So I just recently returned from a twenty-four day backpacking trip in Costa Rica, and I have to say that it was absolutely amazing! I participated in a plethora of adventure activities some of which included white water rafting in class IV rapids, scuba diving with rays, and ziplining through a lush cloud forest hundreds of feet above the ground!! Besides the super exciting/semi-dangerous recreational pastimes, I also ate tons of food, drank plenty of local beer, lounged around various pools, swam at breathtaking beaches, chased down monkeys, iguanas, and sloths, survived hostel living, and met so many awesome people from all over the world. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget. HOWEVER, there were definitely a few things that did concern me while there. Now, before I tell you what those things are, please understand that I am no stranger to/and very accepting of different cultures, countries, and practices. I am pretty adaptable to new situations and what I like to think, a very easy going traveler. So the following is in no way meant to be disrespectful. It's just a list of things I wondered about while I was trekking through the gorgeous Central American country. Plus, who doesn't enjoy a little rant every now and then. So here goes:
Dear Costa Rican Hostels:
1. Why do you refuse to take credit cards? Do you not understand how difficult it is for tourists to carry around so much cash since your currency does not come in large enough bills?
2. Why do you make making online reservations so difficult and then give away a reserved room to a walk-in guest after already confirming a room to people who take the time to plan in advance? It boggles my mind.
3. Why do you not provide hand soap in your bathrooms yet have AC? I am not complaining because the AC was great to have in the extreme humidity, but c'mon? AC, clean sheets, toilet paper, and hot water yet nothing to sanitize our hands with. Having guests use their bath soap is a tad inconvenient. So, soap please!
4. Could you please post instructions near your computer stations as to how to type the "@" sign and a few other essential keys? That way it won't take hours to figure out how to email our family and friends that we are alive and well. People also won't go crazy when they cannot access their Facebook accounts. Who new an @ sign could cause such a frenzy among web-obsessed, young backpackers? I'm sure you did, Costa Rica.
Dear Costa Rican Eateries:
1. How does your lemonade have less taste than a glass of water with lemon? Hmm.
2. Why does your iced tea taste exactly like lemonade? I'm gonna say it's more like an Arnold Palmer yet with the ratio being 96% my version of lemonade and 4% tea or some other brown liquid.
3. Why is a "beef taco" my version of a beef taquito yet a "chicken taco" my version of chicken fajitas?
4. Why do you place silverware in small plastic bags/pouches? I am very curious about that one cause it seems a bit pointless and an unnecessary use of plastic. Just trying to protect your ecological wonders from non-biodegradable waste.
5. Would you please tell tourists what animal they are about to consume when purchasing the oh so delicious yet oh so mysterious "meat on a stick"? It would be much appreciated, various street vendors. Iguana, bull, chicken, alien...? Who knows?
Dear Costa Rican Government:
1. Would you please use some of the money you acquire from vast amounts of tourism to fix some of your more rugged roads? It would be a very wise investment because travel would be much safer and quicker. Plus, less tourists would get car/bus/taxi/shuttle/van sick which in turn means a smaller chance of vomit in your vehicles. (And no, I did not barf while in an automobile in Costa Rica, but I am sure plenty people have)
2. Do you really think it smart to have a multi-car train (at least 20 cars long) run through the narrow and busy streets of downtown San Jose in the middle of rush hour? Seems kinda dangerous. Plus, it's crazy loud! How do you not get noise complaints from your citizens?
3. Would you please tell your airport employees who work in the duty free shops that YES, they do sell Costa Rican rum in the Guatemala City airport! I still don't understand why they would tell me, "probably not" even though they themselves sold Guatemalan rum in their Costa Rican store!!!
Thank you for taking the time to read over my queries. I hope that one day they will all be answered.
Sincerely, Rania
PS: Despite the dumb list above, I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent in your country. It is such a beautiful place, and the citizens are the most friendly, extremely helpful, and amazingly fun people. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
So there you have it. My letter to Costa Rica. Too bad I don't have a legitimate email address to send that off to or the funds to send it through the actual US Postal Service. 98 cents = way over my budget :)
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