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C O S T A    R I C A
By Delbert Blickenstaff, M.D. 

On September 6, 1991 Wilbur (Red) Long, Martha, Louise and I planted trees in a reforestation program at the University of Peace in Costa Rica. Red had planted thousands of trees on his farm on Boyer Road here in Darke County. I think that the prospect of planting trees on foreign soil convinced him to go on this Elderhostel trip. 

While at the University we heard lectures about past presidents of Costa Rica. The most famous was Oscar Arias Sanchez, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987. 

We and the Longs joined other Elderhostelers in San Jose and we were housed in hotel Europa for the first week. We learned that there were two other Elderhostel groups in our hotel, and that 125 such groups visit Costa Rica yearly. Tourism is the second largest business after coffee. 

In the evening of September 3rd. all of us attended a dance show called “Fantasia Folclorica,” at the Teatre Melico Salazar theater. 

The next day we traveled to Turrialba to visit the Tropical Agricultural Research and Education Center. There we learned about the processing of coffee beans, and that only 10% of the crop is used locally. Most of it going to Europe and the U.S. 

On our trip to the University of Peace our bus driver had to dodge a cow on the highway. If we would hit a cow no one would admit to owning it and thus accept the responsibility for any damage. 

Our Greenville friend, Lori Keller, had spent a year in Costa Rica with Florita Hoffmeister as an exchange student. Lori told us how to contact Florita, and we met her and her son-in-law Alfredo, on September 8th. They took us to The Butterfly Farm where we saw butterflies in all stages of their life cycle: eggs, larvae, chrysalids, and adults. The larvae are shipped all over the world so that they will hatch soon after they arrive. Alfredo sent a video of his wedding with us and a note to Lori. 

On September 10th. we arrived at Selva Verda, our lodging in the rain forest. We stayed in comfortable rooms with thatched roofs. Walking from there to the dining room we crossed a small stream. One day we saw a small lizard running across the water. In fact it is called the Jesus Christ Lizard. 

We took a hike into the jungle where we saw howler monkeys. Also we visited a grade school where the children were using computers, which surprised us. 

On September 14th. we took a boat ride on the Sarapiqui River. We saw an Anhinga bird, a black otter, buzzards, a yellow billed Toucan, a long tailed Tyrant bird, eguanas, howler monkeys, and an alligator. 

The Elderhostel program was well organized and we were informed about the culture and politics of the country by competent speakers. 

Our guide for most of the trip was Rosita, and I wrote a poem about her:
 

            There was a nice girl named Rosita

            Whose ear rings and T-shirts were neata.

                        She spoke English well

                        And she cast quite a spell

            When she smiled. Qui bonita Rosita.

 

Delbert Blickenstaff, M. D.   

 




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