they didn't have electric machines to do everything for you.  When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, they used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.  

Back then, they didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power. They exercised by working so they didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.  

But she's right; they didn't have the green thing back then.  

They drank from a fountain when they were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time they had a drink of water. They refilled their writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and they replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.
 

But they didn't have the green thing back then.  

Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or rode the school bus instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. They had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And they didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful the old folks were just because they didn't have the green thing back then?

Christmas Traditions in Costa Rica

December is a very special month in Costa Rica. The children end the school season as well as the rainy season is over and with this comes many festivals, parades, and Costa Rican Christmas traditions. 

Christmas in Costa Rica commences with Festival de la Luz, when the capital city of San Jose is transformed into a garland of lights. A night time parade made beautiful with thousands of Christmas lights and many oxcarts converted into spectacular works of art. This parade is a favorite of the people.

As with many Catholic nations, nativity scenes with figurines of Mary, Joseph, the wise men and the animals of the manger are a standard Christmas decoration, called “Portals”. Offerings such as fruits and little toys are placed in front of the nativity scene. The baby Jesus figurine is placed in the nativity the night before Christmas, when he brings presents to the children of the household in lieu of Santa Claus.

Every evening from December 16^th to December 24^th, Las Posadas begins. This activity symbolizes the journey made by Mary and Joseph before they reached the stable inn where the infant Jesus was born. Homes in Costa Rica have a nativity scene and the hosts of the Posada act as the innkeepers. Carols and songs are sung from house to house until they reach the home, or church, which has agreed to host a party.

Tamale is a dish that cannot be missed for Christmas dinner; a dish made of cornmeal dough (called masa) filled with meats, rice, different vegetables like carrot or sweet pepper and fruits like raisins or plums. Tamales are wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves, steamed, and served hot. Can be accompanied by a Dark Coffee or "Agua Dulce".

Most households also consume a delicious drink called "Rompope" which is made with cream and Guaro "Cacique".

Wine Tasting – a tough job, but somebody has to do it!

Cayuga’s Culinary Director Jose Lopez invited Hans Pfister, President of Cayuga Sustainable Hospitality and Federico Guardian, Food &Beverage Manager of the Harmony Hotel in Nosara for a wine tasting of organic and biodynamic wines at the offices of Alpiste in Escazu.   

The focus of the wine tasting session were wines from the Bodega Noemia in Patagonia, Argentina.  The session was led by professional Sommelier Randal Calderon and the group was joined by Pietro Poma, the owner of Alpiste.  The Cayuga hotels strive to have a 100% organic wine menu by 2012 and continue to focus on “local” wines from South America, predominantly Chile and Argentina.  The most memorable wine we tried was the Bodega Noemia Malbec, a single varietal Malbec that has 18 months in French oak and is rated with 95 Points by the Wine Spectator.  Look for this wine on the wine list of Lapa Rios, Arenas del Mar and Harmony soon.  An unforgettable culinary experience. 

Adventure Tourism

Check out this link...http://www.adventureindex.travel/2010-results-visual.htm.  I found this fascinating.  I never really considered what we do at Cayuga Adventure Tourism, but after having attended the Adventure Travel World Summit in Chiapas, Mexico, I realized that we are 100% Adventure Tourism Destination Hotels, Resorts and Lodges.  Maybe some more than others. 

So I looked a bit more into this industry and realized that there are a lot of exciting destinations that promote themselves very successfully as Adventure Tourism destinations and Costa Rica and Nicaragua, the two countries where we currently operate, are really not putting much attention to this trend. 

We learned at the conference that adventure travel is one of the fastest growing segments in tourism (14% vs. 4% for overall tourism).  So why do the local ministries of tourism in Costa Rica and Nicaragua not see this trend?  Why are we so focused on sustainability on the one hand and sun and beach tourism on the other? 

I guess the answer is simple.  We take it for granted.  Rafting, biking, canyoning, hiking, surfing, horseback excursions, canopy tours and all the other activities offered when a tourist comes to Costa Rica or Nicaragua are considered standard and normal.  We don’t even think of it as adventure tourism.  We have always done it. Well… maybe it is time to take another look. 

We just had the whitewater rafting world championships in Costa Rica.  Every year, there are great adventure races happening in Costa Rica and almost every tourist engages in some kind of an adventure during his or her visit to Costa Rica (no, driving in Costa Rica does not count as adventure tourism). 

I think we should talk to the people at the ICT and INTUR and have them take a closer look at their strategy.  I think Richard Bangs would agree with me.  Have you seen the one hour documentary he made about Costa Rica? 

Check out the trailers at:  http://www.smarttravels.tv/AdventuresWithPurpose/site/shows_costarica.html.  By the way, Lapa Rios and Corcovado National Park are very nicely featured in this show.