Some moments here make you look twice. Is that really a cow shit sitting on my table?!? Yes we have cows that stroll through (sometimes 50) and the herd leaves destruction and shit in its path, but this?? This cow was too motivated - he had to back up just right, line up his ass and drop a bomb. Not your everyday tropical paradise problem, but this is Costa Rica.
What is this?
A hotel and restuarant 6 km north of Samara on pristine Playa Buena Vista offering a deeper connection to Costa Rica (see map below). El Castillo is argueably more art than hotel with first impressions speaking volumes about our visitors. Somewhere between recognizing existing beauty and seeing only potential lies the truth for most. Names range from beach commune to global community village in a place teaming with life and overlooking both an estuary and the Pacific ocean. A view with a room sums up the accommodations which means you get what you need without the chrome polish. Happily this place is not for everyone and remains unique as the best location for the best price if you can live with a little less. Contribute your talents to making this place better and make your own unique mark. Don Klaus is the creator and heart of El Castillo and for the past three years my restuarant has been the stomach. This blog is my attempt (see my profile) to create an english website for El Castillo since the original site (http://www.hotel-ohne-fenster.de/) and the creator are both German. Although this reads like a brochure, my real intention is to share the unique energy of this place with those that know and those yet to visit. Enjoy!
Costa Rica
Playa Buena Vista is the next beach north of Samara. Switch to satellite and zoom in to see the coast and El Castillo.
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Sunday, March 29, 2009
Bullshit
Some moments here make you look twice. Is that really a cow shit sitting on my table?!? Yes we have cows that stroll through (sometimes 50) and the herd leaves destruction and shit in its path, but this?? This cow was too motivated - he had to back up just right, line up his ass and drop a bomb. Not your everyday tropical paradise problem, but this is Costa Rica.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Thank You!
A global community may sound like an idealistic dream, but on a person to person level I see the building blocks take shape. How we treat each other as people opens our eyes to the universal magic in all of us. Maybe this sounds a bit too esoteric so let's just say that when you do what you do with enthusiasm sometimes you get a care package!
Mail is delivered to the Castle by a guy on a dirt bike from Samara who comes maybe twice a year and deserves the beer he expects for his trouble. On Tuesday he brought a package addressed to me with the added description "Cocinero Americano alto rubio" - did I mention I love surprises? The names on the return address didn't spark any memories, which is normal here since you remember the people more than their names. Inside the big envelope I found two new high quality grill brushes and a paperback along with a note. Iris and Manuel from Montreal visited my restaurant in January 2008 and tried the grill plates. I remember them well because they were so interested in my little Weber grill that I brought from the states. Come to find out they have the smaller version and wanted to know the tricks of the trade. We talked about grilling and science fiction and they reminded me why I like my job so much. A job made easier with better tools that I can´t just run out and buy - my old grill brush was frequently borrowed to scrape rust off windows so the upgrade is much appreciated! The book "The Left Hand of Darkness" is a good read from page one and again not something easily available in paradise.
This is my first thank you post and my appreciation goes out to Iris and Manuel as well as those others who sent Christmas in a box (Claire, Kevin, Romi). Thanks for making me feel like a kid again!
Mail is delivered to the Castle by a guy on a dirt bike from Samara who comes maybe twice a year and deserves the beer he expects for his trouble. On Tuesday he brought a package addressed to me with the added description "Cocinero Americano alto rubio" - did I mention I love surprises? The names on the return address didn't spark any memories, which is normal here since you remember the people more than their names. Inside the big envelope I found two new high quality grill brushes and a paperback along with a note. Iris and Manuel from Montreal visited my restaurant in January 2008 and tried the grill plates. I remember them well because they were so interested in my little Weber grill that I brought from the states. Come to find out they have the smaller version and wanted to know the tricks of the trade. We talked about grilling and science fiction and they reminded me why I like my job so much. A job made easier with better tools that I can´t just run out and buy - my old grill brush was frequently borrowed to scrape rust off windows so the upgrade is much appreciated! The book "The Left Hand of Darkness" is a good read from page one and again not something easily available in paradise.
This is my first thank you post and my appreciation goes out to Iris and Manuel as well as those others who sent Christmas in a box (Claire, Kevin, Romi). Thanks for making me feel like a kid again!
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