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of the A.M. Costa Rica staff Costa Rica is on the verge of acquiring its very own version of Stonehenge. The Museo Nacional hopes to create an international tourist attraction in Palmar Norte. The proposed "Parque de Esferas," or Park of Spheres, would feature the mysterious stone sculptures that once dotted the landscape of the southern region. The park would be an economic draw for a depressed area. These ancient artifacts are believed to have been made by pre-Colombian people, between A.D. 800 to 1500. The sizes of the spheres vary greatly. The smallest is about the size of a golf ball, while the biggest, known as the "El Silencio," is over two meters in diameter and weighs about 15 tons. Most experts believe they were created by a process of heating and cooling the stone, causing it to exfoliate in layers. According to their theory, the shape was further refined by careful chipping and finally polished through abrasion. The spheres are almost perfectly round, deviating from the circumference by less than one percent. Due to the exactness of the technique, some have even suggested that the skill was handed down by aliens from space. No one knows what purpose the spheres served, but there is plenty of speculation. Archeologists have proposed that the spheres were symbols of power or boundary markers. The fact that the spheres have been discovered in groupings of straight lines (frequently in the direction of magnetic north), curves and triangles have lead some experts to say that the spheres had some sort of astronomical relevance, either as a calendar or as a navigational devise. The spheres have even been connected to the mythical civilization of Atlantis by some pop theorists. Stonehenge, the arrangement of monoliths on the Salisbury Plain near Wiltshire, England, also is believed to have astronomical significance, but it was constructed much earlier, perhaps as long ago as 4,000 years. Locals attest to the mystical properties of the sphere. According to folklore, by placing your hands on one sphere found in Caño Island National Park and rubbing it in a circular motion three times, your wish will come true. The existence of the spheres was first made known in the 1930s when the land was being cleared for banana plantations by the United Fruit Company. The majority of the spheres were found in the Diquís Valley. Today, only a |
Christian Burnham/A.M Costa Rica
Yvonne van Offeren, a Dutch tourist, tries to get her wish to come true
by rubbing one of the few spheres left on Caño Island.
handful of spheres can still be found in their original locations. Throughout the years, the spheres have been plundered by collectors only to become the pink flamingoes of Latin America. Now, they can be found in front yards and gardens throughout Costa Rica and as far away as Europe. The aim of the project proposed by the Museo Nacional, in partnership with the Landmarks Foundation, a non-profit organization, is to recover the spheres and return them to their original configurations in a protected area. The museum plans to display the repatriated spheres to facilitate the further study of the spheres' origin and purpose. The park would also allow the public to experience the ancient works of art and their native historical context. The Abel Pachecho administration is expected to support the creation of this project. A large chunk of land has already been contributed by a banana cooperative and the rest is expected to be set aside by the government. Besides restoring a part of cultural heritage to this country, organizers believe the archeological park could provide an economic stimulus to the economy in the Diquís Delta. Palmar Norte is about 50 kms. (about 31 miles) north of Golfito and not far from the Osa Peninsula in extreme southwest Costa Rica. |
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| My friend Grady is back in town.
I asked him if it was miserable flying and going through security. He said
no, but when he returned to the States last time the customs officer was
a bit taken aback when he found dozens of packets of peanuts in his suitcase.
"You’re bringing peanuts back to the States?" he said suspiciously. Grady informed him that you could not get lemon-flavored, salted peanuts or chili-flavored peanuts in the States. That got us to talking about other things that people take back to their countries from Costa Rica (aside from the typical souvenirs, of course). On my early trips back and forth between here and the States I would bring all kinds of things to Costa Rica — Marukan seasoned vinegar, chocolate chips, feta cheese. Shoes. Things like that. Now Costa Rica has most of these things, albeit expensive chocolate chips and sort of imitation feta cheese. But there are shoe stores in every block. And I remember saying that when I could find herring in sour cream here I would become a resident. I am a resident. Now, like Grady, I find myself taking things TO the States (although he is still bringing Starbucks decaf coffee here). One time I saw a woman filling her supermarket cart with bottles of vanilla. It is not pure vanilla, although you can buy that in the Central Market. I asked her if she did a lot of baking. She said, no, her friends in Germany loved the vanilla here, so she always took back a supply. Grady knows someone who takes back 6-ounce tubs of Axion soap. He claims it is the best stuff for washing dishes and other things. I agree and have thought about taking some back to my sister who always has a little dish of soapy water in her sink for quick washing up. Of course, lots of people take back coffee, not just the Britt’s coffee for export. It is good, and it is also expensive. Some people go to First Avenue behind the Central Market and buy freshly roasted Volio coffee to take home. It is not gift wrapped. It comes in brown paper bags. It is cheap and good. Of course, everyone takes Lisano sauce back. Mavis told me her son, Rick took a |
bunch of bottles back to his home in Corning, N.Y., then discovered the local grocery store carried it! I always go back with several boxes of Gallito’s Milan mint-filled chocolates. My daughter, like me, has become addicted to them. In my opinion they are the best chocolates in Costa Rica for the money (aside from my fudge sauce, of course). I used to take cans of Sardimar’s smoked tuna when they had the large cans in boxes. Since they have reduced the size and they no longer contain filets, it is not nearly as good — not worth carrying back to the States. I e-mailed them lamenting this. I got a quick answer from the general manager, I believe it was, who told me that soon the large cans would be available in the United States. He thought this would please me. It didn’t. It reminded me of one of the problems with globalization and free trade. All the best products from a country are exported. Back in the 60s when I moved to Florida from New York I was dismayed to discover that the fruit in the supermarkets wasn’t nearly as good as what I got in New York. And I was in citrus country! Then I noticed the fruit was getting better. I learned that the governor of Florida had decreed that some of the prize fruit should be sold in the state, not because of me and other residents, but because the tourists were complaining. When I first came to Costa Rica, fish and seafood were very reasonable. Now shrimp is outrageously expensive here, most of it being exported. The way the world operates now, if you have lots of money and live in one of the world’s big cities, you can get the best of anything for a price. There should be a clause in all these free trade agreements that a country must keep 10 percent of whatever product it exports for its own people at local prices. More Jo Stuart: HERE! |
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How to live, invest or find romance in Costa Rica 
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