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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

Brazil- Day One

When I flew into Rio de Janeiro this morning, I was immediately greeted by the world famous Christ the Redeemer statue atop Corcovado Hill. I was also surprised to see how packed in some of the slums on the surrounding hills were. These neighborhoods are called favelas. They are made up of shoddy houses that are literally built on top of each other. Because of all of the poverty, the problem of crime is constantly growing, so I am going to have to be on my guard at all times. Rio is probably Brazil’s most well known city to outsiders, but it is not the capital. The capital is Brasilia, which is located in the center of the country. The world famous Carnival is held in Rio every year. It is very similar Mardi Gras in New Orleans with the exception of the dances and the music. Exotically dressed dancers perform as they go through town along with beautiful floats. These floats take all year to build, so being a float builder is a steady job. Rio will also be holding the 2014 World Cup. This is a big source of pride, and the locals have posters and tee shirts all over the city. They are also hosting the 2016 summer Olympics, which is also advertised throughout the city. I enjoyed walking around for a while, and then decided to get a quick bite to eat before turning in.

Introduction to Brazil

Brazil is the largest country in Latin America with a population of 201 million people. The majority of these people speak Portuguese instead of the normal Spanish like most other countries in Latin America. This is because Portuguese explorer Pedro Alvares Cabral founded Portugal's first colonies here in 1500. It became an Independent country in 1822. The beautiful country is not able to use its vast size for spreading population due to the dominance of the Amazon rainforest. The 2nd largest river in the world, the Amazon, runs straight through the middle of Brazil. The country's government is a federal republic with 26 different states each, with an elected legislature and governor.

-Brazilian flag

Dominican Republic- Day Three

I woke up this morning, and grabbed some toast and a cup of coffee for the road before checking out. I drove through town to see if anything was going on. I saw some men and women with bright colored dresses and suits dancing in the town square. I parked my car and walked over to watch. The beat was very lively, and the dancers were energetic. It was very entertaining. I asked a couple standing next to me what the dance was called. They told me it was the Merengue, which is the national dance. I learned it is influenced by both African and Spanish music and dance. Dance is another big part of the Dominican culture. After watching the dancers perform for about an hour, I walked around the square, looking for a good place to eat. I found one, and got a table that was outside so I could enjoy the atmosphere before I left town. I ended up ordering a coke, and sancocho. Sancocho is a rich stew that is usually made of potatoes, yucca, plantains, and whatever meats are available. The meat is most commonly goat, so that is what I got. It was very tasty. When I finished lunch, it was sadly time to say goodbye to Santo Domingo and the Dominican Republic on the way to the airport.                 -merengue- Sancocho

Dominican Republic Day Two

After waking up, I had a breakfast of toast, jam, and coffee. I checked out of the hotel, and jumped into the car, wondering where it would take me. I drove around Santo Domingo, soaking in the atmosphere for a couple of hours. After getting bored, I decided to ask a local where they might go in their freetime. I picked a nice looking man, and then asked him. He recommended going to see a baseball game and pointed me in the direction of one of the fields. Baseball is a huge part of the Culture in the Dominican Republic. It is as big a deal as football in the US and as big as soccer in most other Latin American countries. The locals still love soccer, but baseball is the number one sport. I drove over to the field, and sure enough, there was a game going on. The boys playing were probably about sixteen. They were very, very good. They are able to play year round because the weather barely changes throughout the year. There are six professional teams in the Dominican Republic, but these boys are really dreaming going to play ball in the United States. Big names from the Dominican Republic like Albert Pujols, David Ortiz, Sammy Sosa, and many, many more play or played in the MLB. I lost track of time, and before I knew it, it was time for dinner. I wasn’t in the mood to sit down for a longer meal, so I found a McDonalds and then went to a hotel where I am spending the night. I am excited to see what adventures will await me in the morning!

- Albert Pujols

Dominican Republic- Day One

I flew into Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic this morning, excited to explore the country. When I landed, I exchanged my US dollars for pesos, the country’s currency. One US dollar is equivalent to about 17 pesos. After grabbing my bags, I took a short walk over to the car rental agency. I rented a car and decided to grab some lunch at a local restaurant. I ordered what my waitress said was a local favorite. They call it La Bandera (The Flag) which is made up of white rice, red beans, stewed meat, a fried plantain (relative of a banana) and a small salad. Lunch is the most important meal in the Dominican culture and can last up to two hours. The weather today was fantastic. Blue skies with a temperature of about 75 degrees. The weather does not change very much in this tropical country, and the temperature stays at about an average of 77 degrees. The people seem very friendly, and are very happy. As the day came to a close, I noticed a group of men playing dominoes on the front porch of one of their homes. This is common for men to do after work. They also enjoy playing pool, and cards to pass the time. I finally arrived at my hotel, checked in, and made plans for tomorrow before beginning this blog entry. Good night Santo Domingo! 

  -La Bandera

Introduction to the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is a small country located on an island shared with Haiti in the Caribbean. The population is 8.7 million people. Its capital is Santo Domingo which was founded by the Spanish in 1496. The Cordillera Central (Central Mountain Range) is the dominant mountain range of the terrain. It is split politically into 29 provinces, each run by a governor appointed by the president, which is currently Danilo Medina. Their economy is fast growing with a big rise in per capita GDP. However, 70% of the population is in poverty and unemployment is also high. Locals are evenly divided by urban and country homes and lifestyles.
- Dominican Flag

My Trip to Latin America

I will be taking a trip to the beautiful countries of Santo Domingo, Brazil, and Costa Rica. While in these countries, I will observe the local culture and people. These three countries are all wonderful in their own ways and I am very excited to be visiting them!