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A Walk through the farms of the Escuela Centroamericana de Ganaderia

At the end of November, my wife and a neighbor planned to walk in a "Caminata" (literally, walk) across the 900 hectare Escuela de Ganaderia, extending from town down into Rio Grande, as part of the yearly festivals of this school. I eagerly agreed to go along, since access to the farm has always been closed off, and while I am not the type to wander in without permission, I have always wanted to see that  farm.

We showed up at the park, and looked around for a bunch of hikers.The only swarm of activity was a desk signing people up for something, and surrounding them a lot of lean guys in shorts and tanktops doing high steps and leg stretching exercises.

Miriam said we had to sign up there. They were making this thing a race! We all even got numbers to pin onto our shirts!

 

There was an introductory speech. The national hymn of the Republic was sung, all 6 or 7 stanzas. 1 or 2 persons actually had memorized all the words, the rest participated with indefinite noise. They taped a line across the road, and the most aggressive toed the line, prancing nervously like Andalusians going to battle. The first group raced off, and we hikers fell in on the road, where we were dispatched with a few words as well; and then finally off!

South past the church, to a large metal gate at the end of the road, which was open for the first time I had ever seen, and then onto one of the most beautiful farms in town.

Picking our way across cow pasture we arrived in more or less a clump to the old Gonsalez homestead, the family whose farm was expropriated for the school. As I understand it Jorge Gonsalez' family received a grand total 50,000 colones for their share in the 1970's. This old house is wooden, and conjured momentarily an image of a settler's house on the prairie, complete with gingerbread trim and colorful stained concrete tiles typical of the 1800's.

From there, across a corral, and the trail began to climb toward a gap between the hills. We ascended the draw, and the group diverted left, up the highest knoll on the farm. I had often wondered what the view must be like from that knoll. Now I know, and here's the photos, breathtaking.

I dawdled on top taking photos and admiring the ambience of light breeze and silence, until I was joined by by an ECAG employee who, I imagine, was charged to herd everybody south to the finish line. Of course he was amenable to sauntering along with me, answering questions and generally being very good company. Since the "Walk" had begun nearly at 10am, it was getting warm, so we made good use of  a couple of shade trees on the way down.

Finally, we drifted into the schoolgrounds and I found my wife who had trotted ahead with her buddies. Well, we all got a medal, including me!  If you think of it, for ¢1000 we got a t-shirt, a bag of fruit, and a medal. Pretty good deal.

So, anyway, award ceremonies were already underway, with trophies going to the winners. With that over we drifted over to buy some ECAG chorizo and cheese (the gouda is excellent). We found a guy with a hibachi, selling pork shishkabob. Following that, fried chicken, fries, and escabeche (which is  pickled vegetables). Many activities were planned for the day, and many enjoyed a guided tour through the school, on a wagon with benches towed behind a tractor. I hear the crocodile pond was quite a hit.
 

Later in the day activities were planned, including the inevitable dance in the evening. These events always start later than advertised, be warned those not yet accustomed to things here, but if anybody did go to the dances please let me know how they were.

All told, I enjoyed the day immensely, but next year, for variety, I will try to participate in the "cabalgata" (ride), on horseback. See you then!
 

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