Things I'll miss most when we leave Costa Rica

Like the rest of the family, Henry takes the plunge, so to speak

It's with great excitement but also with sadness that we are going to be moving from this lovely country in the near future.  Though our crew has more world travel and grand adventure ahead, there are many people, experiences and more tangible everyday facets of life we will miss tremendously when we leave.  Without a doubt we've grown some roots here, plan on keeping in touch with our dear friends and will most likely be returning at some point in the future.  Because Erica especially has become weary of the innumerable Top 10 lists out there, I'll just write down several things I'll be missing.

Los compañeros

Our friends and a national culture of friendliness

Costa Rica routinely ranks very high on worldwide surveys of national happiness and our experience has certainly been consistent with this observation.  Though stereotypes are indeed oversimplified generalizations, there's no arguing with the level of friendliness and number of smiles here.  For me it's often shocking to return to the States and to have to readjust my expectations for encounters with strangers while walking down the street.  Almost universally (at least in our small town), strangers exchange friendly greetings and friends say hello with a hug, a kiss or a handshake in addition to a genuine smile.  Of course there are exceptions but happiness typically reigns here.

Having a good time being Sullivan, with Jose and Marilyn

We'd hoped to make friends and we feel so very fortunate to have been welcomed into the community and the lives of the folks we've come to know.  Each family we've befriended has their own unique story, some with incredible positivity in light of profound poverty and challenging life situations, a special few with honestly unexpected levels of sophistication and intellect, others rich with stories, talents and cultural heritage.  Although our view may be a bit biased, the Ticos are an amazingly generous and friendly people.  I don't mean to imply that other cultures are not so.  It's just that we've just been touched by the generosity of people here, even when they themselves have so little.

Alexis, Shirley, Joselyn and Marcos (Sullivan's best friend)

Amigos

Amigas de Madeleine

We are going to miss Ileana, our beloved Spanish instructor.

With Roy, after some ping pong and beer

The physical beauty and weather of Costa Rica

Though there are certainly many interpretations of beauty throughout the world, it's hard to argue that this is not a lovely place with fantastic weather.  We've been living at about 600 meters in elevation, where it is pretty much always between 70 and 90 degrees F.  Yes, sometimes there is rain and be clear:  when it rains, it rains.  But it's uncommon to have a heater or an air conditioner in your house here.  We pretty much never close our windows.  I'm not sure how it could be any better.  For me, anyway.

Sunset colors over Volcán Tenorio and Lago Arenal

Typical morning view from our front porch.  Coffee mug not pictured.

Lazy river float

One of the many hanging bridges we've come to love, high up in the canopy

Torch ginger flower

Rainforest in Monteverde

Tropical Lake Arenal Vista

Volcán Arenal.  In February.

Volcán Arenal, from Nuevo Arenal

Lake Arenal, again

Tropical beauty abounds

The Animals of Costa Rica

A lot of folks who have visited Costa Rica may be able to appreciate the excitement, at any moment in time, of the possibility of seeing some pretty amazing and (to us) exotic animals.  It's one thing to look for monkeys in the trees while you're driving but something else to hear a loud rustling in the bushes when you're in the middle of nowhere, hiking or biking in the jungle.  Is it a jaguar?  Dog?  Deadly fer-de-lance?  Cow?  Basilisk?  During our time here we've been fortunate to spot an awe-inducing variety of wildlife.  Partially in an effort to showcase and celebrate Costa Rica's biodiversity, zoos and hunting have been outlawed here in the last few years.

On Henry's arm:  Happy tree frogs, rescued from our pool

Grocery store wall Harlequin beetle

Large, slow-moving beetle found by Sullivan on the way to school

Snout beetle, on the bird feeder

Roadside two-toed sloth

Unidentified snake blocking our hiking path on Cerro Chato

Road-kill Fer de Lance

Poolside crabs

Yoga class Blue Jeans Poison Dart frog

A massive highway of the fascinating zompopas (leaf-cutter ants)

Unidentified ants finishing off the honey in the bottle

Green and Black Poison Dart frog

Bright colors

Whether it's clothing, the paint jobs of buses and trucks or buildings, colors here are refreshingly bright to me.  The tropical sun likely helps to accentuate just how vivid the colors are.

One of the few churches in Nuevo Arenal

One of my favorite houses here

Bright blue church, on the road to Monteverde

Kindergarten boys on Independence Day

Green foliage and blue skies, a recurring theme

Small town life

None of us have ever lived in a town this small before and it's been an experience.  Although we sometimes long for the cultural opportunities and relative anonymity of the big city, Nuevo Arenal has treated us very well for sure.  For better or for worse, it's tough to walk for more than a few minutes without running into somebody you know.  The kids can stop at the corner store for a snack or some milk on the way home from school.  For us, this smallness has helped in our efforts to integrate into the community though our Spanish will never be perfect and we'll never be Ticos.

Henry makes a purchase at the pulperia

Excited Sullivan heading to (or from?) school

A not-so-uncommon sight here:  leading your horse by motorcycle

Mountain biking

We most likely will never again live in another place where a mountain bike is so useful and fun.  Not to say that there are many trails, though.  It's just that fat tires are well suited to so many of the roads here.  Combine hilly, remote dirt roads that go on forever and nice weather and you've got a great setting for mountain biking.  I'm sure there will be good mountain biking in Northern Spain but it's unlikely to be so isolated and serene.

Typical ride

View from my favorite loop ride, Lago Cote

Tito and Jose during our trip around Lake Arenal

The beaches

Costa Rica's beaches speak for themselves.  The incredible scenery, soft sand and especially the warm water will be missed by our family.  Some of our favorite memories come from the beaches in this paradise.

Playa Conchal

Playa Hermosa

Erica enjoys another sunset

Pura Vida

Termales

In the region where we live, I've really appreciated the number and diversity of volcanically heated natural hot springs, known here as termales.  Whether or not any of the purported health benefits really exist, they sure feel good and please everyone in the family.  There are probably 20 or so different termales within an hour of us and a bonafide "hot" (but very comfortable) river coming from the Arenal Volcano, Rio Tabacón.  We will miss not only the termales themselves but also the interesting and relaxed people you meet while soaking.

Termales Los Laureles, near La Fortuna.  A Tico favorite, on holidays it's incredibly crowded.

Eco-Termales, very tranquil

Erica relaxes in the beautiful Rio Tabacón

We'll soon say goodbye but will leave with memories of life well lived and full intention to return again one day.