This morning, we took the windy roads up to Monteverde. Once we left Heredia, the scenery immediately changed to mountains and forests. After an hour and a half of relatively smooth driving, we arrived at our rest stop where we interacted with and looked at farm animals and had lunch. Once we left our rest stop, the roads began to get windier and bags began to fall from the compartments above our seats. The drive offered a glimpse into the diversity of Costa Rica’s landscapes and communities. I saw local vendors and small schools as we passed through small towns. It was a vivid contrast from the more urban setting we had just left behind.

Later, we had the chance to listen to and speak with Ricardo Guindon about how a group of Quakers from Alabama came to settle in Monteverde in the early 1950s. They had left the U.S. to avoid being drafted for the Korean War, staying true to their pacifist beliefs. After arriving in Costa Rica, they settled with local homesteaders and eventually built a life in Monteverde. One of their most lasting contributions was founding a successful cheese business. Without the necessary expertise at first, they had to bring someone from abroad to teach them how to make fine cheese. They also undertook the task of transporting milk to San José daily. Their presence not only contributed to the local economy but also influenced the development of Monteverde as a unique community blending foreign innovation with Costa Rican culture.

The talk with Ricardo made me realize the amount of foreign influence that exists in Costa Rica. In the tour from yesterday at Cafe Britt, we were told that the founder also came from the US.