Travelfood

Costa Rica – the rich coast – really is rich compared to many other Central American countries. The wellbeing has been transformed into, and boosted by, ecotourism that we foreigners are happy to experience. All tours and day trips seem to underline the country’s nature. Most tourists would enjoy the ocean and beaches of the Caribbean or the Pacific Ocean, but we decided to stay in the capital San José in the hilly central parts of  Costa Rica. We enjoyed volcanoes, cloudy rainforests, coffee plantations and extremely rich flora and fauna. The term Pura Vida (clean living) is visible for example in San José, where tap water is clean enough to drink. 

The Costa Ricans call themselves ticos and they are friendly and tolerant, and obviously proud of their country’s achievements. There seems to be a lot of immigrants from poorer Central American countries there and that was clearly visible in the streets of San José.  

Usually I note some national dishes in my writings, but for Costa Rica food seemed very similar to dishes in other Central American countries. However, the taste of the ordinary dishes were easily boosted by skilled cooks. For example, if the basic ingredients are rice and beans (casado), and the basic protein is pork, beef, chicken, fish or shrimp, and the basic extras are fried plantains or maniok, then the difference is made with the sauce. I myself call the best sauces ”tico sauces”, made by mothers and grandmothers who are cooking for example in the food court of shopping centers. Already for breakfast you are likely to receive rice and beans: gallo pinto.  

Costa Rica, food, Latin America, travel, travel experiences