7 Breathtaking Catholic Churches in Costa Rica
Are there any Catholic churches in Costa Rica? Of course there are! In fact, Roman Catholicism is the most popular religion in Costa Rica—with 47% of Costa Ricans declaring themselves Catholics, 27% non-religious, 19% Evangelical Christians, and 1% Protestants. Costa Rica and Argentina are the only two countries in Latin America with Catholicism as their official religion....Read More
Vocabulary Guide to Origami in Spanish
How do you say origami in Spanish? Simply, el origami. Although, if you want to use the technical term, you can refer to it as la papiroflexia (pronounce it: pa-pee-roh-fleh-xee-ah), or la cocotología (pronounce it: koh-koh-toh-loh-hee-a). However, not a lot of people outside of Spain use or even understand these terms. We find no change in the word origami in Spanish because the...Read More
12 Panama Slang Words You Need To Know
La jerga panameña (Panamanian slang) is quite extensive, and just as with many other Latin American countries’ slang, Panamanian is one highly influenced by the U.S. Panamanians have a great amount of words that come from the English language—such as blod or blo from “blood” meaning “brother” or close friend, dain from the word “dime” meaning in fact ”10 cents,” fren from “friend,”...Read More
Mars on Earth: The Atacama Desert in Chile
Atacama Desert in Chile is one of the driest, most inhospitable places on Earth. Rain may not fall in this place for decades at a time. In fact, NASA even used the Atacama Desert to simulate expeditions to Mars in 2003 with their vehicles Viking 1 and 2. Despite its apparent hostility, Atacama desert is home to both people and animals. What’s more, visitors can enjoy varied...Read More
Ceramic and Pottery Terms in Spanish: A-Z Vocabulary Guide
How do you say “pottery” in Spanish? La alfarería, pronounced “al-fa-reh-ree-ah” (with an emphasis on “ree”), not only means “pottery” but also “pottery shop.” Pottery is one of mankind’s most noble arts. You can find pottery in six out of the seven continents in the world, proving it was integral to most world cultures for a long time. Interestingly, it was the...Read More
10 Best Surfing Spots in El Salvador
Surfing in El Salvador is a breathtaking experience—riding waves in beaches with volcanic black sand, sun rays beating down even if it’s December, and feeling the salty smell of the ocean breeze hit your face. Surfing isn’t the only thing you can do in El Salvador, though. You can stop by and try some delicious pupusas—fried tortillas filled with cheese, beans or pork rinds—and taste a...Read More
Christmas Festivities in Costa Rica
La Navidad en Costa Rica (Christmas in Costa Rica), just like in every culturally Catholic country, is the best time of the year. While it is not your traditional white, and snowy Christmas, Costa Ricans celebrate Christmas in their own way. They put up the tree and tangle the little lights around it. While 17% of Costa Ricans do not incline towards any religion, 52% of them declare...Read More
Pascua Flower: Why Is It a Christmas Symbol?
La flor de pascua, the pascua flower, is a flower closely related to Christmas. Many people, especially in Latin America, put the pascua flower on a pot and use it as an ornament to decorate their houses and give them a more cozy look. Its scientific name is Euphorbia pulcherrima, but you might know it in English as the poinsettia. In Spanish, it has several different names that...Read More
A Spanish Vocabulary Guide To Hiking
The translation of “hiking” in Spanish is senderismo, which is also the name of the sport. To use it as a verb, add the verb hacer (do): hacer senderismo Hiking is an amazing low-impact sport with several benefits! It can: Help you control your weight. – Ayudarte a controlar tu peso.Improve your blood pressure and blood sugar levels. – Mejorar tus niveles de...Read More