It usually boils down to a different way of doing things.
Fewer computers mean different procedures that feel more like living in the
fifties or sixties. Modern architecture is intermixed with traditional Tico
style and addresses sound more like directions that evoke landmarks and “1,000
meters past . . . “. Consequently, nothing is simple, most things are more
complicated than you think they need be.
We were warned and prepared for the rain so it was not a disappointment
when we found the weather to be very similar to what we experienced in Florida—just
not as hot. It rained a portion of almost every day—but hey, we’re in the
tropics. Usually it was nice and cool in the early day and the rains rolled in
by afternoon—just like home. Even in the rain the roads were fine unless you
had to traverse a dirt or gravel road in which case you had to be careful. But most
of the places we drove on were paved.
In the Nicoya Peninsula we certainly felt more isolated.
There were fewer towns and houses. The road through the mountains was dotted
with small villages of five or ten houses. Dogs slept in the roads and cattle and
livestock could graze, tethered by the side of the road.
Everywhere we went we saw people on their motorcycles—usually
Japanese dirt bikes—because car ownership is very expensive and though there is
public transportation in areas where you would never expect it, people like the
mobility a motorcycle offers.
At no time while we were traveling has language been a
problem. Ever though we speak very little Spanish—less than the distant memory
of high school Spanish—we were able to communicate by stumbling through our
limited vocabulary and waving our hands. If you are willing to learn, Google Translate,
Babbel, Duolingo, and “The Spanish Guy” were our learning tools. (It will be
months or years until we are remotely fluent.)
The need for Spanish is related directly to the population
size of where you settle. Urban cities have many English speakers while smaller
towns and villages have fewer. But we are always surprised by the outlier
English speaker who comes to our rescue in our time of need.
For those who wonder or worry, don’t let your lack of
foreign language skills deter you from an adventure in a foreign land. And don’t depend on the skills of others—give it
a try, you’ll feel better and that is its own reward.
