What’s the connection between electrical converters, tap water, and toilet paper in this blog? Seeking to escape the cold December weather of the Northwest, I visited Costa Rica for the fourth time. Each visit resulted in making new Tico/Tica friends. This time, I stayed in one location for a month, only venturing out a couple of times for tourist activities with my friend Kathy who visited.
After my recent travel to 10 countries in Africa including the Middle East, and now Costa Rica (CR), I realized how fortunate we are in the U.S. In particular, how easy it is for us Americans to travel to CR. I left my electrical converter for charging my portable devices at home. I brushed my teeth and drank tap water. And the best part, I could flush my toilet paper down the loo. It may seem trivial, but when I returned home after six months of travel in countries where these modifications must occur, I found myself hesitating many times when disposing of my toilet paper in the proper receptacle. I’ve readjusted to my normal routine after CR. Let’s not take these luxuries for granted. Please.
Now, for a little less verbosity, I want to share some wonderful photos of CR for your enjoyment. Just tap the arrow on the right for the slideshow with captions.
The iconic Catholic Church, the heart of Grecia where I stayed for one month 
The metal church imported from Belgium in 1850, Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes 
View of Grecia from my AirB&B balcony 
Sunset from the balcony 
Iced Latte and sweets: comfort not too faraway 
Sven was my Christmas gift that followed my journey 
Kathy visited, making sure Sven was tucked away and didn’t melt. 
Bus ride to Tortuguero, the Caribbean side of CR. Chiquita Banana Plantation 
Kathy and Sven waited for the boat 
Cruising down the canal looking for wildlife. 
Susan beaming on the boat 
Caiman near the boat 
Tiger Heron fishing 
Kathy and Susan viewing the canal separating the Pacific Ocean from the mainland 
Poisonous dart frog. the size of a fingernail 
Squirrel monkeys abound 
Kathy and Susan preparing for our Ziplining, Canyoning and Repelling adventure 
Repelling down a 120 ft waterfall 
Success after the repell 
Canyoning is not for the weak 
Our adventure consisted of all men and two old grannies. We loved the ratio and attention. 4 Aussies, 3 Brits, 2 Canadians, 4 CR guides. 
Birds for morning breakfast at our lodge 
Jungle trekking 
Relaxing at the hot springs near Arenal Volcano 
A day in San Jose, the capitol 
Sculpture immerging from the earth 
History Museum, once a fort, prison and residence 
Documentation of the demise of the indigenous people when foreigners came to conquer the land and people for bananas and pineapple 
Finding the local sorbet treat 
San Jose architecture 
Susan & Kathy with our friendly neighbor 
Visiting with an old friend Bernie and his girlfriend Anna 
The END
Susan E. Greisen 
Nice trip! One day I hope to get to Costa Rica! Suzanne and I are finishing up our trip to London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and now York. Tomorrow back to London and Monday we go home, Skokie. Earl
*”Good is something you do, not something you talk about. **Some medals are pinned to your soul, not to your jacket. ” * *Gino Bartali, Italian hero and winner of the Tour de France in 1938*
My Website: https://sites.google.com/site/earlstrassberger/home/woodworker See my latest jewelry box. My YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@earlstrassberger Soccer coaches, refs, players, check out Coaches Across Continents http://Coachesacrosscontinents.org
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Hello Earl, it appears most of the RPCVs, like us, get traveling in our blood and we must continue to explore the world. Good for you. Let me know when you make it to Costa Rica. I love your quote by Gino. Fondly, Gowee Sue
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When our boys were in college we had reservations for CR, but had to cancel because Rob, our physician son had to stay at the University and study for his Anatomy class over Christmas break. You really make me want to visit CR which we never did. We traveled all over the world with our boys but have cut back in old age from traveling. We’ll see. Thanks for sharing your pics. I will share them with all my friends that I shared “Flamingos” with. Mary Trout, Gold Canyon, AZ
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Hello Mary,
It is never too late to travel to CR. Things have gotten more expensive there as they have all over the world since Covid, but the experience is so worth it. Thanks again for hosting me when I was in AZ. All the best to your family.
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Dearest Susan, I L. O V. E. this. Well done Dear!
Love & hugs, + a Smooch,
Phillip
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Hello Phil, thank you so much for your comment. I’m always glad to hear from you. More stories and travels to come!
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😁😘❤️
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Happy Easter, Susan!
I remember coming home from Liberia after 2 years as a Peace Corps Volunteer forester in a remote area, and realizing all the “creature comforts” we, as Americans, take for granted and don’t really appreciate (I still don’t take them for granted). Like access to good medical care, getting OTC meds at our local drug store, having a hospital in town (not one being 40 miles away or farther), flipping on the light switch (no Alladin lamps) and just having electricity 24/7/365, safe drinking water out of the tap (no boiling and filtering required), standing in a hot shower for as long as we want (solar heating our bucket of water for bathing, using a cup of water to get wet and another cup or two to rinse off soap) and living on 5 gallons of water per day during the dry season, generally not having to deal with cockroaches, scorpions and snakes. It was a great life lesson on how little we can get by with to live.
Susan, your thirst for traveling I believe is an outgrowth of your Peace Corps experience and “world view” that comes with it. As I was reading the Wisconsin State Journal this Sunday morning, I read an article that addressed transcending all the bad things going on in the world. Two quotes struck home: one from Mark Twain especially, ” Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.”
The other is from Anne Frank, who wrote, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” As an active member of Kiwanis International, I think we embrace that thought as our mission statement is “improving the world, one child and one community at a time.”
You bring your world view to all you meet, without bias and treat them equally. Keep on traveling!!
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Randy, what would I do without your wonderful comments? You bring our past life of service experiences abroad and translate them to today. In my earlier writings I used that same Mark Twain quote. It holds so true. However, I have found that just travel must mean more than a package tour to some exotic place as I wrote in my blog called “Professional tourist or Global Citizen”. There was a stark difference. Some of us are so fortunate. I embrace that blessing as much as I can. Thank you for your continued service to those in need. I love the Anne Frank quote and I will use it in the future.
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Another trip to envy you for. We have been there, but probably 20+years ago. Too Long.
When our financial advisor moved there, we knew it was a really “easy” place to live–she wasn’t the Peace Corps type. We were hoping she would invite us to visit sometime, but so far that hasn’t happened.
Where are you off to next?? I cannot wait to hear where and all about it. Keep going strong.
Cheryl
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Hello Cheryl, Yes, you would find it easy to live and visit there. I’m hanging around here for the spring, summer, and fall since those are our best times here. Morocco in December and then to see you. Can’t wait. How about you???
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