Leaving Costa Rica

 

 

Two "birds of a feather", in this case Parrots roost together.

As I get ready to leave Costa Rica and start my journey back I wanted to write down some of my impressions of my time here, and also a few regrets, or things if I had more time and hadn't had other commitments I would have like to have done. Or even if the weather had cooperated more.

First due to time and also distance I'm not going to go into Panama as I had planned. Round trip from San Jose to the end of the road in Darien is close to 1400 miles as close as I can tell. It was longer then I expected and it could take 4 or 5 days of constant travel, with border crossings to do that part of the trip. Having to be back in Michigan, preferably before Christmas, and not knowing the weather or what to expect on the way back, I've decided to start back as soon as I can. Having finished things up with school and my dental work. I also just mailed extra stuff back to Michigan I didn't want to carry with me., so I'm pretty much ready to leave. I did get some posts set up so as I travel there won't be any long gaps between posts. So even as you read this I maybe getting close to, or actually be back in the states.

First I would like to talk about money in Costa Rica and basic expenses. Like anywhere I guess if you don't shop for things and look around your going to end up paying as much, or more then you would in the states. While some things like doing a home stay, or maybe Spanish classes, staying in hotels or renting a flat by the week, or even  tours can be found at reasonable rates, even cheaper then the states, Though something like gas is  close to $5 a gallon. The malls often have a lot of U.S. brand names at U.S.prices or even more, which would make sense since those things are getting shipped all the way down here to begin with. I found the prices at the malls to be ridiculous on some things, other things like seeing a movie at the mall on Wednesdays for instance, is $2.

I mailed a box home with some gifts in it, my school helped me set it up. With Fed Ex they only do over night delivery, they quoted me $169 for a 15lb box! We called the Post Office and they said $83, and it should be there in 6 to 7 days. I did send it, but it really was just added to the cost of the souvenirs I bought to make them even more expensive then they already were. Its like if your not flying it home with you, or carrying it out of the country yourself, its not even worth buying it.They never even weighed the box, they just assessed their fee by its size and what I said was in it. So again some things are just so outrageous and others can be gotten reasonably.

A cab ride, you have to tell them to turn on the meter or they'll just charge you whatever they want to. A gas station will sell you a free map for $5 if you'll pay it. Looking for authentic Central American made clothing. Supposedly you use to be able to find Latin American made products before NAFTA, now it seems all you get is U.S. products that are more expensive then in the U.S. I'm not sure where you go to buy good local products. Some say the big central market downtown, but even their it seems your getting a lot of tourist stuff at tourist prices. I'm not sure where the local markets, and merchants are that are selling to local people. The main stream looks more and more like the U.S. with mainstream prices and nothing special to really want to buy. I'm sure one needs to find the out of way places and spend the time trying to find them. I didn't have the time, didn't speak the language, and was very disappointed over all with what I found. But again without experience in shopping here that's to be somewhat expected.

With food since my meals were part of my home stay I didn't go out to eat a lot. But my experience was that it seemed to be a little cheaper then the U.S.at some places, at others not, and your not expected to tip. Rice and beans are served all the time here, as well as chicken and fish. Their main cheese used seems to be a cross between mozzarella and muenster, its quite mild, as really most of their seasonings are. I did not get any food I thought was too spicy, in fact I loved the way they mildly spiced their food. The cook in our house  made a Lasagna that was the best I think I ever had, and even with that the flavors were subtle and balanced.

Hotels often include breakfast with the cost of the room. Expect rice and beans, eggs, coffee and fruit. Papaya, Mango, Melons and Bananas ( often fried) were the norm with maybe toast and juice (usually always freshly squeezed). Hotels range from $15 all the way up over a $100 a night depending, but over all they seem to be lower then in the states.

Directions and finding things can be very difficult until you get to know your way around. A lot of basic services or things we might take for granted in the U.S. like a motorcycle part store can be hard to find. Parts in general can be, and like most specialty items, if they carry them, expect them to be expensive.

The weather in San Jose and the Caribbean was constant rain thru November. I thought it ended come November, but in many parts of the country the rainy season is April thru January. This was too bad because of the active volcano's and the great views you can get of them when the weather is good. In three weeks here there was maybe a couple of clear days where it would have been worth it to go up and see them. Lesson, this is the first place I have ever brought and been glad I did, an umbrella. People here usually don't go out without them. The other lesson, choose your season well, but then of course the prices probably go up as well.

Not having gotten out of San Jose enough is like not seeing the real Costa Rica with its varied geography and animals and plants. This place is so unique and beautiful in so many ways, but you have to not only get out to see it, you also need to be here in the right season, or your not going to see a lot of it. One might say like people use to say about Anchorage, Alaska, the nice thing is its right next to Alaska, but its not Alaska. The pace of life, the scenery, everything seems to be night and day when it comes to San Jose and the rest of the country. San Jose is "right next to" Costa Rica.

But from the Caribbean side, to the Central Highlands, to the mountains and volcano's to the Pacific side the country is so varied and has so much beauty and uniqueness, its not hard to see why people come from all over the world to be here, and there is such a large population of U.S. citizens down here.

 

And yes from the Simpson's on television, to men sitting around watching soccer and the Price is Right every morning, there is a lot that is so similar to other places in the world, and in ways it seems like its t.v.'s and the internet is what really keeps us connected. As I watch the Christmas trees go up in the malls, and hear all the traditional Christmas music, I realize again how connected we all are on this planet, sometimes just by our media and commercialism, for good or bad I guess. But the one thing it also does, is remind us that no matter how we express our values, we're really not that different, and we all share a common ground.

 

Our maids here at the house do their laundry by hand, and hang them out to dry. I have a sweat shirt from my trip down that Jorlenis washed by hand that has not been this clean since it was new. In some ways things seem too simple and almost backwards, but more often then not they don't "technicize" everything for the sake of having the latest gadgets. If its not broke then don't fix it. That seems to work just fine down here. We in the states tend to have to replace everything we own every 3 years or it becomes old and useless, even though its fine. Here people can't afford to waste things, and generally don't. It is a refreshing contrast to the states, though as they incorporate our values, and malls etc. one wonders how that will go as well.

This place is so unique in so many ways, especially with its nature and geography, one could spend many years exploring its great diversity. I do look forward to more trips down here, and also all of Central America. Each trip just creates a little more of an appetite for more.