Experiencing Costa Rica!

We have just returned from a trip to the coffeetrees planted in between them, to help break the
farms of colorful Costa Rica! As our airplane landed atwind.
the international airport outside of San Jose, it wasSearch Engine Marketing Specialist
dark already. Our flight was late out of Miami, but weSince 1995 SEO/SEM tools, training, and professional
were still excited to finally get to Costa Rica. Then"full service" Search Engine Marketing help at very
reality hit us! We needed to get to the Siempreverdeaffordable rates.
(meaning 'always green') Bed and Breakfast on ourIn the afternoon, the plantation driver took us back
own, ruling out our initial plans of renting a car. As weto the B. and B., because we did not have our own
negotiated for a cab, many of them were not surecar as yet. It was looking like there would be no
where to go. Finally, one cab driver came forwarddinner for us that night! However, our luck changed
and said, "I know where to go." As we were walkingwhen we met a delightful couple from Belgium, also
toward his cab, we spied a hand-made sign with ourstaying at the inn. Their names were Dirk and Els, and
names on it! Two wonderful people from the DOKAthey were in Costa Rica, looking to migrate from
Plantation stayed up late and came to pick us up, toBelgium. After sitting, talking, and getting to know
take us to our B. and B. The Siempreverde Bed &them for awhile, they invited us to go out to dinner
Breakfast is affiliated with the DOKA Plantation. Theywith them. They had found a nice restaurant that
had been waiting for several hours for our plane. Weoverlooked the city of San Jose. How could we
thought "how considerate of them," and as we soonresist? What a stunning view it was, with all the
discovered, there would have been no way for us tobright city lights! The dinner was also very good;
find our own way there in the dark. As we startedsimilar to Mexican food, yet different. We had some
to drive up the mountain, we couldn't believe howwine with dinner, and our conversation flowed for
dark it was, and the road seemed to go on forever.hours. What was shaping up to be a sad, hungry
As we arrived at Siempreverde, we met Jesus thenight by ourselves, turned out to be full of fun, food,
groundskeeper, who had a big smile on his face atand fellowship!
2:00 a.m. In Spanish, he gave us a warm welcome,The next morning we rented a car and explored a
which we somehow understood, even with our verylittle bit on our own. We wanted to see where the
limited grasp of the language. We then settled into apeople live and what they do each day. Beverly loves
short night's sleep, as we knew breakfast would bethe ocean, so that morning we were on our way to
at 7:30 the next morning.the closest beach, which was Playa Tarcoles on the
The next morning we were up early and we wentPacific Ocean side of Costa Rica. It was a long 3-hour
downstairs to look around. What a site for our eyesdrive, but it was worth it. The winding drive reminded
to see! It was a beautiful bright green landscape withus a little of the road to Hana, Maui in Hawaii. As we
the mountains in the background. As a coffee trainer,neared the coast, we saw many people looking
Don always thought that coffee trees all had canopydown from a high bridge. Curiosity made us stop, and
trees above and over them, in order to protectwhat a surprise we found; real live crocodiles were
them from the heat, but that is not the case in thisliving beneath the bridge in the Tarcoles River! When
part of Costa Rica. Most of the year, there is a cloudwe arrived at the beach, we stopped to have dinner,
cover and the temperature is about 68F to 88Fand enjoyed a spectacular sunset. As we headed
year-round. By the cloud cover, these trees haveback, we stopped at roadside vendors that sell
natural shade from the sun. Each morning we had aeverything from fresh fruit to handcrafted items.
typical Costa Rican breakfast of scrambled eggs,What we found on our first day's venture is that
"gallo pinto," which is a rice and black bean dish, freshCosta Rica is still wild and untamed in many respects,
papaya, pineapple, toast, and of course, some offrom its natural beauty to its wildlife.
that wonderful Costa Rican coffee! That firstWe were in Costa Rica for only a week, and now
morning, the DOKA Plantation sent a car to take uswe realize that one week was not enough time, to
to our meeting, which was our reason for coming totruly see all that this lovely country has to offer.
Costa Rica. As we drove even further up theBesides two oceans (the Pacific Ocean on the west
mountain, the scenery was incredible! When wecoast and the Caribbean Sea on the east coast),
arrived, they led us into an open-air pavilion, gave usthere are the rainforest reserves with canopy tours,
a cup of their famous coffee, and we waited tothe coffee plantations, the waterfalls and lagoons,
meet Alexandra. She was fluent in both Spanish andthe tropical flora and fauna, and best of all, the
English, which was a big help. The topic of ourfriendly people and their hospitable way of life. What
meeting was "How we can partner together toa magnificent place to come to have a training
educate people about quality coffees?" The pavilionprogram about Costa Rican quality coffees! If you
would be an ideal open-air classroom that could seathave never been to Costa Rica, you should take the
up to 150 people. As you look out, you can seeshort two-hour plane trip down from Miami. Many
thousands of acres of coffee trees, with bananapleasant surprises await you!