First, let’s get something clear. My job is to be the “devil’s advocate” and secondly to publish contrarian views that just might change a fixed mind set of Costa Rica.
No question that we have an amazing amount of natural beauty. However, we also have significant challenges for those of us who live in this country. It is similar to something like Puerto Vallarta or Mazatlan of Mexico: there are the tourists, the retirees who order Corona while sitting in the warm sun along the beach front in January and the thousands of people who economically suffer each day just to feed their families within that same community, however conveniently hidden from the eyes of vacationers.
Why is Costa Rica any different? Well, it is not!
We have in each foreign tourist sector of Costa Rica visitors who only see happy faces, local dancers in colorful costumes and tropical animals that just love to perform for tips and bananas. And so goes the drink as well as food which are not at all national.
We tend to feed off Craigslist, a firm with, at last count, only had 19 employees, that posts for sale or to purchase everything from condos to women. But this also is not Costa Rica.
We have a profound culture and history which has given way to pineapples, prostitution, fishing and the newest delight; adventurism (whatever and the hell that means.)
Give me a foreigner and I will introduce them to the beaches, to the wildlife, to the forests, to the rain, the museums, the art, the sun and to other Ticos who proudly will share their life experiences over a good cup of coffee.
Remember, the national sport of Costa Rica is not soccer but rather “politics.”
How we love to vehemently argue our views! From the locals to the taxi drivers you can expect a profound, emotional perspective that might invoke Jesus on how the country should be managed. (Some times in Spanish but a lot in broken English. They really hope you might understand, but it is sort of a national duty for them to express their convictions.)
The “all inclusive resort/ hotel” travel experience is safe and readily obtainable but it does not represent, in any form, our Costa Rica.
We are the people, we are the land, we are the trees and wonderful experiences for tourists to visit first hand life in the tropics from the intense afternoon rain to the boiling sun and soft nights of eat and drink. Imagine the two oceans (Pacific and Atlantic) and thousands of rivers, fauna and animals all in such a small space of land? (Perhaps enjoy our nation in candlelight since the electricity and water might drop off the grid.)
This is what we are what we are for you and nothing more or less. What we are is proud and we feel at home with the seemingly weird anomalies of the tropics and we hope foreign tourists will feel the same after their “too short” visit.
But tourist, please do not forget those who call Costa Rica home and serve you because while we are the first line to self criticize and the first to struggle to earn a living, yet we will not complain at all and need your help.
We depend on you, very much.
