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Costa Rica- Day Three

I woke up this morning, excited to spend my last day in Latin America. After grabbing a quick bite to eat, I drove to the city of Palmares on my way back to San Jose after hearing it was a great place to spend a few hours walking around. When I got there, I was not disappointed. There were several colorful churches, and there was a very nice park in the middle of the town. I decided to get a souvenir or two to bring something back home. I went to a small bank where I exchanged some US dollars for some Costa Rican colones. For one US dollar you get roughly 500 colones. I made my way around town wondering what I should buy. I then remembered the very colorful ox carts I had seen in towns I had passed through. I asked one of the vendors about and he told me about them. Ox carts used to be the main form of transportation. Owners would decorate theirs with bright colors and try to have the most beautiful ox cart. Today, they are only used for the interest of art, but they remain an important symbol in Costa Rica. I bought a miniature blue, green and yellow cart from the man and thanked him. He smiled and said, “Pura Vida!” I returned the saying and hopped in my car to drive to the airport. Good bye, and Pura Vida Costa Rica!

Ox Cart--Palmares

Costa Rica- Day Two

I woke up this morning and went to breakfast in small dining area of the hotel area. When asked what I wanted to eat, I replied that I wanted to have the average breakfast that a Tico might have. A plate full of food was brought to me. I was told it consisted of Gallo Pinto (Rice mixed with black beans) with sour cream, scrambled  eggs, a fried plantain (a local favorite), and finally, some fresh squeezed orange juice. It was amazing! After checking out, I packed up my car and decided to drive around the city. I passed a soccer field with broken goals and saw a pickup game going on. I parked my car and decided to watch. Like most Latin American Countries, Costa Ricans love soccer. Every city has its own team and field. I eventually left the field and headed towards the Monte Verdes. When I stopped for lunch, I had a small plate of black beans and rice with a salad. Ticos actually usually have a type of black beans and rice at every meal. As I drove along the countryside, I began to notice many very colorful houses with really pretty garden arrangements. It was different than anything I have seen in the states. I looked into the valley and immediately fell in love with the view, and I found out how the mountains got their name. They were covered in green plants and full of life. When I pulled into my hotel, I was still thinking about the beauty of the landscape.

Costa Rica- Day One

When I arrived in San Jose, Costa Rica today, I was shocked by the humid heat that immediately hit me. This is obviously the dry season. The only other weather season they will have in the course of a year is the wet season. I was driven to a rental car dealership by taxi where I was getting my ride. I thanked my driver by saying, “Gracias,”(thank you) and proceeded to walk into the building. The people inside were very helpful, and when I thanked them, they responded with a “Pura Vida!”. I later learned that this means pure life and is constantly used by the local Costa Ricans, or Ticos, as they call themselves. As I was going along the highway, I started to notice many fruit stands, so I decided to stop to get a snack. I chose a mango which was deliciously ripe and sweet. As I got into town, children were being let out of school. I saw a two siblings on one bike, riding home together with huge smiles on their faces. Costa Rica is very proud to have a literacy rate of 95%, which is probably due to the law stating that a person must go to school for a minimum of six years. One thing I have started to notice about Costa Ricans is they all have a smile on their faces. In fact, they are said to be the one of the happiest countries in the world. Based on my first impression, I think I am going to enjoy Costa Rica!

Introduction to Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a very small Central American country with a population of 4.7 million. It sits right in between Nicaragua and Panama. It is an extremely beautiful country whose name literally means “rich coast”. It was named this when it was found by Christopher Columbus on his fourth expedition to the Americas in 1502. It is a Spanish speaking country where the Catholic religion is most common. The inland is home to the breath-taking Monte Verdes (Green Mountains) where two active volcanos are located. Costa Rica is known for being a peaceful country, and the locals are very proud of this. They have a democratic government with a president and no military forces. Its political stability has made it a very popular Central American travel destination for tourists.
-Costa Rican Flag

Brazil- Day Three

After grabbing a coffee and some toast, I took off in search of Brazil’s most famous game- soccer. All countries in Latin America are known for their love of futbol (which is what the locals call it), but Brazil may be the most famous. They have won several world cups many, of them lead by the world famous Pele, a soccer legend. It did not take me long to find a pickup game being played by some men in their twenties. This field hardly had any grass on it, and one of the goals was literally two posts parallel to each other. This was a reminder of the poverty I was surrounded by. I was mesmerized watching them. They were very precise with every move, and the ball seemed to share a mind with the players. Brazilians would not be able to survive without their beloved futbol. When the game looked like it was coming to an end, I drove off towards town. I was not surprised when I also saw a cricket game going on in a back street. These boys were only about twelve or thirteen. They looked like they were having a really good time. Cricket is another popular sport in Brazil. When the afternoon came around, I knew it was time to go, so I drove off to the airport.

Brazil- Day Two

I left my hotel early this morning so I could get a look at Rio while it was quieter without all of the tourists and traffic around town. I ate a quick breakfast at a little coffee shop and had some coffee to wake me up. Brazil is the world’s leading coffee producer, and as you might have guessed, the coffee was delicious. The locals almost always have a cup in the morning. I set off looking for anything interesting. I saw many tourists on Rio’s world famous golden beaches when I passed by. I drove around for a while as my appetite grew. When it was time to eat, I went to a restaurant recommended by the woman who worked at the coffee shop. She told me it was a Gaucho restaurant. Gauchos were the traditional cowboys of South America. These cowboys would have barbecue a variety of meat for meals, and this is mainly what Gaucho restaurants serve. This barbequed meat is called churrasco. I tried the place out and it turned out to be fantastic. This is not surprising because Gauchos have been perfecting the recipe for over two hundred years. Following lunch, I decided to take a short trip up to Christ the Redeemer. It was incredible! The view was fantastic and it was definitely worth the hike. I was very tired, so I grabbed a sandwich at a Subway that I spotted and went to my hotel. I can not wait to go to sleep after writing this!  

    Christ the Redeemer- -Gaucho