Going Deeper •

(View of the Pacific Ocean from near Drake Bay, Costa Rica.) I forgot how different it is to discover a new country on vacation as opposed to living there. When I first set out on this journey I planned to visit at least three countries. I even gravitated to all the tours to see everything possible.

After almost three weeks in Costa Rica I’ve stopped doing tours because I’ve already done them. Instead of taxis I’m looking for local busses. I’m speaking as much Spanish as possible. I’m exploring free activities and places I can walk to.

Because I’ve stayed longer I’ve gotten to learn more subtle things:

Bus stops are optional. They exist but most busses will stop anywhere you flag them down. They will also drop you anywhere along their route.
The local woman sitting in the front seat of the local bus knows more about bus schedules and bus stops than the bus driver
Always take a red colored taxi because they are insured in case of an accident
If you want to save money eat at a Soda (more in a future post)
Don’t feed the monkeys
Gecko lizards make a chirping noise like a bird
People are lovely and you can feel their devotion in the frequently heard phrase “con mucho gusto” (with much pleasure)
Nature is everywhere, including in your room. Get over it and enjoy. (Unless the bug in your room is poisonous. Then get help!)
Nature isn’t just everywhere it’s a way of life. In fact Costa Rica gave up having an army and all that money goes to the upkeep of all the parks…and education, imagine that!
To become president of Costa Rica you must win by at least 40%! The election is always February 4th and if the margin is not met (like this past election) they hold a second election on April 1st
Most things are negotiable and you should give it a whirl
Roads really are fairly hard to drive and distances can be really long because there just aren’t as many roads as you might be used to in other countries

Lovely jungle walk in Uvita , Costa Rica

The more I learn the more I understand how capable I am to find my way. Without the constant tap of time constraints I have more patience which allows me to be open to meeting great people and even learning about new places I would not otherwise have discovered. And I can save a hell of a lot of money too!

So I find myself still in one country happy to have gotten to know it in more depth than the average tourist.