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The 5th & 6th Grade girls at Escuela Central were by far the best of very few dancers in this year’s parade and you will quickly see that I picked one as the star or best dancer. Enjoy the
For all aspects of the parade see photo gallery 2018 Independence Day Parade Atenas
I’m guessing that only 6th & 7th Graders are in the band and maybe 5th Graders. And it must count as PE or Physical Education because those green & blue uniforms are their PE uniforms, while the two boys in white shirts and black pants are in their school or classroom uniform.
It is almost all drums in all the bands here, this one with cymbals and some kind of scrappy rhythm instrument on the back row. I’m guessing again that is because of lack of money for instruments and music teachers or a priorities thing. The high school bands usually have a few girls playing xylophone with some bigger cities adding brass and reed instruments, but not many.
The group above is practicing in the city sports park across the street from the Primary School, Escuela Central. And I suspect they are getting ready for the September 15 Independence Day Parade and subsequently the December Christmas Parade. I admire the few girls who play drums which the boys tend to dominate here (and maybe everywhere).
Life in a small farming town in Costa Rica! ¡Pura Vida!
See also my PEOPLE & FIESTAS Photo Gallery for the bands marching in the parades.
This trailer in front of the public primary school sells snacks to young children and it appears here to mothers too! 🙂
And I remember having sweets available for sale near my elementary school way back in the dark ages. A world-wide tradition?
All I really need is love, but a little candy now and then doesn’t hurt!
~Charles Schulz
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| The other day I caught the public primary school (grades K-6) older kids band practicing on the move in the recreation park across the street. The masks are usually used for a Catholic religious ceremony, but don’t know here. Getting ready for one of the many parades we have here, I guess.
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| Escuela Central (Grades K-6) building built in 1886 |
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| A younger class represents favorite storybook characters in a skit. Some creative Mom’s with these costumes! |
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| This was the first program in their new outdoor auditorium/theater with covered stage here and covered bleachers. It did rain for part of the program and they invited me to sit in the VIP tent. 🙂 |
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| Nicole, son of David & Corinna at Su Espacio. He’s front & center in red as they sing a song. |
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| Snow White tells her own story complete with magic mirror behind her and basket of poison apples in hand. |
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| Another class has skit on recycling and sorry my photo does not include the girl in a really cute dress made out of newspapers. |
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| A guest band from a school in Alajuela marched in, played concert, and then here they marched out of the outdoor arena (after the rain). They were very good and kind of like a New Orleans Dixieland Band. A common style band in Costa Rica seen at most fiestas & with dancing. That is Nicole and his mother Corinna on far right clapping. And the girl snare drummer was a fave along with a girl sax player! |
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| Disney is dearly loved here! This mural is in the entry hall of the school. |
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| And after all that, plus hiring a maid who starts next Tuesday, I get a dinner sunset like this! PURA VIDA! |
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| A 4 or 5 shot panorama of wall behind high school that I walk by almost every day. There’s more beyond gate at right, next. |
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| More behind the high school gym to the right of above image. |
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| The front of the high school however would never have graffiti. |
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| Wall on big city recreation park in front of primary school, more in next photo. This park has soccer, basketball, volleyball, skateboard, and more recreation. |
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| Though not all great art, it too seems too well organized to be vandalism. Note the skate board ramp is also painted with graffiti above & below. |
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| Skateboard ramp in city park in front of Escuela Central. |