Any entry about Costa Rica should start with "pura vida" - the country's motto, actually more than that - a way of life: so enjoy life! And the next thing to mention is the name of the Costa Ricans: they call themselves the "Ticos". So there it is: welcome to Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is a land of peace. The capital city is dotted with statues of doves (is that not much nicer than cows...!!). There are also many signs praising previous President Arias, who obtained the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987. At least, these doves add a certain specificity to the otherwise unremarkable capital city. Guidebooks, friends and even neighbors on the plane warned about pickpockets. But the only thief we witnessed was a raccoon who maliciously stole a packet a chips from unsuspecting American tourists on the beach! Good laugh.
Costa Rica is a small country, Ticos are short, and the animal are also small. During a two hour long walk through the most famous national park, the guide "succeeded" in pointing a frog, a lizard, an iguana, and finally a sloth! More than that - a moving sloth. Good to see it hang high up the tree.
Although small, Costa Rica offers a great variety of landscape. The beaches are superb, and the Atlantic Ocean was so enjoyable to swim in. Perfect temperature, and nice little waves to play with.
Of course, the volcanoes are probably the main specificity of Costa Rica - there are three of them on the country's coat of arms. Some of them are still active, like this one at Poas. The guidebook advises to get there before 10am, and believe me, you have to get there before 10am. The lake in the volcano is surprisingly cool, at 40 degrees. The fumes prove the volcano is alive. Great to see all of this, and to feel the earth "breathing". Even more so, when, after a fifteen minute round walk in the forest, coming back to the volcano, it was completely hidden behind a thick layer of fog. I felt quite bad for all the tourists (including the Japanese ones, who were late for once) who were walking up towards the volcano and would not see ANYTHING...
The tropical forest is very dense, but sometimes there is a beautiful opening, like this waterfall.
And sometimes, there is an even better one, like this frog! Certainly one of my best picture ever.
Costa Rica is a land of peace. The capital city is dotted with statues of doves (is that not much nicer than cows...!!). There are also many signs praising previous President Arias, who obtained the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987. At least, these doves add a certain specificity to the otherwise unremarkable capital city. Guidebooks, friends and even neighbors on the plane warned about pickpockets. But the only thief we witnessed was a raccoon who maliciously stole a packet a chips from unsuspecting American tourists on the beach! Good laugh.
Costa Rica is a small country, Ticos are short, and the animal are also small. During a two hour long walk through the most famous national park, the guide "succeeded" in pointing a frog, a lizard, an iguana, and finally a sloth! More than that - a moving sloth. Good to see it hang high up the tree.
Although small, Costa Rica offers a great variety of landscape. The beaches are superb, and the Atlantic Ocean was so enjoyable to swim in. Perfect temperature, and nice little waves to play with.
Of course, the volcanoes are probably the main specificity of Costa Rica - there are three of them on the country's coat of arms. Some of them are still active, like this one at Poas. The guidebook advises to get there before 10am, and believe me, you have to get there before 10am. The lake in the volcano is surprisingly cool, at 40 degrees. The fumes prove the volcano is alive. Great to see all of this, and to feel the earth "breathing". Even more so, when, after a fifteen minute round walk in the forest, coming back to the volcano, it was completely hidden behind a thick layer of fog. I felt quite bad for all the tourists (including the Japanese ones, who were late for once) who were walking up towards the volcano and would not see ANYTHING...
The tropical forest is very dense, but sometimes there is a beautiful opening, like this waterfall.
And sometimes, there is an even better one, like this frog! Certainly one of my best picture ever.
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