I can’t believe the summer is over already… I’m currently waiting for my delayed flight in Miami while writing this, so it’s a good time to reflect on
My last week in Costa Rica was a whirlwind of preparing for my final presentation, packing, and meeting with Tico friends—hot pot with Ricardo, Emilio, and Rafa on Wednesday and poke with Pili and Lucas on Friday! My final project presentation was on Thursday, and I think it went well. I guess there isn’t too much to add other than that… so here’s a list of things I’ll really miss about Costa Rica.
Hot pot with friends!
Post-poke selfie with friends!
Last meal in CR: rice and beans with a cold Pilsen
1. Sinks! There are public sinks everywhere for washing your hands. And even better, they’re foot operated so you don’t need to use your hands to turn on the faucet.
2. Free Wifi everywhere! Every restaurant we’ve been to has had free Wifi, which is really convenient for international travelers like us. Maybe this is also common in the US, but I have not encountered it personally.
3. Panaderias! Panadarias on almost every street. Amazing baked goods for 300 colones or fewer. My favorite has been bonetes con queso from a panaderia in Chinatown.
4. Tico hospitality—they are so kind and outgoing, especially compared to my New England upbringing.
5. The weather: it was surprisingly much more pleasant than I expected, especially towards the end of the trip! When we arrived in late May, I think it was still the rainy season so it was downpouring almost every day. However, the past few weeks have been much more peaceful and sunny, and compared to some of the other places we visited (Límon, Manuel Antonio), San Jose was a pleasant temperature and not too humid.
There’s so much more I could add, which just shows how much I’ve enjoyed my trip. I’m excited to be home soon, though. Thank you CR for the amazing experience, and I hope to be back soon.