Pura Vida

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Pura vida is the unofficial national motto of Costa Rica. It translates literally as pure life but it means so much more. It's about making the most of what live gives you in a generous and caring way, sort of carpe diem with a warm, soft touch. It is expressed in many ways, including the country's strong commitment to environmental preservation (although not its bad roads). The large national park system is evidence.

We took a day trip yesterday to Palo Verde National Park, which surrounds the Tempisque River. I'm no nature photographer but the subject matter was literally falling out of the trees. These photos are just a part of what I shot yesterday. I will edit more when I can and put them in the growing set of CR pictures on Flickr here.

Today is our last day here. We'll drive to the next village up the road where where there is supposed to be a festival. There may be bull riding or even a bull fight.

I want to take a minute to recommend Carolina's restaurant in Tamarindo. We had dinner there last night and twice when we were here 14 months ago. It's one of our favorite restaurants in the world. The food is incomparable - I had potato-crusted mahi mahi in a vanilla cream sauce that was simply amazing. Carolina, who received her culinary training in Switzerland, and her staff are the warmest, sweetest people you could meet. Pura vida.

Memories of Costa Rica: Nothing Could Be Finer Than To Eat At Carolina's

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Or Cah-row-LEE-naz, if you are speaking Spanish. Back in cold, snowy St. Louis, we remember this place in Tamarindo as the best restaurant we've eaten at in a long time. Carolina, second from left above, is flanked by her two cooks and the young lady who served our meal.

Attention was paid to every detail. Guests are personally greeted and bid farewell at the door. There is no drinks list; they will make you anything you want (like the Tamarindo margarita below). The silverware is changed at every course. The staff is full of charm. When I asked for a copy of the set menu to bring home, they brought it on a small plate covered by a napkin, rolled and tied with pink ribbon. That's class.

And the food! There is a five course tasting menu for $50, $65 with wine pairings. You might pay three times the price in New York. We ate there twice during our stay and have nothing but praise. Imagine dishes like an ahi tartar salad, once with with fruit ceviche, once with chive cream and caviar; pomegranate curry soup (mind blowing); and banana fritters with vanilla ice cream and hot chocolate sauce. Some of the wine pairings were ingenious - like a smooth, rich shrimp risotto with a bone dry rosé from Bordeaux.

If you ever find yourself in Costa Rica, you owe it to yourself to dine here. Oh, and by the way, if you don't get the reference in the title, click here.

We are burning effigies today on Downtown St. Louis 365.