I live and work at the heart of one the modern world's greatest cities: New York City. As a professional architect my lifestyle is fast-paced and highly-stressed. My mornings are a reflection of this as I begin each day waking up to the never-ending cacophony of blaring horns, shouting people and heavy traffic.
It's amazing how we can get used to almost any environment, no matter how counter-intuitive they may seem. Cities are a good example of this and 1 think one of the things that promoted this realization was when 1 woke up in Costa Rica to find a completely different routine waiting for me.
To my surprise and later delight, every morning in the tree-house where we were staying was greeted with a chorus of booming territorial howls from our resident troop of howler monkeys, accompanied by the delicate chirping of birds as they danced about the treetops. It was truly a great way to start the day and a complete change from the noises so familiar and common to, all large metropolises.
I was on a five-day vacation with a fellow New Yorker, to visit friends living in Costa Rica. The plan was simple: leave our watches behind, go out into the middle-of-nowhere and get acquainted with the pura vida (the Tico national catch phrase for the “pure life”). We were staying at the Pura Jungla nature reserve and retreat -250 acres of replanted indigenous forest 20 years ago, nestled in the mountainous coastal landscape of the northern Nicoya Península.
We made our journey driving down from Playas del Coco but soon discovered that getting to this remote project was an adventure in itself and not for those with poor navigational skills. There are few signs and the roads are unpaved, which made for some interesting driving at night in the rainy season mud. At the beginning, my first reaction was to get stressed and worry, but when 1 saw that everybody was enjoying themselves, I relaxed myself and without notice, got my first lesson about what "pura vida" means.
Once there, we were rewarded with spectacular views of clouds of vegetation dramatically back-dropped by some of the best surfing beaches Costa Rica’s Pacific coast has to offer. It is phenomenal to think that only twenty years ago, the lush forest we found teeming with life was merely flat grassland for grazing cattle. Costa Rica is an ecological treasure with an abundance of natural life, and it is inspiring to find that many Ticos share in the view of the importance of trying to maintain and conserve the amazing beauty of Costa Rica.
One of the unique features of the Pura jungla project is that all the buildings follow the principles of environmentally sustainable design. Architecturally, the sharply angled roofs of the tree house we were staying in act as a tropical umbrella, shielding the interior from the elements. Elevated onto stilts, the house has an abundance of open air spaces that don't require much lighting or air-conditioning, since there is plenty of natural ventilation. The designers also make use of the ample solar heat to generate hot water for the showers.
It was the ideal environment to sic back and take in our surroundings. If I could take back one thing with me, it will be the Costa Ricans' notion of 'pura vida'. All who come here inevitably fall into step with the rhythm of this philosophy. It is simply a way of enjoying and celebrating life in the moment. No unnecessary worries. No qualms. No stress. A wise Tico friend quipped while trying to explain pura vida to me, "You have your family, your friends, your lover, and this amazing Costa Rica. What more can you ask for?" Maybe that's why the people here are so genuinely friendly and welcoming.
It is not simply the rich landscape and scenery that Costa Rica has to offer, but it is also the Ticos and the Tico way of living that has so much value and importance. The genuine hospitality and generosity of the people is something that is to be admired. It is something that I for one hope to take away with me and put in to practice on my return to the hustle and bustle of city life. Costa Rica is truly an amazing place, and I recommend anyone looking for a change of pace to visit and explore the richness it has to offer.
