The naming of Monteverde was pure genius because that was exactly what I saw as I was driving up the long, windy road to Hotel Establo de Monteverde; a lush, green mountain. The drive here was so fascinating because we saw the many diverse areas of Costa Rica all within a few short hours.
The trip started with the hustle and bustle of city traffic, which I have become accustomed to in San Jose and Heredia. Then, as we entered onto the freeway, it reminded me of the beach town in my area; hot and humid outside with fruit stands and little markets lining the highway. Finally, as we started up the ginormous hill, the traffic disappeared, and the scenery completely changed. There was two distinct types of scenery I saw while approaching Monteverde, extremely bright and lively forests or barren mountainous areas. I was surprised to see so many cattle farms on both terrains due to its steepness. The scenery were pretty much empty of any people, except the occasional farmer tending to his crops or animals. I knew we were getting close to the top of the mountain because the tourist attractions started to become apparent. This shows how welcoming the locals are, as well as tourist’s large impact on the economy.
The trip up to Monteverde has made me begin to look at Costa Rica in a much more rural setting. It made me think of the mainstream image of Costa Rica as exotic and whimsical with all of the rainforests and untouched land. Looking down at the lush green valleys, I imagine the staggering number of amazing species of plants and animals that call this mountain their home. After hearing Ricardo’s presentation on his lifestyle in the mountains, I cannot stop thinking about the magic of living in this area and being so secluded from other areas. As I look from the window of my hotel, it seems so extremely tranquil, and appears like I am on top of the world. However, I am sure there are many struggles that accompany the isolation. I am so thankful to experience this beautiful segment of Costa Rica first hand and learn about all it has to offer.