Did I tell you about the time I went looking for Mariscos?
Marisco- Seafood- pretty general term- this can be a lot of things, lobster, crab, snails, etc. Well not far from my house is the beach, and along the northside of the beach there is an out cropping of rocks. When the tide (marea) is low more and more rocks expose themselves and well these rocks are ecosystems and these systems sustain life- and people need to eat to live, sooo lets go looking for mariscos, a ceviche sounds heavenly...
I head out with my swiss armyknife, adventure sandals, and a plastic bag. My neighbors dog, Nelly- a little -Paris Hilton sized terrier) decides to come with- fine... and we're off- we pass through the neighborhood, head nod to the Senor who must owe the plot of land closet to the rocks- we pass through his yard, asking for permission- I guess we could have gone along the beach- but that would have been no fun- so we get to OKGO and we head out on the rocks.
The idea is... get anything thats alive- basically- no Hermit crabs- these little buggers take over the shells of the snails, so they often trick ya into picking them up, but snails are game, osyters (if were so lucky), Barnacles (welllll something like a barnacle- I am blanking on the name), Cucarachas del Mar- thats right- sea cockroaches yummy- in english I guess its called a Polyplacophora- DUH- anyway- they're on the list too- like I said, anything living. Okay so no Starfish- but we see some and I see brittle stars and I actually get sooo caught up in the beauty and wonder of this ecosystem I kinda forget the motive- DINNER- but its still pretty cool to wander out into the ecosystem-
It reminds me of a couple of classes I had in College- There was one class in particular--- and for some reason, after 4.5yrs in College- I was so close to graduating and then my advisor realizes that I have yet to take a requiered 100 level geoscience class. Are you kinding me!? I really have to take this class!? Why?! Im in 500/600 level classes, I have made it this far without it, is it really going to make a differences?- Okay sooo this was just what I thought, I didn't actually complain, I just signed up and went on my way- I took- Geoscience 108- history of the world- or something generic like that. It was interesting, but for me--- it's far more interesting and understandable- when I can get out and see it. SO here I am- on a tidal pool off the shores of Samara Costa Rica- picking barncals and snails off the rocks. I look at these creatures- so hardy. I remember my 108 class and I think about it.. these creatures has been on the Earth for 1,000,000,000s of years. They made it. They had lived and lived and will continue to live. I remember the different stages and periods of our grand planet- how live changes just by the change of the ground. When things could no longer simplily filter feed and the ability to move became crucial- move and dont die- or stay in place and be strong- PREDATION changed the ways of the seas as we know it. There is always a bigger fish. Okay Im day dreaming thus Im not collecting so much- Come On Joa- think Sea Food Cheviche! Yummers- theres is always a bigger fish! Luckily this time it's me!...
SO I snap out of my prehistoric day dream and find myself collectiong mariscos. This is great. The tide will be out for a couple more hours so I don't need to worry about drowning or being trapped out on a reef- plus I can swim so all is well. This being said, I start to go into deeper water, and by deep I mean ankel /knee high, and thats when the madness begins. NELLY the brave- or not so brave begins to bark. (remember- little dog- little dog barking) he is barking at me- ugh! What dog? What do you want? Wanna play?! Perhaps?... but no, playing doesn't stop it. He is barking- furiously at me- christ- I just want to day dream about being a little filter feeder in the land before time and now I have this pup screaming at me... I have no idea what he wants, but the further out I go the more he freaks. But he keeps following me. Like I said, it's not deep, but for a pup of his size- he has to swim- poor little bugger- he is all wet- I don't know if this little prince has ever been so adventurous- but I keep going, and he actually stays with. But once he gets on solid rocks- he barks- F*&K! This is annoying... I also begin to think--- "what if he knows something I don't?, What if little Nelly is like Lassie- and he is trying to tell me not to go any further?" Like each bark is "NO! Danger! Don't GO! NO!"--- okay its a strectch and I realize that so now I have an issue--- I wanna keep looking for mariscos but this little man needs to return home- but its a ways away. Also Im starting to get the hang of it, so I don't want to leave, walk the dog home, remember- he came on his own accord, and then come back so- I just say "Nelly- Go home" --- this falls on deaf ears. So I decide to ignore the pup- but its not stopping. I look the other way and Nelly retreats about 10mts when all of a sudden I hear a noise...
CAW CAW- oh SHIT! CAW CAW! I look up. What do I see... Hawks. God damn it Nelly. Now I really can't leave the little bugger. If I do Im sure those hungry hawks will take one swoop to grab him in their talons and carry him away. I really don't want to have to explain this to my neighbor- who Im hoping to have a friendship with that I let her dog follow me to collect mariscos and well I didn't care about him and he got carried away and eaten by hawks- Not on my watch- no way- I also think that maybe my neighbor is looking for him, but I didn't take Nelly with, so I really shouldn't have to bring him back, plus if I get home an my neighbor isn't there- well I will just watch Nelly- He's cute and I don't have plans for the evening... so what the harm?... SO instead of letting Nelly get eaten by Hawks, the mother in me gos and gets him. I pick him up to show the hawks he is spoken for and I try to pay enough attention to Nelly that he doesn't bark and meanwhile I try to collect my dinner. Well its all good in theory.
The tidal pools are soooo cool! The water is crystal clear and about knee deep. I really am getting the hang of collecting the marsicos, and other then the patchs of little flies- I really could make a hobby of this. Nelly is behaving himself as well- but after a while he keeps trying to follow me into the deeper areas- which is okay because sometimes there are out croppings of rocks so he can take a break- but he is sooooo little that crossing the tidal pools is like swimming the length of a olympic swimming pool and I just don't think he is that kinda dog. SO after seeing him struggle to keep up, and watching him shiver on the rocks, I decided I just have to forget about my ceviche and bring him home. Thats when I hear... "NELLLLLLY?! NELLLLLLYYYYY?!"- Oh, I know this voice- His Mommy. Crap. Now I feel bad. She must have been looking for him. I also see her Boyfriend behind her, and I wonder for how long they have been looking, also how did they find us out here?- Oh geez Nelly- I begin to walk to the Mom and Nelly follows, good boy, but I gotta explain to momma- who is dressed in her work gear, what happened. And once I approach, she's actually happy he is/was safe and with me. I felt so bad, and I hope that she wasn't late for work because of the busqueda de Nelly- She is actually more apologetic then me- wow. I did feel bad, but Im glad he finally was making it home. Now I understand why when I first met them, she told me "its bad if he like you" I get it. If he likes me he'll follow me, if he likes me, he'll bark when I come home and when he hears my voice, if he likes me he'll visit me, but not come to his mommy and daddy when called.... and when it's not a matter of "IF" anymore.... its is because all of the above happens. Little Nelly is fond of me... but who can blame him--- haha- actually he isn't the first animal, nor the last animal to make several appearances at my humble casa (check out pirate racoon blog post)....
SO a long story of Nelly- Mariscos Y ME- well the cosecha was good- return home- boil everything (quickly- cechive is done with limes and the acid in them 'cooks' the mariscos- so you just wanna boil the stuff to kill it and kill the critters inside the critters- not to cook it) then clean 'em: that means pulling the snails out of their shells, removing the food, squeezing the junk out of the other filter feeders, removing the sea cockroaches from their armor and so on, then put them in a bath of sal-jugo de limon-cultantro-cebolla- and wait about 1-2hrs and BINGO you have ceviche! Buen Provecho!
Now I just have to tell you about the time we went hunting for river shrimp. . . .
I head out with my swiss armyknife, adventure sandals, and a plastic bag. My neighbors dog, Nelly- a little -Paris Hilton sized terrier) decides to come with- fine... and we're off- we pass through the neighborhood, head nod to the Senor who must owe the plot of land closet to the rocks- we pass through his yard, asking for permission- I guess we could have gone along the beach- but that would have been no fun- so we get to OKGO and we head out on the rocks.
The idea is... get anything thats alive- basically- no Hermit crabs- these little buggers take over the shells of the snails, so they often trick ya into picking them up, but snails are game, osyters (if were so lucky), Barnacles (welllll something like a barnacle- I am blanking on the name), Cucarachas del Mar- thats right- sea cockroaches yummy- in english I guess its called a Polyplacophora- DUH- anyway- they're on the list too- like I said, anything living. Okay so no Starfish- but we see some and I see brittle stars and I actually get sooo caught up in the beauty and wonder of this ecosystem I kinda forget the motive- DINNER- but its still pretty cool to wander out into the ecosystem-
It reminds me of a couple of classes I had in College- There was one class in particular--- and for some reason, after 4.5yrs in College- I was so close to graduating and then my advisor realizes that I have yet to take a requiered 100 level geoscience class. Are you kinding me!? I really have to take this class!? Why?! Im in 500/600 level classes, I have made it this far without it, is it really going to make a differences?- Okay sooo this was just what I thought, I didn't actually complain, I just signed up and went on my way- I took- Geoscience 108- history of the world- or something generic like that. It was interesting, but for me--- it's far more interesting and understandable- when I can get out and see it. SO here I am- on a tidal pool off the shores of Samara Costa Rica- picking barncals and snails off the rocks. I look at these creatures- so hardy. I remember my 108 class and I think about it.. these creatures has been on the Earth for 1,000,000,000s of years. They made it. They had lived and lived and will continue to live. I remember the different stages and periods of our grand planet- how live changes just by the change of the ground. When things could no longer simplily filter feed and the ability to move became crucial- move and dont die- or stay in place and be strong- PREDATION changed the ways of the seas as we know it. There is always a bigger fish. Okay Im day dreaming thus Im not collecting so much- Come On Joa- think Sea Food Cheviche! Yummers- theres is always a bigger fish! Luckily this time it's me!...
SO I snap out of my prehistoric day dream and find myself collectiong mariscos. This is great. The tide will be out for a couple more hours so I don't need to worry about drowning or being trapped out on a reef- plus I can swim so all is well. This being said, I start to go into deeper water, and by deep I mean ankel /knee high, and thats when the madness begins. NELLY the brave- or not so brave begins to bark. (remember- little dog- little dog barking) he is barking at me- ugh! What dog? What do you want? Wanna play?! Perhaps?... but no, playing doesn't stop it. He is barking- furiously at me- christ- I just want to day dream about being a little filter feeder in the land before time and now I have this pup screaming at me... I have no idea what he wants, but the further out I go the more he freaks. But he keeps following me. Like I said, it's not deep, but for a pup of his size- he has to swim- poor little bugger- he is all wet- I don't know if this little prince has ever been so adventurous- but I keep going, and he actually stays with. But once he gets on solid rocks- he barks- F*&K! This is annoying... I also begin to think--- "what if he knows something I don't?, What if little Nelly is like Lassie- and he is trying to tell me not to go any further?" Like each bark is "NO! Danger! Don't GO! NO!"--- okay its a strectch and I realize that so now I have an issue--- I wanna keep looking for mariscos but this little man needs to return home- but its a ways away. Also Im starting to get the hang of it, so I don't want to leave, walk the dog home, remember- he came on his own accord, and then come back so- I just say "Nelly- Go home" --- this falls on deaf ears. So I decide to ignore the pup- but its not stopping. I look the other way and Nelly retreats about 10mts when all of a sudden I hear a noise...
CAW CAW- oh SHIT! CAW CAW! I look up. What do I see... Hawks. God damn it Nelly. Now I really can't leave the little bugger. If I do Im sure those hungry hawks will take one swoop to grab him in their talons and carry him away. I really don't want to have to explain this to my neighbor- who Im hoping to have a friendship with that I let her dog follow me to collect mariscos and well I didn't care about him and he got carried away and eaten by hawks- Not on my watch- no way- I also think that maybe my neighbor is looking for him, but I didn't take Nelly with, so I really shouldn't have to bring him back, plus if I get home an my neighbor isn't there- well I will just watch Nelly- He's cute and I don't have plans for the evening... so what the harm?... SO instead of letting Nelly get eaten by Hawks, the mother in me gos and gets him. I pick him up to show the hawks he is spoken for and I try to pay enough attention to Nelly that he doesn't bark and meanwhile I try to collect my dinner. Well its all good in theory.
The tidal pools are soooo cool! The water is crystal clear and about knee deep. I really am getting the hang of collecting the marsicos, and other then the patchs of little flies- I really could make a hobby of this. Nelly is behaving himself as well- but after a while he keeps trying to follow me into the deeper areas- which is okay because sometimes there are out croppings of rocks so he can take a break- but he is sooooo little that crossing the tidal pools is like swimming the length of a olympic swimming pool and I just don't think he is that kinda dog. SO after seeing him struggle to keep up, and watching him shiver on the rocks, I decided I just have to forget about my ceviche and bring him home. Thats when I hear... "NELLLLLLY?! NELLLLLLYYYYY?!"- Oh, I know this voice- His Mommy. Crap. Now I feel bad. She must have been looking for him. I also see her Boyfriend behind her, and I wonder for how long they have been looking, also how did they find us out here?- Oh geez Nelly- I begin to walk to the Mom and Nelly follows, good boy, but I gotta explain to momma- who is dressed in her work gear, what happened. And once I approach, she's actually happy he is/was safe and with me. I felt so bad, and I hope that she wasn't late for work because of the busqueda de Nelly- She is actually more apologetic then me- wow. I did feel bad, but Im glad he finally was making it home. Now I understand why when I first met them, she told me "its bad if he like you" I get it. If he likes me he'll follow me, if he likes me, he'll bark when I come home and when he hears my voice, if he likes me he'll visit me, but not come to his mommy and daddy when called.... and when it's not a matter of "IF" anymore.... its is because all of the above happens. Little Nelly is fond of me... but who can blame him--- haha- actually he isn't the first animal, nor the last animal to make several appearances at my humble casa (check out pirate racoon blog post)....
SO a long story of Nelly- Mariscos Y ME- well the cosecha was good- return home- boil everything (quickly- cechive is done with limes and the acid in them 'cooks' the mariscos- so you just wanna boil the stuff to kill it and kill the critters inside the critters- not to cook it) then clean 'em: that means pulling the snails out of their shells, removing the food, squeezing the junk out of the other filter feeders, removing the sea cockroaches from their armor and so on, then put them in a bath of sal-jugo de limon-cultantro-cebolla- and wait about 1-2hrs and BINGO you have ceviche! Buen Provecho!
Now I just have to tell you about the time we went hunting for river shrimp. . . .
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