Costa Rica final thoughts

Hello from American Airlines flight 1640!

That’s right, I’m typing my final journal on the flight back from Miami to Boston. So by reading this you are joining me in a mile high club of sorts! I have a few parting thoughts for you and then I will pit Brazil vs. Costa Rica in a battle of my two biggest international adventures!

While in San Jose I remarked how cool it was the government believed in free will of the people and how cool it was this hasn’t devolved into Latin American sin city. First of all, apologies to Tijuana, which I forgot already had the title of Latin American sin city! Second of all, I wrote this before going to Tamarindo. Tamarindo boasts quite a few drug dealers and prostitutes and I, like many of the other Americans, was slightly off put by the constant “hey man, you want some blow?” and “Hola mi amor…” So this is my first ever blog retraction. They should really do something about the drugs and prostitution down there! Again though, it makes me wonder if Costa Rica has the problem or Americans. Besides EVERY cab driver I had, I don’t think the Costa Ricans partake themselves. Just target the tourists.

Despite not drinking a drop all weekend, all my laundry somehow smells like tequila. Perhaps the Mexicans have been fooling us all this time with the agave thing and really tequila is just a mixture of sweat, bug spray, and suntan lotion!

My ESPN in the hotel was ESPN deportes, the Spanish broadcast station. But then they dub it back over in English. Very odd.

Doubletree Inn gave me a “welcome cookie” for the night I stayed near the airport. They also had a huge 30 foot poster of a cookie with the slogan “Doubletree: Home of the Cookie.” Is this a global thing or just Costa Rican? Though I have to say it was a really good cookie.

With the night free last night I found a casino near the airport with a Texas Hold ‘Em Poker tournament. Let me tell you poker is SO MUCH DIFFERENT with Latino players. The room was louder than a rock concert, at least 3 people per hand were so busy in conversation they didn’t know it was their turn, and the entire room basically shut down for somebody’s birthday cake (everybody yelling “Kay-Kay” over and over again). Something tells me it will be a long time until someone breaks the Latin American barrier and wins a World Series of Poker bracelet!

So a lot of people have asked or no doubt will ask which was a better trip, Brazil or Costa Rica. My answer should be “I can’t compare them, they were so different.” But then again, nobody wants to read a politically safe answer like that. Instead, lets break it down in the Tale of the Tape!

In-Flight Entertainment:
Brazil: King Kong on every flight
Costa Rica: Dog hotel, Ice Heart, and Paul Blart: Mall Cop
Advantage: Brazil!

Earthwatch Team:
Brazil: a great bunch of people I said I would keep close contact with but haven’t really done a great job.
Costa Rica: a great bunch of people I hope to keep close contact with
Advantage: Costa Rica (Brazil had Gene, James, and Ivelisse, but all 9 of my CR mates were awesome!)

Token travel addict:
Brazil: Jeff, an insurance broker with a quick wit who came off a little abrasive at times.
Costa Rica: John, an artist with a quick wit who came off a little abrasive at times. And had a bullet wound.
Advantage: Costa Rica (by a bullet wound)

Typical Day’s Work:
Brazil: Explore the rainforest in the morning. Set up nets at 5 PM. Wait for sundown. Go to nets, bag, tag, and release bats. Take down nets.
Costa Rica: Hike through a coffee farm. Randomly select multiple coffee plants thoughout farm. Measure the plant and then count the coffee beans on it. Return to lab and clean dirt.
Advantage: Brazil (I’ve never been a plant person)

The Spiders:
Costa Rica: Small and typically left me alone
Brazil: Large and typically left me alone
Advantage: Push- nobody wins when it comes to spiders.

Odd breakfast staple:
Costa Rica: Gallo Pinto (aka rice and beans)
Brazil: Chocolate Cake
Advantage: Costa Rica (at least there’s some protein in there)

Memorable Meal:
Brazil: The “Lanches” cheeseburger, which I still talk about to this day.
Costa Rica: Farm fresh grilled chicken: which I will talk about from this day forward.
Advantage: Push.

National Catch Phrase:
Brazil: Tudo Bem!
Costa Rica: Pura Vida!
Advantage: Boston (Wicked Awesome!)

Earthwatch Catch Phrase:
Brazil: No! You CRAZY!
Costa Rica: Go Green!... Con Mucho Gusto!... Shit Happens!
Advantage? Costa Rica (3 for the price of one)

The Women:
Costa Rica: 50% chance of being pregnant or a prostitute
Brazil: single and ready to mingle!
Advantage: Brazil!

So there you have it, Costa Rica barely pulls out the victory by a score of 4-3. Of course, the numbers never lie! But not to fret Brazil, I will never forget my first…

Along with the many people I have missed, I am especially looking forward to reuniting tomorrow with Dunkin Donuts iced coffee and the Red Sox. In other words, I had a great time but I am happy to be back! I hope you have enjoyed reading each step of the way. Until my next big life excursion….