Back from Costa Rica

[MAlibdem]

Gorgeous country. Actually saw some indications of the US doing good too...Costa Rica has no military-as they rightly brag, they instead spend the money on health care and education. The US maintains a base in Costa Rica for the country's protection. Also, Intel manufactures a large amount of its microprocessors in Costa Rica in factories that provide jobs for thousands.

Besides that, ecotourism is booming, and rightly so. There is so much beauty in biological diversity. In a matter of a three hour drive I went from a dry costal region (tamarindo) to a mountainous, cloud forest (monteverde).

Sloths, monkeys, iguanas, agoutis, pizotes, quetzls, oh my!

[Kamika]

1. protecting..

From who?

[MAlibdem]

2. Good enough question

I dunno, seems reasonably enough to me, the ticos dont seem to mind, symbosis i guess.

sandinistas?

[mitchtv]

6. from foresters, mining hunting

little crime, most of it blamed(true or false) on Nicos

[el_gato]

8. seems like you should think a little harder about your answer

[mitchtv]

3. there is a wonderful hot springs at Tabacon

on the slopes of arenal- Imagine bathing in a hot waterfall, landscaped, railings -saw some toucans- had a wonderful volcanic rumble while there- loudest noise i've ever heard. Found out later the spa was in a flow zone. best meal I've had on the beach iin Punta arenas. loads of great places.

[MAlibdem]

4. i was at tabacon

about 10 days ago

A little resorty for my tastes-and expensive, but it was relaxing

[LynneSin]

5. Did you get to Tamarindo

That's where I went to when I was in Costa Rica back in 2001. We wanted to go to Arsnal for the day but the volcano was acting up and some folks had died hiking around there (plus a plane flew into the mountain) so we ended up at Ricion instead.

Beautiful country - that's my 'Go-To' country if it gets real bad here!!

[blindpig]

7. did you see a quetzal?

tough sighting! When I was there 8 years ago the roads really sucked, is it still that way?