Costa Rica Pura Vita

                                                                               

     It was pouring rain when we landed in Costa Rica. Very disconcerting after living in the Nevada desert for the past year. When it rains, it pours in San Jose. The foliage slowly turns a darker shade of green until dusk throws a blanket over it. The lawns look like artificial turf surrounded by palm fronds and moss-covered tree trunks. It is a lush country and resembles a foreign planet to me after living in the brown-colored Nevada desert. 

We are staying in a small bungalow park in the capital city of San Jose that is protected by stone walls, palm trees, and two guard dogs. The cars and motorcycles echo as they speed by in the still of the night. There are birds, lizards, and two furry pet dogs that like to chase balls. Our innkeeper friend and his wife moved here 18 years ago to create their dream resort. They have hosted worldwide travelers and some famous figures too. Breakfast is served on tropical platters filled with fruit. We ate cheese and crackers the first night with french bread and pate. We are enjoying our tropical paradise.

I wonder if I would get bored if I stayed here any longer. I can feel myself relaxing after only one day. I have read, written, and walked around the city. The chirping birds are reminders that happiness is just within our reach. We are going to explore more of the country and see what lies in the jungles, beaches, and ocean beyond the capital city. We have been warned of poisonous snakes, turtle eggs, and scorpions. I’m going to get my Indiana Jones uniform on and march out into the wilderness. 

We visited a coffee plantation in the lush, green hills outside the city. After sampling the coffee and learning about the roasting process, we hiked up a steep, muddy path into the mountains. The owner of the farm showed us the coffee and array of plants in the forest. He offered us tastes of fruit, leaves, and nuts along the way. At the top of the steep hill was a beautiful view of the valley below. We learned that the different colored beans mean that … We also tasted coffee wine made from the beans, We had the traditional bean dish Casada for lunch afterward. Casada is the wedding bean dish. The black beans are the groom and the white beans are the bride.

Then we drove down the mountain to the river and walked out on a bridge overlooking alligators sitting in the sun. I got vertigo looking down and still feel dizzy just writing about it. We had a traditional “Soda” lunch with rice, black beans, salad, and meat seated at a rickety table while cars zoomed by. Chickens ran across the dirt roads as we drove past small tin roof homes and children playing soccer barefoot. Then we drove down a dirt road to the beach. It’s known to be a surfer beach. There were only a few people walking along the beach. No one was swimming and the town seemed desolate. I guess it is another country suffering from a lack of tourism due to Covid. 

I feel sorry for the business owners. No one is here and the tour buses are empty. It is a socialist country and eco-friendly. There are mountains and rainforests here. Cattle farmers have ruined the dry forest. One local man is rejuvenating the dry forest so that insects, animals, and the ecosystem are aligned. The focus of this country seems to be very eco-aware. It is totally green and you can put any leaf in the ground and it grows. Live fences are everywhere using trees as are the posts instead of wire fences. Even the wineries are ecological. The grapes are grown organically and aged in oak barrels. The farmer we visited even makes coffee wine. 

Costa Rica is a mixture of sounds from chirping birds, loud motorcycles, and cars zooming by. It is also a country of solitude, waves crashing at the beach, and the silence of forests. The friendly people greet each day with a sense of wonder as they walk around this natural paradise. It is a fact that cars can only drive on alternate days due to Covid19. The reasoning is that it will cut back on traffic and encourage social distancing. Hmmm...well, maybe. Citizens are still required to wear face masks in public, but only those over the age of 70 have been allowed to get the Covid vaccines. I tried to order a pizza delivery tonight by phone. They had no pizza tonight without a reason. Could it be the delivery car’s off night, the rain or are they really out of pizza? Maybe it's the 5.6 level earthquake here a few hours ago. I literally felt the earth move under my feet. Pura Vita! Enjoy life in Costa Rica!