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Published: February 3rd 2006
Drive to Poas
We stopped at this tourist place for coffee and this was the view from the back porch. Coffee plants growing in the hills. Our 90-day tourist visa is about up so we have to leave the country for at least 72 hours. We will be heading back to the States for about 2 weeks. Time to reflect on how we feel about Costa Rica and whether or not to return and also whether we want to go to the trouble to apply for residency.
The country is absolutely beautiful; we feel so lucky to be living here. We have met some wonderful people, both gringos and ticos. The community of San Ramon is very family-oriented and everyone is easy going. It also seems to be a very accepting community. It seems that once you meet someone, whether buying something from their shop or eating at their restaurant or just being introduced through mutual friends, they always remember and greet you thereafter, no matter where you see them.
Three months has definitely not been enough. We want to come back and see where it leads. I have been bored occassionally because I have so much energy and I need to feel productive. So I would perhaps like to explore some opportunities in tourism when we return. I would love to share what I have learned
Walk to the crater
There is a half mile hike up this road to view the crater. of this place with others who want to come down and make Costa Rica either a temporary or permanent home. I wholeheartedly agree with so much of the advice I have seen on other blogs and chatrooms--it is a good idea to come down and rent first before buying anything. I have met people who love it here and others who are not at all sure if this place is for them. No matter the beauty, Costa Rica is still a third world country. It is not as clean as most places in the States. The electricity and water go out periodically and can remain off for a couple of days. We have been without water for a total of five days on three different occassions in three months. The cars do not have the emission controls that we do in the States and many cars and trucks use diesel, so it seems that no matter where you go you are always enhaling these fumes (I assume they are toxic). There are a lot of bugs, we haven´t had too bad of an experience in our apartment, mostly ants, but I´ve heard from some people who live just outside the
Crater
View of crater from observation point. city in the hills that they´ve found snakes and scorpions in their houses. It has also been frustrating for me not being able to communicate since I don´t speak Spanish (although I have already picked up a lot). So there are definitely negatives and these have to be weighed against the positives.
Yesterday we rented a car and drove up to see one of Costa Rica´s many volcanos, Poas, said to be the second largest in the world. It is more than a mile across and 1000 feet deep. We had been there eight years ago, but it was cloudy when we went. This time there were no clouds and the sight is breathtaking. It is still active so you can see the steam coming from the crater as you look down on it and actually hear it bubbling in the distance, slow and low like thunder. It is surrounded by a ring of ash and an area which looks like hot lava. Above the crater and ash is surrounded by rocks of different colors, but mostly black and white; it reminds you of something you might see on the moon. Beyond that everything turns lush and green again.
Closeup
You can see the red hot earth in this photo. I noticed that everyone at the observation point (I heard at least six different languages being spoken), even the children, were speaking in hushed tones, it was almost as if they all had a reverence for the power of nature that they were looking at.
The drive up was wonderful, as the weather got chillier as we climbed higher. We drove through an area of tall pine trees that formed a canopy over the road--made you feel like you were in Switzerland--and through hills and hills completely covered in coffee plants. The only word for driving the Costa Rican countryside is exhilarating.
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kenny coggins
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alex it is good to hear from you,,,dad stopped by the funeral home and is here now with me ,,we are looking at the great pictures,,i will also print them out for mom to see and send them home to her,,,,,she is doing well after the operation,,her shoulder is sore of course and she hates sleeping in the chair, but knows that is just for a few weeks,,she will love seeing and reading about your area i am sure,,,,,stay in touch and stay well,,,,,,kenny and fred