Holy Week is a national holiday in Costa Rica, there are scores of religious processions and other interesting activities associated with the death of Jesus Christ.
Throughout much of the Spanish-speaking world, there is no more colorful or momentous time of year than Holy Week (Semana Santa). It is celebrated nearly everywhere in Latin America and Spain with religious observances and various types of processions.
Semana Santa is the last week of Lent (cuaresma) and the week before Easter (La Pascua). It includes the religious holidays of Palm Sunday (domingo de palmas), Maundy Thursday (jueves santo) and Good Friday (viernes santo), and lasts from Palm Sunday until Easter Sunday . It commemorates the last week of the earthly life of Jesus Christ (Jesús Cristo) culminating in his crucifixion on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Costa Ricans take this holiday very seriously. There are scores of religious processions and other interesting activities associated with the death of Jesus Christ during Semana Santa. It is also time for feasting. Meat is forbidden so Costa Ricans eat all types of seafood, especially canned sardines and tuna. There are plies of canned fish on display in supermarkets at this time of year. Local dishes like miel de chiverri (a type of squash and brown sugar) are also widely consumed.
During holy week San José and other cities seem like ghost towns. Many people go to beaches or other parts of the country to visit friends and family. We jokingly say that the “whole city” goes to the beach at this time of year. One of the best things about Semana Santa is that driving is easy in San José since there are very few cars on the road, especially on Thursday and Friday.
On my monthly relocation/retirement tours I talk about Costa Rican culture and traditions. I always mention Semana Santa and all of the activities that it includes.
Most people in Costa Rica are very happy while those in the States are into the doom and gloom mode.
Almost 30 years ago I made the decision to move to Costa Rica. At that time very few people were doing such adventurous things. All of my friends and relatives thought I was out of my mind to give the security of a good job and move abroad. One friend even asked me , “isn’t there a revolution going on down there?” Obviously he was confusing Costa Rica with el Salvador or Nicaragua. Costa Rica has always been a peaceful country with the longest democracy in Latin America and the one of the few countries in the world to abolish its army.
Anyway I made the move and remained in contact with my family and close friends. Most of my friends were becoming very successful in their respective fields and i was just getting by. In my heart I knew I did the right thing by moving here. An inner voice kept reassuring me that I was on the right track to finding what I was searching for.
Slowly but surely things began to fall into place. Now I am on top of the world. I have been very successful as a writer of twelve books about Latin America, running a tour business for those wanting to relocate here and as a real estate investor.
Yesterday I talked to a friend of mine who is a successful attorney in the States and realized I am much better of than most people there. The current economic crisis has hit a lot of people there. On the other hand, Costa Rica hasn’t felt the same impact. Most people here are very happy while those in the States are into the doom and gloom mode. The quality of life is much richer in Costa Rica than in the States.
I really feel blessed that I pursued my dreams and moved here years ago. I have had a truly incredible life down here. Most people who move to Costa Rica from the States and Canada experience the same thing. That is precisely why Costa Rica has become Latin America’s top retirement haven. On my monthly relocation/retirement tours I share my experiences and insight with my clients and talk about all Costa Rica has to offer.
Costa Rica seems to be out of the mainstream of the world news.
I was watching the evening news and was saddened to see so many people who have been affected by the collapse of the world economy. In Sacramento, California people are living in tents just like during the Great Depression. The same thing is happening in Seattle and other cities. I saw a piece on Japan and they are also in terrible shape.
I really consider myself to be lucky to be living in Costa Rica Rica. We don’t have people living in tents nor have we been hit like the States and the rest of he world. There have been layoffs and a trickle down effect which have affected tourism and other sectors. However, we don’t have large manufacturing like the U.S. auto industry so we haven’t been affected that much.
As I mentioned in a previous article we are used to being self-sufficient here. We can grow almost everything we eat and the people have been living off the land here for hundreds of years. Costa Ricans are used to living with a lot less which is good. Most people who retire here adopt the frugal style of the locals and learn to spend less money. Fortunately, consumerism isn’t as big as in the U.S. so there are less things to waste money on.
Costa Rica seems to be out of the mainstream of the world news . You never hear anything negative mentioned in the U.S. media about Costa Rica. The country has a low profile when it comes to world events. No news is good news for us. However, there was a great story on the evening news recently about the area of Nicoya, Costa Rica that has a huge number of centenarians due the healthy lifestyle of the people who live there.
I really feel blessed to have discover this beautiful little country where life is so good.
Costa Ricans who reach eighty years of age, live longer on the average than any other people in the world.
The other night on the NBC prime time world news there was a special about a group of centenarians who live in an area located in Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula. Scientists say their longevity is due to a clean environment, exercise, a healthy diet and above all their lifestyle. Furthermore, all Costa Ricans who reach eighty years of age, live longer on the average than any other people in the world.
Most likely another factor that contributes to this statistic is the cradle-to-grave health care provided by the Costa Rican government. Besides having a large number of centenarians the country has a longevity rate on a par with any first world country including the United States.
What does this say about Costa Rica? Basically the country is a very healthy place to live. In fact, most foreigners who move here add years to their life. I do remember when I used to visit my relatives in the States and they would remark how good I looked. They said it must have been from the good life in Costa Rica.
I guess its the fresh fruits and vegetables, less stress and above all lifestyle which also contribute to foreigners and others living longer here. After all it is all about lifestyle. It really is the lifestyle that ultimately draws people here and was the main factor in my move almost 30 years ago. In Costa Rica you can really have more for less and have more fun in the process. There are a wealth of activities from which to choose to keep you busy and happy. It is also very easy to make new friends here. You will have NO excuse for being bored. The days just don’t seem to be long enough to pack in all of the exciting activities.
Living here reminds me of the title of a popular movie with Jack Nicholson, “As Good as it Gets.” One would be hard press to find a place that offers more.
I have a very spiritual acquaintance who said upon arrive in Costa Rica for the first time, “I stepped of the plane and immediately felt a sense of peacefulness in the air.” Perhaps it is this spirit or vibe that makes Costa Rica one of the most magical and healthy places in the world to live.
Spend your free time exploring all of the beautiful parts of this spectacular country.
Although Costa Rica is smaller than the majority of the states in the U.S., it offers a variety of interesting and geographically different areas for exploring. On my monthly relocation/retirement tours I am often asked about different areas of Costa Rica. I explain that in reality there are “many Costa Ricas.” There is a famous book about Mexican by Leslie Byrd Simpson Entitled “Many Mexico’s.” It was required reading when I was a student of Latin American Studies at the University of California. The book talks about all of the regional and geographical differences that are found in Mexico. Costa Rica is not nearly as large as Mexico but there a lot of markedly different areas with hundreds of micro climates. So, if you choose to move here you can spend your free time exploring all of the beautiful parts of this spectacular country.
I have lived here nearly 30 years and there are still a few nooks and crannies I have not seen. In Costa Rica you can explore the miles of beautiful coastline on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. There are also rainforests, lakes, volcanoes, mountain areas, hot springs, breath taking waterfalls and other natural wonders worth checking out. Some go so far as to say that Costa Rica is a “nature lovers Disneyland.” Combine all of the country’s natural beauty with a multitude of outdoor activities from which to choose and you really have no excuse for being bored during you retirement years.
On my retirement tours we visit some of the most beautiful areas of the country with some of the most breathtaking views you will ever see. The mountains near the Dominical area resemble a tropical Big Sur and really have to be seen to be believed. I can venture to say that the sunsets viewed from the Hotel Mariposa high above Quepos, and from the Hotel Villa Caletas outside of Jaco beach are right up there with the most spectacular natural wonders of the world.
Even if you are the indoor type, there are plays, scores of clubs, expositions, museums, excellent shopping and other events to keep you entertained. Costa Rica is a small country but as I have said before, “it has something for everyone and everything for someone.” Enjoy!
