- Britt coffee plant with fly catcher
Visit to Britt Coffee (http://www.cafebritt.cr/)
Did you know that the Costa Rican government gave land and coffee plants to citizens for free to open up exportation?
The history of Costa Rican trade dates back to 1750 when local coffee merchants began exporting their fine coffee to Europeans. Coffee exportation literally paved the way for railroad construction and road development. Costa Rica shipped 100 percent of their finest coffee to foreigners, leaving the local Costa Ricans with second grade coffee. This occurred until 1991 when the government decided to provide fine coffee to both Costa Ricans and tourists. It is now a 50/50 split, 50 percent is exported and 50 percent is enjoyed by local and tourists alike.
One of the best coffees found here is “Britt” coffee. Britt also specializes in chocolate.
- Employees assembling jewelry, beads used to make jewelry, final products (left to right-top to bottom)
Sr. y Sra. Ese
Another successful trade in this region is hand crafted jewelry and furniture, Sr. y Sra. Ese manufactures some of the most beautiful jewelry and furniture made of wood.
Every piece is handcrafted and the wood pieces are all natural. There are 16 types of wood and each has its own natural color. Touring through this business was a real treat; we were able to witness employees in each phase of the process, from quality assurance to assembly to final production.
This is a true learning experience both from a professional and cultural perspective.
- Arenal is Costa Rica’s most well known volcano.
Health and fitness seems to be a common theme in the Costa Rican culture, many of us have gone on morning runs to explore the beautiful countryside and found that the locals enjoy running and biking.
For those of us who find the Florida’s humid conditions a challenge, try adding some 40 to 65 degree declines and inclines to the terrain every 100 meters (http://www.arenal.net/).
“Pura Vida” continues to show herself more each day.
A simple gesture and a smile, a good vibe—“Pura Vida” is unselfish and unconditional—she wants all to be happy, healthy and good citizens.
- Buffet Lunch at Britt Coffee
The cultural experience continues to reveal more each day. The search for “Pura Vida” is not about the diverse differences between our cultures, it is more about what our cultures share.
“Pura Vida” is a common sense approach to living within our conscious, it is the sense we share in common. To understand this way of thinking you must first be accepting of who you are, comfortable in your own skin. Without that, you cannot find “Pura Vida”. For those of us who already are comfortable in who we are and what we want to become, “Pura Vida” is not too far away
Oh, and the food isn’t too bad either.