Driving in Costa Rica

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Driving, windows down, wind blowing in your hair, music playing what could be more relaxing. I used to enjoy driving. A long drive alone was often just what the doctor ordered when life got to be too much. Driving was therapy.

Having lived in Florida for a few years when younger, I traveled many miles up and down the treasure coast. Near Boca Raton there was a place where you drove thru a tunnel carved in trees and exited with views of the ocean unobstructed by the mansions dotting the shore. There was nothing more relaxing for me than driving along that coast.

A few years were also spent north of San Diego. I lived in Escondido, then Carlsbad finally settling in Oceanside. Oh, the PCH, Pacific Coast Highway! I'd drive the coast highway every chance I got. I didn't mind if it took longer to get somewhere because I could relax and enjoy the views. My favorite driving memory in California is along the coast in Carlsbad when you approached Pea Soup Andersons. At certain times of the year the back drop for their giant windmill was a rainbow of flowers going up the hill behind them. I don't know if Pea Soup Andersons or the flower gardens are still there as Lego Land moved into the area years after I left. It was a beautiful sight, ocean on one side and a hillside rainbow of flowers on the other.

I spent many years driving the streets and highways of my birthplace, Arizona. Oh, if those streets could talk. An afternoon drive up to the Oak Creek, Strawberry or Jerome; a weekend trip to Rocky Point or camping on the rim could do wonders for soothing the spirit. My head clearing drives were often on freeway from Tempe to Apache Junction and back.

I've never been a fan of driving in heavy traffic. West Palm and Miami freeways and streets were nothing compared to LA. I didn't like driving in LA but it didn't frighten me. Phoenix traffic could be slow but I never thought of it as dangerous or scary. Ok, it was scary for a time when lunatics were throwing bricks off the freeway overpasses at the cars below. Fences were put up, problem resolved.

The roads of Costa Rica scare the hell out of me! I have a driver's license. I've driven into and around San Jose, once. I drive to town (San Ramon) from time to time. But for the most part, I don't drive. Thank goodness I have a wonderful husband who doesn't mind being my chauffer. (Thanks again, Honey)

I am a woman of faith. I believe when driving in Costa Rica you have to have faith. Having faith, I realize that when your number is up, it's up. I'm not afraid of death; I just don't want to experience it on the roads of CR. When you drive here be sure to kiss your loved ones good-bye and tell them you love them because you just never know.

The issues are many why the roads here frighten me so much that I've given up one of my passions. When I was young and just learning to drive my dad gave me the nick-name, JJ Parnelli after the race car driver Parnelli Jones. I loved driving, loved, past tense. I don't think I'll ever feel the same about driving. Is it really as bad as all that? For me, it's a matter of choice. I create enough stress for myself, why add to that the stress of driving?

A friend wrote a great blog on driving in Costa Rica. She put most of my thoughts into words already so please read her article. Add what Sally has to say to my pics of the roads and you'll begin to understand my choice.

http://www.abroadincostarica.com/2006/09/arrive_alive.html

Don't fool yourself though, you won't fully understand until you've seen death on the roads. It's not easy comforting a child whose just seen her neighbors dog become road kill. We all cried that night.

http://community.webshots.com/user/jennifsh0701

Ok, you've all been warned. Future visitors to Costa Rica you have no reason to return home writing nasty articles about the roads here. The roads are awful. It's just the way it is. People often visit then write letters to the Tico Times complaining about the pots holes and why the government does nothing to repair them, etc. The truth is they DO repair the roads. This is a tropical rainforest; earth shifts and erodes, constantly. It's an endless fight against Mother Nature. Deal with it. If you decided to move here, you have a choice. Drive, have someone drive you or use public transportation. Make a conscience choice. Please don't move here and start complaining about the road conditions. If you can't deal with it don't move here.

I choose not to drive. It's my choice. Bill doesn't mind the driving. I wouldn't say he enjoys it but he enjoys the freedom of it. Waiting for the bus to get around infuriates him. We've decided it's a control issue. The stress of driving is the lesser of two evils. Callista and I have learned after a long drive to leave him alone for an hour or so with a couple of Imperials to wind down. It's small price to pay for a personal chauffer.

Yes, I've given up something I was passionate about. I look back with fond memories of scenic drives in the states. My passion for driving has turned into a passion for LIFE in Costa Rica! We all fully understand now what it means to "Live for Today¨.

Please, please drive carefully in Costa Rica; the life you save may be one of ours!

PURA VIDA!
Jen, Bill, Callista and Bear (who absolutely LOVES going for rides)

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