Now for something totally different. 
                                                         

*Repost from last December 2016      

                                               
One of the most interesting differences of celebrating Christmas in Costa Rica is the week between Christmas day and New Years day. That is unless you don't like horses and 'bull fighting'. It's not really bull fighting. It's not bull running. It's more like bull antagonizing! 

First there is the festival itself called ‘Festejos Populares’. It is held in a picturesque district  called Zapote. It is the highlight of that district for the entire year. It also houses the offical residence of the president. But enough of the priddle. Lets talk bull.

The  ‘Festejos Populares’ is a very interesting pastime for Ticas and Ticos alike. For an entire week these brave(crazy) people(very sick individuals) get into a 'bull' ring and wave their arms around and pester some poor unassuming bulls. What they want is for the bull to come at them so they can jump a wall to get away and thus strut around like they just conquered the poor unassuming bull. Now I ask you amigos and Amigas, in what deranged state can this be called COOL?  

However, there is alot of amusement in watching it on TV whilst sipping, truth be known, GULPING heavily spiked eggnog and devouring turkey sandwiches for four days. I sit there wondering.........Do these people take vacation time for this tomfoolery or work a half day at work drinking so they can spend the other half making total jerks of themselves?

But then there is always this. It gets interesting at the 1:45 minute mark. To gain a better understanding of the overall experience click here.      

In retrospect growing up in Roanoke, VA, maybe induring freezing temperatures and shoveling snow ain't so bad. Wait, we all know thats nothing but a high heap of bull!!!