It doesn’t look as good going in
Posted on June 19th, 2009 in General Info | No Comments »
"WHAT?"
More than a “Rich Coast,” it’s the land of coffee, cownose rays, huge parrots, monkeys, crocs and plethora of amazing life that could complete an ecosystem on a faraway planet. Costa Rica has revealed something to me that will remain part of what and who I am until my lights go out.
Costa Rica is now my new favorite, but in defense of my previous favorites, represented by the fading stamps in my passports, every destination is my favorite the week after as I reminisce.
It is a seemingly common human practice to lower expectations in order to enjoy the reality of something more. Maybe that is why I tell myself that all of these places did not look as good going in as they turned out to be after my time there?
I departed for “Pura Vida” thinking and talking with the rest of the crew about our previous destination and if it could be topped. I told the crew that I thought that the show would get better every time but after watching the response to the latest episode from the LA divers, I had my doubts about Costa Rica.
Our week with Bill and Nadine Beard started with a rush and we started to realize how special this destination was. Before we knew it we hit our stride and the stories began to materialize in front of our eyes. From guards armed with B.B. guns to discovering projectors that were made before I thought movies existed, this episode should win an Emmy.
I actually hate that I have realized what my train of thought was in regards to going into a destination with low expectations and how it made my experience even better. I will do my best to look at our travel schedule with the same disregard as I have the others and simply let it unfold.
Is that really what is going on here? Maybe my expectations were high? I know I normally go in thinking it is not going to be as good as you hear or read about, but wait, after contemplation, what really sets this country apart is that I actually went in with higher expectations because it has been on my bucket list for years. These guys did not have the luxury of any of us thinking it did not look as good going in. Costa Rica had to bring something larger than an army, it had to overcome high expectations and it erupted mine like the active volcanoes around this great spot on our planet.
I am now left asking myself once again, how can I continue to be surprised? I am sure that I am in store for my next favorite very soon.
What do you think fellow traveler?
Randy C. Harris
Thanks to Laura Krause for the quote of the week that has now become the title for this, my Costa Rica realization.