Costa Rica Amigo Stories

Tourist’s days seldom pass in Costa Rica without someone telling them “pura vida, which means “pure life” the trademark slogan of this country, which is nestled between Panama to the South and Nicaragua to the North.

Costa Rica is a Democratic Republic that gained independence from Spain in the early 19th Century. So named rich coast this nation saves a portion of its public wealth by not having an army, navy or airforce. Costa Rica is considered the Switzerland of the Americas (continued).

The A.M. Costa Rica newspaper, on May 22, ran an editorial written by someone identified only as "a tourism business owner," wherein the anonymous source took issue with President Oscar Arias declaring interest in increasing foreign investment in Costa Rica. Titled, "Government is inefficient and can’t be trusted," the article detailed a litany of complaints with bureaucracy that would be very familiar to people doing business in the United States and elsewhere. Yet, Arias is correct to propose increasing foreign investment in Costa Rica, which along with other initiatives of his and his predecessors prior to his reelection have resulted in Costa Rica having the highest standard of living and best overall quality of life in Central America (continued).

How about coming along to Nicaragua and Costa Rica with friends for Spring Break in March? Usted no acerca de Nicaragua (You do not know about Nicaragua)? The word Nicaragua is derived from the combination of the name for a Central American native tribe, the Nicarao and "agua" the Spanish word meaning water, which together signifies the tribal land along the shores of one of the world’s largest freshwater lakes the Lago Nicaragua. The Nicarao people were industrious people with trade relations from Mexico to Peru dating back to the 7th Century when they and the Chorotega people migrated south from Mexico. Nicaragua is now a safe migratory path for tourists in Central America located between Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. Sure, most journalists have only reported about the wars and Hurricane Mitch in the late nineties, but Nicaragua is about much more than that (continued)!

It is that time of year when some begin planning their 2006 vacations. For me it won’t be a return to the Philippines as one neighbor friend has requested for April. Costa Rica is always a great time. Another gringo friend has returned to Thailand to spend Christmas there with his wife. I’m invited to join them in coming months for fun in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket, but for my liking that would certainly have to be after the long summer heat at which point he will have returned. Aside from excursions into Costa Rica’s neighboring countries of Panama and Nicaragua this year, I’m most interested in visiting some of the South American countries.

This survey of possible South American vacation spots begins with Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, and Brazil (continued).