PZ celebrates 60 years, group tour to Poas Volcano, and more

By Carol Vaughn, August 4th, 2014

Happy Birthday Perez Zeledon!

Perez is celebrating our 60^th birthday with a free festival, August 4-9, 2014, celebrating the anniversary of the City and the District of San Isidro de El General, at various locations clustered around the Central Park (Parque Central) of San Isidro.

Featured activities will be: table tennis competitions, chess matches, jump rope, hula-hoop, Zumba classes, poetry readings, typical dance presentations, sale of local arts and crafts, display of vintage photos of Perez, and many other cultural activities for your enjoyment. The festival culminates with a fabulous live performance at 7PM, on August 9^th, by the hugely popular band “Sabor Latino”, at the Central Bus Station Terminal. Don’t miss any of it!!

San Isidro de El General has a population of 45,000 folks, and is the transportation and population hub

of the Southern Zone (Zona Sur). It is not known as a tourist attraction, and this 6-day event could change that for us; lots to see and do for free.

Group Tour From Perez to Poas Volcano (Volcan Poas)

When: Sunday, August 10, 2014, 4AM Departure, 9PM Return

Where: Leaving from front of Banco National, across street from Central Park, PZ

Cost: c22,000 Tico price or $63 for Foreigners; c6,000 and $20 to reserve your space

What: Complete Tour to Poas Volcano & National Park

Visit the most heavily-trafficked national park in Costa Rica and peer into an active volcano, without the hardship of hiking one! Volcan Poas had its last blowout in 1953 which formed an eerie, giant crater where one can watch the bubbling cauldron belch sulfurous mud up to hundreds of meters into the air. Two other craters are also visible, one of which contains a sapphire blue lake ringed by a high-altitude forest.

Tour also includes:

Price of Admission to Parque National Volcan Poas

Visit to Simon Bolivar Zoo

Visit to National Museum

All snacks and a typical lunch

Transportation from PZ and return.

Suggested to bring: sweater, water, sunblock, and camera.

Tour Organizer: Ariel Arias 506.6129.3839. Spanish only

How To Look Great in Perez Zeledon

Perez has the reputation of having the best-looking women in Costa Rica. Now, could it be because of the fresh air and great coffee, or, could it be our newest entrepreneur and beauty consultant Yancy Sanchez Romero?

Yancy is part of the successful business conglomerate Omnilife and Angelissima which was created in Juarez, Mexico, in 2010, and has gone on to make its Founder and CEO Angelica Fuentes Tellez a very

wealthy and popular leader in the directory of leading women business owners – a highly unusual feat

in Latin America.

Yancy is our local representative and owner of Angelissima, and a real go-getter in the cosmetics and beauty world. Her challenges include make-up for the tropics, make-up to fight skin cancer, and make-up for the less-affluent population of PZ. The cosmetic line includes fine ingredients like ginseng, aloe, green tea, almond extract, grapeseed oil, and other nurturing botanicals which your skin will adore. And of course, nothing was tested on animals.

Please join Yancy Sanchez at an Angelissima Exposition, July 31^st thru August 17, 2014, at Plaza Villa Herrera, in front of Best Brands Shoe Store, in Perez, 10AM to 5PM. Free cosmetic demonstrations and consultations….. and check out Yancy’s incredible complexion!!

Yancy can be reached at 506.8387.3033 or 506.8741.8769, or online at [email protected].

The following request is from Bill “Memo” McKeon, ex-pat wanting to open his own American style restaurant in PZ. Please take a moment to read his idea and complete a short survey to help him fulfill his dream of creating a great new restaurant for Perez. Thanks!

“Let’s Build A Great Restaurant Together in Perez Zeledon”.

Mission

Develop an American style restaurant that will appeal to you and your friends and operated by an American! This would include a central location to the valley, easy parking, and a menu with your favorite dishes, with a little flair, reasonable prices, excellent service, full bar and plenty of space for parties. In other words, let’s create something that does not presently exist in PZ. These are “lofty goals” to be sure and that is why I request your input.

My name is Chef Memo, “The Happy Cooker” and I have a passion for cooking! It started a long time ago in Cleveland, Ohio with a small sandwich shoppe and culminated with my owning an Italian restaurant in the 90’s in Mesa, Arizona. It was a dinner house seating 135 with a full bar and meeting rooms.

Though I do not have that kind of energy today, I still love to cook for my family, friends and our guests. I have an idea that has been “on the back burner” for some time. I would like to share that idea with you and request your feedback as to your interpretation of its acceptance in this community.

The basic idea is to prepare a complete Sunday dinner that would appeal to Gringos! In the beginning we would serve 20 guests, reservations only with a set menu for a fixed price. We would offer alcohol and soft drinks. We would open at 2pm, serve dinner 3pm and close at 6pm. The dinner would be a social gathering with excellent food, good friends and affordable. Expansion would be by your acceptance of our interpretation of the above. I have been presented with an opportunity to lease just such a beautiful restaurant that meets our requirements.

This is the concept, presented in its simplest form. We can accomplish this goal together because you will have direct input into the development of the restaurant and will be excited about supporting and seeing your ideas at work in your New Favorite gathering place!

Do I still have your interest and attention? Here are some basic questions for your input and feel free to make comments below. Remember we are going to build Your Favorite Restaurant in PZ, so be honest. This input will lead to our success and your happiness. Thank You!

You and Your Dining Habits:

How often do you eat dinner out?
How many in your party?
Favorite Foods (5) you would order when dining out?
Do you drink alcohol beverages when dining out?
What is your beverage of choice? Beer, Wine, Cocktails, Soft Drinks or Fruit Drinks?
Price points you are most comfortable with for a good dining experience? Give range from low to high. Be realistic, not including beverages of choice.
What time of day do you like to eat dinner and what is your average time at the restaurant?
How far would you travel from your home to dine?
Please tell me WHY you think this idea WOULD or WOULD NOT work and what you suggest TO make it work.

I appreciate your time and effort with this plan and look forward to your response via e-mail. No phone calls please.

Pura Vida,

Memo

[email protected]

Carol Vaughn

Carol Vaughn is an Inside Costa Rica Community Reporter covering Perez Zeledon.

Carol Vaughn holds a Master’s Degree in Performing Arts and is retired from a career as a tap dancer and teacher. She moved to Costa Rica two years ago from Washington, DC, and settled into a cabin on the banks of the Quebradas River in Perez Zeledon.

She also blogs for AngloINFO and is a volunteer Warden for the US Embassy for Perez Zeledon, helping out fellow Americans in emergencies.