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Monday, July 20, 2015

Story 21: Next Stop Central America



Costa Rica was an awesome trip. I would go back there in a minute.  The roads and public transportation are something else however.  I don’t miss them.  The Tica’s and Tico’s 
(Costa Ricans ) say about public transportation, “Siempre un problema.” (Always a problem.)     While public transportation is very cheap only $5-10 for a 5 hour bus ride, there always seems to be a 50/50 chance the bus could break down, and you would be forced to wait on the side of the road for repairs.


The roads were another problem to be faced, because too often their infrastructure has pot holes, despite this the locals have a reputation for driving them at breakneck speed. So, non-Costa Ricans watch out.  I did however enjoy the fact that the buses were often well air conditioned, and the bus company employees sometimes served you sweetened coffee on the more “expensive” lines.  

        One day, my brother Bruce and I decided that we wanted to visit the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It took two buses and a few hours journey from San Jose, but we were excited to go.  Bruce and I were sitting in the front of the bus while the driver was busily talking to a woman with nice legs.  Our bus was traveling along a busy stretch of road that hugged a sharp drop.  I was nervous enough, but after a while it started to rain too.  Something very common in Costa Rica.   In addition to the rain, the sun started to disappear as well.  

The night started to get darker and darker. I had no idea how the driver could possibly see to drive to Monteverde given all the distractions. Needless to say, Bruce and I were very anxious about the whole experience, but we managed to get to the park unscathed. Thank God.

Life Lesson 21: It’s important to focus on what we can control in life, and not stress so much on what we can’t. Also, when traveling it makes the experience richer when you do things to meet local people, and public transportation can really bring people closer literally and figuratively. For example on another occasion, I saw a man bring a live chicken in a bag onto a different bus.  

      These rich experiences are things that are more priceless than the cost of a more expensive ticket, and we are better for having them as well.  So take that chicken bus or scary bus ride, because so often they are memories that you’ll never forget, just know where you are going, or at least find someone that knows the way, and most importantly how to drive.

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