Chronicles of La Pura Vida- 3

Our time in that remote region of the Arenal volcano was coming to an end. I could see it looming through the trees like some great timeless beast- stoic, aware, and unpredictable. It did not care whether we came or went. Its job was tectonic and beyond scales we could comprehend. Farewell then, god of fire and thunder.

What was Costa Rica? Costa Rica was a state of mind. A lush dream on which roads snaked along impossible mountains, and cascades spilled onto the road or showered the little van carrying the travelers from Arenal to Jaco beach on the Pacific coast.

What a ride! Forests, jungles, rivers, towns, the whole road spilling and revealing one wondrous sight after another. Incomprehensible richness. So many plants and trees, animals everywhere. Blistering sun and the relaxing New Age music playing over the speakers. Enya was singing at one point as Costa Rica unfolded like a vibrant wild flower.

The van came to a stop somewhere along the way.

“Quieres ver los cocodriyos grandes?” a German woman asked me.

I had no idea what she was talking about until the driver said, "cocodrilos, los cocodrilos por el puente."

I was thoroughly confused but said, "si, muy bien!"

It turned out that we had stopped because one could see the large crocodiles from a nearby bridge.

Seeing the reptilian monsters slither around in the water awakened a primal ‘oh, hell no!’ in me.

"Where are you going?" people would ask us.

"We're going to Jaco," was our reply.

"Ahh!"

For some reason, whenever we mentioned Jaco a glassy-eyed glint would come over people's eyes and a big smile, as if remembering a fond Jaco memory.

"What's going on in Jaco?" I asked Blanche with a raised eyebrow. "People get a certain look on their faces when we mention it."

"I noticed that too," she said. "It seems like a fun place."

"What happens in Jaco, stays in Jaco."

Indeed. Jaco was Jaco. It had a lively fun and friendly atmosphere. Our current landing pad was right on the beach, where we spent much of our day belly-surfing the deliciously warm waves in lizard bliss.

A couple enjoying the waves a few steps from the resort

Long walks in the evening with meals in town or right by the beach. The sunsets were unreal. The breeze cool at night. Peaceful. The sound of the waves. Sublime. The world slowed for a brief moment and revealed that elusive reality that Costa Rican call the pure life.

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