We have been staying in this magical country of Costa Rica for almost 6 weeks. "Pura Vida", pure life, is not just a slogan here, but rather the actual lifestyle of Costa Ricans. Pura Vida means enjoying life... now! And that is exactly what we have done to the best of our ability over the past few weeks. Here in this country, too, people start the day early and have already completed most of their important tasks by 8:00 a.m. Due to the proximity to the equator, the days last around 12 hours and darkness falls around 6:00 p.m.
For us, it is the first time in Central America. Many like to compare Costa Rica with the Switzerland of Central and South America... probably because of its diverse nature, its security and its politics. Costa Rica invests a lot in education, security and health.
But why do we feel so comfortable here?
First of all, the Ticos (as the people of Costa Rica are called) are extremely friendly and nice. Even if you can't communicate in English everywhere and some barely understand a word, they are very courteous. Many are helpful and are happy to show you their beautiful country. They are not pushy and will leave you alone if you want them to.
The sea is perfect for surfing and swimming and is very safe to access from anywhere. There are no sharks or other sea creatures that could pose a threat to you - instead you can just enjoy the waves. For us the waves are perfect and the children loved swimming in the sea.
The nature is truly breathtakingly beautiful. Many parts of the country are very green. Although we were in Costa Rica during the dry season, it usually rains in the jungle for 1-2 hours around midday, and then the sun shines again. The volcanoes are a very special part of the country and also extremely impressive. The volcanoes make the land very fertile and rich in nutrients. Costa Rica also has very high mountains, up to 3,841 meters above sea level, although these cannot be reached via well-developed hiking trails. There are numerous national parks, most of which charge an entrance fee, and in which you can often go for wonderful hikes. Most of the hiking trails we took were in a national park or similar area.
The animal world here in Costa Rica is incredibly diverse. The birds alone are fascinating. Although I'm not a big animal lover, I was very impressed by the animal world. Seeing parrots and toucans up close is incredible. Iguanas are everywhere and there are an incredible number of monkeys. We've only heard of pumas so far, and although I think jaguars are very beautiful, we haven't seen any yet.
The food is OK. I especially like the national dish Gallo Pinto, although it doesn't have meat. In Costa Rica you can eat anything from American to Mexican, Italian to Asian cuisine. Gluten-free and vegan options are also available almost everywhere.
I always felt safe. I never felt threatened during my morning runs along the streets of towns and villages.
Basically, I'm an active vacationer and can't stay on the beach for long. Just lying on the beach isn't my thing - I get bored quickly. Chriss is different. But on our trip around the world and here in Costa Rica, we enjoy the beach because we're often in the water and doing water sports, walking along deserted beaches and rarely just lying in the sun.
Still, I wouldn't want to live here. We met some people from Canada and America who sold everything in their home country and moved here. That wouldn't be for me - although I wouldn't call myself a Babbitt, I like it best in Switzerland. Although we have already traveled to several countries, if I had to emigrate I would rather choose an English-speaking country - either Australia or America... although I would prefer Australia... but that's another story...
Now we are looking forward to enjoying the coming weeks here in Costa Rica and collecting even more impressions.
¡Pura Vida!
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