Today we took a loooooong drive to Monteverde, but it was totally worth it! Monteverde is more of what I expected to see when coming to Costa Rica: green mountains, diverse plant life, and the torrential downpour that professor Teeter had warned us about. The view of the mountains is incredible and I can’t wait for the clouds to clear up so we can see the Pacific Ocean, too. Not all of the mountains that we saw on our way up were quite as green, however. I think this is because we are only in the very beginning of the rainy season, so the land needs a little more rain before it is rejuvenated.
On our way to Monteverde, we drove on the highway for a while. The highways in Costa Rica are very similar to the ones in the U.S., with painted white and yellow lines and green signs overhead. However, one difference I noticed was that there were bus stops located on the side of the highways. To me, this seems very dangerous for both the passengers waiting on the side of the road and the bus driver that has to pull over, stop, and then merge onto the highway again. However, I’m sure this is an efficient system because it saves people time. Another thing I noticed on the side of the highway was fruit stands. The stands were rather large and reminded me of a flea market, and the fruits were very colorful and looked delicious (I wish we could’ve pulled over to try some!). These stands also seemed dangerous to me, but it is probably better for business because it is more convenient for travelers to pull over and buy fruits rather than having to get off an exit.
When we first drove into the mountains, I was not surprised that there were few houses and people around. However, the closer we got to our hotel, the more developed the area became. There were more houses and hotels, and I even saw a school, shopping mall, and grocery store. This was a shock to me because I imagine that goods are more expensive and difficult to transport up here, especially with all the winding roads. People live in Monteverde for a few reasons though. One of these reasons is to run hotels and other shops to make money off of tourism. Another reason is that living in Monteverde is part of their culture. For people like the Quakers who founded the land, some feel that living where their ancestors lived is an important way for them to maintain their culture. Some of the Quakers who live here still have dairy businesses like their ancestors, too!
As a whole, I think I have gained a better understanding of the Costa Rican mindset. These seemingly dangerous practices show how the Ticos are more carefree and “go with the flow.” They are simply enjoying life and making the most of the beautiful country they live in and its rich history. They truly live the Pura Vida lifestyle.