Travels to Costa Rica

Travel may not be about books or history, but to me, it’s as educational and interesting. We flew to Costa Rica many long years ago, about twenty by my estimate. The flights ran only once a week back then. Our son was living there, and we were fascinated by open-air houses and monkeys in the city and the wonderful architecture of a country just emerging from poverty. Unfortunately, a family emergency called us back almost as soon as we arrived. We spent an entire day just looking for a flight out, finally—thanks to our son’s ability to speak Spanish—we found a Dutch freighter flying to Miami. From there, we had to make connections to our home—a memorable experience! (photo to left is me having a drink called sex-in-the-trees in a tree house restaurant)

My, how times have changed! This time, we traveled with an experienced tour group. We returned to a modern airport bustling with passengers, traffic almost as bad as LA,(photo on right is San Jose at night) and a country where almost everyone spoke some degree of English because a second language is required in schools. How often have you used your high school language skills? They have socialized medicine, first class medical facilities, and a tourism trade in cosmetic surgery. But their biggest export? Technology. All that in twenty years.
At some point, the government recognized the need to preserve their jungles and natural wonders, so a large part of the country is now in national parks. To keep animal trails open, many farmers have donated pathways to the park system so all creatures, large and small, can safely traverse their preferred habitats.

And the countryside is spectacularly worth saving. Our first full day we traveled to Arenal Volcano, which is actually four different volcanoes all in one mountainside. We were blessed with a clear day that allowed a full view, including steam emerging from the side. We stayed in a locally-owned hotel with gorgeous grounds that included orchids, birds of paradise, and howler monkeys. Fortunately, we were too exhausted to let a little monkey noise wake us.

The next day we visited a coffee plantation and tasted coffee beans straight off the tree—they grow in little berries and have to be hand-picked from trees growing on often treacherous mountainsides. The process of turning those small beans into the coffee in your morning cup is so complex and takes so long that it’s a wonder the bags aren’t gold-plated.

Costa Rica has mahogany plantations and the gorgeous wood furniture is everywhere. We stopped at an old-fashioned oxcart factory that still sold the colorfully painted mahogany cart wheels that are now used mostly for parades and celebrations. Trained artists paint the wheels and other decorations, while trained woodworkers create beautiful wood pieces like the lazy Susan we brought home.

From there we traveled to Monteverde’s cloud forest where we crossed swinging bridges over enormous jungle gulches in a rain cloud. Here, orchids grew naturally in the trees, a plethora of different hummingbird species hovered on feeders, and the national butterfly lived in a protected shelter because the mountains were too cold for it to survive.

Somewhere after that we saw sloths living in trees beside the road. Their life cycle is singularly uninspired, since they only come out of those trees once a month to defecate. The rest of the time they sleep and eat.

Returning to the city side of the mountain, we cruised down to the coast where we took a river cruise and saw more waterfowl in one day than I’ve seen in a lifetime—and we live on the coast. We watched macaw pairs fly over the river to scoop up mud for their nests and floated along with the crocodiles lying in wait on the banks.

We visited a botanical garden that specialized in a spectacular variety of orchids. The flowers require no dirt, just air and moisture. We were fortunate to see some of them blooming early. The season doesn’t really start until March, when it’s too hot to move in the lower regions.

We visited the beach, of course, but the last night of our stay was in the city of San Jose . We took a bus that evening to the top of a hill overlooking the city. While eating a local dinner of beans, rice, magnificent vegetables, plantains, chicken, and sausage, we admired the valley filled with city lights and enjoyed the music and regional dancing performed by local students.

There was so much more to learn about the culture that we barely touched on the history. I think that means we need to go back!

If you could go anywhere you liked, where would it be? Or if you’ve already made your dream trip, where was it to?

 

Comments

[Sue McCormick]

I would love to spend about 6 months on Great Britain, seeing as many parts of Scotland, England, and Wales as we could fit into that trip. I have frequently mentioned our 12-day tour which is probably the best trip we ever took. But all such tours only scratch the surface. On that trip we didn't get to Wales, the shops on the medieval alley next to York Minster were closed, we saw only one "great home" and it was fairly young, and so on.

The above isn't a complaint, it is an indication of how much more there is to see. But, alas, I'm afraid that my chance for the return trip has expired. Nicola has taken me to some of those stately homes, and others of you have taken me to literary shrines. I will continue to depend on you wenches for your virtual tours.

Thank you, Pat for your tour of Costa Rica,

[Kareni]

Thanks for sharing your travels, Pat; I've never been to Costa Rica, but it looks wonderful.

[Alison Y]

I visited Costa Rica about 10 years ago and loved it. The variety of nature is almost overwhelming. Yes, a place to return to.

One fact that was interesting is that the country has no army. After a civil war, that ended in 1948, the president got rid of the army. In order to placate the generals, he retired them all with lifetime, generous pensions. With no money going to the military, (most countries biggest budget item), Costa Rica was able to spend it in other areas, like education and we now have a very stable country.

[Patricia Rice]

I wish it was possible to pack everything we saw into a blog, but even a book wouldn't cover it. And no matter where we go, it's never enough time to see all that's to be seen. But dipping our toes in the water is far better than never having seen anything besides our own front yard. I'm not sure a lifetime would be enough to explore the British Isles!

[Patricia Rice]

If only more countries would learn that trick...

[Mary Jo Putney]

We visited for a couple of days one, just before embarking on a Panama Canal cruise, and yes, I want to go back and see more! After reading your blog, I feel motivated. *G*

[Mary M.]

In a few weeks, I'll be embarking on my last major international trip, an NCL cruise from Barcelona to Morocco and the Canary Islands and back, with a couple of days in Barcelona before and a couple after in London to mop up my British bucket list. Gonna be a challenge!

After that, only U.S. road trips ... except ... I really want to visit Costa Rica and Belize. Costa Rica for the sloths (my spirit animal for this stage of my life, which can be described as "older than at least some dirt") and Belize for the people.

I feel so blessed for having been able to explore the world as I have in the last ten years, just wish I'd started earlier. To those who live on "Someday I'll" I say, get packing while you're energetic enough to do it! Get a passport and keep your eyes open for chances to use it.

[Maryellen Webber]

Costa Rica is now on my must visit list! Our son loves butterflies and hummingbirds as much as I do. Thanks very much for sharing your journey!

[Margot]

Thank you for sharing your trip to Costa Rica and the photos too. I grew up in the tropics and have wonderful childhood memories but now the place is gone due to farming and other modern changes.
I now would love to travel to New Zealand where a nephew lives but if that does not pan out - I want to explore Scotland, Wales, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Holland and Lichtenstein. Places where our families lived. Trouble is I hate planning a trip and there are so many of my friends scattered around those countries and I want to visit them all. I have been to these countries before - some just for a day or two, others I have explored parts of and want to see more. I can still dream.

[Binnie Syril Braunstein]

Costa Rica sounded wonderful,Pat. Wish I could go. My two most favorite trips were to Puerto Rico and to Great Britain. In Puerto Rico, I stayed at a friend's timeshare. Sun, sand, pina coladas by the pool, walking in the rainforest, snorkeling, and seeing El Convento. I was also introduced to gazpacho, which is still an addiction and to the simplicity of strawberries, brown sugar and whipped cream for dessert. For the UK trip, we started out in London, had tea at Fortnum & Mason, and then took the train to Oxford, where we were guests and wined and dined. That's where I learned how to eat a boiled egg in an egg cup, BTW. Our hosts took us to cricket matches and . Our UK travels included side trips to Dorset, York (saw the Minster and the Shambles) and one great house. It was definitely the most memorable trip of my life.

[Patricia Rice]

take me with you!

[Patricia Rice]

People like you open the eyes of everyone around them. Travel is a blessing and I'm so glad you're ticking off your bucket list.

We figure we'll spend all our money on travel now while we're healthy and worry about what happens when we're not later. ;)

[Patricia Rice]

Please do! I've never seen such beautiful variety.

[Patricia Rice]

each trip takes one step at a time. Have a passport, decide on a date and a destination. The rest fills itself in. You are fortunate to know people in so many places!

[Patricia Rice]

Traveling with friends is the best way to go! We've not done Puerto Rico yet and we've never had much time for Oxford, so you're ahead of us there.

[Keira Soleore]

Pat, I loved your trip journal and all the photos. I felt like I was traveling with you and experiencing it. Looks like you went with an experienced tour company that organized a tour with a little bit of everything.

I'm awed at what Costa Rica has achieved in a score of years. It's a testament to their leadership that took the right steps to modernize as well as preserve their natural heritage.

[Patricia Rice]

Their government isn't without its problems, like any other. But I sure wish we could distill whatever it took to turn them into a productive peaceful country and spray it everywhere!

[Karin]

I would love to go almost anywhere! But right now Spain, Turkey, and Macchu Pichu are at the top of my bucket list.

[Patricia Rice]

Spain and Machu Pichu are on mine. We did Ephesus in Turkey and that really is worth a trip!