Costa Rica

My first "trip" outside the good Ol' US of A, was to Flamingo Beach Costa Rica (pronounced with a long o).
I flew into San Jose. I will never forget all the "Ticas" faces pressed against the airport windows as I came to the airport exit. I still don't understand what they were all doing there. My best guess is that they are all there hoping to give you or ride, be your tour guide or anything else to make a few colones.

The Pan American Highway is a nightmare! From San Jose to Flamingo is about a 4 hour drive to the south and west. I compare it to  playing a  video game. Trying to get there in a timely manner by driving a decent speed all the while keeping a sharp eye out for the pot holes (some the size of one of your tires). SO you find yourself dodging to the left and right sharply and quickly and not missing most of them as they are too large.

Flamingo Marina Resort is a beautiful spot and I was certainly glad to see it after the hellish drive to get there. It's truly paradise. The air is noticeably different in Costa Rica. It's thick yet  feels fresh on your skin like I had never really felt fresh air in my life before. It was like "aw, this is what fresh clean air feels like?".

The people are absolutely beautiful! And it is a very tourist based country so they are very friendly and service is as it should be. The word "service" says it all. That's what you get, service. I think this country has forgotten what that word means. Service in the USA is a job. Make a buck and who cares. Not in Costa Rica!!

I have been in and out of C.R. about 30 times and ended up living there for awhile before my venture into Nicaragua. That was over ten years ago. Sad to say but the country is now swarming wih Americans who have retired there and drove all the prices up. There is every American fast food chain there now and english is spoken widely. So it's not the same paradise it used to be. I call it "Americanized". I still love it, but I think I saw it at it's best before the invasion.
(Currently digging for pictures of Costa Rica)